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Business Advisor Education Requirements
Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
There are several educational requirements to become a business advisor. Business advisors usually study business, accounting, or finance. 67% of business advisors hold a bachelor's degree, and 17% hold an master's degree. We analyzed 3,157 real business advisor resumes to see exactly what business advisor education sections show.
The most common colleges for business advisors are the University of Phoenix and the University of Phoenix.
There are also many online business advisor courses to help get the education required to be a business advisor.
There are certain business advisor certifications that you should consider. These business advisor certifications include Certified Sales Professional (CSP) and Project Management Professional (PMP).
What education do you need to become a business advisor?
What degree do you need to be a business advisor?
- Bachelor's, 67%
- Master's, 17%
- Associate, 9%
- High School Diploma, 2%
- Other Degrees, 5%
What should I major in to become a business advisor?
- Business, 34%
- Accounting, 10%
- Finance, 8%
- Marketing, 7%
- Other Majors, 41%
Most common colleges for business advisors
| Business Advisor Common College | Percentages |
|---|---|
| University of Phoenix | 14.72% |
| Ohio State University | 6.79% |
| Arizona State University | 6.04% |
| Texas A&M University | 5.28% |
| New York University | 4.91% |
Best majors for business advisors
| Rank | Major | Percentages |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Business | 34.2% |
| 2 | Accounting | 10.0% |
| 3 | Finance | 7.6% |
| 4 | Marketing | 7.2% |
| 5 | Management | 6.2% |
Best colleges for business advisors
The best colleges for business advisors are Northwestern University, University of Southern California, and New York University.
A business advisor with advanced education typically earns a higher salary and has access to better jobs. That's why Zippia looked into the best colleges for business advisors. We based this list on several metrics: admissions rate, retention rate, mean earnings of graduates, the ratio of working vs. non-working students ten years after admission, the average cost of attendance, and median debt for graduates who become business advisors.
1. Western Carolina University
Cullowhee, NC • Private
In-State Tuition
$3,926
Enrollment
9,835
2. University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA • Private
In-State Tuition
$56,225
Enrollment
19,548
3. San Diego State University
San Diego, CA • Private
In-State Tuition
$7,488
Enrollment
30,018
4. Ball State University
Muncie, IN • Private
In-State Tuition
$9,896
Enrollment
15,529
5. University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA • Private
In-State Tuition
$55,584
Enrollment
10,764
6. New York University
New York, NY • Private
In-State Tuition
$51,828
Enrollment
26,339
7. Bowling Green State University
Bowling Green, OH • Private
In-State Tuition
$11,105
Enrollment
13,729
8. Georgetown University
Washington, DC • Private
In-State Tuition
$54,104
Enrollment
7,089
9. Howard University
Washington, DC • Private
In-State Tuition
$26,756
Enrollment
6,166
10. Northwestern University
Evanston, IL • Private
In-State Tuition
$54,568
Enrollment
8,451
20 best online courses for business advisors
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1. Business Process Mapping
The complete guide to map any business process...
2. Business Communication Skills: Handling Clients & Customers
Soft Skills Training Social Skills Business Etiquette Business English Customer Service Training...
3. Introduction to Business Process Modeling
Learn how to analyze, model, and improve your organization's business processes...
4. Lean BPM - Lean Business Process Management Change Skills
Lean BPM - learn how to use lean business management techniques to reduce waste and improve your business efficiency...
5. Human Resources (HR) as a Business Partner
This course provides valuable information on how Human Resource Business Partnering (HRBP) operates in practice...
6. BPMN For Business Analytics A-Z™: Business Process Modeling
Learn Business Process Modelling with over Real-World case studies...
7. The Complete Business Process Management (BPM) Master Class
12000+ enrollments Learn the Business Process Management methods used by the world's most successful organizations...
8. Business Strategy Development: The Art of Differentiation
Learn 3 key business strategy tools. Improve your business innovation skills and drive profitable business development...
9. Operations Management A-Z: Business Processes and Systems
Operations Management: Supply Chain & Business Processes in Industry for Manufacturing and Services Organizations...
10. Business Fundamentals: Corporate Strategy
Business Strategy: Understand What It Takes To Be Successful In Business...
11. Business Process Modelling with UML Activity Diagrams & BPMN
Become an expert in Modelling Business Processes with Business Analysis Techniques and UML Activity Diagrams & BPMN...
12. Building a Digital Business Strategy
Learn to develop and align digital business strategies for products, marketing and operations...
13. Start Improving Customer Service
Creating a Customer Service advantage in Your department or business through communication and Customer Management...
14. Business Mind - Mastering Business Development
Master in Practice the Product, Sales and Marketing Perspective of Business Development...
15. U.S. Residential Real Estate, Property & Mortgage Business
Property & Mortgage Underwriting Loan Processing Financial Analysis Mortgage Operations Origination...
16. Leadership, Business Process Improvement, & Process Mapping!
Learn the leadership, communication, and process mapping skills to accelerate your career!...
17. MBA -The Business fundamentals + 30 hrs of business concepts
+ 30 hrs , This MBA course is designed to enhance your Business knowledge & learn the foundation concepts of businesses...
