Bachelor’s in Supply Chain Management Programs Guide

Start your supply chain journey off on the right foot! Earning an accredited bachelor’s degree in supply chain management and logistics can make you an integral part of any company and prepare you to join a booming field. Use our guide to SCM undergraduate programs to learn more about degree options, career pathways, and tuition prices. Or skip ahead to our program listings to view every campus-based supply chain bachelor’s degree in the country.

What is Supply Chain Management?

Supply chain management (SCM) is the management of goods & services from their initial creation to their final destination. From conceptualizing a product idea to delivering it into an end-user’s hands, SCM is a complex—and essential—part of every business!

Think of the challenges involved in procuring raw materials and delivering them to a manufacturer. Or the skill in coordinating the transportation systems that are needed to distribute goods & services to consumer households. Or the ability to deal with interconnected problems such as:

• Material shortages
• Rising delivery costs
• Changing sales forecasts
• Random weather events
• Cyber attacks
• And more

Companies that get the supply chain process right are able to streamline their operations, reduce waste, boost efficiency, and increase their revenues.

What is a Bachelor’s in Supply Chain Management and Logistics?

A Bachelor’s in Supply Chain Management and Logistics is a four-year undergraduate degree that will prepare you for entry-level positions in the field. Programs are now available through in-person, hybrid, or fully-remote learning.

Take a look at the curriculum details in our listings to get a sense of how these degrees work. A strong undergraduate program should cover the entire lifecycle of the SCM process, including areas such as:

• Procurement
• Manufacturing of parts & products
• Warehousing
• Transportation
• Distribution

Some undergraduate programs will also expose you to a range of business case studies, from supply chain challenges for small companies to supply chain management processes within major international corporations. Assess the curriculum carefully to see if it matches your interests.

Types of Supply Chain and Logistics Majors

Supply chain management and logistics can either be a stand-alone major or a concentration in a closely related degree (e.g. business). We’ve included plenty of variations in our listings!

If you’d like to specialize in SCM from the start, consider choosing a bachelor’s degree in an area such as:

• Supply Chain Management
• Supply Chain Planning
• International Supply Chain & Logistics
• Supply Chain & Operations
• Supply Chain Management & Analytics

There won’t be a huge amount of difference between these majors, although degrees that mention specific aspects of the field will allow you to specialize early. For examples, see the University of Miami’s technical B.B.A. in Supply Chain Analytics or UNT’s hyper-focused B.S. in Aviation Logistics.

Alternatively, you could choose a broader degree like Case Western’s Bachelor of Science in Management (B.S.M.) and select supply chain management as a concentration. This might be a good choice if you’d like to leave your options open after graduation. With a wider business degree, you’re not locked into an SCM job.

Why Earn a Bachelor’s Degree in Supply Chain Management and Logistics?

Healthy supply chains keep the world running. At the beginning of the decade, the global supply chain management industry was valued at $15.85 billion. It is expected to nearly double in size to $31 billion by 2026. This explosive growth is indicative of the potential the field has for future students.

Severe disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic have only reinforced the need for trained experts. In a series of Ernst & Young LLP surveys, conducted between 2020 and 2022, 60% of senior-level executives reported that the pandemic has increased their supply chain’s strategic importance.

The upshot? You’re in an ideal place to launch your career. Companies are desperate for graduates who are adept in planning and critical thinking. In a global field that’s riddled with bottlenecks, outdated technology, and a lack of practical management, the demand for supply chain and logistics professionals has never been greater.

Bachelor’s in Supply Chain Management and Logistics

Admissions Requirements

A completed high school diploma or GED is the first step to being accepted into most undergraduate supply chain programs in the United States. A competitive ACT or SAT score can sometimes be required, although some programs are temporarily or permanently waiving these tests.

You will also need to complete an application package—be prepared to pay an application fee.

Program Structure

You can opt for a stand-alone major in supply chain management and logistics or choose to study it as a specialization within business administration, marketing, or engineering programs. Here are two examples:

• SCM as a Stand-Alone Major: Michigan State University (the current No. 1 program in the country) offers a B.A. in Supply Chain Management. Students complete core supply chain management classes, general education credits, and their choice of several elective courses. Finally, students complete one capstone course focused on supply chain management and logistics topics.
• SCM as a Concentration: Missouri State University offers a supply chain management and logistics program within the marketing department. Students are required to take several marketing courses as the central core of the program before moving to one of two specializations – Logistics and Operations Management or Supply Chain Analytics.

Coursework

Every university has the freedom to develop its own unique SCM program! If you follow the curriculum links in our listings, you’ll notice that the coursework is often influenced by supply chain priorities within that region (e.g. Michigan and the automotive industry).

However, you’ll still find a lot of similarities between degrees. For instance, many undergraduate programs in supply chain management and logistics include foundational courses in:

• Procurement
• Transportation Management
• Accounting
• Analytics
• Finance
• Business Essentials
• Warehouse Management
• International Business

Once you’ve reached your junior and senior years, you’ll usually be able to customize your degree with relevant electives. Use our curricula links in the listings to determine which degree matches up with your interests and career aspirations.

Tuition Prices

It’s important to draw up a budget before you make a decision. Tuition rates for a Bachelor’s in Supply Chain Management and Logistics can be drastically different from one institution to the next. For example:

• A bachelor’s degree in SCM at a reputable public university within your state could cost roughly $35,000. You may even be able to live at home & commute.
• A supply chain management undergraduate program at a prestigious private university could cost $60,000 or more. And that’s before factoring in costs for textbooks, housing, technology fees, and computer equipment.

In-state programs will almost always be more affordable than their public out-of-state counterparts. Private and religious institutions are almost always more expensive than public colleges.

But we should point out that well-funded Schools of Business at private universities can be extremely generous. If you are a low income student, you may qualify for outstanding undergraduate scholarships and special financing packages.

Have a look at the tuition links in our listings and talk to the program coordinator about your options.

What About Online Supply Chain and Logistics Bachelor’s Degree Programs?

Over the past decade, many SCM programs launched online versions of their on-campus supply chain bachelor’s degrees. These programs issue the same diplomas to online and on-campus students, making them appealing to students interested in programs outside of their area.

For example, Arizona State University offers a 100% Online B.S. in Supply Chain Management with 40 courses lasting seven and a half weeks each. This allows students to obtain a top-tier education while still maintaining a work and family life.

You can learn more about distance learning undergraduate programs in our guides to online supply chain management degrees and online logistics degrees.

FAQs: Supply Chain Management and Logistics Undergraduate Degrees

What’s the Difference Between Supply Chain Management and Logistics?

Both fields involve managing resources, planning, and strategy. However, logistics is best defined as a sub-set of supply chain management.

• Supply Chain Management: Supply chain management concerns the entire lifecycle of a product or service—from creation and manufacturing to delivery of goods and (potentially) returns. It can encompass areas of study such as product development, procurement, sales forecasts, distribution strategies, performance measurements, and more.
• Logistics: Logistics experts are primarily interested in getting goods & services from “A to B” in the most efficient way possible. They handle all the planning and execution elements of transporting parts & materials into a company (inbound logistics) and the process of moving finished products to the consumer or end-user (outbound logistics).

How Difficult Are Supply Chain Undergraduate Programs? What Skills Do You Need to Succeed?

Undergraduate programs in supply chain management are challenging, but program difficulty will vary from school to school. Many students find that a bachelor’s degree in supply chain management is rewarding because it combines soft skills (e.g. reason, communication, collaboration, etc.) and hard skills (e.g. math, logic, data analysis, etc.).

Successful students in supply chain management tend to have a natural curiosity, a desire to dig deep into the root causes of a problem, and an understanding of ethical business practices. They excel at data analysis and research. And they’re willing to communicate & negotiate with people from other departments and outside the organization (e.g. vendors and customers).

