The Best Bachelor's in Business Administration Programs, Ranked for 2026

Cal Poly's business administration degree, housed in the Orfalea College of Business, is accredited by AACSB and built around a "Learn by Doing" model. Students complete shared foundational coursework in accounting, finance, marketing, organizational behavior, information systems, and management, then choose one of nine concentrations: Accounting and Law, Consumer Packaging, Entrepreneurship, Financial Management, Information Systems, Management and Human Resources, Marketing, Quantitative Analysis, or Real Estate Finance. The program page notes that Accounting concentration graduating classes often reach 100% employment, and lists alumni placements at Adobe, Apple, Deloitte, Ernst & Young, KPMG, Oracle, and PricewaterhouseCoopers.

A Hakia Score of 98.5, fourth in this set, rests on an 86% graduation rate and the most open admissions among the top four, a 31% admit rate. Tuition is the standout number: $6,084 a year in-state, the lowest of any program here, and $18,684 out-of-state. Four years in-state costs about $24,336 total against $74,736 out-of-state, a $50,400 gap that makes California residency the single biggest lever on total cost in this degree. Cal Poly fits a cost-conscious student who wants AACSB accreditation and a concentration-driven, applied curriculum, with the tradeoff being the most open admit rate and the lowest graduation rate among the top four.

The Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration in General Studies at the University of Florida's Warrington College of Business is a stackable, customizable degree built around eight core business classes in economics, accounting, finance, management, marketing and operations. Students then choose from nearly 80 specializations spanning 70 disciplines, from retailing and wealth management to sport management and pre-law tracks. The degree runs 120 credits over four years full time, split between full-length semesters and 8-week modules, delivered in person, online or hybrid; UF also runs a dedicated Online BABA track for students who need to study remotely.

Warrington ranks #5 nationally in Hakia's 2026 business administration rankings, with a Hakia Score of 98.4. A 91% graduation rate against a 24% admit rate shows the program is selective and reliably gets admitted students to the finish line; the school also reports a #14 ranking among U.S. public undergraduate business programs and #24 nationally from U.S. News & World Report's 2026 rankings. In-state tuition is $4,477 a year, or $17,908 across four years; out-of-state tuition is $25,694 a year, nearly 5.7 times as much and $102,776 over four years. The BABA program enrolls 2,151 students on campus and online, inside a university of 56,311 total.

The degree fits students who want breadth: a business foundation paired with a specialization in almost any field, including law-school or med-school prep built on business fundamentals. It's a weaker fit for someone who already knows they want one narrowly defined business major, since the general-studies design is deliberately broad rather than deep.

The Bachelor of Business Administration at UT Austin's McCombs School of Business is an on-campus-only program built on a demanding core: calculus (Math 408Q), two semesters of economics, Management Information Systems, a two-course accounting sequence, statistics, and upper-division classes in legal environment of business, finance, marketing and management, plus a required professional experiential-learning course. Students declare one of nine majors, including Accounting, Business Analytics, Business Honors, Finance, International Business, Management, Management Information Systems, Marketing and Supply Chain Management. Every BBA candidate must also demonstrate foreign-language proficiency equivalent to one year of college study, an uncommon requirement for a business degree.

McCombs ranks #6 nationally by Hakia Score (97.9). The program pairs a 27% admit rate, admitting fewer than three in ten applicants, with an 89% graduation rate. In-state tuition runs $11,688 a year, or $46,752 over four years; out-of-state tuition is $44,908 a year, a gap of $33,220 annually and $132,880 across four years. Texas residents get a rigorous, quant-heavy business core at a fraction of the out-of-state sticker price.

This program fits students set on a specific business major who are comfortable with a math- and statistics-heavy core and willing to commit to on-campus study, since McCombs offers no online BBA pathway. It's a poor fit for anyone who needs a remote or hybrid option.

