What ATAR Do You Need for a Business Degree?
State-by-state 2026 cut-offs for the Bachelor of Business across NSW, VIC, QLD, and WA — the most accessible pathway into the corporate world, and how to choose between 40+ programs.
Last updated: July 2026 · Reviewed against current university admission data
The ATAR needed for a Bachelor of Business in Australia typically ranges from 60.00 to 88.00 for 2026 entry, depending on your state. In NSW (via UAC), UTS is the most competitive at 85.00–88.00, while Western Sydney sits around 60.00–65.00. In Victoria (via VTAC), Monash requires ~80.00 and RMIT sits at 70.00–73.00. Queensland (via QTAC) offers QUT at 66.00–70.00, and WA/SA offer Curtin and UniSA from 65.00–75.00. Business is deliberately one of the most accessible degree families nationally — employment outcomes depend far more on internships and major selection than entry scores.
The Business Degree Landscape in 2026
The Bachelor of Business is Australia’s workhorse degree: it enrols more students than almost any other program, is offered by virtually every university, and deliberately keeps entry accessible. Unlike medicine or law, where the ATAR is a hard gatekeeper, business admission is designed to let motivated students in and let performance at university determine outcomes.
That’s also why the ATAR tells you very little about program quality here. QUT and RMIT business graduates are among the most heavily recruited in the country despite cut-offs in the 60s and low 70s, because those schools built their reputations on industry placements and co-op programs rather than entry scores. The real differences between business schools are work-integrated learning, major options and location — not the number on the cut-off table. If you’re comparing institutions more broadly, our university entry requirements hub covers each major university in detail.
State-Wise Business ATAR Requirements (2026)
While the ATAR system is nationally recognised, selection ranks and application processes are managed by state-based tertiary admissions centres: UAC (NSW/ACT), VTAC (Victoria), QTAC (Queensland), TISC (WA), and SATAC (SA). Below are the indicative 2026 ATAR cut-offs for Bachelor of Business programs across major Australian states.
New South Wales (NSW) & Australian Capital Territory (ACT)
| University (NSW/ACT) | Degree | Indicative ATAR | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| UTS | Bachelor of Business | ~85.00–88.00 | Australia’s most competitive standalone business degree; strong Sydney CBD internship access. |
| Macquarie University | Bachelor of Business | ~75.00–80.00 | Strong industry connections, highly flexible major combinations. |
| University of Sydney | B. Commerce (Business) | ~95.00 | Prestige commerce route for high-ATAR NSW students. |
| Western Sydney University | Bachelor of Business | ~60.00–65.00 | Multiple campuses; strong links to Western Sydney’s growth corridor. |
Victoria (VIC)
| University (VIC) | Degree | Indicative ATAR | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monash University | Bachelor of Business | ~80.00 | Caulfield campus; broad major selection, Go8 prestige. |
| RMIT | Bachelor of Business | ~70.00–73.00 | Renowned co-op year option — 12 months of paid industry placement. |
| Deakin University | Bachelor of Business | ~65.00–70.00 | Flexible online and on-campus delivery, strong industry partnerships. |
| La Trobe / Swinburne | Bachelor of Business | ~55.00–60.00 | Accessible entry with excellent professional placement options. |
Queensland (QLD)
| University (QLD) | Degree | Indicative ATAR | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Queensland (UQ) | B. Business Management | ~75.00–80.00 | Go8 option with strong corporate links. |
| QUT | Bachelor of Business | ~66.00–70.00 | One of Australia’s most employer-connected business schools; AACSB & EQUIS accredited. |
| Griffith University | Bachelor of Business | ~60.00–66.00 | Gold Coast and Brisbane; see our Griffith ATAR guide. |
Western Australia (WA) & South Australia (SA)
| University (WA/SA) | Degree | Indicative ATAR | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Western Australia | B. Commerce (Business) | ~80.00–85.00 | Go8 route for WA students with strong corporate networks. |
| Curtin University | Bachelor of Commerce | ~70.00–75.00 | Leading practical business school in WA. |
| University of Adelaide | Bachelor of Business | ~70.00–75.00 | Go8 SA option with strong local employer links. |
| UniSA | Bachelor of Business | ~60.00–65.00 | SA’s largest business school; strong part-time and online flexibility. |
RMIT’s Business co-op year and QUT’s work-integrated learning are worth more on a graduate CV than a 15-point higher entry cut-off. Graduates with 12 months of real industry experience consistently out-compete higher-ATAR peers who never left campus. When comparing business schools, ask one question first: how much paid, assessed industry placement is built into the degree?
