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Business Administration

Also offered as: Major , Minor , Accountancy (Graduate Option) , Applied Management (Graduate Option) , MBA Geographic Information Sciences Option (Graduate Option) , MBA Research Option (Graduate Option)

EIU's MBA is an AACSB-accredited, flexible graduate degree for working professionals, recent grads, and career changers. Offered online, hybrid, or on campus with full- and part-time options, the 33-credit program lets you specialize in Accountancy, Applied Management, GIS, or Research — backed by real faculty support and graduates who go on to leadership roles across finance, operations, and beyond.

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Business Administration

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Degree Level
Master of Business Administration
Delivery
In Person / Fully Online
Time to Degree
3 Semesters
Credit Hours
33 Total, 33 in Major
Careers
Managers, Advertising, Accountants, Auditors
Business Administration students at EIU

Why Study Business Administration at EIU?

  • Only 6% of business schools worldwide earn AACSB accreditation — a signal to employers that this degree meets a rigorous, globally recognized standard.
  • Choose online, hybrid, or on-campus delivery, full-time or part-time, with both fall and spring start dates — so the program fits your career and personal commitments, not the other way around.
  • EIU MBA alumni hold roles like Chief Financial Officer, Corporate Controller, and Plant Manager at organizations ranging from State Farm and Deloitte to Eli Lilly and Caterpillar.
  • Whether you're a working professional, a recent grad, a career changer, or an international student, the program is structured to meet you at your stage and move you forward.
  • Tailor your MBA toward Accountancy, Applied Management, GIS, or Research — so your degree reflects your specific career direction, not a one-size-fits-all curriculum.
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"I have lived in Charleston for nearly eight years. I have had family that retired from EIU, I have heard nothing but great things about the school, when I decided to go back and further my education."
Logan Belcher
Class of 2026, Masters of Business Administration major

Hands-On Experience

  • Across MBA paths, students complete a simulation-based capstone that applies real strategic and financial decision-making rather than staying purely theoretical.
  • MBA students can apply relevant internship experience toward elective credit, turning professional work into academic progress.
  • Students can pursue assistantships alongside coursework, gaining hands-on professional experience while earning their degree.
  • Instruction comes from faculty with real industry background, keeping coursework grounded in current business practice rather than purely academic theory.
  • Depending on the path chosen, students get option-specific experiential elements — like Applied Management's case studies and group projects, or Accountancy's CPA-focused practical coursework.
Hands-On Experience, Business Administration students at EIU

What You'll Learn

The MBA at EIU prepares students for positions of leadership in business, education and industry. The program takes a strategic management approach to learning about business and addresses a broad range of business-related skills emphasizing a combination of team work, writing, contemporary global and ethical issues, and analytical skills.

View in Catalog
$95,880
Median Salary 4 Years After Graduation

Career Outcomes

  • Marketing Managers
  • Advertising & Promotions Managers
  • Accountants & Auditors
  • General & Operations Managers
  • Financial Managers
  • Compliance Managers
  • Loss Prevention Managers

Career Insights

Job Outlook ★ Bright Outlook Grow Rapidly · Openings
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: ~$15,147 (tuition and fees)

  • ✓ That's only about 15% 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 $8,262 - 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.

Talk to EIU Financial Aid →
15% of lifetime limit

$15,147 total, just 15% of your $100,000 federal graduate borrowing limit

Connect With Us

Nichole Hugo
Professor Hospitality and Tourism, Graduate Coordinator of Sustainability, MBA Graduate Coordinator
nhugo@eiu.edu
Lumpkin Hall 3016
217-581-8595
Nichole Hugo Message Nichole

Message Nichole

or email nhugo@eiu.edu directly
Farhad Sadeh
Chair, School of Business & Associate Professor of Marketing
fsadeh@eiu.edu
4025
Farhad Sadeh Message Farhad

Message Farhad

or email fsadeh@eiu.edu directly
Billy Panther
Head of Panther Pride
Old Main
217-581-2223
Billy the Panther Message Billy

Message Billy

or email billy@eiu.edu directly

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