Carnegie Mellon's Tepper School of Business offers a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration built around analytics, economics and management. First-year students take a foundational course called Business Science alongside math, economics and liberal-arts coursework; sophomore and junior years cover the business core, electives and a declared minor; senior year culminates in a capstone course. Students choose one of 11 concentrations, including Accounting, AI and Business, Business Analytics and Technologies, Entrepreneurship, Finance, Global Economics and Business, Islamic Business Management, Marketing Management, Operations Management, Product Management and Strategic Management, and the school reports one of the lowest student-to-faculty ratios among the top 10 undergraduate business programs.

Tepper ranks #7 nationally by Hakia Score (97.4). It is by far the most selective program in this set: a 12% admit rate against 24% to 45% at the three public schools here, paired with the group's highest graduation rate at 94%. Tuition is flat at $64,596 a year regardless of residency, since Carnegie Mellon is private; that is $258,384 in sticker-price tuition over four years, with no in-state discount to offset it. Enrollment across the university is 15,888, far smaller than the public flagships in this group.

Tepper fits students chasing the most selective, most analytics-driven undergraduate business program in this group who can finance a private-school sticker price or qualify for aid. It is not the right fit for a cost-conscious student prioritizing price over selectivity, since the three public programs here cost a fraction of Tepper's tuition to attend.

The BBA in Business Administration: Management at the University of Wisconsin-Madison is delivered fully online through UW-Madison Online and built specifically for transfer students with at least 12 college credits, or for re-entry students; it is not open to incoming freshmen. On top of the School of Business core curriculum (financial and managerial accounting, finance, marketing management, operations and supply chain management, business law, and two semesters of data analysis for business), the Management major itself is a lean 15 credits: three required courses, Leading Teams, Strategic Management and Negotiations, plus six credits of Management and Human Resources electives. The program is accredited by AACSB International, with its next accreditation review set for 2026-2027.

UW-Madison ties for #8 nationally with a Hakia Score of 97.4. It posts a 90% graduation rate and a 45% admit rate, the most accessible admit rate of any program in this group by a wide margin (12% to 27% elsewhere). In-state tuition is $10,006 a year, or $40,024 over four years; out-of-state tuition is $40,506 a year, a gap of $30,500 annually and $122,000 over four years. The school points to finance and insurance, health care and social assistance, professional and scientific services, and manufacturing as top hiring industries for graduates, with roles ranging from business owner to talent acquisition manager and compensation analyst.

This program fits transfer students or career-changers who want an AACSB-accredited BBA completed entirely online, particularly Wisconsin residents given the tuition gap. It does not fit a first-time freshman, since the pathway is built for students arriving with transfer credit.

The Robert H. Smith School of Business grants a B.S. in Business Administration built on eight AACSB-accredited majors: Accounting, Finance, Information Systems, International Business, Management, Marketing, Operations Management & Business Analytics, and Supply Chain Management. Admission runs in two stages. Freshmen who post a 2.0 GPA and clear three gateway courses, Principles of Accounting I, Business Statistics, and Calculus, move forward on a space-available basis; transfer students face a second, competitive review at 45 credits, where a 3.0 to 3.599 cumulative GPA triggers a full committee review and a 3.6 or higher earns direct admission. The program also runs at a second site, the Universities at Shady Grove in Montgomery County.

Smith's numbers back up its Hakia Score of 97.2, ninth nationally among bachelor's business programs in this ranking. 89% of students graduate, and the university admits 45% of applicants overall, wide enough that the real gatekeeping happens later, at the gateway-course review into the major itself. Tuition is where the program separates itself: Maryland residents pay $10,087 a year, non-residents pay $39,464. Run four years of each and the totals are $40,348 versus $157,856, a $117,508 gap for the same AACSB-accredited degree. This fits Maryland residents, and transfer applicants with a 3.0-plus GPA, who want a top-10 business program without top-10 pricing.

The BBA in General Business at UGA's Griffin Campus, run through the Terry College of Business, is a degree-completion program built specifically for transfer students living or working within commuting distance of Griffin, Georgia. Coursework spans finance, statistics, marketing, and management, aimed at graduates headed into a corporation, small business, or family business rather than a single specialist track. To apply, a student needs a high school diploma at least 12 months old, one year of prior college coursework, 60 or more transferable semester hours, a 3.00 transfer GPA as calculated by UGA's admissions office, and program-coordinator sign-off that General Education Areas I through VI of the BBA core curriculum are complete.

