Best Management Information Systems Online Bachelor Degree

At Study.com, we took a long look at online management information systems bachelor's programs across the country, investigating each program's U.S. Department of Education data, like tuition and graduation rates, to find the best of the best. We examined each program's curriculum and chose those that emphasized practical experience along with the classroom training needed to build students' decision making and critical thinking skills as well as their business and technological acumen. The standout universities and colleges on our list had strong relationships with industry businesses and professionals to enhance students' knowledge or provided the latest technological tools to build MIS skills.

1. Minot State University

Tuition	Acceptance Rate	Graduation Rate	Financial Aid %	Placement Services	Career Services	Accepts
$7,592	67%	45%	90%	Yes	Yes	AP / ACE Credits

Minot State University's emphasis on real-world experience and affordable tuition for online students puts it at the top of our list of the best management information systems online bachelor's degrees. Students can find a fully online Bachelor of Science in Management Information Systems (MIS) that combines classroom learning in information systems strategies, project management, e-commerce, and information assurance with project-oriented courses and seminars that examine current issues in the field. Online MIS students pay in-state tuition, regardless of location, and have access to numerous scholarships offered through the College of Business. Students will appreciate the abundance of resources available to support them in their online journey at this Minot, ND, based university, including online tutoring, multicultural support, and academic advising.

2. Fort Hays State University

Tuition	Acceptance Rate	Graduation Rate	Financial Aid %	Placement Services	Career Services	Accepts
$5,280	91%	43%	96%	Yes	Yes	AP / ACE Credits

The online Bachelor of Business Administration: Management Information Systems at this Hays, KS, based university produces technologically savvy business students with strong knowledge of networks, security, and data analytics. Most graduates, close to 100%, land careers in their selected field after graduating from this esteemed program. Students benefit from the relationships the university has formed with numerous businesses and organizations in the industry - giving students the opportunity to participate in internships for real-world experience or pursue career options. Some highly recognized companies that have hired recent graduates of Fort Hays State University's MIS program include Google, Zappos, Koch Industries, and Cisco Systems.

3. East Carolina University

Tuition	Acceptance Rate	Graduation Rate	Financial Aid %	Placement Services	Career Services	Accepts
$7,238	79%	66%	79%	Yes	Yes	AP / ACE Credits

A pioneer in online education, East Carolina University, in Greenville, NC, was one of the first national universities to develop a fully online degree format. Students here can find a standout online Bachelor of Science in Business Administration in Management Information Systems that features small class sizes and a focus on real-world projects. Alumni of this program point to its emphasis on business and technology as well as the time spent on projects as the foundation for their success.

4. Maryville University of Saint Louis

Tuition	Acceptance Rate	Graduation Rate	Financial Aid %	Placement Services	Career Services	Accepts
$28,470	83%	71%	99%	Yes	Yes	AP / NCCRS Credits

Maryville University's online B.S. in Management Information Systems combines core business principles with cutting edge MIS technologies to build a student's expertise and prepare them for today's business world. Students at this Saint Louis, MO, university have access to state-of-the-art tools and can build their portfolio with internships and projects. A unique feature of this program is the constant updating of the curriculum that takes place using input from business professionals so that students are ready to take on current business data challenges upon graduation.

5. Northwood University

Tuition	Acceptance Rate	Graduation Rate	Financial Aid %	Placement Services	Career Services	Accepts
$28,080	79%	54%	98%	Yes	Yes	AP Credits

Professional faculty devoted to student success and numerous opportunities for hands-on experiences are just two of the factors that make Northwood University one of our top choices for management information systems degrees. Students at this Midland, MI, university get a jumpstart on their education by examining operating system infrastructures and learning how to design databases in their first semester. The university brings in guest speakers to enhance students' education in MIS and include internships and capstone projects as part of the curriculum, positioning students for success in the business and technology world upon graduation. The Dow Chemical Company, Thomson Reuters, and Western Union are just a few of the distinguished companies where graduates have found employment.

6. Indiana State University

Tuition	Acceptance Rate	Graduation Rate	Financial Aid %	Placement Services	Career Services	Accepts
$9,236	90%	41%	92%	Yes	Yes	AP / ACE Credits

Indiana State Online is home to a prestigious online Bachelor of Science in Management Information Systems - boasting accreditation from AACSB International. The program at this Terre Haute, IN, university combines fundamental elements of technology and business to prepare students for careers in business analysis, info systems, IT and more. The level of support online students at Indiana State University receive contributed to the university's high ranking on our list. The university offers a student services resource to guide students to the service they need, such as academic advising, tutoring, mental health counseling, or career counseling.

