DECA is a Student Organization for High School Students who are interested in pursuing a career in business. 

In 1946, the Distributive Education Clubs of America (DECA) organized around an ambitious goal to improve educational and career opportunities in marketing, management, and entrepreneurship for students. 

DECA’s comprehensive learning program includes: integrating classroom instructions using authentic, experiential learning methods; applying knowledge into action through rigorous projects/activities; partnering with businesses at local and broader levels; and promoting competition. DECA prepares students to be academically prepared, community-oriented, professionally responsible, experienced leaders. 

With over 298,000 student members and 5,500 faculty advisors, DECA functions as the non-profit student organization to over 5,000 marketing education programs in secondary school and post-secondary schools across the U.S., its territories, and other countries including the District of Columbia, Canada, China, Germany, Guam, Mexico, Puerto Rico and Spain.

Mission Statement

DECA prepares emerging leaders and entrepreneurs in marketing, finance, hospitality, and management in high schools and colleges around the globe.

Attributes and Values

Our attributes and values describe DECA’s priorities and standards. We value competence, innovation, integrity, and teamwork.

The DECA experience starts in the classroom where students learn business concepts in preparation for college and careers. A powerful instructional component, DECA brings the classroom to life by empowering the teacher-advisor to make learning relevant with educational programs that integrate into classroom instruction, apply learning, connect to business and promote competition. The successful integration of each of these four interconnected components, also part of DECA’s guiding principles, results in a strong program that produces college- and career-ready students.