Commerce vs Science: Full Comparison, Scope, Salary & More

Commerce vs Science! Which stream to choose?

This is the most common query in the minds of 10th graders today. Maximum students remain perplexed regarding which stream to choose after 10^th – Science or Commerce. Although the career scope and growth opportunities are immense in both fields, certain factors must be analyzed before taking the final go.

In this article, we will talk about Commerce vs Science in an evolved sense. We will take you to a step-by-step comparison of science vs commerce, which can help you make an informed decision about what to choose and why.

Let us begin by understanding the subjects studied under each stream.

Commerce vs Science: Comparison

Let us get a brief comparison of the science and commerce stream.

Stream	Commerce	Science
Subjects	Accountancy, Economics, Business Studies, Mathematics	Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Mathematics
Difficulty Level	Moderate	High
Best for	Business and Management Career	Medical and Technical Career
Benefits	The dynamic field of study, Numerous career options	The practical-based study, Tech-oriented stream
Popular Courses	BCom, BBA, CA, CS, CFA	MBBS, B.Tech, B.E., B.Sc., BCA
Career Scope	Investment Banker, Chartered Accountant, Company Secretary, Product Manager, Marketing Manager	Surgeon, Software Engineer, Machine Learner, Database Administrator, Data Scientist
Fees	Less Expensive	More Expensive

Commerce vs Science – Subject Knowledge

The subject knowledge in science and commerce covers a variety of disciplines. Let us have a look at the subjects under each stream:

Commerce:

Commerce is the study of trade, business activities, financial transactions, and economic principles that facilitate the exchange of goods and services. It plays a crucial role in the economy by connecting producers, consumers, and markets through various channels like banking, insurance, logistics, and marketing.

Commerce as an academic discipline covers subjects like Accounting, Business Studies, Economics, and Finance, helping students understand how businesses operate, manage finances, and comply with legal and tax regulations. It offers diverse career opportunities in fields like banking, finance, corporate law, entrepreneurship, and management, making it a vital stream for those interested in the world of business and trade. The core subjects of commerce are:

• Accounts
• Economics
• Business Studies
• Business Mathematics
• Pure Mathematics

Related Article: Best Courses and Careers in Commerce Stream

Science:

Science encompasses the study of the world and its elements. It imparts knowledge from both theoretical and practical concepts. Science is the systematic study of the natural world through observation, experimentation, and analysis. It seeks to explain the functioning of the universe, from microscopic cells to massive galaxies, using evidence-based principles and logical reasoning. The core subjects in science are:

• Physics
• Chemistry
• Biology
• Mathematics
• Computer Science

Benefits of Science and Commerce Streams

The science and commerce stream offers specific benefits to students. Multiple specialization fields are offered under each stream which helps students develop their careers in their area of interest. Let us now look at the benefits of choosing commerce and science.

Benefits of Science:

Science is one of the eminent disciplines, as it focuses on the natural phenomenon of the functioning of things, their characteristics, etc.  This stream involves studies based on experiments and observations. If you are genuinely curious about how things behave, science can be the appropriate option for you. Science offers the following benefits:

• Science imparts more practical knowledge, making students highly efficient and increasing their employability.
• Engineering, one of the most professing career options, can only be pursued if the student retains adequate scientific knowledge.
• The rigorous changing climate can only be faced and reduced by professionals well-versed in Science and Technology.

Benefits of Commerce:

Commerce is considered to be the most dynamic field of study. It offers a plethora of career opportunities to students in various corporate sectors. If you are fond of numbers and driven towards business and economy, then choosing commerce can be a suitable option. Following are some of the benefits of choosing commerce:

• Commerce develops management skills and business ethics, which help students to begin your start-ups.
• Several certification programs are available as a career option for commerce students without mathematics.
• Commerce provides excellent knowledge of the market and consumer, which helps students to work efficiently in the corporate world.

Courses after 12th: Commerce vs Science

Numerous courses at the diploma and post-graduate levels. Both the commerce and science stream offers a wide career scope. The courses available after class 12^th from the science and commerce stream are:

Commerce Courses:

• Bachelor of Commerce (BCom)
• Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA)
• Bachelor of Management Studies (BMS)
• Bachelor of Hotel Management (BHM)
• Chartered Accountant (CA)
• Company Secretary (CS)
• Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA)
• Certified Management Accounting (CMA)

Here are some helpful resources for Commerce Students:

• Career after BCom: Jobs, Courses, Scope and Salary
• Career Path and Scope of CFA in India
• Salary of a Chartered Accountant in India

Courses after Science:

• MBBS
• Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.)
• Bachelor of Technology (B.Tech)
• Bachelor of Engineering (B.E.)
• Bachelor of Computer Application (BCA)
• Bachelor of Pharmacy (B. Pharma)
• B.Sc. Nursing
• B.Sc. Electronics

