What Are the Best Courses After 12th Commerce in 2026?
Hello, fellow commerce student! Just finished your 12th boards and feeling what to do next? We get you—family expectations, career uncertainty, and endless YouTube course searches. Don’t stress! If you are wondering what is best course after 12th commerce, you have come to the right place.
As a commerce student, you know that this field opens doors to finance, business, and well-paying jobs. In this writing, we will explore the best courses after 12th commerce—from traditional degrees to trendy diplomas that suit your strengths in accounts, business studies, and economics. Plus, we will spotlight the best courses after 12th commerce that pay a high salary and have immense job opportunities in future.
Why Choose Commerce Streams After 12th?
Commerce isn’t just safe—it’s a smart field with a strategic pathway. As India’s economy is booming crazily with startups, fintech, and e-commerce giants such as Paytm and Flipkart are recruiting fresh graduates. According to a recent study from the National Sample Survey, it reveals that commerce students earn 20-30% more than others.
The best courses after 12th commerce strengthen your existing skills: analysing markets, working with numbers and identifying opportunities. There is no extra pressure for JEE and NEET, just need preparation for CUET and get your dream college. The top colleges for commerce students are SRCC (Delhi), St. Xavier’s (Mumbai), and Christ University (Bangalore), offering excellent placement opportunities.
Top Courses After 12th Commerce
Here’s a fine list of selected best courses after 12th commerce, grouped by interest areas of students. This list covers course duration, eligibility, top colleges, fee structure, and salary prospect based on 2025 data from Naukri.com and AmbitionBox.
1. B.Com (Bachelor of Commerce) – The All-Rounder
Confused about what to choose after 12th with commerce streams? The best and all-rounder option is B.Com—Bachelor of Commerce. Ideal for those who enjoy accounts and want flexible career options later.
- Duration: 3 years
- Eligibility: 50% in 12th commerce (Maths optional)
- Top Colleges: Shri Ram College of Commerce (Delhi), Loyola College (Chennai), Hansraj College (Delhi)
- Fees: ₹10,000–₹1 lakh/year
- Salary: ₹3-6 LPA starting; up to ₹10 LPA with CA
2. BBA (Bachelor of Business Administration) – For Future Managers
Dream of running your own business, BBA teaches marketing, HR skills and operations. BBA is one of the best courses after 12th commerce with high salary in corporate world.
Many graduatess land jobs at Deloitte or KPMG right away.
- Duration: 3 years
- Eligibility: 50% in 12th; entrances like IPMAT, SET
- Top Colleges: NMIMS (Mumbai), Symbiosis (Pune), IIM Indore (IPM)
- Fees: ₹2-5 lakhs/year
- Salary: ₹4-8 LPA; ₹15+ LPA post-MBA
3. CA (Chartered Accountancy) – High Salary Powerhouse
CA is your option if you love working with numbers. This is for those who aims for top roles like auditing, taxation, corporate finance, investment planning, risk management and many more. Tough exams, but pass rates are rising—over 20% now!
- Duration: 4-5 years (via CPT/IPCC/Final)
- Eligibility: Register post-12th via ICAI
- Top Institutes: ICAI branches nationwide
- Fees: ₹2-3 lakhs total
- Salary: ₹7-12 LPA starting; ₹20+ LPA after 3 years
4. CS (Company Secretary) – Corporate Law Expert
Interested in law with business stuff? Then CS might be your career option. CS stands for Company Secretary, and is responsible for managing the company's compliance and board meetings. The CS course teaches the same. Great for girls too—achieving a work-life balance in top firms.
- Duration: 2-3 years (Foundation/Executive/Professional)
- Eligibility: Direct after 12th via ICSI
- Top Institutes: ICSI (Delhi HQ)
- Fees: ₹25,000–₹50,000/stage
- Salary: ₹5-9 LPA; scales to ₹15 LPA fast
5. CMA (Cost and Management Accountant) – Cost Control Pro
It develops expertise in budgeting and finance planning. Underrated gem but powerful among the best courses after 12th commerce with high salary. Highly in demand in manufacturing companies like Tata and Reliance.