This is a junior-level completion track, not a four-year freshman-entry program, and the numbers reflect that. UGA's overall graduation rate of 90% and admit rate of 38% sit behind a Hakia Score of 96.9, 10th nationally in this ranking, alongside the lowest in-state tuition of any program in this set: $10,034 a year against $30,272 for non-residents. Run four years of each and the gap is $40,136 versus $121,088, an $80,952 spread, though most Griffin students pay only for their remaining junior and senior years rather than a full four. It fits a Georgia transfer student who already holds a 3.00-plus GPA and 60 transferable credits and wants the Terry College name without relocating to Athens.

Questrom School of Business at Boston University offers a BS in Business Administration that starts management training in the first year rather than waiting for upper-division coursework. The curriculum is deliberately open-ended: students choose from a range of concentrations, minors, and dual-degree options, take on client-facing project work through the Action Learning@Questrom track, and can apply to an Honors Program or the Questrom Ascend Fellowship, a first-year community and mentoring structure. Questrom's own page cites a #38 national ranking and a #17 ranking among private universities from U.S. News & World Report, and a top-20 placement from Poets & Quants; these are the school's self-reported rankings, not figures this guide has independently verified.

Questrom is the most selective program in this group by a wide margin: an 11% admit rate against 29% to 45% at the three public schools in this set, while still graduating 89% of its students, matching Maryland's 89% and a point behind UGA's 90%. That selectivity comes at flat private-school pricing with no residency discount: $66,670 a year regardless of home state, or $266,680 over four years before aid. Its Hakia Score of 96.8 ranks it 11th nationally. This program fits students who want a project-heavy business degree in a major city and can absorb full private tuition or qualify for substantial need-based aid; on tuition alone it is the most expensive option in this set by tens of thousands of dollars a year.

The Paul Merage School of Business at UC Irvine offers a B.A. in Business Administration built on 11 required core courses covering accounting, finance, marketing, information systems, organizational behavior, and strategy, followed by five upper-division electives concentrated in one of six formal emphases: Accounting, Finance, Information Systems, Marketing, Operations and Decision Technologies, or Organization and Management. Every student must also satisfy an international business requirement, either through a designated course such as Multinational Finance or Global Marketing, or by completing a UC Education Abroad Program placement. Admission to the major is a separate, competitive step after lower-division prerequisites in calculus, economics, statistics, and two accounting courses; transfer applicants need at least a 3.0 cumulative GPA to be considered.

UC Irvine graduates 87% of its students and posts a Hakia Score of 96.7, 12th nationally in this ranking, with a 29% admit rate that sits between UGA's 38% and Boston University's 11%. Cost splits sharply by residency: California residents pay $12,260 a year, non-residents pay $44,148. Over four years that is $49,040 versus $176,592, a $127,552 gap, the largest residency premium of any program in this group. It fits California residents who want a defined-emphasis business degree with a built-in global requirement, and are prepared to compete twice: once for admission to UCI, and again for a seat in the Merage major itself.

George Washington University is a private, nonprofit institution in Washington, DC. Its Bachelor's in Business Administration program ranks #13 of the 25 analyzed here with a 96.7 Hakia Score, a composite of graduation rate, cost, selectivity, and graduate outcomes. That sits above the 96.7 group average, in the middle third of the 25 ranked programs, 2.6 points behind top-ranked University of California-Berkeley. The program graduates 84% of its students, below the 90% average across the ranked schools. George Washington University admits 47% of applicants, less selective than the 24% average for the group. That is more open than the 5% rate at University of Pennsylvania, the most selective program on this list.

On cost, George Washington University charges $67,420 a year in-state. Over four years that totals about $269,680 in tuition. That puts it at the higher end on this list, where annual in-state tuition runs from $4,477 at University of Florida to $67,896 at Georgetown University. As a private institution, its tuition does not change with residency, unlike the public universities on this list. Graduates step into a field with a $105,770 national median salary reported by the BLS. It earns its place in the top 25 on the balance of cost, completion, and outcomes.

