Best Schools for Business/Commerce, General

Business/Commerce, General graduates earn a median of $66,751 within four years of graduating, ranking #104 out of 283 tracked majors — 7% above the median across all fields. There are 287 colleges nationwide with tracked earnings for this major, producing 77,294 recent graduates.

Where you study matters: University of Virginia-Main Campus graduates earn $142,113 while University of Puerto Rico-Aguadilla graduates earn $25,817 — a $116,296 difference. Factors like location, employer networks, co-op programs, and curriculum focus drive this gap. Across all fields, though, which major you pick separates earnings more than which college does.

Early career salary growth is modest: Business/Commerce, General graduates see an average 1% increase between year 1 and year 2 post-graduation, reflecting career advancement and skill development in the first years after college.

287

Schools

$66,751

Avg. 2yr Earnings

#104

of 283 Majors

77,294

Graduates

Public vs Private: Business/Commerce, General

Public (153 schools)

$64,112

avg. 2yr earnings

Private (124 schools)

$71,724

avg. 2yr earnings

Private schools produce $7,612 more in early earnings on average for Business/Commerce, General graduates. Factor in tuition difference to calculate which offers better ROI.

Business/Commerce, General by State

Also by state: Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Oregon, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, Washington, Washington DC, West Virginia, Wisconsin

Top Business/Commerce, General Schools by Graduate Earnings

University of Virginia-Main Campus

Charlottesville, VA · Public

New York University

New York, NY · Private

Baylor University

Waco, TX · Private

$124,434

4yr Earnings

25 grads · small sample

2yr: $52,941 (26)

1yr: $60,012 (22)

Acceptance: 51.0%

Wake Forest University

Winston-Salem, NC · Private

Northeastern University Oakland

Oakland, CA · Private

Northeastern University

Boston, MA · Private

University of Notre Dame

Notre Dame, IN · Private

$111,444

4yr Earnings

27 grads · small sample

2yr: $55,964 (34)

1yr: $64,167 (38)

Acceptance: 12.4%

Brandeis University

Waltham, MA · Private

Lehigh University

Bethlehem, PA · Private

$107,079

4yr Earnings

16 grads · small sample

1yr: $63,311 (16)

Acceptance: 29.3%

#10

George Washington University

Washington, DC · Private

$107,023

4yr Earnings

21 grads · small sample

1yr: $52,414 (18)

Acceptance: 43.5%

#11

Indiana University-Bloomington

Bloomington, IN · Public

University of Rochester

Rochester, NY · Private

Skidmore College

Saratoga Springs, NY · Private

University of Georgia

Athens, GA · Public

Pace University

New York, NY · Private

Drexel University

Philadelphia, PA · Private

Texas Tech University

Lubbock, TX · Public

$86,278

4yr Earnings

25 grads · small sample

Maryville University of Saint Louis

Saint Louis, MO · Private

$86,209

4yr Earnings

19 grads · small sample

University of Redlands

Redlands, CA · Private

Saint Anselm College

Manchester, NH · Private

University of Missouri-Columbia

Columbia, MO · Public

University of Minnesota-Twin Cities

Minneapolis, MN · Public

$84,516

4yr Earnings

21 grads · small sample

Acceptance: 77.0%

#23

Seattle Pacific University

Seattle, WA · Private

Franklin College

Franklin, IN · Private

$84,491

4yr Earnings

18 grads · small sample

1yr: $43,875 (16)

Acceptance: 70.6%

#25

Gonzaga University

Spokane, WA · Private

CUNY Graduate School and University Center

New York, NY · Public

University of Oregon

Eugene, OR · Public

Avila University

Kansas City, MO · Private

$83,385

4yr Earnings

24 grads · small sample

St Lawrence University

Canton, NY · Private

Regis College

Weston, MA · Private

$82,096

4yr Earnings

18 grads · small sample

Albright College

Reading, PA · Private

Rollins College

Winter Park, FL · Private

Saint Mary's College of California

Moraga, CA · Private

Gustavus Adolphus College

Saint Peter, MN · Private

John Brown University

Siloam Springs, AR · Private

Concordia University Texas

Austin, TX · Private

$78,414

4yr Earnings

28 grads · small sample

Mercer University

Macon, GA · Private

Regis University

Denver, CO · Private

$75,857

4yr Earnings

29 grads · small sample

1yr: $45,411 (29)

Acceptance: 87.3%

#39

Temple University

Philadelphia, PA · Public

Kalamazoo College

Kalamazoo, MI · Private

Covenant College

Lookout Mountain, GA · Private

$75,186

4yr Earnings

16 grads · small sample

Acceptance: 81.8%

#42

Washington College

Chestertown, MD · Private

Mount St. Mary's University

Emmitsburg, MD · Private

Wartburg College

Waverly, IA · Private

Florida State University

Tallahassee, FL · Public

Lake Forest College

Lake Forest, IL · Private

University of Denver

Denver, CO · Private

$74,033

4yr Earnings

24 grads · small sample

Davenport University

Grand Rapids, MI · Private

University of Connecticut

Storrs, CT · Public

University of Connecticut-Waterbury Campus

Waterbury, CT · Public

Showing top 50 of 287 schools. View all or filter by state above.

Majors with Similar Earnings

Bilingual, Multilingual, and Multicultural Education $44,205 Human Resources Management and Services $44,112 Data Processing $43,979 Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services, Other $43,550 Soil Sciences $43,329 Food Science and Technology $43,237

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best school for Business/Commerce, General?

University of Virginia-Main Campus ranks #1 for Business/Commerce, General with median graduate earnings of $142,113 within four years of graduating. There are 287 schools nationwide offering this major with tracked earnings data.

How much do Business/Commerce, General graduates earn?

Business/Commerce, General graduates earn an average of $66,751 within four years of graduating. This is near the median across all majors. Earnings range from $25,817 to $142,113 depending on the school.

How hard is it to get into a top Business/Commerce, General program?

The average acceptance rate across Business/Commerce, General programs is 77.2%. The most selective program is at Massachusetts Institute of Technology with a 4.7% acceptance rate. Competitive programs value strong math/analytical skills and relevant coursework.

Is a public or private school better for Business/Commerce, General?

Private Business/Commerce, General programs average $71,724 in early earnings vs $64,112 at public schools. Private schools lead in earnings, but cost significantly more — calculate net price before deciding.

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Earnings are median 2 years after graduation for bachelor's degree holders, from the field-of-study file last updated June 2026. Institution-level figures elsewhere on the site come from the June 2026 release — Scorecard publishes the two separately.

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