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Best Business & Commerce Schools in the Southeast Region

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2023 Best Business & Commerce Schools in the Southeast Region

133 Colleges
$44,317 Avg Salary
$27,179 Avg Student Debt

Finding the Best General Business/Commerce School for You

There are so many business programs in today's world that it can tough to figure out which one is the right one for you. Along with traditional schools that require in-person attendence, you can attend one of many reputable online schools. Some programs even offer a hybrid experience. Alternatively, you may choose a trade school that prepares you to enter the workforce with knowledge in a specific field.

To assist you in seeing some of the education options that are available to you, Business Degree Central has created its Best Business & Commerce Schools in the Southeast Region ranking. This report analyzed 133 schools in the Southeast Region to see which ones offered the best programs for business students.

View our full ranking methodology.

2023 Best General Business/Commerce Schools in the Southeast Region

The colleges and universities below are the best for general business majors pursuing a .

Top 15% Best General Business/Commerce Schools

#1

Emory University

Atlanta, GA

Our 2023 rankings named Emory University the best school in the Southeast Region for general business/commerce students. Emory is a fairly large private not-for-profit school located in the large city of Atlanta.

The average amount in student loans that general business majors at Emory take out is $47,269.

Full General Business/Commerce at Emory University Report

#2

Wake Forest University

Winston-Salem, NC

The excellent programs at Wake Forest University helped the school earn the #2 place on this year’s ranking of the best general business/commerce schools in the Southeast Region . Wake Forest University is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school located in the midsize city of Winston-Salem.

While working on their degree, general business majors at Wake Forest University accumulate an average of around $18,899 in student debt.

Full General Business/Commerce at Wake Forest University Report

#3

Virginia Tech

Blacksburg, VA

A rank of #3 on this year’s list means Virginia Tech is a great place for general business/commerce students. Located in the city of Blacksburg, Virginia Tech is a public school with a very large student population.

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Out of the 133 schools in the Southeast Region that were part of this year’s ranking, American Public University System landed the # 4 spot on the list. Located in the fringe town of Charles Town, American Military University is a private for-profit school with a very large student population.

General Business majors at American Military University take out an average of $21,625 in student loans while working on their egree.

Read full report on General Business/Commerce at American Public University System

#5

University of Georgia

Athens, GA

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend University of Georgia. The school came in at #5 on this year’s Best Business & Commerce Schools in the Southeast Region list. Located in the midsize city of Athens, UGA is a public college with a fairly large student population.

The average amount in student loans that general business majors at UGA take out is $23,966.

Read full report on General Business/Commerce at University of Georgia

#6

University of Arkansas

Fayetteville, AR

University of Arkansas landed the #6 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best general business/commerce programs. Located in the small city of Fayetteville, UARK is a public college with a very large student population.

The average amount in student loans that general business majors at UARK take out is $20,262.

Full General Business/Commerce at University of Arkansas Report

#7

John Brown University

Siloam Springs, AR

John Brown University came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Business & Commerce Schools in the Southeast Region ranking. JBU is a small private not-for-profit school located in the town of Siloam Springs.

General Business majors at JBU take out an average of $19,752 in student loans while working on their egree.

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With a ranking of #8, Citadel Military College of South Carolina did quite well on this year’s best schools for general business/commerce students. Located in the medium-sized city of Charleston, The Citadel is a public school with a small student population.

Read full report on General Business/Commerce at Citadel Military College of South Carolina

#9

George Mason University

Fairfax, VA

George Mason University ranked #9 on this year’s Best Business & Commerce Schools in the Southeast Region list. Located in the large suburb of Fairfax, GMU is a public school with a fairly large student population.

Read full report on General Business/Commerce at George Mason University

Strayer University - Georgia did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best schools for general business/commerce students. It came in at #10 on the list. Located in the suburb of Chamblee, Strayer University - Georgia is a private for-profit college with a small student population.

After completing their degree, general business graduates from Strayer University - Georgia carry an average student debtload of $37,631. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $141.

Full General Business/Commerce at Strayer University - Georgia Report

Strayer University - Virginia ranked #11 on this year’s Best Business & Commerce Schools in the Southeast Region list. Strayer University - Virginia is a small private for-profit school located in the medium-sized city of Arlington.

