BA vs. BBA: What Should You Choose?

Making that jump from Class 12 to the next stage – graduation – is always a major deal for most students out there. One of the choices that they may face in this context is BA vs BBA. Bachelor of Arts (BA) is a three-year course that covers various Arts subjects that are also known as Humanities while Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) is a professional programme that is ideal for students who want to work in finance, business, and management domains in the future. In the article it is this choice we will deal with as we would provide you  with all the information that you need to decide between BA and BBA.

Understanding BA and BBA degrees

Before you make a decision on BBA vs BA degree you must first understand them. The BBA programs cover three years and provide you with a well-rounded education on different aspects of business and management such as the following:

• Accounting
• Finance
• Marketing
• Human Resources
• Operations Management

BA degree programs are versatile undergraduate courses that provide you with a well-rounded and broad education in humanities and liberal arts such as the following:

• Literature
• History
• Philosophy
• Sociology
• Psychology
• Anthropology

A major difference between these two types of degrees is that BA does not focus on any specialized subject as BBA does.

Key differences between BA and BBA

If you are looking for answers to this question –which one is best BBA or BA – you should first know the major differences between these degrees. For starters, in terms of specialization and focus, a BBA degree focuses primarily on management and business while a BA degree is broader and focuses on educating you in liberal arts. In a BBA program, the core courses are centered primarily on topics related to business. BA programs, on the contrary, provide you with a wide range of elective options from different disciplines.

These programs also differ in terms of the skillsets that they offer you through education. BBA courses prepare you well for careers in the business world including roles in the likes of management, finance, marketing, and entrepreneurship while with BA programs you have education, public service, journalism, and arts. In BA courses the teaching methodology is more theoretical as opposed to BBA courses where a lot of practical work is done as part of coursework as well such as internships and hands-on participation in different projects.

The tuition fees for a BBA program can be anywhere between Rs 50,000 and Rs 250,000 per year. On the other hand, in a BA program, the course fee usually ranges between Rs 5000 and Rs 15,000 per year. Both these courses are typically three years long.

Career Prospects and Job Opportunities after BA

Following is a list of the most prominent jobs that you can land following a BA degree program, and the expected salary range:

Campaign Manager: The main responsibility of a Campaign Manager is to make sure that marketing campaigns are achieving their objectives. They usually earn between Rs 5 lakhs and Rs 11 lakhs per year on average.

Public Relations Specialist: Public Relations Specialists are supposed to create a positive public image of the clients they work for and maintain the same. On average, they earn Rs 591,795 per year.

Public Administrator: Public Administrators oversee and manage services and programs operated by the government. In India, they earn between Rs 5 lakhs and Rs 7 lakhs per year, on average.

Content Manager: Content Managers are marketing experts who specialize in managing and creating targeted content that reflects the audience and the brand of their clients and/or employers. Content Managers usually earn between Rs 5 lakhs and Rs 11 lakhs each year on average.

Policy Analyst: Policy Analysts examine the efficacy of current policies and also create the foundation for new legislation and programs so that the goals and objectives of the government can be met. They earn Rs 911,345 per year on average.

Career Prospects and Job Opportunities after BBA

Following is a list of the most prominent jobs that you can land following a BBA degree program, and the expected salary range:

Business Analyst: Business Analysts analyze huge sets of data so that they can find effective ways to boost the efficiency of the organizations they are working with and/or for. They earn between Rs 7 lakhs and Rs 20 lakhs per year on average.

Technical Product Manager: Technical Product Managers align product and engineering teams to follow common goals. They earn Rs 10,83,523 per year on average.

Brand Manager: Brand Managers use trend research and customer research to make strategies that can change the way the brand in question is perceived by the people. They earn between Rs 9 lakhs and Rs 22 lakhs per year on average.

Operations Analyst: Operations Analysts help companies find solutions to problems within themselves and implement strategies oriented to achieve certain goals. They earn Rs 471,646 per year on average.

Human Resource (HR) Manager: HR Managers are supposed to plan, direct, and coordinate the administrative functions of their employer. They earn between Rs 10 lakhs and Rs 12 lakhs per year on average.

