First, some facts. Of the Business Administration graduates from Old Dominion University we've analyzed , here's how many have used (or NOT used) their degree in their career:
These are estimates based on AI analysis of 15 LinkedIn profiles (see below).
The verdict? Slightly below average. Overall, with an average relevance score of 63%, Business Administration graduates from Old Dominion University have a slightly lower likelihood (-4%) of finding work in this field compared to the average graduate across all fields:
And for comparison, here's the chart for all profiles we've looked at across all degrees.
Also, after graduating, only 13% of these graduates have pursued further education other than another Bachelor's degree (such as a Masters degree or other), compared to the average across all profiles of 35%. This suggests a Bachelors degree is enough for most Business Administration graduates, and it's normal to look for work straight after graduation.
See the details:
Relevance score: 78%We think this person has gone into a career highly relevant to their degree.DEGREE INFOGraduated in 2010 from Old Dominion University with a Bachelor of Science (BS) in Business Administration. Also pursued further education since (see below). JOB HISTORY SINCE GRADUATIONMember Service RepresentativeTowneBank Mar 2010 - Aug 2012 Private Banking Relationship Specialist TowneBank Aug 2012 - Dec 2014 Management Associate TowneBank Jan 2014 - Jan 2016 Merchant Sales AVP TowneBank Dec 2014 - Aug 2019 Merchant Advisor Manager, VP TowneBank Aug 2019 - Aug 2023 Director of Merchant Services, SVP TowneBank Sep 2023 - Present FURTHER DEGREES DONE SINCE GRADUATINGUnknown degreeVirginia Bankers School of Bank Management 2019 - 2021 ABOUTNo information provided. |
The top 10 most common jobs done by the graduates we've analyzed (ranked most common to least) are:
Most people who graduated with a degree in Business Administration from Old Dominion University seem to gravitate towards roles that have at least some connection to the business world. A significant number of graduates took positions in banking and finance, often starting with entry-level roles like Member Service Representative or Management Trainee and then climbing the ladder to positions with more responsibility, like Assistant Vice President or Merchant Advisor Manager. These types of jobs typically leverage the core business skills learned in their degree program and often involve significant management, strategic decision-making, or customer relationship responsibilities.
However, not all the jobs held by these graduates are closely tied to Business Administration. Many ended up in roles that don’t really require the specific skills or knowledge they learned during their studies, such as Substitute Teacher's Assistant, DJ, or even roles in customer service that focus more on basic interpersonal skills rather than business management. Although some roles in marketing or design might touch on business principles, many graduates found themselves in positions where the connection to their degree was minimal at best. Overall, while there are definitely graduates using their Business Administration knowledge in relevant jobs, others have taken paths that wander quite far from what they studied.
Here is a visual representation of the most common words in job titles for Business Administration graduates (this is across all Business Administration graduates we've analyzed, not just those who went to Old Dominion University):
When looking at the career trajectories of graduates from Old Dominion University with a degree in Business Administration, it seems like there’s a mix of outcomes for these individuals. For their first jobs, many of them landed roles that are somewhat related to their degree, like member service representatives or junior management positions in banks and credit unions. You can see that some have used those entry-level jobs as a stepping stone into more advanced positions within the same companies. For instance, one alumnus who started as a Member Service Representative eventually climbed the ladder to become a Director at TowneBank. This pattern demonstrates that a significant number of ODU grads are successfully moving into relevant roles in the finance and banking sectors after graduation.
However, there are also cases where graduates ventured into less conventional paths. Some went into industries like marketing, project management in construction, and even creative roles in graphic design without a direct tie to their business degree. As time progresses, it's clear that many are finding their niche, particularly in banking and finance, where positions and promotions often align with a business background. Others who may have started in less relevant fields are gradually gravitating towards roles that utilize their skills more effectively. Overall, while there are varied experiences, many graduates are making good headway into established careers, particularly in business and finance, which speaks well to the value of their education at Old Dominion University.
Getting a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration can be a bit of a rollercoaster, but honestly, it’s generally considered to be on the easier side compared to some other majors. At Old Dominion University, you’ll cover a variety of topics like marketing, management, and finance, which can feel pretty straightforward if you stay organized and keep up with your assignments. Sure, there will be some challenging classes and group projects that might test your teamwork skills, but as long as you're willing to put in the effort and ask for help when you need it, you should be able to handle it. Just keep in mind that it's all about finding your groove and managing your time well!
Most commonly, in the LinkedIn profiles we've looked at, it takes people 4 years to finish a Bachelor degree in Business Administration.
So, looking at the career paths of these Old Dominion grads, it seems like some have really hit their stride and are likely making decent money, while others are still climbing the ladder. For instance, there’s a grad who went from Member Service Representative all the way to SVP at TowneBank—definitely a sign of solid salary growth! On the flip side, someone who started as a Substitute Teacher's Assistant doesn’t seem to have ventured into high-earning roles yet. A few others, like the grads working as Project Managers or in IT roles, likely are pulling in respectable salaries given the demand for those jobs. Overall, it looks like if they played their cards right and found the right industries, many of these ODU alumni could definitely be earning well, but some are still on their way up.
Here is a visual representation of the most common words seen in the "about" section of LinkedIn profiles who have a Bachelor degree in Business Administration (this is across all Business Administration graduates we've analyzed, not just those who went to Old Dominion University). This may or may not be useful:
Here are all colleges offering a Bachelor degree in Business Administration (ordered by the average relevance score of their Business Administration graduates, best to worst) where we have analyzed at least 10 of their graduates: