Business Administration – Cannabis Management

Central Penn’s concentration in Cannabis Management provides students with the knowledge, skill, and abilities necessary to obtain gainful employment in the cannabis industry. Students will learn the history of cannabis laws, understand the evolution of cannabis as both medicine and a profitable recreational commodity, and develop entrepreneurial skills rooted in the cannabis industry.

Business Administration program.

The Bachelor of Science degree program in Business Administration prepares students to become ethical, competent, and innovative graduates in order to meet the demands of the competitive 21st century global business environment. The curriculum examines key functional areas of business to include accounting, finance, human resources, marketing, leadership, and technology. This program provides extensive knowledge in the areas of management, human resources, finance, accounting and ethical conduct in business and society. In addition, this program allows students to select the following concentrations: Healthcare Administration, Human Resource Management, Marketing, Sports Management.

Program learning objectives.

• Demonstrate effective communication skills, both written and orally, in a manner reflective of the business profession.
• Identify appropriate resources and apply analytical reasoning/critical thinking skills in order to make informed business decisions, utilizing both quantitative and qualitative data.
• Choose and apply relevant business technologies in order to analyze and present information.
• Demonstrate competency in and across business disciplines.
• Understand the implications of a global economy, appreciate cross-cultural diversity, and differentiate between business cultures.
• Successfully work in teams to accomplish academic tasks.
• Understand the role of effective leadership in driving organizational performance and change.

To be considered for admission into a degree or professional certificate program, students must be a high school graduate or have received a General Equivalency Diploma (GED), Pennsylvania Home School Diploma or other recognized equivalency diploma. High School Students applying with an overall GPA of 2.0 or higher may be considered for regular admission. Students applying with a GPA below a 2.0 in high school or from another college or university, if accepted, will be admitted conditionally. Please submit an application for admission and a copy of high school and/or college transcript(s). Some applicants may be required to attend a personal interview with the Admissions Office.

An admission essay may be deemed optional for all applicants whose GPA meets or exceeds the minimum for acceptance into the desired program. For certificates and degrees in the Schools of Humanities and Business, the minimum GPA for acceptance is 2.0. For most Health Sciences certificates and degrees, unless otherwise specified, the minimum GPA is 2.2.

In order to be successful in an online environment, students must have consistent and reliable access to a computer and reliable internet connection. Students are permitted to enroll in completely online degree programs during the program's scheduled enrollment availability.

Online courses follow the College's year-round schedule of quarterly, 11-week terms. Students need reliable access to the internet and a computer capable of running current software; access to speakers, a microphone, webcam, printer, and scanner may be necessary for online courses.

This program has Winter and Spring and Summer and Fall starts. Upcoming start dates: January 11, 2027, April 12, 2027, July 12, 2027, October 11, 2027, January 10, 2028.

Tuition and fees. Undergraduate tuition is $525 per credit for all majors. A Student/Technology Fee of $510 per term (5 or more credits) or $315 (4 or fewer credits) is required. A one-time $150 graduation fee applies.

Books and other expenses. Variable expenses per term (estimates): textbooks $350–$450; course material fees approximately $50–$150 per course; personal $150–$250; transportation $150–$300.

Financial aid. Central Penn College processes grants, scholarships, loans, and work-study through federal, state, private, and institutional sources to help eligible students meet some of those costs, including the Federal Pell Grant, PA State Grant, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG), Federal Work-Study and Federal Direct Stafford Loans. To apply for all federal and state financial aid programs, students must complete the FAFSA; Central Penn’s Federal School Code for FAFSA is 004890. To receive financial aid a student must be enrolled in an eligible degree or certificate program and be enrolled on at least a half-time basis (4 credits).

Payment options. Tuition and expenses are paid each term approximately three weeks before the term starts. Central Penn has a short-term three-month payment plan through CASHNet that divides the balance of the tuition owed by three payments; there is a $35 non-refundable application fee paid with the first payment. An Employer Reimbursement Tuition Agreement Plan lets students who receive tuition reimbursement from their employer defer payment until the specified dates.

Military benefits. Military benefits accepted include the Montgomery GI Bill® (Chapters 30 and 1606), Veterans Readiness and Employment (Chapter 31), the Post-9/11 GI Bill® (Chapter 33) and Yellow Ribbon Program, Dependents’ Education Assistance (Chapter 35) and Tuition Assistance.

Net price calculator. Use Central Penn’s Net Price Calculator at https://npc.collegeboard.org/app/centralpenn for an early estimate of your total annual cost.

Careers you can pursue. Dispensary Manager, Cannabis Compliance Manager, Cannabis Marketing Specialist, Cannabis Operations Supervisor, Cannabis Business Analyst, Cultivation or Processing Facility Manager.

Graduate outcomes. 86.2% of Business Administration graduates (29 graduates contacted) were employed in their field or continuing their education (One-Year Graduate Follow-up Report for graduates July 1, 2024 – June 30, 2025, published July 1, 2026).

College-wide outcome. 89.2% of Central Penn graduates were employed in their chosen field or continuing their education within one year of graduation (graduates July 1, 2024 – June 30, 2025; One-Year Graduate Follow-up Report published July 1, 2026).