The state of Missouri is at the edge of the east and south regions of the US. The state has more than six million residents, and it boasts large metropolitan areas, including St. Louis, Kansas City, and Springfield, the capital city. The largest educational system is the University of Missouri system. The entire network consists of more than 76,000 students. The Missouri State University is another prominent institution with more than 24,000 students.
The Missouri economy continues in a transition from manufacturing and basic industries to a service sector dominated economy featuring financial services, banking, insurance, Investments, and professional services. These service sector businesses can use the talents of MBAs to expand domestic and international opportunities. Those looking for job opportunities will benefit from a lower cost of living than most other states. This means that salaries in the state have higher buying power than many other states. This is an excellent location and state for entrepreneurs to become successful.
Missouri has a wide range of business and economic sectors that offer promising futures to MBA graduates. Agriculture is an important economic sector, particularly in Northern locations of the state. Tourism and hospitality industries dominate in portions of Southern Missouri and the Ozark mountains. Healthcare continues its steady growth in all parts of the state. The online MBA can open doors to careers and advancement in all these growth sectors.
Residents can save money if they select a school that offers in-state tuition rates for online education. The University of Missouri offers the same rate for all online students for its hybrid program. Students can complete this program with 75% of coursework online and 25% on-campus.
Percentage of Students Enrolled By Distance Education
Typical MBA Concentrations
MBA graduates can reflect the growth sectors of the Missouri economy with their selection of business concentrations.
Human Resources Management The shift in the Missouri economy away from manufacturing and toward service sector businesses and professional services will create additional demands for MBAs with human resource concentrations. Some Missouri business programs issue certificates for specializations while others use traditional concentrations. By either means, graduates that can demonstrate knowledge of human resources management will likely find a responsive job market.
Business Analytics and Data Management Business intelligence is an emerging field with a vast potential for changing the ways organizations manage key functions. The increasing use of big data and data-driven decision making will create an increased demand for MBAs with concentrations in analytics. There will be an increased demand for thinkers that can synthesize and expertly analyze big data.
Finance Concentrations in Finance have several directions. One direction leads to financial consulting and investment counseling. Another direction looks within organizations to manage fiscal affairs and ensure resources needed to meet the organization’s goals.
Public Administration and Public Policy Concentrations in public administration and public policy often include healthcare, health insurance, and privacy. Public policy will also involve cybersecurity and data usage. Both public and private employers need staff members with a Master of Business Administration concentration. Private companies must work with government and international agencies and meet public compliance and reporting requirements.
Marketing Marketing is a technology and innovation driven sector. Marketing MBA concentrations focus on digital communications and managing digital platforms. Marketing has a global reach, and the global business environment requires a strong base in management functions and the ability to use creative thinking and problem-solving. Marketing offers many unique challenges that Masters of Business Admin programs can prepare you for.
Why Accreditation is Important?
Accreditation is an important element of online academic MBA programs in Missouri. The accreditation is an assurance to employers, educators, and all other reviewers that the school and program meet the expected, high standards. The US Department of Education and the Higher Learning Council review and approve accreditation agencies. The national system consists of regional authorities that cover a specific group of states. Missouri is in the large middle-America region and the Higher Learning Council is the accreditation agency for Missouri educational institutions.
There are two types of accreditation; they are the institutional accreditation and program accreditation. The best choices for Missouri applicants are schools that have national, regional, and program accreditation. Institutional accreditation reviews the entire college or University and all its major parts. The overall rating may point out strengths and weaknesses, but the accreditation is an important form of guarantee that the students receive a quality education. Program accreditation is a specialized form of review and certification by an agency dedicated to a particular field of study. For example, the AACSB is the leading accreditation agency for MBA programs.
Career and Job Outlook for MBA Graduates
Company
Industry
Headquarters City
Number of Employees
Toddzone.com
education
Branson
15,000
ViaSystems Group
Tech
St. Louis
14,854
Express Scripts Holding
Pharmacy
St. Louis
10,001
St. Luke’s Health
Healthcare
Kansas City
10,000
Average Degree Salary Ranges Potential
Earnings with Associates - $48,689
Earnings with Bachelors - $58,189
Earnings with MBA - $71,395
Careers for Missouri MBA Grads
Senior Executive Officers MBAs prepare students for organizational leadership roles. These include the chief technology officers, operating officers, communications, and planning.
