Best institutions to study Management Information Systems
A program that generally prepares individuals to provide and manage data systems and related facilities for processing and retrieving internal business information; select systems and train personnel; and respond to external data requests.
278 U.S. institutions graduated 9,946 Management Information Systems students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 52.1201, a specialization of Management Information Systems and Services (CIP 52.12), and leads most directly to the Computer and Information Systems Managers occupation (BLS SOC 11-3021).
About Management Information Systems programs
A program that generally prepares individuals to provide and manage data systems and related facilities for processing and retrieving internal business information; select systems and train personnel; and respond to external data requests. Includes instruction in cost and accounting information systems, management control systems, personnel information systems, data storage and security, business systems networking, report preparation, computer facilities and equipment operation and maintenance, operator supervision and training, and management information systems policy and planning.
See also: 11.0401 - Information Science/Studies.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The Management Information Systems program prepares students to effectively manage and provide data systems for processing and retrieving business information. This program is ideal for individuals interested in combining technology and business, focusing on the management of information systems and services within an organization.
Students will gain essential skills in critical thinking, active listening, and problem-solving. Coursework typically includes topics such as data storage and security, management control systems, and computer facilities operation, equipping graduates with the knowledge needed to support and enhance business operations.
Credentials awarded
What Management Information Systems graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Bachelor's degree7,242 graduates / yr · 197 institutions73%
- Master's degree1,083 graduates / yr · 37 institutions11%
- Associate's degree698 graduates / yr · 38 institutions7.0%
- Award of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year538 graduates / yr · 28 institutions5.4%
- Postbaccalaureate certificate251 graduates / yr · 21 institutions2.5%
- Award of less than 12 weeks54 graduates / yr · 1 institution0.5%
- Award of at least 2 but less than 4 academic years36 graduates / yr · 2 institutions0.4%
- Award of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years22 graduates / yr · 11 institutions0.2%
- Post-master's certificate18 graduates / yr · 2 institutions0.2%
- Doctor's degree - research/scholarship4 graduates / yr · 1 institution0.0%
Graduates over time
Management Information Systems completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 13,060 |
| 2013 | 13,328 |
| 2014 | 12,901 |
| 2015 | 12,059 |
| 2016 | 11,969 |
| 2017 | 12,025 |
| 2018 | 12,079 |
| 2019 | 12,117 |
| 2020 | 11,664 |
| 2021 | 11,057 |
| 2022 | 10,085 |
| 2023 | 9,364 |
| 2024 | 9,677 |
| 2025 | 9,946 |
Top 50 institutions for Management Information Systems, ranked by graduates
Graduates (IPEDS completions), 2024–25. Award levels show which credentials each institution confers in this specialization.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Field earnings* (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Western Governors University Salt Lake City, UTPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 854 | 46% | $11,580 | — |
| 2 | University of Houston Houston, TXPublicBachelor's | 413 | 65% | — | $65,574 |
| 3 | University of Georgia Athens, GAPublicBachelor's | 365 | 90% | — | $78,190 |
| 4 | University of Phoenix - Arizona Phoenix, AZPrivate for-profitMaster'sMaster'sDoctoral | 257 | 21% | $15,478 | — |
| 5 | University of South Florida Tampa, FLPublicBachelor's | 246 | 77% | — | $55,972 |
| 6 | University of Maryland Global Campus Adelphi, MDPublicBachelor'sAward of at least 2 but less than 4 academic yearsPost-degree cert. | 221 | 33% | — | — |
| 7 | The University of Texas at Austin Austin, TXPublicBachelor's | 203 | 89% | — | $86,622 |
| 8 | Benedictine University Lisle, ILPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 194 | 50% | $23,570 | — |
| 9 | The University of Arizona Global Campus Chandler, AZPublicMaster'sBachelor's | 188 | 11% | $26,445 | $61,359 |
| 10 | Florida Atlantic University Boca Raton, FLPublicBachelor'sMaster'sAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 184 | 63% | — | $45,207 |
