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In this ranking, we will be exploring the top online PhD programs in management information systems. Management Information Systems, commonly referred to as just MIS, is a field that is focused on bringing information technology and organizational processes together to help businesses and other organizations function. This type of degree program is where computer science meets business, and it can prepare you for a broad range of careers.
The main focus of this type of degree is to help organizations function more efficiently through the use of information systems. Instead of being primarily applied like a computer science degree would be, these programs have a curriculum that is designed to provide you with practical skills as well as a depth of theoretical knowledge. One of the best parts about this type of degree is that they have such a broad application. Many different organizations and different types of businesses rely on the expertise of MIS professionals to function. Someone with an MIS degree could work in business, healthcare, academia, and more. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, jobs in this field are projected to grow as much as 12% over the next decade, which is a rate faster than the national average.
Management Information Systems Ph.D. Programs
At the Ph.D. level, degree programs in Management Information Systems are going to delve even deeper into technology, data management, operating systems, infrastructure, and more. However, PhD programs tend to be more highly specialized; they are more focused on either the career you’re working towards or the courses you’d like to go on to teach yourself.
MIS is a very broad field that encompasses elements of computer science, information technology, database management, and more. Due to that, there are more Ph.D. programs that fall into the field of Management Information Systems than there are PhDs in Management Information Systems themselves.
The topics that you’ll study at such an advanced level of MIS include innovation, management, decision processes, business database management, machine learning, network security, and more. There are plenty of doctoral degree programs that will cover this information, such as a PhD in Information Technology, Technology Management, Systems Engineering, and Information Systems. We’ve chosen to include all of those different types of programs here, as they all fall under the vast umbrella of Management Information Systems.
Earning a PhD in Management Information Systems Online
Earning a PhD or doctorate can feel like a hurdle to many people because of the amount of time of the amount of money that they’re worried it will take them to accomplish it. What many people don’t know is that there is a range of PhD programs offered online, and they might be a great alternative for those who have these worries.
Online doctoral programs don’t take as much time as a traditional program. You will not be required to relocate at all, which means that you won’t have to worry about the costs of moving, you won’t have to give up your job, and you won’t have to follow a strict on-campus class schedule. Instead, you can earn your PhD or doctorate from the comfort of your own home as long as you have access to the internet. Many of your courses will be presented asynchronously, which means that you can get online any time of day to work on your classes.
There are some programs that have synchronous elements and that require you to attend campus at times, but even these parts of the program are designed to fit into the lives of working adults. Additionally, online PhD programs can be more affordable. There may be fewer fees or material costs, and online students are often eligible for the same tuition rate as in-state students.
When it comes to online Management Information Systems PhDs, there are not many programs that are traditional MIS programs available. With that said, there are plenty of degrees that fit into the field of management information systems. All of the PhD programs here will help you secure the management information systems career that you want, they will build on the knowledge you have from your previous degrees and work experience, and they will offer you a challenging and flexible curriculum you can take anywhere. All of the degrees featured in this ranking were selected according to the following methodology.
Methodology
In order to create our ranking of the top ten best online Ph.D. programs in Management Information Systems, we started by creating a list of schools that met our qualifying criteria. In order to be considered, each school must be based in the United States, hold proper accreditation, and offer at least one online or hybrid program in management information systems or a related area of study. No for-profit schools were considered for this ranking.
Once we had gathered a list of schools, they were then scored out of a possible 300 points based on these three factors.
- Freshman Retention Rate (⅓ final score)
- Graduation Rate (⅓ final score)
- Affordability (⅓ final score)
After each school was assigned a score, they were ranked in ascending order based on that score. The top ten are featured here.
All of the information used to rank the schools and discuss the programs was taken from the schools’ individual websites whenever possible. Additional information was also collected from reputable sources such as the National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. News & World Report, and CollegeData.com.