Higher Education Opportunities: BA and BBA

Once you have completed your BA you can study further with options such as Master of Arts (MA), Master of Business Administration (MBA), and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), to name a few. Studying in a BA degree program prepares you for advanced studies in diverse areas in universities outside India. For example, Comparative Literature is one course that can help you find higher educational opportunities in universities outside India as well.

Similarly, after completing your BBA program you can continue your studies with MBA, Master of Commerce (M.Com), and PGDM (Postgraduate Diploma in Management) programs. When you study in a BBA program you get prepared more than adequately for advanced studies in the domains of management and business that can help you land high-profile jobs with great compensation and perks upon completion.

Skills and Competencies Developed

Studying in a BBA program helps you develop competencies and skills that are specific to the world of business. The most prominent skills in this case are financial analysis, leadership, and strategic planning. These courses provide you with the skills needed to manage and lead lower-level employees in organizations. They teach you how to think strategically and develop the right kind of business acumen. In these programs, you also learn the best decision-making and problem-solving skills as well.

On the other hand, BA programs focus more on skills such as critical thinking, cultural awareness, communication, and adaptability. The graduates of these programs often possess strong problem-solving and analytical skills as well.

Is a BA degree worth it?

It is important to determine the pros and cons of a BA degree program to get answers to this question – is a BA degree worth it? So, here are the advantages and disadvantages of BA programs:

Pros

• diverse knowledge
• flexibility
• critical thinking skills
• versatility
• foundation for higher studies

Cons

• lack of specialization
• career entry challenges
• lower initial salaries
• competitive job market
• decision complexity in terms of electives

Thus, a BA program offers you versatility as well as a broad array of career options to choose from. It also helps that it lays a strong foundation for further studies. However, merely having a BA degree may not help you procure all job profiles that appear attractive to you. This is because of the level of competition in certain domains.

Is a BBA degree worth it?

Just as is the case with BA programs, BBA degree programs have several major advantages but the drawbacks are no less significant. The pros and cons of a BBA degree program may be enumerated below:

pros

• specialized knowledge
• career opportunities
• higher earning potential
• networking
• entrepreneurial skills

cons

• narrow focus
• less flexibility
• competitive admissions
• costs
• changing career goals

A BBA degree provides you with a direct entry into management and leadership roles in organizations thanks to the industry exposure and practical skills you get in these programs. However, you must also remember the intensity of competition in the business sector and determine whether you need to study further to advance your career or not.

It is only by weighing the advantages and disadvantages that we have spoken of over here that you would be able to determine the answer to this question - is BBA degree worth it – and make the right choice.

Which one is the best: BBA or BA?

When it comes to the choice – BA vs BBA – you need to focus first on your passions and/or interests. Are you strongly interested in topics related to business, management, and finance? If yes, a BBA program would be the ideal choice for you. However, if you have diverse interests and like to explore subjects such as arts, social sciences, and humanities you should choose a BA degree program as it will offer you the flexibility to run after your dreams.

If you wish to work in a field related to business such as finance, management, and marketing you should choose BBA to get a direct path to such careers. In case you want to work in a profession where communication skills and critical thinking are valued you must choose a BA degree to get a strong foundation in such capabilities.

Apart from these, you must also consider factors such as job market trends and long-term prospects as well as financial implications. Research the job market, especially regarding the industry that you are more interested in. Think of how you will be able to apply the knowledge and skills you have gained from your undergraduate education to various industries. Find out the tuition fee and other costs associated with both these programs and calculate the return on investment (ROI) that you will get from them. For BBA programs, you may have to look for financial aid and scholarships.

Conclusion

So, as you can see for yourself, both these degree programs offer you considerable pros and cons. They impart great skills and the job prospects of both are commendable too! However, they are different in terms of who they cater to. This is why when it comes to choosing between BA vs BBA you must focus on what you prefer and what your career goals are. You must also not neglect the market trends in these cases. No matter which one you choose in the end, do so from a leading institute such as Amity Online that offers you both programs.