| 11 | Liberty University Lynchburg, VAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor'sAssociate'sMaster'sAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 176 | 65% | $28,911 | $56,014 |
| 12 | The University of Alabama Tuscaloosa, ALPublicBachelor'sMaster's | 169 | 73% | — | $74,078 |
| 13 | University of Oklahoma - Norman Campus Norman, OKPublicBachelor'sPost-degree cert. | 166 | 75% | — | $70,921 |
| 14 | University of Alabama at Birmingham Birmingham, ALPublicBachelor'sMaster'sPost-degree cert.Award of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 156 | 64% | — | $57,778 |
| 15 | University of Arizona Tucson, AZPublicBachelor'sPost-degree cert. | 155 | 68% | — | $67,550 |
| 16 | Florida State University Tallahassee, FLPublicBachelor'sMaster's | 155 | 86% | — | $66,252 |
| 17 | The University of Texas at Arlington Arlington, TXPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearBachelor's | 140 | 54% | — | $52,836 |
| 18 | Texas A&M University - College Station College Station, TXPublicBachelor's | 137 | 84% | — | $71,032 |
| 19 | University of Houston - Downtown Houston, TXPublicBachelor's | 136 | 33% | — | $51,314 |
| 20 | University of Alabama in Huntsville Huntsville, ALPublicBachelor'sMaster's | 119 | 64% | — | $52,769 |
| 21 | Northern Oklahoma College Tonkawa, OKPublicAssociate's | 112 | 48% | — | — |
| 22 | Old Dominion University Norfolk, VAPublicBachelor's | 112 | 46% | — | $54,748 |
| 23 | Western New England University Springfield, MAPrivate not-for-profitAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 105 | 64% | $29,327 | — |
| 24 | Wayne State University Detroit, MIPublicBachelor's | 100 | 58% | — | $59,352 |
| 25 | Ohio State University - Main Campus Columbus, OHPublicBachelor's | 100 | 88% | — | $72,017 |
| 26 | Fort Hays State University Hays, KSPublicBachelor's | 99 | 48% | — | $55,111 |
| 27 | Binghamton University Vestal, NYPublicBachelor's | 98 | 82% | — | $81,708 |
| 28 | Appalachian State University Boone, NCPublicBachelor's | 98 | 75% | — | $56,650 |
| 29 | Pennsylvania State University - Main Campus University Park, PAPublicBachelor's | 95 | 86% | — | $66,169 |
| 30 | Seminole State College of Florida Sanford, FLPublicBachelor's | 92 | 41% | — | $48,895 |
| 31 | Embry - Riddle Aeronautical University - Worldwide Daytona Beach, FLPrivate not-for-profitPost-degree cert.Master's | 90 | 21% | $21,266 | — |
| 32 | University of Delaware Newark, DEPublicBachelor's | 88 | 81% | — | $73,332 |
| 33 | Connecticut State Community College New Britain, CTPublicAssociate'sAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 87 | 24% | — | $45,723 |
| 34 | Umpqua Community College Roseburg, ORPublicAward of less than 12 weeksAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate's | 86 | 31% | — | — |
| 35 | Baylor University Waco, TXPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 81 | 80% | $35,682 | $70,873 |
| 36 | Middle Tennessee State University Murfreesboro, TNPublicBachelor's | 79 | 54% | — | $48,608 |
| 37 | Florida Gulf Coast University Fort Myers, FLPublicBachelor'sMaster's | 76 | 57% | — | $44,868 |
| 38 | Utah Tech University Saint George, UTPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearBachelor's | 72 | 38% | — | — |
| 39 | University of Memphis Memphis, TNPublicBachelor's | 71 | 51% | — | $51,524 |
| 40 | East Carolina University Greenville, NCPublicBachelor'sPost-degree cert. | 68 | 63% | — | $61,914 |
| 41 | West Virginia University Morgantown, WVPublicBachelor's | 68 | 65% | — | $62,127 |
| 42 | Community College of Baltimore County Baltimore, MDPublicAssociate'sAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 66 | 19% | — | $30,550 |
| 43 | Rochester Institute of Technology Rochester, NYPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 65 | 70% | $28,133 | $69,834 |
| 44 | The University of Texas at San Antonio San Antonio, TXPublicBachelor's | 64 | 53% | — | $58,123 |
| 45 | National University San Diego, CAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 62 | 43% | $31,817 | $92,758 |
| 46 | Oregon State University Corvallis, ORPublicBachelor's | 61 | 70% | — | $63,000 |
| 47 | Del Mar College Corpus Christi, TXPublicAssociate'sAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 60 | 11% | — | — |
| 48 | DeVry University - Illinois Lisle, ILPrivate for-profitMaster's | 60 | 37% | $32,381 | — |
| 49 | Colorado State University Global Denver, COPublicMaster's | 58 | — | — | $74,960 |
| 50 | Ohio University - Main Campus Athens, OHPublicBachelor's | 57 | 65% | — | $68,154 |
* Median earnings 1 year after graduation for the broader Management Information Systems and Services field (CIP 52.12) at these institutions; College Scorecard does not publish earnings at the 6-digit level.