If you’re trying to decide if this is the right career path for you, consider these questions:

• Are you comfortable making decisions based on numbers?
• Do you like working with budgets, analyzing financial documents, preparing reports, and managing projects?
• Do you enjoy solving logistical problems?
• Are you able to deal with multiple daily challenges?
• Can you communicate your ideas to a range of audiences?
• Do you prefer teamwork & collaboration?

If your answers are yes, then a degree in supply chain management might be right for you!

What Should I Look for in an Undergraduate Degree in Supply Chain Management and Logistics?

As the demand for supply chain & logistics professionals grows, colleges and universities have begun to create dedicated Departments of Supply Chain Management. But you’ll also find reputable degrees in our listings that are offered by Schools of Business, Departments of Marketing, and even Colleges of Engineering

Before you commit to any undergraduate degree in supply chain management:

• Visit the School of Business or departmental website to learn more about supply chain faculty members and their industry experience.
• Look for data on job placement rates for recent supply chain management graduates. You may even wish to ask the program coordinator if you can speak to recent alumni.
• See if the department or School of Business has ties to any corporate partners who will hire you for an internship or senior year project.

You’ll discover that many schools now offer extracurricular activities that can help SCM undergraduates deepen their knowledge, expand their network, and meet with industry leaders. For example:

• Lehigh University hosts a Supply Chain Management Club where students can attend company tours and networking events or listen to guest speakers.
• The University of Arkansas’s Supply Chain Management Research Center organizes internships, networking events, and even SCM Shadow Days.
• The University of South Carolina’s Operations and Supply Chain Center connects its supply chain students with partner organizations.

How Has COVID Affected the Demand for Supply Chain Management and Logistics Graduates?

COVID-19 has been what most industry professionals classify as a “Black Swan Event”—an occurrence that is extremely rare yet undeniably impactful. With a massive labor shortage, entire sectors closed due to outbreaks and delayed delivery times from international suppliers. COVID put the whole SCM industry on its heels.

A 2021 study conducted by McKinsey demonstrated that 93% of senior supply chain executives are now focused on making their chain “far more flexible, agile, and resilient.” This has increased the demand for academically-trained professionals who understand how to navigate these murky waters and can develop creative solutions that are automated and more cost-effective.

What Can You Do with a Bachelor’s in Supply Chain Management and Logistics?

Supply Chain Management Jobs

A Bachelor’s in Supply Chain Management and Logistics will prepare you for a wide variety of positions within the field. For more specifics, look at the descriptions of jobs that deal with at least one aspect of the supply chain lifecycle. We’re talking about titles such as:

• Supply Chain Analyst
• Supply Chain Coordinator
• Logistics Analyst
• Procurement Manager
• Materials Program Manager
• Operational Buyer
• Production Planner
• Inventory Planner
• Purchasing Specialist
• Distribution Center Manager

You don’t necessarily need a degree in supply chain management to apply for these kinds of entry-level jobs. Some employers are also happy to consider undergraduates with degrees in finance, industrial engineering, business management, transportation, or a related field.

However, if you’ve chosen an SCM bachelor’s program with a strong track record of job placements and career preparation, you’re going to be far ahead of your peers when it comes time to submit your résumé.

Supply Chain Management Salaries

In 2021, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) estimated the median salary for logisticians to be $76,270 and the median salary for purchasing managers to be $125,940.

Bear in mind that these numbers reflect the median salaries of SCM experts in many stages in their careers. In April 2023, Payscale suggested that the average salary for an entry-level logistics analyst was $56,503. An early career supply chain manager might be earning $64,831.

Students who continue their education to pursue additional degrees and certifications can expect a higher salary range and career opportunities. Popular options include a Master of Business Administration (MBA) in Supply Chain Management, Master’s of Supply Chain Management, and SCM graduate certificates.

All Supply Chain Management and Logistics Bachelor’s Degree Programs

It’s time to choose an in-person program in supply chain management and logistics! We have compiled a comprehensive list of schools and SCM degree titles. If you are ready to take the next step in your education, here is our list of all on-campus undergraduate programs.

Note: This page only lists on-campus offerings. You can find all online bachelor’s in supply chain management programs here.