BA vs BBA vs BCA: What you should choose

Completing grade 12 is a milestone worth celebrating. But it raises more crucial questions, and decisions are to be made. Which course should you pursue for your undergraduate degree? Which study program has the potential to carve out a lucrative career path ahead? To make things difficult, the choice of Bachelor courses is plenty – BA, BBA, BCA – it’s easy to get confused. 

This blog aims at simplifying things for you and helps you make an informed decision. We bring an informative comparison of BA, BBA, and BCA degrees to enable you to decide which one you should choose for your bachelor’s degree. Furthermore, all of these courses can easily be pursued on the Online Manipal platform from the comfort of your home. These degrees are awarded by prestigious universities like Sikkim Manipal University (SMU) and Manipal University Jaipur (MUJ) on Online Manipal.

What is BA?

Let us begin with a brief description of each degree program before bringing in a comparative study of the three courses. 

Bachelor of Arts, or BA, as it is popularly referred to, is among the most popular courses at the undergraduate level. The program duration is generally 3 years, and the course’s primary focus is on areas of Humanities, Cultural and Social Sciences, and Linguistics. 

Online BA is offered by Sikkim Manipal University on the Online Manipal platform with a combination of 3 primary subjects – Political Science, English, and Sociology. The course is ideal for students interested in learning about multiple disciplines before they decide which one to specialize in to move forward in their academic or career path. 

What is BBA?

BBA stands for Bachelor of Business Administration and is yet another popular undergraduate program similar to BA. Also awarded after a 3 year course, BBA is a professional degree program in Business Management and ideal for students interested in entering the business world after graduation.

Manipal University Jaipur offers an online BBA on the Online Manipal portal. The course aims to equip students with the desired business acumen that would enable them to run or operate a business successfully in the future. The program is offered online, ensuring flexibility and self-paced learning.

What is BCA?

BCA is the popular acronym for Bachelor of Computer Applications, yet another professional study program for students interested in a  remunerative career in IT. The course focuses on training students with the latest skills and technologies useful in the IT sector. The program curriculum is designed to prepare students for rewarding job roles in the industry upon graduation.

The 3-year undergraduate program of BCA is offered on the Online Manipal platform by Manipal University Jaipur and Sikkim Manipal University. The course is completely delivered via online mode and facilitates easy access from anywhere on any device. Students can learn at their own pace from the comfort of their homes and earn a prestigious degree from Manipal University Jaipur after completing the course. 

Eligibility criteria: BA vs BBA vs BCA

We briefly discussed the primary focus of all the 3 undergraduate study programs. We also mentioned that all the 3 programs are offered on the Online Manipal platform. Now, look at the admission criteria for BA, BBA, and BCA courses.

Eligibility criteria for online BA by Sikkim Manipal University

• Successful completion of higher secondary education or 10+2 from a recognized school of the national or state board in India
• Alternatively, completion of a 10+3 diploma from a recognized national or state study institution is also accepted for online BA courses

Eligibility criteria for online BBA by Manipal University Jaipur

Eligibility criteria for domestic (Indian) students

Eligibility criteria for international students

Successful completion of 10+2 from a recognized school of the national or state board, or Completion of a 10+3 diploma from a recognized school of the national or state board A minimum of 45% overall in 10+2 or diploma (aggregate 40% required for reserved student categories)

Successful completion of 10+2 or intermediate or senior secondary qualification from a recognized board overseas in any stream of study, or An equivalent qualification recognized by the Association of Indian Universities in any study stream Certificate of equivalence issued by the Association of Indian Universities must be produced in case of 10+2 or graduate-level study completed overseas  A minimum of 45% score is required at the 10+2 or intermediate or senior secondary levels Non-Indian citizens or those living outside India with an NRE/PIO status are required to pay an international fee (as specified for the specific degree) Documents to be submitted include (but are not limited to): Proof of Address PR Card, Updated Resume/CV, Valid student visa, Copy of valid passport, Any other documents required as part of the application process for specific courses

Eligibility criteria for online BCA by Manipal University Jaipur

Eligibility criteria for domestic (Indian) students

Eligibility criteria for international students

Successful completion of 10+2 from a recognized school of the national or state board, or Completion of a 10+3 diploma from a recognized school of the national or state board A minimum of 45% overall in 10+2 or diploma (aggregate 40% required for reserved student categories)

Successful completion of 10+2 or intermediate or senior secondary qualification from a recognized board overseas in any stream of study, or An equivalent qualification recognized by the Association of Indian Universities in any study stream Certificate of equivalence issued by the Association of Indian Universities must be produced in case of 10+2 or graduate-level study completed overseas  A minimum of 45% score is required at the 10+2 or intermediate or senior secondary levels Non-Indian citizens or those living outside India with an NRE/PIO status are required to pay an international fee (as specified for the specific degree) Documents to be submitted include (but are not limited to): Proof of Address PR Card, Updated Resume/CV, Valid student visa, Copy of valid passport, Any other documents required as part of the application process for specific courses

BA course curriculum

To better understand the key differences between the 3 undergraduate courses – BA, BBA, and BCA – we need to look at the course curriculum for all of them. This would help us identify the core skills gained in BA, BBA, and BCA programs and determine which of the 3 would be the most suitable for us to pursue.

The online BA program offered by Sikkim Manipal University on the Online Manipal portal is available with 3 combination courses – Sociology, English, and Political Science. The course is divided into 6 semesters covered over 36 months (3 years), and the curriculum for the program is as follows:

Semesters	Sociology	English	Political Science
1	Indian English Literature, Introduction to Sociology, Natural Science, Foundations of Political Science, Communicative English	Foundations of Political Science, Indian English Literature, Natural Science, Communicative English, Introduction to Sociology	Indian English Literature, Foundations of Political Science, Natural Science, Introduction to Sociology, Communicative English
2	World Literature, Sociology in India, Environmental Science, Political Theory, Functional English	Political Theory, World Literature, Environmental Science, Functional English, Sociology in India	World Literature, Political Theory, Environmental Science, Sociology in India, Functional English
3	Essays and Poetry, Rural Sociology, Digital Fluency, Comparative Political Analysis, Universal Human Values	Comparative Political Analysis, Essays and Poetry, Digital Fluency, Universal Human Values, Rural Sociology	Essays and Poetry, Comparative Political Analysis, Digital Fluency, Rural Sociology, Universal Human Values
4	Principle of Sociology, Urban Sociology, New Literature in English, Family, Kinship, and Marriage, Classical Indian Political Thought	Women Writing in English, New Literature in English, Urban Sociology, Literary Terms, Forms, and Movements, Classical Indian Political Thought	Political Economy, Classical Indian Political Thought, New Literature in English, Theories of International Relations, Urban Sociology
5	Social Demography, Classical Sociological Thinkers, Children’s Literature, Social Problems in India, Human Rights	Children’s Literature, Victorian and Modern Literature, Social Problems in India, Poetry: Evolution, Elements and Genres, Human Rights	Human Rights, Political Processes in India, Children’s Literature, India’s Foreign Policy in a Globalized World, Social Problems in India
6	Social movement in India, Sociology of Change and Development, American Literature, Sociology of Education, United Nations and Global Conflicts	Novels and Short Stories, American Literature, Sociology of Change and Development, One Act Plays: Introduction & Studies, United Nations and Global Conflicts	Gender and Politics, United Nations and Global Conflicts, American Literature, Public Policy and Administration in India, Sociology of Change and Development

BBA course curriculum

Manipal University Jaipur offers the online BBA program on the Online Manipal platform for 3 years, divided into 6 semesters, covering nearly 15-20 hours per week. The program curriculum covers the following essential components:

Semesters	Curriculum
1	Business Environment, Communication Skills and Personality Development, Computer Fundamentals, Organizational Behavior, Marketing Management
2	Human Resource Management, Business Communication, Term Paper, Financial Accounting, Retail Management, Quality Management
3	Research Methodology, Legal and Regulatory Framework, Project Quantitative Techniques for Management, Advertising and Sales, Financial Management
4	Management Accounting, Business Strategy Rural Marketing, Management Information System, International Marketing, Environmental Science
5	Business AnalyticsElective – Retail ManagementConsumer BehaviorElective – General Management
6	Digital Marketing, Elective – Retail Management, Customer Relationship Management, Elective – General Management

BCA course curriculum

The online BCA course is offered by Manipal University Jaipur on the Online Manipal platform. The program duration is 36 months or 3 years, divided into a period of 6 semesters, covering over 15-20 hours per week. 

Semesters	Curriculum
1	Basic Mathematics, Fundamentals of IT and Programming, Practical – Programming in C, Programming in C, Understanding PC and Troubleshooting
2	Object Oriented Programming – C++Operating Systems, Practical – Data Structures and Algorithm Using C++Data Structures and Algorithms, Communication Skills and Personality Development, Digital Logic
3	Computer Organization, Computer-Oriented Numerical Methods, Practical – DBMS, DBMS, Basics of Data Communication
4	Principles of Financial Accounting and Management, Java Programming, Practical – System Software Programming, System Software, Practical – Java Programming, Computer Networking
5	Practical – Visual Programming, Web Design, Practical – Python Programming, Visual Programming, Python Programming, Software Engineering, Elective 1 – (Choose 1) Compiler Design/Graphics and Multimedia/E-commerce, Practical – Web Design
6	Elective 2 – (Choose one) Advanced Web Design/Open Source Systems/Cloud Computing, Mobile Application Development, Project Elective 3 – (Choose one) Knowledge Management/Software Project Management/Supply Chain Management, Practical – Mobile Application Development

Career opportunities after BA

Career prospects for BA, BBA, and BCA programs are also key deciding factors in choosing which course to pursue at the undergraduate level. Let us look at the job prospects available after completion of each of these programs.