University of Pennsylvania is a private, nonprofit institution in Philadelphia, PA. Its Bachelor's in Business Administration program ranks #14 of the 25 analyzed here with a 96.6 Hakia Score, a composite of graduation rate, cost, selectivity, and graduate outcomes. That sits below the 96.7 group average, in the middle third of the 25 ranked programs, 2.7 points behind top-ranked University of California-Berkeley. The program graduates 97% of its students, above the 90% average across the ranked schools. University of Pennsylvania admits 5% of applicants, more selective than the 24% average for the group. Its completion rate lands among the strongest in a group where graduation runs from 82% to 97%. It is one of the larger campuses in the ranking, enrolling 29,109 students.

On cost, University of Pennsylvania charges $60,920 a year in-state. Over four years that totals about $243,680 in tuition. That puts it at the higher end on this list, where annual in-state tuition runs from $4,477 at University of Florida to $67,896 at Georgetown University. As a private institution, its tuition does not change with residency, unlike the public universities on this list. Graduates step into a field with a $105,770 national median salary reported by the BLS. For prospective students, the draw here is above-average completion paired with genuine selectivity.

Based in Atlanta, GA, Emory University is a private, nonprofit institution. Its Bachelor's in Business Administration program lands at #15 of the 25 ranked here, earning a 96.5 Hakia Score that weighs graduation rate, cost, selectivity, and outcomes. That sits below the 96.7 group average, in the middle third of the 25 ranked programs, 2.8 points behind top-ranked University of California-Berkeley. The program graduates 91% of its students, above the 90% average across the ranked schools. Emory University admits 11% of applicants, more selective than the 24% average for the group. That is more open than the 5% rate at University of Pennsylvania, the most selective program on this list. Its completion rate lands in the middle of the pack in a group where graduation runs from 82% to 97%.

On cost, Emory University charges $63,400 a year in-state. Over four years that totals about $253,600 in tuition. That puts it at the higher end on this list, where annual in-state tuition runs from $4,477 at University of Florida to $67,896 at Georgetown University. As a private institution, its tuition does not change with residency, unlike the public universities on this list. Graduates step into a field with a $105,770 national median salary reported by the BLS. For prospective students, the draw here is above-average completion paired with genuine selectivity.

Based in USAF Academy, CO, United States Air Force Academy is a public institution. Its Bachelor's in Business Administration program lands at #16 of the 25 ranked here, earning a 96.3 Hakia Score that weighs graduation rate, cost, selectivity, and outcomes. That sits below the 96.7 group average, in the middle third of the 25 ranked programs, 3 points behind top-ranked University of California-Berkeley. The program graduates 88% of its students, below the 90% average across the ranked schools. United States Air Force Academy admits 14% of applicants, more selective than the 24% average for the group. That is more open than the 5% rate at University of Pennsylvania, the most selective program on this list. Its completion rate lands in the middle of the pack in a group where graduation runs from 82% to 97%. The university enrolls 4,114 students overall.

Graduates step into a field with a $105,770 national median salary reported by the BLS. For prospective students, the main draw here is its genuine selectivity.

Based in Wellesley, MA, Babson College is a private, nonprofit institution. Its Bachelor's in Business Administration program lands at #17 of the 25 ranked here, earning a 95.8 Hakia Score that weighs graduation rate, cost, selectivity, and outcomes. That sits below the 96.7 group average, in the lower third of the 25 ranked programs, 3.5 points behind top-ranked University of California-Berkeley. The program graduates 93% of its students, above the 90% average across the ranked schools. Babson College admits 17% of applicants, more selective than the 24% average for the group. That is more open than the 5% rate at University of Pennsylvania, the most selective program on this list. Its completion rate lands among the strongest in a group where graduation runs from 82% to 97%.

On cost, Babson College charges $57,152 a year in-state. Over four years that totals about $228,608 in tuition. That puts it mid-pack on price on this list, where annual in-state tuition runs from $4,477 at University of Florida to $67,896 at Georgetown University. As a private institution, its tuition does not change with residency, unlike the public universities on this list. Graduates step into a field with a $105,770 national median salary reported by the BLS. For prospective students, the draw here is above-average completion paired with genuine selectivity.

