Management Information Systems: Program Overview, Universities, Careers & Salaries
Program Overview
Management Information Systems (MIS) is a dynamic field focused on integrating technology, data, and business strategy to support organizational decision-making and operational efficiency. This program equips students with the technical and analytical expertise to design, implement, and manage information systems that drive business performance across industries.
- Cost and Accounting Information Systems: Study of systems that collect, process, and report financial data to support budgeting, cost analysis, and fiscal accountability.
- Management Control Systems: Exploration of frameworks and tools used to monitor performance, align operations with strategic goals, and facilitate data-driven decision-making.
- Personnel Information Systems: Training in systems that manage employee data, including recruitment, payroll, performance tracking, and compliance with labor regulations.
- Data Storage and Security: In-depth instruction on secure data management practices, including encryption, access controls, backup protocols, and risk mitigation strategies.
- Business Systems Networking: Understanding of network infrastructures that enable seamless data flow, collaboration, and system integration across departments.
- Report Preparation: Development of skills in generating accurate, timely, and insightful reports using data visualization and analytical tools for executive and operational use.
- Computer Facilities and Equipment Operation and Maintenance: Knowledge of managing hardware environments, ensuring system uptime, and optimizing infrastructure performance.
- Operator Supervision and Training: Techniques for leading teams, developing training programs, and ensuring operational proficiency among system users.
- Management Information Systems Policy and Planning: Study of strategic frameworks for designing, evaluating, and governing information systems in alignment with organizational objectives.
Management Information Systems Graduate Trends (2010-2024)
Management Information Systems Career Pathways & Salary Outlook
The following table presents salary data for occupations typically aligned with Management Information Systems degrees, including Computer and Information Systems Managers, Database Architects and Computer Programmers. These career paths represent common employment outcomes but are not guaranteed for all graduates. Salary ranges vary by location, employer, experience level, and specific role requirements. Nationally, these occupations employ approximately 856,850 professionals.
National Average Salaries
Occupation | Median Salary | Salary Range | Total Employment | Hourly Rate |
---|---|---|---|---|
Computer and Information Systems Managers 11-3021 | $171,200 | $104,450 - $239,200 | 645,970 | $82.31 |
Database Architects 15-1243 | $135,980 | $81,630 - $209,990 | 64,770 | $65.37 |
Computer Programmers 15-1251 | $98,670 | $52,190 - $162,090 | 109,870 | $47.44 |
Computer Science Teachers, Postsecondary 25-1021 | $96,690 | $48,910 - $172,380 | 36,240 | N/A |
Management Information Systems Salary Map by State
Geographic location significantly impacts earning potential for these careers. Average salaries range from $84,410 in Mississippi to $156,035 in California—a 85% difference. The highest-paying states include California, Washington, and Massachusetts. Nationwide, these occupations employ over 856,850 professionals across all states. Explore the interactive map below to compare regional compensation and identify optimal markets for your career goals.
Average Salary Range:
Top Universities for Management Information Systems by Graduate Enrollment
Below are the top 100 institutions offering Management Information Systems programs for the 2023-2024 academic year (the most recent data reported as of 2025), ranked by the number of graduates. The highest graduate enrollment in Management Information Systems is found at Western Governors University (WGU) (747 graduates), University of Houston (UH) (389 graduates), University of Georgia (UGA) (383 graduates), University of Phoenix (UOPX), Arizona (277 graduates), and The University of Texas, Austin (226 graduates). Combined, these colleges produced 8,823 graduates across all degree levels. Program availability varies by award level, including Associate, Bachelor's, Master's, and Doctoral degrees at participating universities and schools.
