A Business Degree Still Pays Off — Especially When You Pair It With Experience
If you’ve been questioning whether college is worth it, you’re not alone.
Students and working adults are asking the same thing: Will this degree actually lead to a job?
When it comes to business, the answer is still a strong yes.
A recent Investopedia article on in-demand degrees found that a business administration degree qualifies graduates for six of the 10 occupations with the most projected job openings between now and 2034. That kind of versatility matters. Business majors aren’t limited to one path — they’re positioned for roles in management, marketing, operations, finance and more — across nearly every industry.
And those opportunities don’t stop with business. Many of the other top occupations on that list align with degrees Lakeland offers — including accounting, computer science, data analytics, nursing and education. In other words, whether your path is business or beyond, Lakeland is preparing students for the roles that are growing the fastest.
And many of those roles come with strong earning potential, reinforcing something important: college is still worth it — especially when your degree aligns with real career opportunities.
But there’s a key difference between having a degree and being ready to use it.
That’s where experience comes in.
At Lakeland, that combination of degree and real-world experience is already making an impact. Students are advancing in their careers while still in school, applying what they learn in real time and graduating with a clear next step — whether that’s moving up in healthcare roles, completing their degree with hands-on experience, or maximizing both classroom and Co-Op opportunities.
Employers aren’t just looking for what you studied — they’re looking for what you’ve done. That’s why experiential learning has become such an important part of career-focused education. It’s the difference between understanding business concepts and actually applying them in real situations.
At Lakeland University, that experience is built directly into the business degree through our Cooperative Education program. Students can earn college credit for work experience, gaining hands-on exposure in roles aligned with their goals while still in school. In fact, up to 25% of a degree can come from these real-world experiences.
For high school students, that means graduating with more than a degree — you leave with a résumé, experience and a clearer path forward.
For adult learners, it means your experience counts. Lakeland’s flexible degree programs and degree completion options are designed to help you move forward faster, connecting what you already do to where you want to go.
The bottom line is simple: A business degree can open a lot of doors and experience is what helps you walk through them.
That’s what Lakeland delivers — a degree that’s not just relevant, but practical.