Students graduating with online BA programs from the Online Manipal platform are eligible to apply for a wide array of jobs in the industry. Some of the most rewarding career prospects that open up after BA for students are shared in the table below:

Expected job role	Avg expected salary per annum
Campaign Manager	INR 5 lakh – INR 11 lakh per annum
Public Relations Specialist	INR 591,795 per annum
Public Administrator	INR 5 lakh – 7 lakh per annum
Content Manager	INR 5 lakh – INR 11 lakh per annum
Policy Analyst	INR 9,11,345 per annum

Career opportunities after BBA

BBA programs are professional courses that create lucrative career opportunities for course graduates. The online BBA course offered on Online Manipal generates a high demand for students in the industry after they complete their program. Some of the most popular job roles available after BBA are:

Expected job role	Avg expected salary per annum
Technical Product Manager	INR 10,83,523 per annum
Business Analyst	INR 7 lakh – INR 20 lakh per annum
Brand Manager	INR 9 lakh – 22 lakh per annum
Operations Analyst	INR 4,71,646 per annum
HR Manager	INR 10 lakh – INR 12 lakh per annum

Career opportunities after BCA

Online BCA programs from Manipal University Jaipur offered on the Online Manipal platform are designed to make students industry-ready. Upon course completion, students are eligible to take up top-notch careers in the IT sector at attractive pay scales. 

Expected job role	Avg expected salary per annum
Software Developer	INR 5 lakh – INR 13 lakh per annum
Web Developer	INR 600,000 per annum
Technical Writer	INR 7.85 lakh per annum
Quality Assurance Analyst	INR 4,48,881 per annum
System Analyst	INR 1,400,000 per annum

Choosing between BA, BBA & BCA

We discussed in detail the eligibility criteria, course curriculum, and the industry demand for BA, BBA, and BCA graduates. Choosing between the 3 courses requires a brief overview of all these elements. Additionally, you may also need to take into account your core academic strengths, interests, and passions while choosing to pick one of these study programs at the university level. 

Here are some of the important factors to consider while choosing between BA, BBA, and BCA courses:

• Career interest: Students interested in trying out a variety of career paths may want to go for BA courses, as they cover diverse domains and allow students to explore their interests accordingly. Online BA programs available on Online Manipal enable students to study a combination of 3 subjects and then decide which one to follow in their future career path. 

BBA graduates, however, are more focused on choosing the business domain as their line of work. With this clarity in mind, they are better suited for pursuing BBA programs for undergraduate study. The course helps train them in foundational concepts of business learning, thereby enabling them to apply those key business skills further.

BCA courses are generally more suitable for students with a technical bent of mind. Combined with an academic background in Science and Math (at the 10+2 level), these students are better suited to understand and learn the finer concepts of computer programming. With these skills, they become ready to enter the IT industry and assume high-paying jobs in the sector. 

• Core skills: Your academic strengths and core skills also play an essential role in deciding which course to choose for undergraduate studies. BA courses may have general and standard academic requirements such as English, Natural Science, History, or Social Science subjects. 

BBA courses, however, are more business and management-oriented. They require a fair understanding of similar disciplines like finance, operations management, accounting, marketing, and human resource management.

BCA courses are ideal for students with a mathematics, science, or computer science/programming background. 

• Soft skills: Some soft skills may also be desirable for some specific programs. For instance, BBA courses may be more suitable for students with effective communication skills as well as abilities like management and leadership. 

Similarly, BCA courses are ideal for students who understand logic and reasoning better and who also enjoy coding and de-coding concepts. 

Conclusion

BA, BBA, and BCA, these 3 courses are in top demand among both Indian and international students worldwide. These programs are tailored to enable students to become industry-ready and earn attractive job roles with high annual incomes. The decision to choose which would be the best for your career path is based on several factors discussed in this blog. Online Manipal University provides the perfect platform for students around the world to study BA, BBA, and BCA courses online from the ease and comfort of their homes. 

You may choose to pursue any one of them as per your academic interests and career goals. Online Manipal degrees are UGC-entitled, and the universities offering their courses on this platform are NAAC-accredited. They are equivalent to on-campus degrees and recognized by corporations, governments, and higher education institutes globally.