Business Development Internship Education Requirements

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read

There are several educational requirements to become a business development internship. Business development interns usually study business, finance, or marketing. 79% of business development interns hold a bachelor's degree, and 12% hold an master's degree. We analyzed 9,093 real business development internship resumes to see exactly what business development internship education sections show.

The most common colleges for business development interns are the New York University and the New York University.

There are also many online business development internship courses to help get the education required to be a business development internship.

There are certain business development internship certifications that you should consider. These business development internship certifications include Google Data Analytics Professional Certificate and Certified Economic Developer (CEcD).

What education do you need to become a business development internship?

What degree do you need to be a business development internship?

The most common degree for business development interns is bachelor's degree, with 79% of business development interns earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are master's degree degree at 12% and master's degree degree at 4%.
  • Bachelor's, 79%
  • Master's, 12%
  • Associate, 4%
  • High School Diploma, 2%
  • Other Degrees, 3%

What should I major in to become a business development internship?

You should major in business to become a business development internship. 27% of business development interns major in business. Other common majors for a business development internship include finance and marketing.

Most common colleges for business development interns

Business development interns often get their degrees at New York University, University of California - Davis, and University of California, Santa Barbara. Here are the most common colleges for business development interns in the US based on their resumes.
Business Development Internship Common College
ascdesc
Percentages
ascdesc
New York University10.38%
University of California - Davis8.96%
University of California, Santa Barbara7.43%
University of Southern California6.78%
University of Texas at Austin5.90%

Best majors for business development interns

Rank
ascdesc
Major
ascdesc
Percentages
ascdesc
1Business27.5%
2Finance10.5%
3Marketing10.4%
4Economics10.2%
5Management5.0%

Best colleges for business development interns

The best colleges for business development interns are Northwestern University, University of Pennsylvania, and University of Southern California.

A business development internship with advanced education typically earns a higher salary and has access to better jobs. That's why Zippia looked into the best colleges for business development interns. We based this list on several metrics: admissions rate, retention rate, mean earnings of graduates, the ratio of working vs. non-working students ten years after admission, the average cost of attendance, and median debt for graduates who become business development interns.

1. University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, PA • Private

In-State Tuition

$55,584

Enrollment

10,764

Website

www.upenn.edu

Address

1 College Hall, Room 100, Philadelphia, PA 19104-6303

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $91,200 per year

Net Price: $25,033 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 8.41%
SAT Average - 1492
ACT Average - 34
Most Popular Majors
Finance
Business
Economics
Small Business Management
Political Science

2. University of Southern California

Los Angeles, CA • Private

In-State Tuition

$56,225

Enrollment

19,548

Website

www.usc.edu/

Address

University Park, Los Angeles, CA 90089-0012

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $61,400 per year

Net Price: $30,453 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 12.96%
SAT Average - 1445
ACT Average - 32
Most Popular Majors
Business
Communication
Accounting
Economics
Psychology

3. Georgetown University

Washington, DC • Private

In-State Tuition

$54,104

Enrollment

7,089

Website

www.georgetown.edu

Address

37th and O St NW, Washington, DC 20057

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $81,100 per year

Net Price: $30,169 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 14.52%
SAT Average - 1456
ACT Average - 33
Most Popular Majors
Business
Political Science
Economics
Finance
Public Relations

4. San Diego State University

San Diego, CA • Private

In-State Tuition

$7,488

Enrollment

30,018

Website

www.sdsu.edu

Address

5500 Campanile Dr, San Diego, CA 92182-8000

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $41,600 per year

Net Price: $15,287 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 34.58%
SAT Average - 1213
ACT Average - 25
Most Popular Majors
Business
Psychology
Kinesiology
Communication
Economics

5. Northwestern University

Evanston, IL • Private

In-State Tuition

$54,568

Enrollment

8,451

Website

www.northwestern.edu

Address

633 Clark St, Evanston, IL 60208

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $71,900 per year

Net Price: $24,840 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 8.47%
SAT Average - 1508
ACT Average - 34
Most Popular Majors
Business
Economics
Communication
Psychology
Political Science

20 best online courses for business development interns

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Top 10 most affordable universities for business development interns

The most affordable schools for business development interns are Baruch College of the City University of New York, usf sarasota-manatee, and florida international university.