7. Washington State University

Tuition	Acceptance Rate	Graduation Rate	Financial Aid %	Placement Services	Career Services	Accepts
$11,841	76%	60%	89%	Yes	Yes	AP / ACE Credits

The fully online Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration with a major in Management Information Systems at this Pullman, WA, based university boasts a globally recognized curriculum that emphasizes technology, business, and management, and ranks as the most comprehensive MIS curriculum in the Northwest. Students get the full benefit of taking classes led by world-renowned researchers and award-winning professors who draw from their own experience as well as from relationships they've formed with business and IT leaders. This flexible program features 7-week classes in an accelerated format to get students into their careers faster.

8. Lakeland University

Tuition	Acceptance Rate	Graduation Rate	Financial Aid %	Placement Services	Career Services	Accepts
$29,880	78%	48%	100%	Yes	Yes	AP Credits

Lakeland University in Plymouth, WI, features an online B.A. in Management Information Systems designed with working students in mind. This program allows students to customize classes to align with work projects, providing them with both academic credit and valuable on-the-job experience to further their careers. The university partners with numerous companies, both locally and outside of the local region, to provide an expansive network of corporations for students to pursue cooperative education opportunities.

9. Keiser University-Ft Lauderdale

Tuition	Acceptance Rate	Graduation Rate	Financial Aid %	Placement Services	Career Services	Accepts
$21,008	No Available Data (2019-2020)	69%	89%	Yes	Yes	AP Credits

Ft Lauderdale based Keiser University offers an online B.S. in Management Information Systems that encourages student interaction through group activities and promotes real-world learning with project-based courses. Current students and alumni of this program point to the student support, hands-on learning, and expert instructors as key factors in their success in the classroom and in their careers. Another standout feature of this university is the access online students have to campus services like interviewing skills and mock interviewing career prep, professional development courses, and career coaching.

10. Mid-America Christian University

Tuition	Acceptance Rate	Graduation Rate	Financial Aid %	Placement Services	Career Services	Accepts
$18,838	No Available Data (2019-2020)	33%	96%	Yes	Yes	AP / ACE / NCCRS Credits

As one of the first Oklahoma universities to offer online learning, Mid-America Christian University is an ideal choice to close out our list of the best online MIS bachelor's programs. This Oklahoma City based university offers a unique combination of a Bible worldview and ethical leadership concepts with the foundational management and technology skills needed to work in the MIS field. Students in the online B.S. in Management and Ethics - Management Information Systems Emphasis benefit from discussion-based courses that encourage interaction with professors and fellow students.

To get a more in-depth look at our school ranking methodology, please visit Study.com's ranking methodology page.

Tuition information is based on published tuition and required fees, per data by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES).

Online Associate Degrees in Management Information Systems

There are a few different names for online associate degree programs in MIS. Associate of Applied Science (AAS) in Management Information Systems is the standard, but other programs offer similar curricula under an Associate in Applied Business (AAS) in Administrative Information Management and Technology or Business Information Systems. Occasionally, these programs are offered as Associate of Arts (AA) degrees rather than as an AAS, with the only major difference being a slight shift in some degree requirements away from STEM and business toward the humanities. All of these programs take around 60 course hours to complete. During this time students will learn business and information systems fundamentals like accounting procedures, business law, spreadsheet applications, and database management.

Many online associate level degrees in MIS allow students to earn them remotely, however most of these programs use the semester model and take two years to complete. One should look closely at their intended AAS or AA if they are in the market for an accelerated program. These degrees are generally insufficient for those interested in becoming managers or directors of a company's information systems, but these degrees can help graduates obtain some entry-level information technology (IT) jobs, such as network engineer or administrative assistant.

Online Bachelor's Degrees in Management Information Systems

Bachelor of Science (BS) in Management Information Systems is the most common degree title in the field, though one may occasionally find the same type of program under a slightly altered name, such as BS in Business Information Systems. Most students will begin their education in MIS at this degree level, though some will be continuing from a related associate program. Managers of information systems are expected to lead teams of IT specialists while also obtaining and distributing resources from their company so that they can meet project goals and deadlines. Because of this, MIS programs are multidisciplinary, blending business management staples like communication, business ethics, and workflow optimization with IT fundamentals such as database maintenance, network configuration, and programming.

Most online bachelor's degrees in MIS can be completed fully distanced, though some are only offered as hybrid programs. The majority of BS's in this discipline require students to take 120 credit hours of courses. Many online MIS degrees follow the more traditional semester or trimester format, while others have accelerated schedules where classes can be completed in eight weeks instead of 16 or 12.

