Choosing a career in commerce and business can be a challenging task as there are many excellent courses you can pursue in these fields. B.Com course and BBA course are two such courses that most students consider pursuing after completing class 12. However, the question remains, which is the better course? Let us take an in-depth look at the specifications of each course and then decide which course will be a better fit for you based on your professional goals:
About the Programmes:
B.Com:
If you want to pursue a career in finance, taxation, insurance, or accounting, then B.Com is the right course for you.
BBA:
If your career goal is to handle a business, or build a thriving business through entrepreneurship then BBA is the right course for you.
Subjects Covered:
B.Com:
You will learn about accounting, micro and macro economics, law, and finance as a part of a B.Com programme.
BBA:
Students who pursue BBA have a wide range of options open to them, including International Business, Finance and Banking, Insurance, Human Resource Management, Marketing, Family Business and Entrepreneurship, Information Technology, and Event Management. Some of the best management colleges in India also offer advanced BBA courses such as BBA Honours to help students gain relevant industry skills.
Eligibility Criteria:
B.Com:
Best private colleges in India accept applicants who have scored minimum 50% aggregate marks in class 12 for B Com admissions. First preference is given to students from the commerce stream.
BBA:
Some of the best B-schools in India accept applicants who have scored minimum 50% aggregate marks in class 12 in any stream for BBA admissions.
Career and Placements:
B.Com:
The career prospect of a B.Com graduate will vary depending on whether a student has pursued a basic B.Com degree or an advanced degree such as B.Com with Tally Certification. Professionals who have pursued an advanced degree will have better career prospects in the industry.
B.Com graduates are hired by accounting firms, businesses who have an in-house accounting team, insurance companies, banks, financial companies, and top CA firms. They can be hired as Accountants, Operations Managers, Assistant Accountants, and Finance Analysts.
BBA:
A professional holding a BBA Honours degree will have better career scope than someone holding a general BBA degree. Professionals who have specialised in Finance, Marketing, HRM, IT, and Entrepreneurship have a better scope of gaining a lucrative job role.
BBA candidates who go on to pursue an MBA in the field of their choice are able to gain better career prospects with a higher salary. BBA professionals are hired as Office Executives, Sales Executives, Research Assistants, Assistant Managers, and Business Development Managers by leading businesses across the globe.
Salary:
B.Com:
Professionals holding a general B.Com degree are able to gain a starting annual package of INR 2.5 lakhs, whereas professionals holding an advanced degree make upwards of INR 3.5 lakhs per annum.
BBA:
Professionals holding a BBA degree can earn an annual package of INR 2 lakhs per annum, and can increase their package through higher studies, added certifications, and added work experience.
Higher Education:
B.Com:
Professionals holding a B.Com degree can pursue an M.Com degree at the postgraduate level. They can also pursue other qualifications such as Chartered Accountancy (CA), Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA), Chartered Management Accountant (CMA), etc.
BBA:
After Completing a BBA the options for higher studies is limited to an MBA programme. It is advisable to gain an MBA degree with the same specialisation as the BBA degree. One advantage of pursuing MBA after BBA is that you will already have a solid foundation in the subjects you will study as a part of the MBA programme.
Conclusion:
It is difficult to make an outright statement stating which one degree is better than the other as both degrees have their advantages and limitations. If you are confused about which branch of commerce you wish to pursue then you can take up B.Com to figure out your professional goals.
On the other hand, if you are sure about pursuing a career in business management then BBA is the right career choice for you. Either way, you will be able to pursue MBA on the postgraduate level irrespective of which programme you pursue at the undergraduate level. So let your career goals and aptitude decide which course is better for you in the long run.