Sales director Sales are the lifeblood of many private sector businesses. Managing sales and consumer engagement is no longer just traditional advertising. Today it involves social media, digital communications, and technological innovations.
Financial Analysts As the manufacturing sector recedes and the services sector advances, the demand for MBAs in finance will increase. Organizations depend on internal finance officers for critical functions related to budget, resources, and planning. Finance is an essential part of the services that businesses can provide to other businesses and to the public.
Information Technology Managers Business intelligence is an emerging field and big data continues as a major area of growth for a wide variety of private sector firms.
Medical and Health Services Managers Healthcare businesses have a consistent presence throughout the state, and medical services is a growth sector in Missouri.
Social and Community Services Public policy is a strong area for MBA trained employees. They have a solid all-around knowledge base in management and organizational behavior. They have decision-making skills that the social and community development sector requires. These positions include managing non-profit organizations.
How to Choose & FAQ's
Choosing the best academic MBA program in Missouri is a complex task because there are many available options and choices. Nearly all of the choices are from accredited schools with excellent regional ratings. Students can select from a wide variety of tuition rates that range from one to five in expense levels. They can choose public or private institutions. Students can select among schools with large student populations or those with small classes and favorable student to faculty ratios. When selecting, students should consider the school as a community that includes, students, faculty, alumni, and supporters. The elements of the entire package may be helpful in getting the degree and advancing one’s career after graduation.
Tips for Selecting a Masters in Business Administration
Match the Program with Your Goals
Master of Business Administration programs are not all the same, and each school offers areas for concentration and focus. Some schools have faculty with particularly strong backgrounds in one or more business sectors. When selecting an online MBA program, students should be aware of their goals and try to match the program selection to those objectives.
Many programs require a thesis, project, or some type of capstone to complete the degree requirements. Students that have a firm idea of their career goals can use these requirements to get hands-on experience in their field of choice. For example, a student seeking work in the banking field can adopt a project or internship with a major bank or securities firm.
Look for Clues About the MBA Experience Students may have preferences for the type of learning environment that will suit them best. Some students seek an intensely competitive environment with emphasis on individual achievement. Other students may prefer a less intense atmosphere and a greater focus on teamwork and collaboration. Applicants can look at survey information to get information about the student experience. Surveys seek to bolster student satisfaction and they may or may not be useful as predictors of your experience. However, these surveys can lead to insights and questions that help you find the type of learning situation you prefer.
Consider Costs and Debt Many schools report the average time needed to complete the MBA and the typical level of student debt at graduation. The time required to complete the degree is a major driver of increased costs. Some coursework may be available in parts of the year for example and not during summer sessions. The time needed to complete the degree is a major consideration for online learners because they must balance the time needed to prepare and participate in coursework with family, job, and business obligations. The level of debt is a vital consideration as it relates both to the ability to finance the costs of the degree and the ability to regain those expenses through higher income or better career options after graduation.
Sources of Financial Aid MBA programs can offer scholarships and financial aid to online students in the same ways as to other students. The exception may be in assistant positions, graduate teaching jobs, and work-study jobs. Some financial aid requires a student’s presence on the campus and online students cannot meet that requirement. One special advantage for online students is continued employment. Employers can provide valuable financial assistance for completing an MBA. Employers generally agree that an MBA enhances their workforce. They may offer reimbursement to employees that attend online programs. Employer programs can reimburse all or part of the costs of tuition, books, and expenses.
Make Sure the School Has Accreditation When selecting an academic school for a Master of Science in Business Administration Program in Missouri, students should carefully examine the school and program accreditation. Students should look for program accreditation from a US Department of Education approved agency and for institutional accreditation from the Higher Learning Commission. A degree from an accredited school gains instant recognition and acceptance as a sign of the expected level of education. Some accreditation agencies have national and international acceptance, such as the AACSB, which operates in more than 50 countries. Accreditation affects the value of the degree. Wider acceptance of the MBA means a greater potential number of job, career, and educational opportunities. Accreditation affects financial aid and student finances as well. For example, many students use federal student loans to finance the costs of tuition and expenses. These loans can only go to students attending accredited institutions. Similarly, commercial lenders make a distinction between loans for accredited and unaccredited schools.