Online Master's Degrees in Management Information Systems

While a BS is often enough to open the door to a career in MIS, those who wish to improve their prospects might want to look into the career benefits of a master's degree in MIS, like elevated employment and salary prospects. The two main paths for furthering one's MIS expertise are a Master of Science (MS) in Information Technology Management or Information Systems or a Master of Business Administration (MBA) with a relevant concentration. These programs tackle the higher-level topics and challenges a manager working with information systems might face. These include the secure storage of data, how to prevent cyber-attacks, international business concerns, and financing best practices. Most of these graduate level courses expand upon what students learned in a bachelor's program, while others help specialize the knowledge of potential managers. Few MIS positions require applicants to hold an MS or MBA, but some MIS jobs will accept the time spent earning one's master's degree as experience.

The majority of online master's degree programs are 30 course hours in length. Non-accelerated programs take two years to finish, while accelerated programs can be completed more quickly. Most online MIS master's degrees can be done fully distanced or via a hybrid model with a mix of remote and in-person classes.

Online Doctoral Degrees in Management Information Systems

Due to the relative recency of the discipline, the majority of online MIS doctoral programs in the field are actually Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) degrees with concentrations in information systems management. This level of educational attainment is not necessary for working as a manager of information systems, and while it might be counted toward one's experience in the field, it mainly serves as a degree path for those who wish to teach MIS in a university. Most DBA's with concentrations in information systems have thesis or dissertation courses, and some require academic residences to give prospective MIS instructors practical training. Beyond imparting the essentials of teaching, DBA's also further refine academic skills like researching and business theory. Online doctoral degrees relevant to MIS are generally not offered with accelerated courses, and thus students are estimated to take two to three years to complete their degrees. Most of these programs are also structured around synchronous online lectures and seminars.

Online Certificates in Management Information Systems

Earning a certificate is one of the main ways MIS graduates can distinguish themselves from their peers. Certificates offered as part of degree programs are the closest MIS gets to having academic subfields, with offerings like business analytics, cyber security, business intelligence, and others. Typically, these programs are between 9-18 credits hours in length. Certificates with management information systems in the title do exist, though these cover core concepts already dealt with in any standard MIS degree program. Rather than being an addition to an MIS degree, these certificates should be viewed as less-involved substitutes.

Unlike many other academic disciplines, MIS does not have traditional subfields. The majority of undergraduate programs are designed to make the degree holder versatile within the field at large. Graduate degrees tend to have information systems management as the concentration given that so many of them are Master's or Doctorates of Business Administration. However, this is within academia. One could argue that in the professional world there are specializations in MIS. Elective coursework can differentiate potential information systems managers, but what distinguishes job applicants the most is work experience and certificates.

MIS programs focus on two core areas: business administration and information systems. Being a manager in a business setting necessitates a general knowledge of corporate best practices and leadership skills. In addition to classes that cover these topics, MIS coursework also teaches students the ins and outs of the various types and components of information systems. While some online programs might offer specializations as electives, the majority of undergraduate MIS students will not have to worry about declaring a concentration due to the generalized approach of most associate and bachelor's degrees. Some of the common courses MIS students can expect to take are:

• Business Law
• Project Management
• Business Analytics
• Financial Accounting
• Introduction to Information Systems
• Programming
• Network Design

Most universities that offer online degrees in MIS structure their programs around semesters or trimesters. Even some accelerated programs have semesters, with each semester containing two course terms. Other accelerated degrees do away with semesters and only measure by course length, which can be as short as eight weeks. A bachelor's degree in MIS can take up to four years to complete, but can be earned in as little as two with certain accelerated programs. The majority of undergraduate MIS programs that are offered online can be completed fully distanced, though whether or not all, some, or any of the classes can be completed asynchronously depends on the program.

If managing information systems sounds interesting, you can begin exploring the topic further via these free online MIS courses.

MIS does not have an accrediting agency unique to the field, though that does not mean it lacks subject matter associations willing to review its programs. Instead of an agency specific to both of MIS's core areas, specialist accrediting associations tend to fall into one of either of the discipline's core competencies: business administration or information technology. Examples of this include the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business and the Accrediting Board for Engineering and Technology.

If one is looking to receive student aid they should also reference the appropriate regional or national accreditation agency to ensure that they will be eligible to apply for Title IV federal student aid. Beyond these resources there are also more general associations one can browse when researching accredited online degree programs, such as the Distance Education Accrediting Commission.

Most students should limit their search for online programs to those provided by accredited institutions, and this is especially important for those seeking student aid. Besides accreditation status, prospective students should also look at other elements of their intended degree programs. Not every online MIS program offers all of their courses asynchronously, so one should account for the flexibility of their schedule and limit their choices to curricula that match their availability. If this information is not listed on a program's overview page or in its course listing, those with an interest ought to contact the institution's registrar through email or a phone call.

