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Business Administration

Also offered as: Major , Minor

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.
See it for yourself Schedule a Visit
"Eastern IL University caught my eye because it felt so close to home. The small connected town atmosphere is what I'm used to, and I felt more comfortable at EIU than other colleges."
Trace Trettenero
Business Administration | Class of 2028
Trace Trettenero, Business Administration at EIU

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 you 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 skills, emphasizing teamwork, writing, contemporary global and ethical issues and analytical skills.

View in Catalog
$95,880
Median Salary for These CareersMedian salaryThe median is the middle value: half of the people counted earn more and half earn less. It is an estimate for a typical graduate, not a promise of what you will earn. Pay varies by employer, location, experience and the specific job.

Career OutcomesCareer outcomesThese are example careers that graduates of this program often pursue, taken from the U.S. Department of Labor's O*NET occupation list. They are examples, not job guarantees, and many graduates work in other fields.Source: O*NET OnLine, U.S. Department of Labor

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

Career Insights

Job Outlook ★ Bright Outlook Bright OutlookBright Outlook careers are ones with a promising future. They're expected to grow quickly, to have lots of job openings, or to be brand new and emerging. A career earns the label if it meets any one of these: projected growth of 5% or more, at least 75,000 projected openings, or New & Emerging status.
Grow Rapidly: Jobs in this career are expected to grow 5% or more over the next several years, based on Bureau of Labor Statistics projections.
Openings: Employers are expected to need at least 75,000 people for this career over the next several years. That count includes new jobs created by growth and spots opened when workers move on.Source: O*NET OnLine, U.S. Department of Labor Grow Rapidly / Openings
Preparation Needed Considerable (4/5)Job Zone 4: Considerable preparationMost of these careers require a four-year bachelor's degree. They also tend to build on several years of work-related experience or training.Source: O*NET OnLine, U.S. Department of Labor
Personality Fit EnterprisingEnterprising interest typeYou like business and leadership. This type of work includes managing, selling, marketing and leading, including in politics or law.Source: O*NET OnLine, U.S. Department of Labor

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. Annual limits are reduced in proportion for part-time enrollment.
  • ✓ Working? If your employer offers it, they can provide up to $5,250 per year tax-free toward your education.

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. Students who borrowed for the same program before July 1, 2026 may have different limits.

Talk to EIU Financial Aid → Read about the 2026 federal aid changes
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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