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MBA Research Option

EIU's MBA with Research Option is a rigorous graduate program built for students who want advanced research skills and business expertise. Through faculty-student research collaboration, quantitative and qualitative methods training, and a required business research project, students prepare for Ph.D. programs, academic careers, or research-focused roles in consulting and industry.

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Degree Level

Master of Business Administration

Delivery

In Person

Time to Degree

3 Semesters

Credit Hours

33 Total, 33 in Major

Careers

Executives, Officers, General, Managers

Why Study MBA Research Option at EIU?

This isn't a generic MBA with research bolted on — it's designed from the ground up for students who want to go deep into research methodology.
The program is explicitly structured around genuine mentorship and collaboration with faculty researchers, not just coursework delivered at you.
Students build a well-rounded research toolkit valuable across academia, consulting, and industry — not just one narrow methodology.
The program is explicitly positioned as preparation for doctoral study, not just a terminal master's degree.
Students build connections that extend beyond the classroom into their future research career.

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"I didn't expect to get real experience this early, but by my sophomore year I was already working on projects that felt like actual marketing work. It made me feel confident that I'm ready for what comes next."

Alex Wilcoxon

Marketing | Junior

Hands-On Experience

Students complete a genuine, hands-on capstone research project — not just a final exam or paper.
Students get real practice designing and defending a research proposal, mirroring doctoral-level expectations.
Hands-on training in actual quantitative and qualitative research techniques, applied rather than purely theoretical.
Ongoing, applied exposure to research practice that goes beyond standard lecture-based courses.
Students collaborate with faculty researchers, gaining real experience contributing to active scholarly work rather than working in isolation.

What You'll Learn

Our MBA with Research Option is unique compared to most MBA programs and we share EIU's strong commitment to Master's level research between faculty and students. EIU is ranked number one among 22 master's colleges and universities within Illinois, and number 35 (top 5% of the nation) among 560 master's colleges and universities in the United States, in a federal census of earned doctorates in years 2000 to 2009.

View in Catalog

$95,880

Median Salary 4 Years After Graduation

Career Outcomes

Chief Executives
Chief Sustainability Officers
General & Operations Managers
Sales Managers
Administrative Services Managers
Facilities Managers
Security Managers
Industrial Production Managers
Quality Control Systems Managers
Geothermal Production Managers

Career Insights

Job Outlook ★ Bright Outlook Openings · Grow Rapidly

Preparation Needed Considerable (4/5)

Personality Fit Enterprising

Financing Your Degree Under the 2026 Rules

Federal graduate lending changed on July 1, 2026 - Grad PLUS loans ended for new borrowers and new federal borrowing caps now apply to graduate students. Here's why the math still works at EIU:

Estimated total for this degree: ~$16,665 (tuition and fees)

✓ That's only about 17% of the new $100,000 lifetime graduate borrowing limit - leaving room for whatever comes next in your career.
✓ A typical full-time year here runs about $9,090 - well under the new $20,500 annual federal loan limit, so federal loans alone can cover tuition and fees.
✓ Working? If your employer offers it, they can provide up to $5,250 per year tax-free toward your education - at EIU's rates, that can cover a good share of a part-time master's.

Estimates use 2026-2027 Illinois-resident tuition and fees and typical full-time enrollment. Your actual costs and aid depend on your program, enrollment, FAFSA, and prior borrowing.

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$16,665 total, just 17% of your $100,000 federal graduate borrowing limit

Connect With Us

Nichole Hugo, Graduate Coordinator

Professor Hospitality and Tourism, Graduate Coordinator of Sustainability, MBA Graduate Coordinator

nhugo@eiu.edu

3625 Lumpkin Hall

217-581-8595

Message Nichole

or email nhugo@eiu.edu directly

Candra Chahyadi

Professor of Finance

cchahyadi@eiu.edu

3016

217-581-6367

Message Candra

or email cchahyadi@eiu.edu directly

Billy Panther

Head of Panther Pride

Old Main

217-581-2223

Message Billy

or email billy@eiu.edu directly

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