MBA Programs in Missouri

Going back to school and enrolling in one of the MBA degree programs in Missouri is a great way to increase your future job prospects, opportunities and even salary.

These programs are available as a more traditional option and as a professional or executive option. Executive MBA programs feature night, weekend and online classes that work around even the busiest of schedules, while traditional MBA programs often require that you take the majority of your classes on campus.

Missouri students have a number of options in regards to schools, and those students can select from different concentrations to customize their degrees.

Drury University

The United Church of Christ Christian Church had a hand in the founding of Drury College. Members of its congregation donated money towards the foundation of a new school, and the school named itself after the man responsible for its largest donation. It opened in 1873 as Drury College and kept that name for decades before operating as Springfield College and then Drury University. Princeton Review recognized the university for its commitment to going green, and U.S. News & World Report called it one of the best colleges for the money that students spent on tuition and other expenses.

Master of Business Administration

While there are a number of MBA degree programs in Missouri, the Master of Business Administration program at Drury University is one of the best. The program, which consists of just 10 classes, helps students better understand subjects like international business, marketing and human resources management. All new students must attend an orientation session that takes place over a long weekend. You’ll have the chance to stay in a campus facility, meet the professors teaching your classes and even interact with other students before classes start. Eight of the classes that you take are within the leadership core and include understanding and serving customers and markets, strategic advantage through technology and innovation, economics of strategy and measuring and reporting financial and statistical information. You will also take two electives, and many students choose courses from within the cyber securities field like IT legal issues in cyber security or cyber risk management.

Accreditation

The Accreditation Council for Business School Programs (ACBSP)

Contact

900 North Benton Ave.
Springfield, MO 65802
(800) 922-2274
aadamick@drury.edu
Website

Fontbonne University

Clayton, Missouri is home to Fontbonne University, a private college that has an affiliation with the Roman Catholic Church. As the university does not require that students attend religious services, those from other denominations can apply. Though it opened as a female institution of higher learning in the years following World War I, it later opened its classes to male students too. It’s home to one of the most prestigious schools for deaf students in the country and offers a number of programs built around social science. Fontbonne University expanded beyond the first eight degrees it originally offered to offer undergrad and graduate degrees.

Master of Business Administration

Fontbonne University offers an accredited Master of Business Administration that consists of 36 credits or 12 classes. The program is extremely flexible and allows students to enroll in the type of program that will best fit around their schedules. Though some enroll in its traditional daytime program, the university also allows students to take evening classes, enroll in a completely online program or take both online and evening classes. Students can select a concentration in accounting, project management, supply chain management, nonprofit management or leadership and management. Though all students take the same nine core curriculum courses, they will then take three or more classes from within their concentrations before graduating. Required classes include social and legal environment of business, operations management and business components analysis. This program, which ranks as one of the best accredited MBA degree programs in Missouri, also includes two required seminars in strategic planning and marketing management.

Accreditation

The Accreditation Council for Business School Programs (ACBSP)

Contact

6800 Wydown Boulevard
St. Louis, MO 63105
(314) 862-3456
eveonline@fontbonne.edu
Website

Kaplan University – St. Louis

Kaplan University is a large chain for for-profit colleges located across the United States. Founded in 1937 as the American Institute of Commerce, it later became Quest College. When Kaplan acquired the change of campuses, it changed its name in honor of its parent corporation. Though many students enroll in one of its undergrad programs, it also offers accredited graduate programs in business, nursing, law and other subjects. Kaplan University has a location in St. Louis that is conveniently located near the city’s central business district, which is helpful to students who have full-time jobs.

Master of Business Administration

To earn your Master of Business Administration through Kaplan University, you must take 76 credits, but the university lets students transfer in some credits that they earned at another school. The classes you took as an undergrad may reduce some of the classes you need to take too. Core courses in the program account for 60 credits, and the remaining credits will come from the concentration that you choose. Kaplan University offers concentrations in finance, health care management, human resources, information technology, marketing and project management. Business perspectives, business analysis, marketing management, strategic management and ethics in business and society are among the required core courses. You’ll also take an MBA capstone, which is a requirement not found in other MBA degree programs in Missouri. This capstone lets you attend lectures and do research on your own before creating a portfolio of some of the work you did in grad school.

Accreditation

The Accreditation Council for Business School Programs (ACBSP)

Contact

1807 Park 270 Dr #105
St. Louis, MO 63146
(888) 561-4343
Website

Lincoln University of Missouri

Lincoln University in Missouri grew out of a small school that trained soldiers during the Civil War. Following the end of that War, the soldiers raised funds to establish a new school for former slaves. It opened in 1866 as the Lincoln Institute. Classes were open to both black and white students and was one of the only colleges of its type in the south. U.S. News & World Report ranked Lincoln University within the top 10 of American colleges for cultural diversity. While it still has a reputation and a ranking as a historically all black college, it admits students of all races and nationalities.