College Name | Award Levels | Graduates | Location | Control | Website |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Western Governors University (WGU) |
Bachelor's
|
747 | Salt Lake City, Utah | Private | wgu.edu |
University of Houston (UH) |
Bachelor's
|
389 | Houston, Texas | Public | uh.edu |
University of Georgia (UGA) |
Bachelor's
|
383 | Athens, Georgia | Public | uga.edu |
University of Phoenix (UOPX) |
Master's
Post-Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
277 | Phoenix, Arizona | Private | phoenix.edu |
The University of Texas |
Bachelor's
|
226 | Austin, Texas | Public | utexas.edu |
University of South Florida (USF) |
Bachelor's
|
225 | Tampa, Florida | Public | usf.edu |
University of Arizona |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
|
184 | Tucson, Arizona | Public | arizona.edu |
Florida Atlantic University (FAU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Other Award
|
181 | Boca Raton, Florida | Public | fau.edu |
The University of Alabama (UA) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
174 | Tuscaloosa, Alabama | Public | ua.edu |
University of Alabama (UAB) |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Other Award
|
171 | Birmingham, Alabama | Public | uab.edu |
Ashford University (UAGC) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
162 | San Diego, California | Private | uagc.edu |
University of Oklahoma (OU) |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
|
161 | Norman, Oklahoma | Public | ou.edu |
Florida State University (FSU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
151 | Tallahassee, Florida | Public | fsu.edu |
Baylor University |
Bachelor's
|
150 | Waco, Texas | Private | baylor.edu |
Wayne State University (WSU) |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
|
141 | Detroit, Michigan | Public | wayne.edu |
Liberty University |
Associate's
Bachelor's
Master's
Other Award
|
131 | Lynchburg, Virginia | Private | liberty.edu |
Benedictine University (BenU) |
Master's
|
127 | Lisle, Illinois | Private | ben.edu |
Western New England University (WNE) |
Other Award
|
121 | Springfield, Massachusetts | Private | wne.edu |
Ohio State University |
Bachelor's
|
121 | Columbus, Ohio | Public | osu.edu |
Old Dominion University (ODU) |
Bachelor's
|
114 | Norfolk, Virginia | Public | odu.edu |
Texas A & M University |
Bachelor's
|
112 | College Station, Texas | Public | tamu.edu |
The University of Texas |
Bachelor's
Other Award
|
111 | Arlington, Texas | Public | uta.edu |
University of Delaware (UD) |
Bachelor's
|
109 | Newark, Delaware | Public | udel.edu |
University of Houston (UHD) |
Bachelor's
|
104 | Houston, Texas | Public | uhd.edu |
Binghamton University |
Bachelor's
|
101 | Vestal, New York | Public | binghamton.edu |
Seminole State College of Florida |
Bachelor's
|
99 | Sanford, Florida | Public | seminolestate.edu |
Ohio University (OHIO) |
Bachelor's
|
96 | Athens, Ohio | Public | ohio.edu |
University of Alabama (UAH) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
95 | Huntsville, Alabama | Public | uah.edu |
Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU) |
Bachelor's
|
90 | Murfreesboro, Tennessee | Public | mtsu.edu |
East Carolina University (ECU) |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
|
89 | Greenville, North Carolina | Public | ecu.edu |
Northern Oklahoma College (NOC) |
Associate's
|
88 | Tonkawa, Oklahoma | Public | noc.edu |
Pennsylvania State University |
Bachelor's
|
87 | University Park, Pennsylvania | Public | psu.edu |
Appalachian State University (App State) |
Bachelor's
|
86 | Boone, North Carolina | Public | appstate.edu |
Connecticut State Community College (CT State) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
85 | Hartford, Connecticut | Public | ctstate.edu |
Colorado State University Global (CSU Global) |
Master's
|
85 | Aurora, Colorado | Public | csuglobal.edu |
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
83 | Daytona Beach, Florida | Private | worldwide.erau.edu |
University of the Potomac (UOTP) |
Master's
|
82 | FALLS CHURCH, Virginia | Private | potomac.edu |
The University of Texas (UTSA) |
Bachelor's
|
80 | San Antonio, Texas | Public | utsa.edu |
Drexel University |
Bachelor's
|
77 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | Private | drexel.edu |
West Virginia University (WVU) |
Bachelor's
|
74 | Morgantown, West Virginia | Public | wvu.edu |
Portland Community College (PCC) |
Other Award
|
72 | Portland, Oregon | Public | pcc.edu |
Florida International University (FIU) |
