It’s Not Too Late to Earn Your Business Degree
BY Office of Marketing and Communications | 6 MIN READ
Are you unhappy or unfulfilled in your current career? Do you want to enhance your skills and accelerate your professional growth? Perhaps you want to finish what you started before life had other ideas. No matter the reason, if you’re considering earning an adult business degree, rest assured it’s never too late to get one. In fact, right now might be an ideal time to do it.
Today’s job market is dynamic, with technological advancements and government interventions driving new opportunities and reshaping the business environment. With that as a backdrop, companies currently prioritize candidates that possess college degrees—a bachelor’s degree at a minimum, a master’s for some positions and industries. But at every stage of your career, returning to school and earning a business degree opens doors and offers many benefits for years to come.
How Does a Business Degree Lead to Career Success?
Whatever’s fueling your decision to invest in your education, a business degree is a strategic move for a settled future. It is a catalyst for growth, stability and new opportunities, not to mention peace of mind and self-satisfaction. These are just a few of the benefits:
- Career advancement or change. Completing your business degree is your ticket to advancing in your profession or transitioning to a new field. You’ll learn about management principles, strategic thinking and effective decision-making—qualities that appeal to a wide range of industries and companies. And you’ll be better prepared to take on executive and C-suite positions as well as leadership roles with greater responsibility and importance. Along with those roles come higher salaries—$122,090 median annual earnings in May 2024 for those in management occupations, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).
- Enhanced business skills. The business world is always changing, with advanced technology playing an increasingly important role. That’s why enhancing your skills with a business degree can be so rewarding. You’ll gain core business acumen in areas like marketing, finance and operations while being exposed to new technologies like digital transformation and data analytics. Beyond hard business skills, you’ll refine essential soft skills such as critical thinking, problem-solving, communication and leadership.
- Personal and professional growth. When returning to school as an adult, your life experiences are a significant asset. You bring a unique perspective to classroom discussions, enriching the learning environment for everyone. Degree completion programs also provide networking opportunities, connecting you with peers who are often working professionals as well as faculty members who are industry experts. For aspiring entrepreneurs, a business degree offers the essential tools to develop, launch and manage your own ventures.
What Type of Business Degree Program Is Right for You?
Returning to school as an adult means balancing your other responsibilities, budget and brain power. But the long-term benefits of earning an adult business degree can offset any short-term challenges. Many universities, including Elmhurst, recognize that the easiest business degree to get is one that fits your schedule, so they design their degree completion programs to ensure they are accessible to working adults. Here’s how:
- Flexible program options. These include online courses and part-time evening courses that fit your existing schedule. This schedule-friendly format enables working adults to comfortably fit the program into their life.
- Scholarships and financial aid. Financial aid and scholarships aimed at adult students can help make returning to college more affordable. At Elmhurst, for example, adults can apply for a range of degree completion program scholarships. In the end, returning to school as an adult should be considered an investment in your future: ZipRecruiter reported the average annual wage for those with business degrees was $85,178 in August 2025, which is significantly higher than the median annual wage for all occupations, which was $49,500 in 2024, according to the BLS.
- Academic support. Universities typically offer robust academic support services, including tutoring, writing centers and dedicated academic advising, to help you ease back into the learning environment and thrive.
- Diverse student body. One of the greatest parts of returning to school as an adult is learning with a diverse group of people who have real-world experience just like you. You can exchange information about the challenges working professionals face and rely on your learning cohort for support and differing viewpoints. Many business programs catering to working adults include a range of professionals, from experienced corporate executives to start-up entrepreneurs, enriching classroom discussions and providing insights that enhance your learning journey.
An Achievable Path to Career Advancement
Returning to school as an adult to earn your business degree is made easy at Elmhurst University. Our Elmhurst Management Program (EMP) is the ideal way for working professionals to enhance their skills and advance their careers. Here are three things that set the EMP apart from other degree completion programs:
- It’s fast and flexible. You can advance through the program in 18 to 24 months, taking a combination of on-campus and online courses. You’ll attend in-person classes once a week in the evenings, ensuring minimal disruption to your already busy schedule.
- We offer relevant curriculum and experienced faculty. Guided by seasoned faculty members, who are scholars and practitioners in their field, and working with a cohort of your peers, you’ll learn the basics of business today: marketing, management, accounting, finance, global business, logistics and economics. If you’re interested in work beyond the core curriculum, you can pursue several specialty majors:
- Dedicated support and resources. Beyond your support in the classroom, you have access to academic advising and The Learning Center for tutoring and writing assistance. Likewise, our Weigand Career Center for Professional Excellence team provides comprehensive assistance with career assessment, resume building, interview preparation and job-search strategies.
Whether you’re looking to advance in your current field, switch careers or just want the satisfaction of completing an unfinished degree, the EMP at Elmhurst is an ideal option.
We understand the unique needs and immense potential of adult learners. We’re here for you with flexible programs, relevant curriculum and comprehensive support systems to help you reach your professional and personal goals. There’s no time like the present to secure your future—explore the Elmhurst Management Program today.