Internship assistance is another benefit potential students might want to look into. Programs that offer instructor directed internships usually do so as part of a course. These are typically capstone courses or have the word internship in their name, and either can be found in the online program's course listing. Institutions lacking guided courses sometimes offer internship assistance through their career services centers, and these often have online resources available for off-campus students.

Another consideration is instructor availability. There is no guarantee if or when instructors will have office hours other than the job requirements of their institution. Unless such information is posted on a program's website, a prospective student's best bet will be reaching out to the registrar.

No licenses are required to work as an information systems manager as a bachelor's degree is sufficient when applying to most jobs in the field. For those applicants looking to stand out, the Institute for Certification of Computing Professionals is a great resource to begin exploring certifications. These types of certifications apply to specific types of software and digital services, like the cloud platform Microsoft Azure or common operating systems like with the Linux System Administration Distance Learning Program. When job listings advertise the kinds of software or networks that MIS professionals will be expected to work with, having certifications that match the company's needs is a great way to boost one's prospects.

Careers in MIS all revolve around information systems. What differs between jobs is one's relationship to them. Some positions will involve setting up computer equipment for a company while others will focus on maintenance of an already established network. Some will emphasize analyzing data to improve various aspects of a business' operations, and many will involve each of these as well as additional responsibilities. Depending on the size of the company or department, one might be doing these tasks alone or overseeing others engaged in such work. Alternatively, outside of the corporate world one might make a career of teaching MIS at a university.

There are a number of careers for those with a degree in MIS. One could work as an IT specialist, IT manager, a database administrator, a business analyst, an information systems project manager, a software developer, or a network administrator. Given that the linkage between business and information technology is on an upward trajectory, these and more opportunities will be available to those who pursue a career in MIS. Learn more about specific requirements for two careers below.

How to Become an Information Systems Manager

Information systems manager is the archetypal job for MIS graduates. The majority of positions in this field only require a bachelor's degree, though desired work experience varies between employers. As managers, prospective applicants must have good people skills, be able to coordinate various projects and demands simultaneously, and have a solid grasp of several aspects of information technology. Heading a department or team in a company entails communicating with multiple parties, and requires the ability to balance multiple requests and constraints. Differing goals and expectations can lead to conflicts and missed targets if left unaddressed, so information systems managers are as much in charge of making sure that networks run smoothly as they are their teams. On average, information systems managers earn $146,360 per year, and job growth is expected to increase by 10 percent from 2019-2029 according to the BLS.

How to Become a Database Administrator

Database administrators are the people in charge of the digital organization of a company's files, tables, and data sets. A database stores these and other types of information in a manner that is easy to access but also secure from outside interference. To this end, database administrators monitor how well databases function, create new organizing structures when needed, implement security measures, and respond to feedback from both general users and analysts who rely on databases. Because of all this, the job requires one to be technically savvy, proficient at multitasking, and good at communicating. The median annual salary for database administrators is $93,750 according to the BLS, which also projects job growth in the field to increase by 10 percent from 2019-2029.

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is a good place to start for students interested in obtaining financial assistance. This process allows one to see if they are eligible for student aid from the federal government, and how much they can expect to receive for each semester. In addition to federal assistance, prospective students should also examine whatever state and local options are available to them. When looking for grants and scholarships specific to one's major, it is best to broaden one's search in the case of MIS. Aspiring students can apply to many STEM-oriented student aid programs or go slightly more specific and look into opportunities intended for computer science students or those enrolled in information technology programs. A great place to look for STEM, or even business, financial aid opportunities is CareerOneStop's Scholarship Finder, which is sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor.

• Association for Information Systems (AIS) is an international organization dedicated to furthering individuals and research in the field of information systems. AIS offers both career development and services for those in both corporate and academic settings. In addition to this, it also recognizes accomplished individuals with awards, oversees several academic journals, and hosts conferences across the globe.
• Computer Technology Industry Association (CompTIA) is an organization open to information systems students, academics, professionals, and companies. CompTIA's focus is on furthering the education of its members through certification programs, exam preparation, webinars, and summits. Benefits are tied to membership status, though current students in MIS or information technology can apply for a free membership.
• Information Systems Security Association International (ISSA) is an international organization specific to cyber security. ISSA offers fellows programs, awards, and networking opportunities. As an organization its core principle is global digital security, and it aims to promote this through a combination of ethical standards and individual career advancement.
• International Association for Computer Information Systems (IACIS) is an international organization with the goal of improving upon academic and professional knowledge in the discipline. IACIS handles two major publications: the Journal of Computer Information Systems and Issues in Information Systems, each of which includes scholarly research geared toward both academics and business professionals. Between its publications and annual conference, the IACIS seeks to advance cooperation and exchange between corporate leaders and information systems instructors.