Career Scope & Salary: Commerce vs Science

The science and commerce streams are the most sought-after areas of study among Indian students. While the science stream focuses on the technical and medical aspects, the commerce stream is more inclined towards the corporate world. Following are the prospecting career opportunities offering the highest-paying jobs in the science and commerce field study:

Highest-Paying Jobs after Science:

• Medical Surgeon – INR 25 LPA
• Data Scientist – INR 20 LPA
• Full-Stack Developer – INR 17 LPA
• Biotechnologist – INR 6.4 LPA
• Blockchain Developer – INR 21.5 LPA
• Software Engineer – INR 14 LPA
• Data Administrator – INR 22.1 LPA
• Machine Learning Engineer – INR 22 LPA

Salary Source: Glassdoor

Highest-Paying Jobs after Commerce:

• Chartered Accountant – INR 15 LPA
• Chartered Financial Analyst – INR 15.4
• Investment Banker – INR 33 LPA
• Company Secretary – INR 17 LPA
• Actuary – INR 11.9 LPA
• Product Manager – INR 35 LPA
• Marketing Manager – INR 23 LPA
• Research Analyst – INR 8.5 LPA

Salary source: Ambitionbox

Skills Required To Study Science 

Science students require certain skills so that they can understand all its subjects (Physics, Chemistry, Biology) better. As science is the subject of understanding scientific concepts better to succeed in this field. These are skills that every student choosing science must develop. 

Observing 

Observation skills are one of the fundamental and must have skills for science students. This skill helps students to find and see everything in detail. And science is all about detailed observations and fine experiments. 

Classifying 

Classifying skills help science students to differentiate among various elements depending on their properties. This skill builds on the foundation of observation skills. 

Measuring 

The ability to measure accurately is another skill that is required to study science well.  From doing lab experiments to physics calculations, everything requires accurate measurements. 

Predicting 

This skill helps students spot the pattern from the events of previous experiments or current evidences. Which helps making an educated decision.  

Skills Required To Study Commerce 

Commerce is a stream which educates students about numbers, taxes and business. And if a student chooses to make a career in the commerce field they need to learn a few skills to be successful in their careers. 

Problem Solving Skills 

Problem-solving skills help commerce students to better understand complex questions, understand them and find out solutions to problems.  

Analytical Skills 

Commerce includes topics like statistics, data and accounting numbers, to solve all these students need to analyse every detail. Learning analytical skills help students understand the data better and solve the questions. 

Communication Skills 

Communication skills are crucial for any student and when you enter the field of business, it becomes more important that you have the ability to communicate your thoughts and visions clearly in front of people.   

Key Points of Difference Between Science vs Commerce 

Criteria	Science	Commerce
Subjects	Science has the subjects like Physics, Chemistry, Biology and Maths. These subjects get divided further in several sub-subjects in higher education courses.	Commerce includes the subjects like Accounting, Economics, Business Studies, Maths, Taxes and Finance.
Selection Criteria	Students who score well in subjects of science in 10th boards can easily choose science.	Commerce doesn’t have such requirements students need to score well overall. And good maths can be a plus point.
Difficulty Level	Science requires more time and effort from students, and difficulty level is high.	Commerce is comparatively easier for students than science.
Change of Stream	Science students can easily shift from science stream to commerce or arts.	Commerce students can easily shift to arts.
Expenses	Science UG/PG courses like B.Tech and BCA are quite expensive.	Commerce students can choose affordable UG/PG courses like B.Com, BBA etc.
Career Options	After doing science career options like Engineering, Machine Learning, Doctor gets opened.	Commerce students can choose career roles in Banking, Accounting, Business.

What to Choose and Why? Commerce or Science?

Now that we have discussed in detail science vs commerce. We come back to the question of what to choose and why?

Well, the answer to this question depends on you. Both fields of study – Science and Commerce, open up many career opportunities for you. Our article covers several aspects of both streams, which can help you better understand the structure and future scope of the science and commerce stream. Refer to our article, find out your area of interest, and make an informed decision.

Conclusion

Commerce and science present distinct avenues and career opportunities, each appealing to various interests and abilities. Science is centered around research, innovation, and technical skills, paving the way for careers in fields like medicine, engineering, and technology. Conversely, commerce focuses on business, finance, and management, creating opportunities in areas such as accounting, marketing, and entrepreneurship. The decision between these two paths hinges on personal strengths, ambitions, and career aspirations. Rather than one being better than the other, both domains play a vital role in societal advancement. Ultimately, choosing the right path should resonate with one’s passions and long-term goals.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ’s)