Best Online Business Administration Programs in Independence, MO (2026)

Independence, Missouri has a population of about 121,944. The city’s median household income is $59,480 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 20.9% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. There are 5 accredited business administration programs within 100 miles of Independence. In the Kansas City, MO-KS metro area, the top-earning business administration-related role is Financial Manager at a median $140,650 annually (BLS OEWS, May 2024).


Closest Business Administration Schools to Independence

The five accredited institutions below are the closest options indexed in our directory that offer business administration programs. Distances are calculated from Independence city center.

SchoolCityDistanceTuitionOnline
University of Missouri-Kansas CityKansas City, MO12.4 miContact school for pricing
Rockhurst UniversityKansas City, MO12.4 miContact school for pricing
Metropolitan Community College-Kansas CityKansas City, MO13.1 miContact school for pricing
Ottawa University-Kansas CityOverland Park, KS18.7 miContact school for pricing
Ottawa University-OnlineOverland Park, KS18.7 miContact school for pricing

Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all Missouri schools on the Missouri business administration page.


Business Administration Wages Near Independence

Independence is part of the Kansas City, MO-KS metro area (BLS area code 28140). Where MSA-level wages are published, the table below shows MSA medians; otherwise it falls back to Missouri statewide.

OccupationMedian WageSourceCOL-Adjusted (US=100)
General and Operations Manager$86,590Kansas City, MO-KS$93,611
Administrative Services Manager$104,990Kansas City, MO-KS$113,503
Financial Manager$140,650Kansas City, MO-KS$152,054
Human Resources Manager$135,620Kansas City, MO-KS$146,616
Management Analyst$97,140Kansas City, MO-KS$105,016
Project Management Specialist$98,000Kansas City, MO-KS$105,946
Accountant or Auditor$79,340Kansas City, MO-KS$85,773
Training and Development Specialist$66,530Kansas City, MO-KS$71,924
Office and Administrative Support Supervisor$65,320Kansas City, MO-KS$70,616

Source: BLS, May 2024 Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics publishes wage data at the metro (MSA) and state level – not by individual city.


Independence at a Glance

MetricValueSource
Population121,944Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003)
Median household income$59,480Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013)
Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+20.9%Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003)
Regional Price Parity (US=100)92.5 (below U.S. average)BEA RPP 2024
Business Administration-related employment in Jackson County16,718 workers, 1,109 establishmentsBLS QCEW 2024 annual

Other Independence-Area Cities With Business Administration Programs


Frequently Asked Questions

How many accredited business administration programs are near Independence, MO?

Our directory lists 5 business administration programs within 100 miles of Independence. The closest is University of Missouri-Kansas City in Kansas City, MO (12.4 miles), and the farthest in our top picks is Ottawa University-Online (18.7 miles). 0 of these programs are offered fully online.

What are the highest-paying business administration roles near Independence?

Based on BLS OEWS May 2024 wage data, the top-paying business administration-related roles near Independence are: Financial Manager ($140,650), Human Resources Manager ($135,620), Administrative Services Manager ($104,990). These reflect MSA-level medians where published, with Missouri statewide fallback for occupations not reported at the metro level.

Should I look at programs in Blue Springs instead of Independence?

Blue Springs, MO is 6.6 miles from Independence and has its own set of local business administration programs – see the city’s page. For online programs, distance matters less; for hybrid or in-person formats, comparing both can help.

Is Independence an affordable place to study business administration?

Independence’s median household income of $59,480 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Independence while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and Missouri public universities often offer reduced in-state online tuition.

How do I verify a program is accredited?

Confirm institutional accreditation via the U.S. Department of Education database (U.S. Dept. of Education database), and check for any program-specific accreditation listed by the school.