July 9, 2024
Overview: Explore the BBA vs BCom debate to find the right degree for your commerce and management career goals. Our guide offers detailed comparisons and insights into career pathways for students from all backgrounds.
Selecting the right course after 12th commerce can significantly impact your career. BBA (Bachelor of Business Administration) and BCom (Bachelor of Commerce) are popular choices for those interested in management careers.
This article compares the two, discussing career paths and key factors to consider, helping you make an informed decision based on your interests.
There is a wide variety of courses and career choices open to students wishing to pursue their career in Management. However, BBA and BCom are among the top super career options that you can go for after the 12th.
Both BBA and Bcom are 3 year degree program which grants admission through entrance exams or directly based on merit.
Basis | BCom | BBA |
---|---|---|
Objective | Focuses on theoretical aspects of Accountancy, Finance, Economics, etc. | Prepares for management roles with skills in operations, marketing, and management. |
Fee | INR 20,000 to 1 lakh (Full Course) | INR 1 lakh to 3 lakh (Full Course) |
Difficulty | Easy | Moderate |
Salary Offered | INR 10,000 - 15,000 per month | INR 20,000 - 35,000 per month |
While the eligibility criteria vary from college to college, we have outlined some basic eligibility that most of the colleges have.
Basis | Bcom | BBA |
Eligibility | Candidates need an aggregate of 60% or more in English/Hindi and a combination of three best among the following subjects: Mathematics, Accountancy, Economics, and Business Studies/ Commerce | Candidates need an aggregate of 60% or more in English/Hindi and a combination of three other subjects. Apart from commerce, other stream students are also eligible to apply. |
Age | There is no age bar | The age should be between 17 to 25 years. |
Basis | Bcom | BBA |
Admission Procedure | SRCC primarily admits students based on their performance in Class 12th board exams. They may also consider performance in interviews or group discussions if implemented. | SSCBS generally requires candidates to clear the Joint Admission Test (JAT) conducted by Delhi University, followed by a personal interview and group discussion for final selection. |
The course structure of BBA and BCom is very similar. However, BCom emphasizes the academic parts of the topics rather than the professional and real-world applications.
BBA, on the other hand, involves practical applications, and students can learn through projects and case studies. To help students understand the curriculum, we have listed the important subjects of both BBA and BCom from SRCC and SSCBS.
Basis | Bcom | BBA |
Subjects |
|
|
Listed below are the top BBA and BCom colleges in India based on the NIRF Ranking:
Rank | BCom Colleges | BBA Colleges |
---|---|---|
1 | Shri Ram College of Commerce (SRCC) (University of Delhi) | Shaheed Sukhdev College of Business Studies (SSCBS) |
2 | Hindu College | NMIMS Anil Surendra Modi School of Commerce, Mumbai |
3 | Hansraj College | Christ University |
4 | Lady Shri Ram College for Women (LSR) | Loyola College |
5 | Kirori Mal College | Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi |
6 | Loyola College (Autonomous) | Mount Carmel College |
7 | SVKM's Narsee Monjee College of Commerce and Economics | Madras Christian University |
8 | Atma Ram Sanatan Dharma College (ARSD) | Maharaja Surajmal Institute |
9 | Ramjas College | CMS Bangalore |
10 | Madras Christian College (Autonomous) | SRM Institute Kattankulathur |
The primary distinction between BBA and BCom is in the employment opportunities provided by each course. While a BBA can lead to a well-established management job, BCom can lead to a broader range of career alternatives such as CA, CS, etc.
Students obtaining a BBA degree can find rewarding managerial positions in the following fields:
Basis | Bcom | BBA |
Industries |
|
|
Students obtaining a BBA can advance their careers by pursuing an MBA or a Post Graduate Diploma in Management.
A key benefit of a BBA graduate taking an MBA is that they will be studying things they are already familiar with, although in greater depth.