The average amount in student loans that general business majors at Strayer University - Virginia take out is $37,631. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $141.

Read full report on General Business/Commerce at Strayer University - Virginia

#12

Randolph - Macon College

Ashland, VA

Randolph - Macon College landed the #12 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best general business/commerce programs. Located in the suburb of Ashland, Randolph - Macon is a private not-for-profit college with a small student population.

The average amount in student loans that general business majors at Randolph - Macon take out is $27,000. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $388, based on a 10-year repayment plan.

Full General Business/Commerce at Randolph - Macon College Report

Strayer University - North Carolina did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best schools for general business/commerce students. It came in at #13 on the list. Strayer University - North Carolina is a small private for-profit school located in the city of Greensboro.

The average amount in student loans that general business majors at Strayer University - North Carolina take out is $37,631. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $141.

Full General Business/Commerce at Strayer University - North Carolina Report

Strayer University - South Carolina landed the #14 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best general business/commerce programs. Located in the city of Greenville, Strayer University - South Carolina is a private for-profit school with a small student population.

On average, general business graduates from Strayer University - South Carolina take out $37,631 in student loans while working on their degree. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $141.

Read More…

#15

Belmont University

Nashville, TN

Belmont University came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Business & Commerce Schools in the Southeast Region ranking. Belmont is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Nashville.

General Business majors at Belmont take out an average of $38,355 in student loans while working on their egree.

Read full report on General Business/Commerce at Belmont University

DeVry University - Tennessee landed the #16 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best general business/commerce programs. DeVry University - Tennessee is a fairly small private for-profit school located in the large city of Nashville.

On average, general business graduates from DeVry University - Tennessee take out $40,529 in student loans while working on their degree.

Full General Business/Commerce at DeVry University - Tennessee Report

#17

Thomas More University

Crestview Hills, KY

Thomas More University ranked #17 on this year’s Best Business & Commerce Schools in the Southeast Region list. Thomas More is a small private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Crestview Hills.

While working on their degree, general business majors at Thomas More accumulate an average of around $42,000 in student debt.

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Strayer University - Tennessee ranked #18 on this year’s Best Business & Commerce Schools in the Southeast Region list. Strayer University - Tennessee is a small private for-profit school located in the city of Memphis.

While working on their degree, general business majors at Strayer University - Tennessee accumulate an average of around $37,631 in student debt. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $141.

Read full report on General Business/Commerce at Strayer University - Tennessee

#19

Holmes Community College

Goodman, MS

Holmes Community College ranked #19 on this year’s Best Business & Commerce Schools in the Southeast Region list. Holmes Community College is a small public school located in the rural area of Goodman.

On average, general business graduates from Holmes Community College take out $9,500 in student loans while working on their degree.

Read More…

Honorable Mentions

These are some additional schools worth mentioning that are also great but just didn't quite make the cut to earn our top Best Business & Commerce Schools in the Southeast Region award.

Rank College Location
20 Georgia Military College Milledgeville, GA
21 Augusta University Augusta, GA
22 Strayer University - Florida Tampa, FL
23 University of Kentucky Lexington, KY
24 Liberty University Lynchburg, VA
25 Strayer University - Alabama Birmingham, AL
26 West Virginia University Institute of Technology Beckley, WV

Best General Business/Commerce Colleges by State

Explore the best general business/commerce colleges for a specific state in the Southeast region.

State Degrees Awarded
Florida 1,813
Georgia 2,025
Tennessee 664
Louisiana 709
Virginia 1,437
North Carolina 494
West Virginia 870
Alabama 302
Mississippi 607
South Carolina 832
Arkansas 767
Kentucky 2,455

One of 21 majors within the business area of study, general business/commerce has other similar majors worth exploring.

General Business Concentrations

Major Annual Graduates
General Business/Commerce 56,779

Majors Similar to General Business

Related Major Annual Graduates
Business Administration & Management 403,753
Accounting 93,982
Finance & Financial Management 54,690
Marketing 52,078
Management Sciences & Quantitative Methods 48,037

Notes and References

*These averages are for the top 25 schools only.

  • Read more about our ranking methodology.
  • The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) serves as the core of the rest of our data about colleges.
  • Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
  • Credit for the banner image above goes to U.S. Consulate General Munich.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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