Based in Albany, NY, Excelsior University is a private, nonprofit institution. Its Bachelor's in Business Administration program lands at #18 of the 25 ranked here, earning a 95.8 Hakia Score that weighs graduation rate, cost, selectivity, and outcomes. That sits below the 96.7 group average, in the lower third of the 25 ranked programs, 3.5 points behind top-ranked University of California-Berkeley. Excelsior University holds an open-admission policy, accepting every qualified applicant. The university enrolls 12,941 students overall. The degree is also offered online, which widens access for working students.

Graduates step into a field with a $105,770 national median salary reported by the BLS. For prospective students, the main draw here is its an online option.

Auburn University is a public institution in Auburn, AL. Its Bachelor's in Business Administration program ranks #19 of the 25 analyzed here with a 95.4 Hakia Score, a composite of graduation rate, cost, selectivity, and graduate outcomes. That sits below the 96.7 group average, in the lower third of the 25 ranked programs, 3.9 points behind top-ranked University of California-Berkeley. The program graduates 82% of its students, below the 90% average across the ranked schools. Auburn University admits 46% of applicants, less selective than the 24% average for the group. That is more open than the 5% rate at University of Pennsylvania, the most selective program on this list. Its completion rate lands toward the lower end in a group where graduation runs from 82% to 97%.

On cost, Auburn University charges $11,016 a year in-state, roughly 3x the $33,048 out-of-state rate. Over four years that is about $44,064 in tuition for residents, against $132,192 for non-residents. That puts it mid-pack on price on this list, where annual in-state tuition runs from $4,477 at University of Florida to $67,896 at Georgetown University. Graduates step into a field with a $105,770 national median salary reported by the BLS. For prospective students, the main draw here is its an online option.

Tulane University of Louisiana is a private, nonprofit institution in New Orleans, LA. Its Bachelor's in Business Administration program ranks #20 of the 25 analyzed here with a 95.4 Hakia Score, a composite of graduation rate, cost, selectivity, and graduate outcomes. That sits below the 96.7 group average, in the lower third of the 25 ranked programs, 3.9 points behind top-ranked University of California-Berkeley. The program graduates 86% of its students, below the 90% average across the ranked schools. Tulane University of Louisiana admits 14% of applicants, more selective than the 24% average for the group. That is more open than the 5% rate at University of Pennsylvania, the most selective program on this list.

On cost, Tulane University of Louisiana charges $64,372 a year in-state. Over four years that totals about $257,488 in tuition. That puts it at the higher end on this list, where annual in-state tuition runs from $4,477 at University of Florida to $67,896 at Georgetown University. As a private institution, its tuition does not change with residency, unlike the public universities on this list. Graduates step into a field with a $105,770 national median salary reported by the BLS. For prospective students, the main draw here is its genuine selectivity.

Georgetown University is a private, nonprofit institution in Washington, DC. Its Bachelor's in Business Administration program ranks #21 of the 25 analyzed here with a 95.3 Hakia Score, a composite of graduation rate, cost, selectivity, and graduate outcomes. That sits below the 96.7 group average, in the lower third of the 25 ranked programs, 4 points behind top-ranked University of California-Berkeley. The program graduates 95% of its students, above the 90% average across the ranked schools. Georgetown University admits 13% of applicants, more selective than the 24% average for the group. That is more open than the 5% rate at University of Pennsylvania, the most selective program on this list. Its completion rate lands among the strongest in a group where graduation runs from 82% to 97%.

On cost, Georgetown University charges $67,896 a year in-state. Over four years that totals about $271,584 in tuition. That puts it at the higher end on this list, where annual in-state tuition runs from $4,477 at University of Florida to $67,896 at Georgetown University. As a private institution, its tuition does not change with residency, unlike the public universities on this list. Graduates step into a field with a $105,770 national median salary reported by the BLS. For prospective students, the draw here is above-average completion paired with genuine selectivity.