To be eligible for an MBA program, students can take various management entrance exams in India, such as the CAT, XAT, and others, or they can pursue an International MBA bypassing the GMAT exam.
After graduation, BCom students can pursue an MCom degree. MCom courses cover disciplines such as business administration, accounting, and economics in greater depth.
There are also other lucrative alternatives for further education, some of them are-
it is a title granted to an accounting professional who has earned certification from a statutory authority that he/she is eligible to take care of business accounting and taxation issues, such as file tax returns, audit financial statements, and operating practices, maintaining investment records, preparing and updating financial reports and documents.
The CMA course will be a perfect option for someone who dreams of making it big in the accounting industry. In recent years, the program has become a common option amongst Commerce students or those wanting to join the business field.
CMA officers are responsible for budgeting, cost management, performance evaluation, and asset management within a company or organization. The CMA is a certification provided by the Institute of Cost Accountants of India (ICAI).
CMAs may hold top management positions in public and private sectors’ enterprises like Chairman cum Managing Directors, CFO and other important positions.
Note: Unlike fields in STEM, any of the commerce undergraduate degrees make you eligible for almost all of the higher degree courses, for example, you can do an MBA after B.Com as well and can pursue CA/CS/CMA after BBA.
The above information and suggestions are on the basis of what undergraduate degree is more helpful in nature to pursue which higher studies. i.e., a B.Com is better suited for someone who wants to do CA.
Choosing management as a career after the 12th will offer you the most exciting and rewarding career options.
After post-graduation, a BBA student can enter the management profession or the corporate workforce to undertake the following tasks in a firm. All career routes following an MBA can lead to well-paying jobs in reputable firms.
After completing the necessary postgraduate courses, a BCom graduate can enter the following professions.
Both BBA and BCom degrees can assist students to access lucrative careers. However, having simply a Bachelor's degree does not ensure a well-paying job.
Students must take post-graduate or specialized studies in order to begin a successful profession.
After completing their undergraduate education, students with a BCom or BBA degree can also sit for government tests where their field of study does not influence their professional route.
Consider your personality, professional ambitions, and future plans as you develop your career path in BBA or BCom. Use the factors mentioned below to find the perfect career choice which aligns with your interests.
Begin by evaluating and answering a few key questions. This will assist you in narrowing your options and in making informed decisions, such as
The answers to the preceding questions will assist you in developing a more solid career path. You should also examine your career goals to ensure they are still aligned with your preferences and remain attainable.
If you are aligned towards Finance, economics, Accountancy opt for BCom, and If you are aligned towards managerial and operational skills opt for BBA.
While it is far-fetched to determine what career path will lead to how much salary, you can still estimate through the average salary packages of the college you aim for.
It is also not advised to make decisions only on the basis of prospective earnings in the future, as interest and fulfillment are more important for a successful career, but nevertheless it could very well be one of the important factor for you while making career decisions.
Prepare a detailed list of your expertise areas, certifications, and current skills. Get feedback and opinions about your people management, interpersonal, and technical skills. Use this analysis to find a career that matches your strengths.
Sometimes, it is hard to determine the skills needed in the career in the future and if you have those skills, so an easier approach could be to look at your 12th Standard scores i.e, if you have performed exceptionally well in accounts subject, you could look at B.Com and then CA/CMA.
After you've narrowed down your options, you can set appropriate professional milestones. Find out where other professionals in your sector stand five and ten years into their careers.
Take note of their work titles and consider what advancements and jobs you want to pursue in the future. Following that, you must conduct research to determine how to fulfill those goals.
Making a career choice is one of the most important decisions you'll ever make in your life, and thus, you need to give ample time to think and do in-depth research in the careers you want to advance in.
If you plan to make a career in the management domain, you can also consider IPM courses offered by top IIMs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is BCom Better than BBA?
What are the job opportunities after BBA and BCom?
What are the Career Prospects after BBA?
What are the opportunities of higher education after BCom?