Bachelor's
|
70 | Miami, Florida | Public | fiu.edu |
Prince George's Community College (PGCC) |
Associate's
|
69 | Largo, Maryland | Public | pgcc.edu |
Florida Gulf Coast University (FGCU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
68 | Fort Myers, Florida | Public | fgcu.edu |
Fort Hays State University (FHSU) |
Bachelor's
|
67 | Hays, Kansas | Public | fhsu.edu |
Loyola University Chicago (LUC) |
Bachelor's
|
66 | Chicago, Illinois | Private | luc.edu |
DeVry University |
Master's
|
66 | Lisle, Illinois | Private | devry.edu |
University of Memphis (UofM) |
Bachelor's
|
64 | Memphis, Tennessee | Public | memphis.edu |
Mississippi State University (MSU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
63 | Mississippi State, Mississippi | Public | msstate.edu |
West Texas A & M University (WTAMU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
61 | Canyon, Texas | Public | wtamu.edu |
Utah Tech University (UT) |
Bachelor's
Other Award
|
61 | Saint George, Utah | Public | utahtech.edu |
Oakland University (OU) |
Bachelor's
Post-Master's
|
60 | Rochester Hills, Michigan | Public | oakland.edu |
Oregon State University (OSU) |
Bachelor's
|
59 | Corvallis, Oregon | Public | oregonstate.edu |
Auburn University (AU) |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
57 | Auburn, Alabama | Public | auburn.edu |
University of Wisconsin-Madison |
Bachelor's
|
57 | Madison, Wisconsin | Public | wisc.edu |
Community College of Baltimore County (CCBC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Other Award
|
56 | Baltimore, Maryland | Public | ccbcmd.edu |
Rutgers University |
Bachelor's
|
55 | Newark, New Jersey | Public | newark.rutgers.edu |
Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) |
Bachelor's
|
54 | Rochester, New York | Private | rit.edu |
Umpqua Community College (UCC) |
Associate's
Residency
Other Award
|
53 | Roseburg, Oregon | Public | umpqua.edu |
Metropolitan State University of Denver (MSU Denver) |
Bachelor's
|
52 | Denver, Colorado | Public | msudenver.edu |
DePaul University |
Bachelor's
|
52 | Chicago, Illinois | Private | depaul.edu |
Tennessee Technological University (TTU) |
Bachelor's
|
51 | Cookeville, Tennessee | Public | tntech.edu |
University of Hawaii (UHM) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
50 | Honolulu, Hawaii | Public | manoa.hawaii.edu |
Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU) |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
|
50 | Manchester, New Hampshire | Private | snhu.edu |
Howard Community College (HCC) |
Associate's
|
49 | Columbia, Maryland | Public | howardcc.edu |
Del Mar College (DMC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Other Award
|
46 | Corpus Christi, Texas | Public | delmar.edu |
University of Wisconsin (UWEC) |
Bachelor's
Other Award
|
45 | Eau Claire, Wisconsin | Public | uwec.edu |
National University (NU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
44 | San Diego, California | Private | nu.edu |
Texas A&M University |
Bachelor's
|
44 | San Antonio, Texas | Public | tamusa.edu |
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (UWM) |
Bachelor's
|
43 | Milwaukee, Wisconsin | Public | uwm.edu |
University of Wisconsin (UWO) |
Bachelor's
Other Award
|
41 | Oshkosh, Wisconsin | Public | uwosh.edu |
University of Kansas (KU) |
Bachelor's
|
38 | Lawrence, Kansas | Public | ku.edu |
Miami University |
Bachelor's
|
38 | Oxford, Ohio | Public | miamioh.edu |
Georgia Southern University |
Bachelor's
|
37 | Statesboro, Georgia | Public | georgiasouthern.edu |
Illinois State University (ISU) |
Bachelor's
|
37 | Normal, Illinois | Public | illinoisstate.edu |
Allegany College of Maryland (ACM) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Other Award
|
37 | Cumberland, Maryland | Public | allegany.edu |
University of West Georgia (UWG) |
Bachelor's
|
36 | Carrollton, Georgia | Public | westga.edu |
Lamar University (LU) |
Bachelor's
|
36 | Beaumont, Texas | Public | lamar.edu |
Western Carolina University (WCU) |
Bachelor's
|
35 | Cullowhee, North Carolina | Public | wcu.edu |
Florida Institute of Technology |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
35 | Melbourne, Florida | Private | fit.edu |
Northern Arizona University (NAU) |
Bachelor's
Other Award
|
34 | Flagstaff, Arizona | Public | nau.edu |
Kansas State University (K‑State) |
Bachelor's
|
34 | Manhattan, Kansas | Public | k-state.edu |
University of Michigan |
Bachelor's
|
34 | Dearborn, Michigan | Public | umdearborn.edu |
Western Washington University (WWU) |
