An associate degree opens the door to the world of business, allowing aspiring professionals to pursue entry-level opportunities. However, lasting career growth often requires a bachelor's degree, and working adults may find it difficult to invest in their education while simultaneously balancing job and family responsibilities.
Fortunately, our business administration online program provides modern learners with a powerful pathway forward — a flexible, affordable degree program that can lead to higher-level business roles.
As a business professional, you probably have a lot on your plate. Between work and personal responsibilities, it can be difficult to find time for school. If you are looking to invest in both your education and career, you may find that a BBA online program is the best option.
A business administration online program offers a significant return on your investment, giving you the credentials to pursue a wide range of advanced business opportunities. According to Indeed, common career options for those with a BBA degree include:
The BBA online degree program offers the freedom to learn at your own pace, allowing you to balance education with work or personal commitments. Because of this flexible structure, you can complete your degree more quickly than in a traditional, in-person bachelor’s program.
If you’re interested in accelerating your program and earning your degree as quickly as possible, you should work with academic advisors to map the fastest route to graduation. Academic advisors can review your previously earned credits, evaluate your professional experience, and collaborate with department leaders to streamline your route.
Degree audit planning helps you identify which of your previously earned credits can count toward your current degree program. This process also shows whether you qualify for credit for prior learning, which recognizes knowledge gained outside a traditional classroom. According to the Council for Adult and Experiential Learning, credit for prior learning includes professional experience, training, or other learning activities. Through a Prior Learning Assessment (PLA), academic advisors review your past work and experiences to determine if they can be applied as college credit.
Stackable pathways — such as certificate options embedded within the BBA curriculum — allow you to build credentials step by step as you advance through your studies. This approach helps you accelerate career growth while getting the most value out of your educational investment.
At Indiana Wesleyan University, we recognize that modern learners want to leverage their previous educational experience and streamline the path toward graduation. We’ve created a series of transfer-friendly policies that support online learners and offer them a flexible, affordable pathway.
In general, 120 credits are required to earn a bachelor's degree at IWU. We allow transfer students to transfer up to 90 credits toward their bachelor's degree, depending on where the credits were earned.
Most IWU degree programs accept credit from non-traditional sources. Credit for work experience and prior learning can be applied when students provide a portfolio of prior training and experiences that demonstrate their legitimate equivalency to specific college-level coursework. Up to 40 credit hours of portfolio credit from non-traditional sources can be applied to most programs.
A PLA is a strategic process in which a university evaluates work experience and prior learning from non-traditional sources. The PLA needs to be performed for credit for prior learning to be applied to a degree program.
At IWU, students who want to earn credit for work experience and prior learning should create a well-documented portfolio that includes industry-specific work they’ve completed. The portfolio also needs to clearly demonstrate their understanding of their coursework.
Exam-based credit may be applied to a degree program. For students who are beginning a degree program immediately after high school graduation, the most common application of exam-based credit is the successful completion of Advanced Placement exams. For working professionals pursuing a BBA degree online, there may be other avenues for exam-based credit to explore.
Online degree programs give you the autonomy you need to create a personalized degree plan that accommodates your current commitments, including your job and personal responsibilities. You can work closely with academic advisors and the student support team to develop a personalized degree plan that meets your unique needs.
Strategically selecting a pace for your program allows you to effectively balance your coursework with your current responsibilities. With the BBA online program, you can accelerate your pace to finish your degree faster.
As you develop a degree plan and reach key milestones, you will want to work closely with academic advisors to ensure that you are on track to graduate by your target date. Academic advisors will closely review the credits you have earned and the courses that you are enrolled in to help maximize efficiency within your degree plan.
Knowing that you want to go from an associate degree to a BBA online program is the first step. Next, you have to figure out how to fund your degree program. Selecting an affordable program is often a top priority among adult learners, which is why the BBA online degree at IWU is so enticing.
Financial aid is available for adult learners, typically in the form of:
Smarter budgeting allows you to allocate money toward your degree program, which can reduce the number of loans that you need to take out. You can work with a financial advisor or student support specialist to evaluate payment plans for college and find one that works for you.
By choosing a university that offers personalized support for online students, you can gain access to the tools and resources you need to succeed.
Through student services, career services, and a strong alumni career network, you can enjoy comprehensive assistance throughout your degree program. From academic advising and prior learning assessment services to spiritual counseling and career development support, we aim to provide each student with whole-person support, so that they can grow academically, personally, and professionally during their time at IWU.
Career tools, such as resume critiques, time management templates, practice interviews, and networking events, help you leverage the power of your education and prepare for success in the modern business landscape. These resources also connect you with mentors and career advisors who can provide personalized guidance as you plan your next professional steps.
Online learning requires a certain level of technical proficiency. Through ongoing technical support, adult students can remain prepared to complete their virtual coursework.
Students will access course materials and submit assignments through a learning management system, or LMS. A detailed orientation introduces students to our mobile-friendly LMS, giving them a chance to become comfortable and familiar with the technology before they begin their degree program.
Prior to graduation, students must complete a capstone business project during their Seminar in Business course. This final project helps them apply their learning in a relevant and useful way. Furthermore, it can serve as an excellent part of their business portfolio after graduation.
The capstone business project helps students showcase their understanding of leading managerial principles, allowing them to finish strong and begin their next chapter with confidence. It’s a valuable opportunity to apply everything they’ve learned, highlight professional growth, and transition confidently into the next stage of their career.
Investing in an accredited business administration online degree that offers high-quality learning experiences ensures you gain the fundamental skills and knowledge required for the evolving field of business.
The IWU BBA online degree is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs, providing you with the assurance that you’re investing in a relevant, applicable degree program.
Most programs accept a large portion of an associate degree and additional ACE/NCCRS credits, subject to residency and upper-division requirements. A degree audit will show exactly what applies.
PLA awards college credit for college-level learning gained through work, certifications, military training, or self-study. You'll submit a portfolio or take challenge/CLEP/DSST exams mapped to course outcomes.
Yes, often via elective blocks or targeted course matches. Advisors can pair technical credits with stackable business certificates to minimize repeats and fill core gaps efficiently.
With a strong transfer haul plus PLA, many students complete remaining credits in 12 to 24 months using eight-week courses. Your pace depends on term load and previously earned credits.
Yes. Employer reimbursement or direct-bill can be combined with federal and state aid as well as scholarships, coordinated by the aid office to reduce out-of-pocket costs.
You’ll have faculty interaction, tutoring, writing and research help, success coaching, and technical support. You’ll also have access to career services for resumes, as well as LinkedIn and job leads.
No, especially if you choose certificates embedded in the BBA plan. They add resume value mid-program while counting fully toward degree requirements.
The business administration online program is designed for working professionals who want to accelerate their career growth and develop the leadership skills required for the modern business landscape. The DeVoe Division of Business at IWU offers a wide range of business degree programs, including a bachelor's in entrepreneurship degree and an online MBA degree. You’ll develop an advanced understanding of business acumen, ultimately leveraging your personal interests in the field and successfully launching your business career.
Learn more about our degree programs, request more information about our Christ-centered campus, and apply today.