Master of Business Administration

When looking at MBA degree programs in Missouri, you’ll find that Lincoln University ranks quite highly. Its Master of Business Administration is an online program that is open to students with any undergrad degree, but those who did not major or minor in business must take a number of prerequisites in accounting, marketing, economics, finance and business. Of the 36 credits that you take, 27 come from within the business core. The remaining nine credits can come from electives you take relating to your career goals or your concentration. You can select a concentration in management of information systems, public administration and policy, accounting or management. The university designed the general management concentration for those who want to open a business or learn how to be effective managers. The public administration and policy concentration is best for those who want to work for nonprofit organizations.

Accreditation

The Accreditation Council for Business School Programs (ACBSP)

Contact

820 Chestnut St.
Jefferson City, MO 65101
(573) 681-5000
iker@lincolnu.edu
Website

Lindenwood University

Lindenwood University is a large private university in Missouri that has a religious affiliation with the Presbyterian Church. Founded as a small school by a settler and his wife, it operated as a trading post before the wife offered classes for her family and then younger females living nearby. The school then became a boarding school and accepted students who lived further away from its small campus. As it kept growing, it served as a junior college and then a university. Washington Monthly ranked the graduate school at Lindenwood as one of the country’s best, and it ranks on the U.S. News & World Report’s list of top Midwestern colleges.

Master of Business Administration

The Master of Business Administration offered by Lindenwood University is one of the best general MBA degree programs in Missouri. The university offers an MBA Plus program that is available as either a general program or a specialized program with an emphasis in a select area. Those enrolled in the more basic program will take classes that cover the important aspects of business, including human resources, management, marketing, finance and economics. Lindenwood designed this program for working executives and adult students who cannot take typical classes. Its classes are available at night and outside of standard working hours, but you can also take some of the classes online too. Full-time students must take at least 39 credits of courses, but the total amount you take depends on whether you completed the prerequisites ahead of time. Classes include business management and policies, management information systems, statistical analysis and international business operations.

MBA with Emphasis

In addition to its general MBA program, Lindenwood also offers an MBA with Emphasis program that lets you select a concentration in one of eight areas. Its entrepreneurial studies concentration emphasizes the importance of running a business, including how to find investors, write business plans and hire new workers. Its human resources management emphasis is more suitable for those who need to find and secure benefit packages for existing employees, hire new workers and handle complaints from workers. Other areas of emphasis include finance, accounting, international business, supply chain management, management and marketing. This is one of the only MBA degree programs in Missouri that also lets you take courses in sports management. Lindenwood University also gives you the option of completing a graduate certificate online or on its campus in leadership, supply chain management, marketing, finance or international business after finishing your degree or while working on your MBA.

Accreditation

The Accreditation Council for Business School Programs (ACBSP)

Contact

209 S. Kingshighway
St. Charles, MO 63301
(636) 949-4933
eveningAdmissions@lindenwood.edu
Website

Lindenwood University – LCIE

Lindenwood University created its own College of Individualized Education, also known as LCIE, which became its School of Accelerated Degree Programs in 2015. Prior to changing its name, this branch of the larger university allowed students to create their own individualized degree programs around their own schedules and around their career goals. The new school now lets students enroll in accelerated programs that help them complete their degrees faster. Designed for working adults, this department of the university also accepts undergrads and offers both bachelor degrees and master degrees. Students can study creative writing, business, criminal justice and select other subjects through its School of Accelerated Degree Programs.

Master of Business Administration

The Mast of Business Administration program available through the accelerated school at Lindenwood University is open to any student who wants to learn more about the national or global economy and work in the business industry. It’s one of top MBA degree programs in Missouri for those who want to study general business topics. Students have the option of taking classes online and/or taking classes on one of the 12 branches of the university located in and around St. Louis. It requires that students complete 48 credits of classes, which must include at least nine credits in each of the five clusters. Those clusters include economics, marketing, accounting, management and finance. In addition to taking classes like marketing information and research, financial accounting concepts, economic issues, management and administrative theory and financial policy, the university asks you to take a course on business policies and strategies before you can graduate.

Accreditation

The Accreditation Council for Business School Programs (ACBSP)

Contact

209 S. Kingshighway
St. Charles, MO 63301
(636) 949-4933
Website

Maryville University

Located a few miles west of downtown St. Louis is Maryville University. This private college opened in 1872 as a religious school for students from poor backgrounds. Its early success led to the school becoming a junior college and expanding its course offerings. The college grew large enough that it built its own new campus, which led to it becoming a university. Students from more than 40 countries and students from all 50 states now take classes on this Missouri campus. It now offers more than 90 degree programs at the three top levels to more than 6,400 students.