If the best universities for business development interns are out of your price range, check out these affordable schools. After factoring in in-state tuition and fees, the average cost of attendance, admissions rate, average net price, and mean earnings after six years, we found that these are the most affordable schools for business development interns.

1. Baruch College of the City University of New York

New York, NY • Private

In-State Tuition

$7,262

Cost of Attendance

14,046

Website

www.baruch.cuny.edu

Address

One Bernard Baruch Way, New York, NY 10010

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $47,500 per year

Net Price: $2,981 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 39.29%
SAT Average - 1305
Most Popular Majors
Finance
Accounting
Business
Psychology
Small Business Management
U

2. USF Sarasota-Manatee

Sarasota, FL • Private

In-State Tuition

$5,587

Cost of Attendance

13,043

Website

usfsm.edu/

Address

8350 N. Tamiani Trail, Sarasota, FL 34243

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $39,400 per year

Net Price: $4,595 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 32.43%
SAT Average - 1225
ACT Average - 26
Most Popular Majors
Biology
Psychology
Business
Accounting
Finance

3. Florida International University

Miami, FL • Private

In-State Tuition

$6,556

Cost of Attendance

19,434

Website

www.fiu.edu

Address

11200 SW 8th Street, Miami, FL 33199

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $41,500 per year

Net Price: $8,311 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 58.56%
SAT Average - 1185
ACT Average - 25
Most Popular Majors
Psychology
Business
Communication
Finance
Marketing

4. California State University - Long Beach

Long Beach, CA • Private

In-State Tuition

$6,798

Cost of Attendance

18,306

Website

www.csulb.edu

Address

1250 Bellflower Blvd, Long Beach, CA 90840-0115

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $40,000 per year

Net Price: $8,982 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 31.21%
SAT Average - 1146
ACT Average - 23
Most Popular Majors
Business
Psychology
Kinesiology
Communication
Computer Science

5. SUNY Farmingdale

Farmingdale, NY • Private

In-State Tuition

$8,306

Cost of Attendance

16,091

Website

www.farmingdale.edu/

Address

2350 Broadhollow Road, Farmingdale, NY 11735-1021

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $44,800 per year

Net Price: $9,268 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 46.07%
SAT Average - 1091
ACT Average - 22
Most Popular Majors
Business
Biology
Kinesiology
Psychology
Electrical Engineering

Top 10 hardest universities to get into for business development interns

The hardest universities for business development interns to get into are Northwestern University, University of Pennsylvania, and University of Southern California.

Some great schools for business development interns are hard to get into, but they also set your career up for greater success. The list below shows the most challenging universities to get into for business development interns based on an institution's admissions rates, average SAT scores accepted, median ACT scores accepted, and mean earnings of students six years after admission.

1. Northwestern University

Evanston, IL • Private

Admissions Rate

8%

SAT Average

1,508

Website

www.northwestern.edu

Address

633 Clark St, Evanston, IL 60208

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $71,900 per year

Net Price: $24,840 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 8.47%
SAT Average - 1508
ACT Average - 34
Most Popular Majors
Business
Economics
Communication
Psychology
Political Science

2. University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, PA • Private

Admissions Rate

8%

SAT Average

1,492

Website

www.upenn.edu

Address

1 College Hall, Room 100, Philadelphia, PA 19104-6303

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $91,200 per year

Net Price: $25,033 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 8.41%
SAT Average - 1492
ACT Average - 34
Most Popular Majors
Finance
Business
Economics
Small Business Management
Political Science