Offered in 49 states & territories
Where Management Information Systems graduates come from. Each state links to all Management Information Systems and Services programs offered there.
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 11-3021, Computer and Information Systems Managers, and its national outlook.
Graduates of the Management Information Systems program can pursue careers as Computer and Information Systems Managers, among other roles. The job outlook is promising, with a growth rate of 15.2% and approximately 55,600 annual openings. The median wage for this field is $171,200, typically requiring a Bachelor's degree.
Top-paying metros
Career pathways for CIP 52.1201
The occupations the NCES crosswalk maps this 6-digit code to, with BLS pay and 10-year outlook.
| Occupation | US median pay | Growth | Openings / yr | Typical entry education |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Computer and Information Systems Managersprimary SOC 11-3021 | $175,140 | +15.2% Much faster than average | ~55,600 | Bachelor's degree |
Computer Programmers SOC 15-1251 | $100,390 | -6.0% Decline | ~5,500 | Bachelor's degree |
Database Architects SOC 15-1243 | $139,500 | +8.7% Much faster than average | ~4,000 | Bachelor's degree |
Computer Science Teachers, Postsecondary SOC 25-1021 | $96,980 | +5.3% Faster than average | ~3,500 | Doctoral or professional degree |
Job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed
- Education
- Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
- Experience
- A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified.
- Training
- Employees in these occupations usually need several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, and/or vocational training.
Related careers
Skills & knowledge in Management Information Systems programs
From the U.S. Dept. of Labor for the occupation this specialization most leads to.
Skills you'll build
Knowledge areas
Abilities that matter most
Day-to-day work activities
What graduates do on the job
- Direct daily operations of department, analyzing workflow, establishing priorities, developing standards and setting deadlines.
- Meet with department heads, managers, supervisors, vendors, and others, to solicit cooperation and resolve problems.
- Review project plans to plan and coordinate project activity.
- Assign and review the work of systems analysts, programmers, and other computer-related workers.
- Provide users with technical support for computer problems.
- Develop computer information resources, providing for data security and control, strategic computing, and disaster recovery.
Tools and technology used
Other Management Information Systems and Services specializations
The 3 other 6-digit CIP codes under Management Information Systems and Services (CIP 52.12).
Common questions
What degrees can I earn in this program?+
You can earn a Bachelor's degree, Master's degree, Associate's degree, or a short-term award.
What skills will I develop?+
You will develop skills in critical thinking, active listening, and technical support.
What is the job outlook for this field?+
The job outlook is much faster than average, with a growth rate of 15.2%.
What careers can I pursue after graduation?+
You can work as a Computer and Information Systems Manager, among other related roles.
What is the CIP code for Management Information Systems?+
Management Information Systems is CIP 52.1201 in the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020), a 6-digit specialization within Management Information Systems and Services (CIP 52.12). NCES defines it as: A program that generally prepares individuals to provide and manage data systems and related facilities for processing and retrieving internal business information; select systems and train personnel; and respond to external data requests. Includes instruction in cost and accounting information systems, management control systems, personnel information systems, data storage and security, business systems networking, report preparation, computer facilities and equipment operation and maintenance, operator supervision and training, and management information systems policy and planning.
How many institutions offer Management Information Systems programs?+
278 U.S. institutions reported Management Information Systems graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 49 states & territories, awarding 9,946 credentials in the year. That is 82.5% of all Management Information Systems and Services graduates.
How much do Management Information Systems graduates earn?+
Earnings are not published at the 6-digit CIP level by any federal source. The Computer and Information Systems Managers occupation, which Management Information Systems most directly leads to, pays a median of $175,140 a year nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025), and graduates of the broader Management Information Systems and Services field report median earnings of $58,123 one year after graduation (College Scorecard).
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
Program definitions are from the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020). Skills, knowledge, abilities, work activities, tools, and job zones are from the O*NET database by the U.S. Department of Labor, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
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