We’d also like to note that we are confident that this is a transparent, thorough, and repeatable methodology. No school is ever awarded preferential treatment of any kind, for any reason, from OnlineCollegePlan. We are committed to providing students with an honest and informative resource where they can learn about the online degree programs available to them.
If you’re not quite ready to pursue a Ph.D., you may be interested in checking out an online master’s in management information systems.
Colorado State University offers an online PhD degree in Systems Engineering. This degree program consists of 72 total credits. All of the classes that you’ll need in order to complete your degree are available online; however, if you live close to the CSU campus or you’re the type of student that would benefit from some in-person interaction, you can choose to participate in on-campus portions in some classes.
The University of Tennessee is home to an online PhD program in Industrial & Systems Engineering. You can also choose to add a concentration in Engineering Management. This program consists of a total of 72 credits, and you can complete all of the degree requirements through the university’s distance program. If you have completed your master’s degree, you can prepare to complete around 36 credits in this program.
Texas Tech University has an online PhD in Systems & Engineering Management that we have counted among the best online PhDs in Management Information Systems. This degree is presented in a hybrid format. Students will be required to attend campus for the first two weeks of the summer session in their first and second years in the program. In total, this program requires 72 credits for completion.
Worcester Polytechnic Institute is another institution that offers its degree in a blended format, which is not too uncommon for online doctoral programs. This is a PhD in Systems Engineering program that requires very minimal time on campus because it was designed to fit into the lifestyle of a working professional. This program requires a minimum of 60 credits beyond your master’s degree in order to graduate. You will also be required to complete and defend a dissertation.
Mississippi State University offers a PhD in Industrial and Systems Engineering degree program that is an online doctoral program. The program consists of a total of 68 credits. The majority of your credits will come from courses that you select with an advisor. This means that this is a program you can easily customize to fit your needs for whatever management information systems career you’d like to have.
North Carolina A&T State University offers a rather unique online PhD program because it is one of several schools that offer a joint PhD in Technology Management in a partnership with Indiana University. This is a highly-customizable degree program that is made up of 90 total credits beyond your bachelor’s degree. A unique thing about this online management information systems degree is that you can enter it with a bachelor’s degree. Most PhD options require graduate-level degrees.
George Washington University has an online PhD in Systems Engineering program that we have ranked among the best management information systems online PhD programs. This program requires a minimum of 54 credit hours for graduation and is designed to be completed in just three years. While this is an online degree, it doesn’t offer the same flexibility that many of the other featured programs do.
Liberty University stands out in this ranking of the best online doctoral programs in management information systems because it is the only school offering a traditional business degree. If you pick Liberty, the degree that you’d earn is a Doctor of Business Administration with a Specialization in Information Systems. This is a 60-credit program that the average student can complete in three years.
Dakota State University has one of the best online PhD programs for students seeking a PhD in Information Systems. There are three specializations that you can choose from for this degree. Those are Analytics and Decision Support, Information Assurance and Computer Security, and Healthcare Information Systems. Regardless of your choice, you will need to complete a minimum of 88 credits to graduate.
Last but not least in our ranking of the best online PhDs in management information systems, is the University of the Cumberlands. This school offers an online PhD in Information Technology that comprises 60 total credits. You can complete all of the requirements for this degree program online without having to attend campus. Additionally, this is an asynchronous program.
Answering any cost-related questions is always tricky. Online PhD programs are going to have different price ranges based on the field that you’re interested in, the specific school you choose, and a handful of other factors. In addition to the varied cost of PhD programs, each student is going to have a unique financial situation that will play a role.
Yes! There are plenty of colleges and universities across America that have programs for a PhD in Information Technology. There are also schools that offer a Doctor of Information Technology as well.
If you already have a masters degree in a field that’s related to the PhD you want to pursue, you’re in good shape. Having a masters degree in a relevant field can help you in multiple ways. Firstly, it is very likely that you have already completed all of the prerequisites; and secondly, the credits you’ve already earned may transfer so that you can apply them to your degree and have fewer classes to take.