Choosing Your Business Major
Most business degrees share a common first year, then split into majors. Your major matters more than your university for career direction:
Accounting — the safest professional pathway; leads to CPA/CA accreditation. Finance — banking, funds management and advisory; see our finance ATAR guide. Marketing — brand, digital and growth roles (marketing ATAR guide). Management and HR — people and operations careers (HR guide). Business analytics — the fastest-growing major, blending data science with business (analytics guide).
Prerequisites and Getting In (2026 Entry)
English: mandatory everywhere (Standard, EAL, or equivalent).
Mathematics: usually recommended but not required — General Mathematics is accepted at most business schools. UTS and Monash recommend at least intermediate maths.
Adjustment factors: most business schools offer generous subject bonus points and early-offer schemes, so your effective selection rank is often 3–8 points above your raw ATAR.
Because business cut-offs cluster in the 60s and 70s, adjustment factors can genuinely change which universities are in reach. Use the ATAR calculator to estimate your raw rank, then check each university’s bonus-point scheme — a 62 raw ATAR often becomes a 68–70 selection rank. Scaling guides like our VCE scaling guide or HSC scaling guide can help you optimise your subject choices.
Business vs Commerce: The Honest Comparison
Choose Business if…
- You want maximum internship and placement integration.
- Your ATAR sits below the 80s and you want to start in the field now.
- You prefer applied learning over theory-heavy coursework.
- You’re targeting marketing, management, HR or entrepreneurship.
Choose Commerce if…
- You’re targeting investment banking, consulting or economics.
- Your ATAR is competitive for Go8 entry (85+).
- You want the more quantitative, analytical curriculum.
- You may pursue honours or postgraduate study later.
Full comparison in our commerce ATAR guide. The short version: both lead to the same accredited professions, and university performance beats entry score every time.
Frequently Asked Questions
What ATAR do I need for business in Australia?
The ATAR for a Bachelor of Business in Australia ranges from about 60.00 to 88.00 for 2026 entry. UTS is the most competitive at around 85.00–88.00, Monash sits near 80.00, RMIT around 70.00–73.00, and QUT around 66.00–70.00. Griffith, UniSA, Western Sydney, Swinburne and La Trobe offer accredited business degrees with entry ranks from roughly 55.00 to 66.00.
Do business ATAR requirements vary by state?
Yes, cut-offs are set via state admission centres (UAC in NSW, VTAC in VIC, QTAC in QLD, TISC in WA), but the national range remains similar (60.00 to 88.00). NSW offers UTS (~88) down to WSU (~65), Victoria offers Monash (~80) down to Swinburne (~60), and Queensland offers QUT (~70) down to Griffith (~66). Employers recruit nationally, meaning a business degree from any accredited Australian university is recognised across state borders.
Is a business degree worth it with a low ATAR?
Yes. Business is deliberately one of the most accessible degree families in Australia, and employment outcomes depend far more on your major, grades and internship experience than your entry ATAR. QUT and RMIT business graduates — from programs with cut-offs in the 60s and 70s — are among the most heavily recruited in the country because of their industry placement programs.
What’s the difference between a Bachelor of Business and a Bachelor of Commerce?
Business degrees are more applied and vocational (management, marketing, HR, entrepreneurship) and are typically offered by technology universities with accessible ATARs. Commerce degrees are more quantitative (accounting, finance, economics) and are typically offered by Go8 universities with higher cut-offs. Both can lead to CPA/CA accounting accreditation and similar corporate careers.
Do I need maths for a business degree?
Most business degrees accept General Mathematics or have no formal maths prerequisite. You will complete introductory quantitative methods and statistics units in first year, so basic maths confidence helps, but Mathematical Methods is generally only recommended (not required) — except for quantitative majors like finance or business analytics, where it’s a genuine advantage.