Master of Business Administration

Maryville University offers several options for students who want to earn a Master of Business Administration. As you compare the MBA degree programs in Missouri, you’ll find that this university offers a standard MBA program that you can complete in a single year, an online program and an executive program. The executive program features evening classes. You take just one class every week, usually on Wednesday or Thursday nights, each semester. The online program consists of online only classes, and the shorter program includes both online and evening classes. Maryville University also has an MBA program available on the Scott Air Force Base. Each program includes eight courses like business ethics, legal environment of business, strategic marketing and global business. The last class you take is a business capstone that requires you create a portfolio, final project or thesis paper. Concentrations available include accounting, health care practice management and cyber security.

Accreditation

The Accreditation Council for Business School Programs (ACBSP)

Contact

650 Maryville University Dr.
St. Louis, MO 63141
(800) 627-9855
Website

Northwest Missouri State University

Founded as one of several normal schools or teaching schools established by the state, Northwest Missouri State University opened in 1906 as the Fifth District Normal School. The only classes it offered were prep classes that trained those hoping to work as elementary school teachers. After gaining accreditation and adding bachelor programs to its catalog, it became the Northwest Missouri State Teachers College and then Northwest Missouri State University. The campus is home to a large arboretum that is one of the biggest in the state. NMSU offers degree programs at all levels and is home to more than 6,000 students, including more than 900 graduate students.

Master of Business Administration

Students hoping to enter the Master of Business Administration program offered by NMSU must have a minimum GPA of 2.5 and a minimum score of 440 on the GMAT before enrolling. The university offers several of the top MBA degree programs in Missouri, including an online program, programs with a specific concentration and a general management program. The general management program requires consists of 11 courses that are each worth three credits for a total of 33 credits. These classes are available through its finance, accounting, marketing and management departments. Classes include business decision analysis tools, employment law, managerial accounting, strategic marketing and quality evaluation. Though you must also take an executive seminar course, Northwest Missouri State University gives you the option of deciding when to take that class. As it requires a lot of research and writing, most take it during the first or second semester of their last year.

Master of Business Administration with Emphasis in Accounting, Health Management, MIS and Agricultural Economics

If you prefer enrolling in one of the MBA degree programs in Missouri that lets you focus your studies, you’ll find several options available at Northwest Missouri State University. Though each of these programs will require that you complete at least 33 credits of work, you can choose an emphasis or concentration in accounting, health management, MIS and agricultural economics or another field. The agricultural economics concentration includes courses on managerial accounting, financial management and organizational behavior. You’ll also need to show that you completed prerequisites like plant science, animal science and farm management before starting this program. NMSU also offers a concentration in marketing that includes classes on business communications and global marketing management. Other concentrations include on on business decision making and one on human resources management. Though most students enroll in traditional MBA programs, NMSU also offers many of these classes and programs online too.

Accreditation

The Accreditation Council for Business School Programs (ACBSP)

Contact

800 University Dr.
Maryville, MO 64468
(660) 562-1212
sludwig@nwmissouri.edu
Website

Park University

Park University is a nonprofit organization that is responsible for the daily operations of more than 40 colleges that use the same name in more than 20 states. The headquarters for the organization and its flagship campus both sit in Parkville, Missouri. Though it opened as Park College it 1875, it changed its name of Park University in 2000. Students originally received free tuition, room and board in exchange for the work they did on the campus, but the university now charges traditional tuition rates. Campuses now exist in states like Ohio, North Dakota, New Mexico, North Carolina and California.

Master of Business Administration

Earning your MBA through Park University is easy because the university offers so many different MBA degree programs in Missouri. The 4 + 1 program lets you enroll as an undergrad and earn both a a bachelor and master degree in just five years of full-time study, while the traditional MBA program is open to those who already have a bachelor degree in business or another field. While there is a general management program available, the university also offers concentrations in international business, finance, management information systems and human resources management. At least four of the credits you earn must come from electives relating to your concentration. The university also expects you to take seven core business courses that are worth a total of 21 credits. Required core business courses include corporate ethics, strategic marketing, strategic management and managerial finance. Electives may include financial markets and institutions or planning and staffing.

Accreditation

The Accreditation Council for Business School Programs (ACBSP)

Contact

8700 NW River Park Drive
Parkville, MO 64152
(816) 741-2000
Website

Whether you take a few years off to work on your career, or you decide to enroll in business school right after finishing your undergrad degree, you’ll find a business school that is perfect for you. MBA degree programs in Missouri offer courses, concentrations and other benefits for students of all ages.

See also: Top 20 Affordable Online MBA Programs 2014