School Overviews
Students interested in studying management information systems can find degrees at the graduate level. Some schools offer dual degrees to help students prepare for their career. Management information systems (MIS) professionals coordinate the use of information technology (IT) to complete a task or enhance a business process. Graduate level education programs may include IT management and information system design to prepare students for management positions. MIS can also be studied as part of a Master of Business Administration (MBA) program. Three of the top schools that offer master's degree programs hold multiple honors from various publications.
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology was named the best business school in the nation for an MBA in Management Information Systems by U.S. News & World Report in 2017. Prior to that, the school was 5th on a 2016 list of the top 400 universities in the world by Times Higher Education.
MIT's Sloan School of Management and the MIT School of Engineering offer a joint program leading to a Master of Science in System Design and Management. The program provides an education in the architecture, engineering, and project management of complex systems in a global setting. In total, there are three semesters of core coursework followed by thesis work that provides students with an opportunity to apply their knowledge.
University of Texas at Austin
In 2016, the University of Texas at Austin was ranked 10th in Engineering, Technology, and Computer Sciences by Academic Ranking of World Universities. The McCombs School of Business offers a full-time MBA program with an information management concentration, which was ranked 5th in U.S. News & World Report's 2017 ranking of top business programs. In this curriculum, students learn how to use information technology to improve business processes and information distribution at the management level. Students take courses in managing complexity, data mining, and supply chain management.
Arizona State University
Arizona State University is ranked as the most innovative school in the nation and one of the top 200 schools in the world in 2017, according to U.S. News & World Report and Times Higher Education, respectively. ASU's W.P. Carey School of Business offers a Master of Science in Business Analytics and a Master of Science in Information Management. In addition, the school offers a concurrent MBA/MS IM program, an MBA degree with an information management concentration, and a PhD in Business Administration. Students that require a flexible class schedule can find evening and online options as well.
Top Graduate MIS Programs
Other top schools with graduate education in MIS have these distinctive qualities:
| School Name | Location | Distinction |
|---|---|---|
| Bentley University | Waltham, MA | The Graduate School of Business is ranked among the top 50 nationally and 3rd regionally in the North, according to U.S. News and World Report |
| Carnegie Mellon University | Pittsburgh, PA | Information systems management programs are offered in 1-year, 16-month, and global 21-month tracks |
| New York University | New York, NY | M.S. in Management and Systems program offers four concentrations, including leadership, risk management, and database technologies |
| Northwestern University | Evanston, IL | Part-time master's program offers online courses plus seven areas of concentration |
| University of Arizona | Tucson, AZ | Offers a campus-based and online master's program, plus a Ph.D. program |
| University of California - Berkeley | Berkeley, CA | MIS program focuses on project-based learning |
| University of Georgia | Athens, GA | MIS program ranked #16 in 2017 by U.S. News and World Report |
| University of Maryland - College Park | College Park, MD | Master of Information Management (MIM) program offers eight specializations, plus an individualized program option |
Several of the best schools in the country and the world offer students comprehensive graduate education in management information systems. A few American colleges that meet such distinctions include the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the University of Texas at Austin, and Arizona State University.