- Duration: 3 years (Foundation/Intermediate/Final)
- Eligibility: Post-12th via ICMAI
- Fees: ₹1-2 lakhs total
- Salary: ₹6-10 LPA starting
6. B.Com LLB (Integrated Law) – Lawyer + Business Whiz
Blend business knowledge with law for corporate deals. Demand is on the rise after the recent updates in the Companies Act.
- Duration: 5 years
- Eligibility: CLAT or college tests; 45% in 12th
- Top Colleges: NLSIU (Bangalore), NLU Delhi
- Fees: ₹1-3 lakhs/year
- Salary: ₹5-10 LPA; ₹20+ LPA in firms like Cyril Amarchand
7. BCA (If You Like Tech) – Digital Commerce Bridge
Mix commerce with coding through BCA. This path will lead you to fintech jobs—no hardcore engineering background needed.
- Duration: 3 years
- Eligibility: 50% in 12th (Maths helps)
- Top Colleges: Christ University, IP University (Delhi)
- Fees: ₹1-2 lakhs/year
- Salary: ₹4-7 LPA in IT like Infosys
8. Diploma/Certification Courses – Quick Wins
If you are running out of time and looking for early entry in workforce then diploma courses are the best path. You can go for trendy diplomas in 2026 and take the benefit of great career opportunities. Diplomas and certification are the best option for early income along with side degree.
- Salary Boost: ₹3-5 LPA entry; freelance potential
- Platforms: DizitalAdda, Coursera, UpGrad, and you can also go for government bodies.
9. Digital Marketing Certification – Modern Hustle
Digital marketing is a great modern hustle of now time, with the immense career opportunities in this field making this a golden career option for any stream student. You can get a quick start in online business through a digital marketing course and can learn SEO, content marketing, social media marketing, and paid advertising.
- Duration: 3-6 months
- Eligibility: 12th pass
- Top Platforms: DizitalAdda, Google Digital Garage, HubSpot, Digital Vidya (Delhi)
- Fees: ₹5,000–₹50,000
- Salary: ₹3-6 LPA freelance/startup roles
Best Courses After 12th Commerce with High Salary: Quick Comparison
Data from 2025 placements—best courses after 12th commerce with high salary like CA, top the charts!
How to Choose the Right One?
Ask yourself what you love doing: numbers (CA/CMA), people/Management (BBA), law (CS/LLB), or digital work (Digital Marketing). Also, check your budget, location (Delhi NCR has 100+ colleges), and the entrance exams you can prepare for.
Steps to start:
- List your 12th marks and interests.
- Research via the CUET portal or college websites.
- Talk to seniors on LinkedIn.
- Apply by May-June for July sessions.
Scholarships like NSP or state aid cut fees by 50%+.
Read More: Become a Freelance Digital Marketer
Digital Marketing: The Booming Career for 12th Commerce Students
If you are tired of regular desk jobs? Than go for digital marketing, this field is exploding like crazy. India’s digital ad market crossed ₹50,000 crore in 2025 and is expected to create over 10 lakh jobs by 2027. This field is ideal too for the 12th commerce students, it’s one of the most future-ready career options.
Why it's perfect for you:
- Digital Marketing is growing rapidly in India
- Ad industry crossed ₹50,000 crore in 2025
- Over 10 lakh jobs expected by 2027
- A smart, future-ready option for 12th commerce students
F&Qs
Which course is best after 12th in commerce?
B.Com (Hons) and BBA top the list, but digital marketing certifications excel for fast, job-ready skills, without long commitments.
Which course has the highest salary in commerce?
Chartered Accountancy (CA) offers the highest potential, with starting packages around ₹10–20 LPA.
Which 6 month course is best?
A Diploma in Digital Marketing stands for strong job prospects, as today’s market is taking a huge digital shift. Roles for SEO, PPC and social media are high in demand with ₹3-6 LPA.
Which commerce course is best in the future?
BBA+MBA remains top for future versatility (20-35 LPA), but Digital Marketing (12-25 LPA, freelance boom) and Stock Trading Certification (15-30 LPA, fintech surge) excel for quick, high-demand commerce careers in India's digital economy.
Can a 12th pass apply for digital marketing?
Yes, students from any stream can apply for digital marketing—no need of degree or prior experience, mostly courses are beginner friendly.
Is digital marketing good after 12th?
Yes, it provides fast jobs (₹3-6 LPA entry), freelance flexibility, and high growth in a booming field, ideal for commerce students.