3. University of Southern California

Los Angeles, CA • Private

Admissions Rate

13%

SAT Average

1,445

Website

www.usc.edu/

Address

University Park, Los Angeles, CA 90089-0012

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $61,400 per year

Net Price: $30,453 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 12.96%
SAT Average - 1445
ACT Average - 32
Most Popular Majors
Business
Communication
Accounting
Economics
Psychology

4. Georgetown University

Washington, DC • Private

Admissions Rate

15%

SAT Average

1,456

Website

www.georgetown.edu

Address

37th and O St NW, Washington, DC 20057

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $81,100 per year

Net Price: $30,169 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 14.52%
SAT Average - 1456
ACT Average - 33
Most Popular Majors
Business
Political Science
Economics
Finance
Public Relations

5. Boston University

Boston, MA • Private

Admissions Rate

22%

SAT Average

1,420

Website

www.bu.edu

Address

One Silber Way, 8th Floor, Boston, MA 02215

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $52,800 per year

Net Price: $30,729 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 22.09%
SAT Average - 1420
ACT Average - 32
Most Popular Majors
Business
Communication
Economics
Psychology
Finance

Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for business development interns

The easiest schools for business development interns to get into are Barry University, holy names university, and notre dame college.

Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as a business development internship without much hassle, check out the list of schools where you will be accepted in no time. We compiled admissions rates, average SAT scores, average ACT scores, and average salary of students six years after graduation to uncover which were the easiest schools to get into for business development interns.

1. Barry University

Miami, FL • Private

Admissions Rate

91%

SAT Average

1,006

Website

www.barry.edu

Address

11300 NE 2nd Ave, Miami Shores, FL 33161-6695

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $43,700 per year

Net Price: $17,937 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 91.25%
SAT Average - 1006
ACT Average - 20
Most Popular Majors
Business
Kinesiology
Psychology
Accounting
Public Relations

2. Holy Names University

Oakland, CA • Private

Admissions Rate

70%

SAT Average

849

Website

www.hnu.edu

Address

3500 Mountain Blvd, Oakland, CA 94619-1699

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $49,000 per year

Net Price: $23,175 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 70.04%
SAT Average - 849
ACT Average - 20
Most Popular Majors
Business
Kinesiology
Psychology
Biology
Communication

3. Notre Dame College

Cleveland, OH • Private

Admissions Rate

90%

SAT Average

994

Website

www.notredamecollege.edu

Address

4545 College Rd, Cleveland, OH 44121-4293

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $37,000 per year

Net Price: $21,651 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 89.65%
SAT Average - 994
ACT Average - 19
Most Popular Majors
Business
Psychology
Communication
Accounting
Finance

4. Kean University

Union, NJ • Private

Admissions Rate

86%

SAT Average

991

Website

www.kean.edu

Address

1000 Morris Ave, Union, NJ 07083-0411

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $38,000 per year

Net Price: $18,547 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 85.98%
SAT Average - 991
ACT Average - 20
Most Popular Majors
Psychology
Business
Communication
Accounting
Marketing

5. Oklahoma Wesleyan University

Bartlesville, OK • Private

Admissions Rate

68%

SAT Average

964

Website

www.okwu.edu

Address

2201 Silver Lake Rd, Bartlesville, OK 74006-6299

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $50,500 per year

Net Price: $26,279 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 67.73%
SAT Average - 964
ACT Average - 19
Most Popular Majors
Kinesiology
Psychology
Biology
Marketing
Accounting

Average business development internship salary by education level

According to our data, business development interns with a Doctorate degree earn the highest average salary, at $38,033 annually. Business development interns with a Master's degree earn an average annual salary of $37,512.
Business Development Internship education level
ascdesc
Business Development Internship salary
ascdesc
Master's Degree$37,512
Bachelor's Degree$34,733
Doctorate Degree$38,033
Some College/ Associate Degree$31,051

Business Development Internship Education FAQs

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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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