Based in West Point, NY, United States Military Academy is a public institution. Its Bachelor's in Business Administration program lands at #22 of the 25 ranked here, earning a 95.3 Hakia Score that weighs graduation rate, cost, selectivity, and outcomes. That sits below the 96.7 group average, in the lower third of the 25 ranked programs, 4 points behind top-ranked University of California-Berkeley. The program graduates 87% of its students, below the 90% average across the ranked schools. United States Military Academy admits 12% of applicants, more selective than the 24% average for the group. That is more open than the 5% rate at University of Pennsylvania, the most selective program on this list. Its completion rate lands toward the lower end in a group where graduation runs from 82% to 97%. The university enrolls 4,473 students overall.

Graduates step into a field with a $105,770 national median salary reported by the BLS. For prospective students, the main draw here is its genuine selectivity.

Texas A&M University-College Station is a public institution in College Station, TX. Its Bachelor's in Business Administration program ranks #23 of the 25 analyzed here with a 95.1 Hakia Score, a composite of graduation rate, cost, selectivity, and graduate outcomes. That sits below the 96.7 group average, in the lower third of the 25 ranked programs, 4.2 points behind top-ranked University of California-Berkeley. The program graduates 84% of its students, below the 90% average across the ranked schools. Texas A&M University-College Station admits 57% of applicants, less selective than the 24% average for the group. That is more open than the 5% rate at University of Pennsylvania, the most selective program on this list.

On cost, Texas A&M University-College Station charges $9,092 a year in-state, roughly 4x the $36,169 out-of-state rate. Over four years that is about $36,368 in tuition for residents, against $144,676 for non-residents. That puts it among the most affordable on this list, where annual in-state tuition runs from $4,477 at University of Florida to $67,896 at Georgetown University. Graduates step into a field with a $105,770 national median salary reported by the BLS. For prospective students, the draw here is low in-state cost paired with an online option.

Thomas Edison State University is a public institution in Trenton, NJ. Its Bachelor's in Business Administration program ranks #24 of the 25 analyzed here with a 94.9 Hakia Score, a composite of graduation rate, cost, selectivity, and graduate outcomes. That sits below the 96.7 group average, in the lower third of the 25 ranked programs, 4.4 points behind top-ranked University of California-Berkeley. Thomas Edison State University holds an open-admission policy, accepting every qualified applicant. The university enrolls 7,544 students overall. The degree is also offered online, which widens access for working students.

On cost, Thomas Edison State University charges $6,838 a year in-state, versus $8,856 for out-of-state students. Over four years that is about $27,352 in tuition for residents, against $35,424 for non-residents. That puts it among the most affordable on this list, where annual in-state tuition runs from $4,477 at University of Florida to $67,896 at Georgetown University. Graduates step into a field with a $105,770 national median salary reported by the BLS. That median runs roughly 15x the program's annual in-state tuition. For prospective students, the draw here is low in-state cost paired with an online option.

Washington and Lee University is a private, nonprofit institution in Lexington, VA. Its Bachelor's in Business Administration program ranks #25 of the 25 analyzed here with a 94.9 Hakia Score, a composite of graduation rate, cost, selectivity, and graduate outcomes. That sits below the 96.7 group average, in the lower third of the 25 ranked programs, 4.4 points behind top-ranked University of California-Berkeley. The program graduates 94% of its students, above the 90% average across the ranked schools. Washington and Lee University admits 14% of applicants, more selective than the 24% average for the group. That is more open than the 5% rate at University of Pennsylvania, the most selective program on this list. Its completion rate lands among the strongest in a group where graduation runs from 82% to 97%.

On cost, Washington and Lee University charges $66,800 a year in-state. Over four years that totals about $267,200 in tuition. That puts it at the higher end on this list, where annual in-state tuition runs from $4,477 at University of Florida to $67,896 at Georgetown University. As a private institution, its tuition does not change with residency, unlike the public universities on this list. Graduates step into a field with a $105,770 national median salary reported by the BLS. For prospective students, the draw here is above-average completion paired with genuine selectivity.