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MBA Research Option

Also offered as: Business Administration (Graduate)

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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MBA Research Option

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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
MBA Research Option students at EIU

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
Alex Wilcoxon, Marketing at EIU

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.
Hands-On Experience, MBA Research Option students at EIU

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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17% of lifetime limit

$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
Nichole Hugo, Graduate Coordinator Message Nichole

Message Nichole

or email nhugo@eiu.edu directly
Candra Chahyadi
Professor of Finance
cchahyadi@eiu.edu
3016
217-581-6367
Candra Chahyadi Message Candra

Message Candra

or email cchahyadi@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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