Flexibility and a strong return on the investment of education are the main reasons why Missouri State University’s (MSU) online MBA with a graduate certificate in computer information systems (CIS) stands out.

The program not only allows students to tailor their degree to meet their career needs, but also helps graduates land well-paying information technology or IT-related jobs while keeping tuition costs low.

According to Dr. Elizabeth Rozell, associate dean of MSU’s College of Business, the program integrates a variety of courses offered by six departments in the college. It also gives students both the managerial expertise and technical skills for success in the IT industry.

Educating business leaders

“Our program’s focus on experiential learning, coupled with relevant curriculum, produces global business leaders,” Rozell said.

Students engage in in-depth study of computer security, project management, neural networks and current research in management information systems.

For Sarah Nenninger, a 2015 graduate of the program, the knowledge she gained from both a business management and CIS standpoint made her more competent in her career.

“When budgets or business planning are discussed at my employer, I feel empowered to speak up and contribute to the conversation, which is a valuable takeaway as I grow and advance professionally,” Nenninger said. “Additionally, working in a digitally focused advertising agency, I’m able to understand on a deeper level the digital work we do for our clients and work more efficiently with our development team to achieve client goals.”

Check out the program

The ranking

Online MBA Today developed the ranking based on a list of 380 online and hybrid MBA programs that had information systems and technology management focus.

It then analyzed the programs using these five factors to generate an average score:

• Estimated tuition cost
• Accreditation
• PayScale early career salary
• Prestige
• Overall graduation rates

For more information, contact Rozell at 417-836-6040.