Bachelor's
|
34 | Bellingham, Washington | Public | wwu.edu |
Louisiana Tech University (LA Tech) |
Bachelor's
Post-Master's
|
33 | Ruston, Louisiana | Public | latech.edu |
Western Connecticut State University (WCSU) |
Bachelor's
|
32 | Danbury, Connecticut | Public | wcsu.edu |
University of Massachusetts |
Bachelor's
|
32 | North Dartmouth, Massachusetts | Public | umassd.edu |
Central Michigan University (CMU) |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
|
32 | Mount Pleasant, Michigan | Public | cmich.edu |
Ana G. Mendez University (AGMU) |
Bachelor's
|
32 | Orlando, Florida | Private | agmu.edu |
Rowan College at Burlington County (RCBC) |
Associate's
|
28 | Mount Laurel, New Jersey | Public | rcbc.edu |
Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania (Ship) |
Bachelor's
|
28 | Shippensburg, Pennsylvania | Public | ship.edu |
University of Central Arkansas (UCA) |
Bachelor's
|
27 | Conway, Arkansas | Public | uca.edu |
Butler University |
Bachelor's
|
27 | Indianapolis, Indiana | Private | butler.edu |
University of Mississippi (Ole Miss) |
Bachelor's
|
27 | University, Mississippi | Public | olemiss.edu |
Texas Southern University (TSU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
26 | Houston, Texas | Public | tsu.edu |
Howard University (HU) |
Bachelor's
|
25 | Washington, District of Columbia | Private | howard.edu |
University of Dayton (UD) |
Bachelor's
|
25 | Dayton, Ohio | Private | udayton.edu |
Augsburg University |
Bachelor's
|
24 | Minneapolis, Minnesota | Private | augsburg.edu |
University of Arkansas (UAM) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Bachelor's
Other Award
|
23 | Monticello, Arkansas | Public | uamont.edu |
Rasmussen University |
Associate's
|
23 | St. Cloud, Minnesota | Private | rasmussen.edu |
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to the most common questions about Management Information Systems programs
How much can I earn with a Management Information Systems degree?
Salaries for Management Information Systems graduates vary by role and location. Computer and Information Systems Managers earn a median of $171,200 annually, while Database Architects earn around $135,980. Geographic location significantly impacts earnings—professionals in California average $156,035 compared to $84,410 in Mississippi. Approximately 856,850 professionals work in related occupations nationwide.
Salary data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS program, May 2024. Earnings vary by experience, employer, and market conditions.
Which universities have the largest Management Information Systems programs?
Currently 319 accredited institutions offer Management Information Systems degrees across the U.S. Programs with the highest enrollment include Western Governors University (WGU) (747 graduates), University of Houston (UH) (389 graduates), and University of Georgia (UGA) (383 graduates).
Program size doesn't necessarily indicate quality—consider factors like faculty expertise, production opportunities, location, and available degree levels when choosing a school.
Data based on IPEDS program completions for 2023-2024 academic year. Numbers reflect programs where students graduated.
Is enrollment in Management Information Systems growing or declining?
Graduate numbers have decreased over the past decade, rising from 13,954 in 2010 to a peak of 12,380 in 2020, before declining slightly to 10,310 in 2023-24. This represents a 26% decrease overall from 2010.
The field remains specialized with consistent demand, though opportunities are most concentrated in major metropolitan areas with active arts scenes like New York, California, and Illinois.
Graduate enrollment data from IPEDS, 2010-2024 academic years. Trends reflect reported completions at participating institutions.
What career paths are available with a Management Information Systems degree?
This degree prepares you for roles such as Computer and Information Systems Managers, Database Architects, and Computer Programmers. Related occupations employ approximately 856,850 professionals nationwide.
Skills in project management, creative leadership, and collaboration also transfer to event planning, arts administration, marketing, and corporate training roles. Many professionals work freelance or on a project basis across theatre, film, and live events.
Career pathways mapped using CIP-SOC crosswalk from the National Center for Education Statistics. Employment data from BLS OEWS May 2024.
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