18. BPMN 2.0 Business Process Modelling for Business Analysts
Become a BPMN 2.0 Expert in 1 day. With this practical hands-on course you will learn proper Business Process Modelling...
19. Business Analysis: Developing Irresistible Business Cases
Building the business acumen you need to promote your projects to management...
20. Business Strategy Execution-Agile Organization System Design
Transforming Culture and Capabilities to Execute Business Strategy: The Agile Way to Business Strategy Success...
Top 10 most affordable universities for business advisors
The most affordable schools for business advisors are Baruch College of the City University of New York, suny farmingdale, and usf sarasota-manatee.
If the best universities for business advisors are out of your price range, check out these affordable schools. After factoring in in-state tuition and fees, the average cost of attendance, admissions rate, average net price, and mean earnings after six years, we found that these are the most affordable schools for business advisors.
1. Baruch College of the City University of New York
New York, NY • Private
In-State Tuition
$7,262
Cost of Attendance
14,046
2. SUNY Farmingdale
Farmingdale, NY • Private
In-State Tuition
$8,306
Cost of Attendance
16,091
3. USF Sarasota-Manatee
Sarasota, FL • Private
In-State Tuition
$5,587
Cost of Attendance
13,043
4. Florida International University
Miami, FL • Private
In-State Tuition
$6,556
Cost of Attendance
19,434
5. Minot State University
Minot, ND • Private
In-State Tuition
$7,064
Cost of Attendance
15,576
6. University of South Florida
Tampa, FL • Private
In-State Tuition
$6,410
Cost of Attendance
20,456
7. Florida Atlantic University
Boca Raton, FL • Private
In-State Tuition
$4,831
Cost of Attendance
19,559
8. Dickinson State University
Dickinson, ND • Private
In-State Tuition
$6,768
Cost of Attendance
15,506
9. California State University - Bakersfield
Bakersfield, CA • Private
In-State Tuition
$7,309
Cost of Attendance
16,714
10. Brigham Young University - Hawaii
Laie, HI • Private
In-State Tuition
$5,560
Cost of Attendance
18,043
Top 10 hardest universities to get into for business advisors
The hardest universities for business advisors to get into are Northwestern University, University of Southern California, and New York University.
Some great schools for business advisors are hard to get into, but they also set your career up for greater success. The list below shows the most challenging universities to get into for business advisors based on an institution's admissions rates, average SAT scores accepted, median ACT scores accepted, and mean earnings of students six years after admission.
1. Northwestern University
Evanston, IL • Private
Admissions Rate
8%
SAT Average
1,508
2. University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA • Private
Admissions Rate
13%
SAT Average
1,445
3. New York University
New York, NY • Private
Admissions Rate
20%
SAT Average
1,419
4. University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA • Private
Admissions Rate
8%
SAT Average
1,492
5. Boston University
Boston, MA • Private
Admissions Rate
22%
SAT Average
1,420
6. George Washington University, The
Washington, DC • Private
Admissions Rate
42%
SAT Average
1,380
7. Georgetown University
Washington, DC • Private
Admissions Rate
15%
SAT Average
1,456
8. Stanford University
Stanford, CA • Private
Admissions Rate
4%
SAT Average
1,497
9. Villanova University
Villanova, PA • Private
Admissions Rate
29%
SAT Average
1,407
10. Bentley University
Waltham, MA • Private
Admissions Rate
43%
SAT Average
1,338
Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for business advisors
The easiest schools for business advisors to get into are D'Youville College, holy names university, and notre dame college.
Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as a business advisor without much hassle, check out the list of schools where you will be accepted in no time. We compiled admissions rates, average SAT scores, average ACT scores, and average salary of students six years after graduation to uncover which were the easiest schools to get into for business advisors.
1. D'Youville College
Buffalo, NY • Private
Admissions Rate
100%
SAT Average
1,072
2. Holy Names University
Oakland, CA • Private
Admissions Rate
70%
SAT Average
849
3. Notre Dame College
Cleveland, OH • Private
Admissions Rate
90%
SAT Average
994
4. Mount Saint Mary's University
Los Angeles, CA • Private
Admissions Rate
84%
SAT Average
1,031
5. LIM College
New York, NY • Private
Admissions Rate
83%
SAT Average
1,061
6. Barry University
Miami, FL • Private
Admissions Rate
91%
SAT Average
1,006
7. Felician University
Lodi, NJ • Private
Admissions Rate
81%
SAT Average
999
8. Cardinal Stritch University
Milwaukee, WI • Private
Admissions Rate
71%
SAT Average
1,035
9. University of North Texas at Dallas
Dallas, TX • Private
Admissions Rate
83%
SAT Average
992
10. Oklahoma Wesleyan University
Bartlesville, OK • Private
Admissions Rate
68%
SAT Average
964
Average business advisor salary by education level
| Business Advisor education level | Business Advisor salary |
|---|---|
| Master's Degree | $116,121 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $103,470 |
| Doctorate Degree | $118,547 |
| Some College/ Associate Degree | $87,476 |
Business Advisor Education FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025
Updated January 8, 2025