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Management information systems director education requirements

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read

There are several educational requirements to become a management information systems director. Management information systems directors usually study business, computer science, or management information systems. 66% of management information systems directors hold a bachelor's degree, and 14% hold an associate degree. We analyzed 583 real management information systems director resumes to see exactly what management information systems director education sections show.

The most common colleges for management information systems directors are the Eastern Michigan University and the Eastern Michigan University.

There are also many online management information systems director courses to help get the education required to be a management information systems director.

There are certain management information systems director certifications that you should consider. These management information systems director certifications include Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer (MCSE) and Registered Health Information Administrator (RHIA).

What education do you need to become a management information systems director?

What degree do you need to be a management information systems director?

The most common degree for management information systems directors is bachelor's degree, with 66% of management information systems directors earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are associate degree degree at 14% and associate degree degree at 13%.
  • Bachelor's, 66%
  • Associate, 14%
  • Master's, 13%
  • High School Diploma, 3%
  • Other Degrees, 4%

What should I major in to become a management information systems director?

You should major in business to become a management information systems director. 22% of management information systems directors major in business. Other common majors for a management information systems director include computer science and management information systems.

Most common colleges for management information systems directors

Management information systems directors often get their degrees at Eastern Michigan University, Southern Illinois University Carbondale, and University of California, Berkeley. Here are the most common colleges for management information systems directors in the US based on their resumes.
Management information systems director common collegePercentages
Eastern Michigan University6.90%
Southern Illinois University Carbondale6.90%
University of California, Berkeley6.90%
University of Phoenix6.90%
James Madison University6.90%

Best majors for management information systems directors

Best colleges for management information systems directors

The best colleges for management information systems directors are Carnegie Mellon University, University of Pennsylvania, and Northwestern University.

A management information systems director with advanced education typically earns a higher salary and has access to better jobs. That's why Zippia looked into the best colleges for management information systems directors. We based this list on several metrics: admissions rate, retention rate, mean earnings of graduates, the ratio of working vs. non-working students ten years after admission, the average cost of attendance, and median debt for graduates who become management information systems directors.

1. Carnegie Mellon University

Pittsburgh, PA • Private

In-state tuition

$55,465

Enrollment

6,483

2. University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, PA • Private

In-state tuition

$55,584

Enrollment

10,764

3. Boston University

Boston, MA • Private

In-state tuition

$53,948

Enrollment

17,238

4. University of Washington

Seattle, WA • Private

In-state tuition

$11,207

Enrollment

30,905

5. New York University

New York, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$51,828

Enrollment

26,339

6. University of Southern California

Los Angeles, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$56,225

Enrollment

19,548

7. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Minneapolis, MN • Private

In-state tuition

$14,760

Enrollment

31,451

8. Northwestern University

Evanston, IL • Private

In-state tuition

$54,568

Enrollment

8,451

9. Northeastern University

Boston, MA • Private

In-state tuition

$51,522

Enrollment

13,760

10. Columbia University in the City of New York

New York, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$59,430

Enrollment

8,216

20 best online courses for management information systems directors

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1. Information​ ​Systems

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This specialization provides a robust introduction to the key principles and practices of Information Systems Management.\n\nThe first course describes how Information Systems address business problems. This takes the form of an IT alignment model that describes how Information Systems provide capabilities that enable or support organizational strategy. This component also includes an economic analysis of the Information System.\n\nThe second course in the specialization entails the practice of...

2. Information Systems Auditing, Controls and Assurance

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The course is awarded The Best Free Online Courses of All Time, and Best Online Courses of the Year (2021 Edition) by Class Central (http://www.classcentral.com). --- Information systems (IS) are important assets to business organizations and are ubiquitous in our daily lives. With the latest IS technologies emerging, such as Big Data, FinTech, Virtual Banks, there are more concerns from the public on how organizations maintain systems’ integrity, such as data privacy, information security, the...

3. Certificate Program In Management Information Systems

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Learn about the exciting world of Management Information Systems and its impact on the way organisations now function...

4. Information Technology Essentials

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Introduction to Information Technology and Information Systems...

5. Introduction to Information Systems for Business

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This Specialization is for learners seeking to develop skills in information systems. Through each course, learners will apply knowledge and skills to solve problems in their field (e.g., health informatics, legal, project management, customer experience/marketing, finance)...

6. Certified Information Systems Security Officer (CISSO)

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7. Practical Aspects of Information System Audit (For Beginner)

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Practical Aspects of Information System Audit (For Beginners)...

8. ISO/IEC 27005:2022. Information security risk management

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9. Information Security Management Fundamentals for Non-Techies

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Certified Information Security Manager (CISM)...

13. Information Systems Security for Professionals: CISSP

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Making Next Gen Information Security Leaders...

14. ISO/IEC 27701:2019. Privacy Information Management System

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Enhance your privacy knowledge with the latest ISO standard on this subject...

15. IT Governance and Information Management

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IT Governance and Information Management Training Course...

16. Payroll Management

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17. The Absolute Beginners Guide to Information Technology 2023

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18. Introduction to Corporate Information Security

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This course explains why information security and its management are important for any modern organization...

19. OnePagerr Project Management

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Learn how to create and manage hundreds of small projects efficiently with this one page project management system...

20. ISO/IEC 20000-1:2018. Service management system

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Understand the requirements for a service management system according to ISO/IEC 20000-1...

Top 10 most affordable universities for management information systems directors

The most affordable schools for management information systems directors are Baruch College of the City University of New York, brooklyn college of the city university of new york, and brigham young university.

If the best universities for management information systems directors are out of your price range, check out these affordable schools. After factoring in in-state tuition and fees, the average cost of attendance, admissions rate, average net price, and mean earnings after six years, we found that these are the most affordable schools for management information systems directors.

1. Baruch College of the City University of New York

New York, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$7,262

Cost of attendance

14,046

2. Brooklyn College of the City University of New York

Brooklyn, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$7,240

Cost of attendance

13,991

3. Brigham Young University

Provo, UT • Private

In-state tuition

$5,620

Cost of attendance

18,136

4. California State University - Los Angeles

Los Angeles, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,749

Cost of attendance

14,823

5. Minot State University

Minot, ND • Private

In-state tuition

$7,064

Cost of attendance

15,576

6. University of South Florida

Tampa, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$6,410

Cost of attendance

20,456

7. SUNY Farmingdale

Farmingdale, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$8,306

Cost of attendance

16,091

8. University of Washington

Seattle, WA • Private

In-state tuition

$11,207

Cost of attendance

25,275

9. Purdue University

West Lafayette, IN • Private

In-state tuition

$9,992

Cost of attendance

22,430

10. New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology

Socorro, NM • Private

In-state tuition

$7,770

Cost of attendance

21,244

Top 10 hardest universities to get into for management information systems directors

The hardest universities for management information systems directors to get into are Carnegie Mellon University, University of Pennsylvania, and Northwestern University.

Some great schools for management information systems directors are hard to get into, but they also set your career up for greater success. The list below shows the most challenging universities to get into for management information systems directors based on an institution's admissions rates, average SAT scores accepted, median ACT scores accepted, and mean earnings of students six years after admission.

1. Carnegie Mellon University

Pittsburgh, PA • Private

Admissions rate

17%

SAT average

1,507

2. University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, PA • Private

Admissions rate

8%

SAT average

1,492

3. Northwestern University

Evanston, IL • Private

Admissions rate

8%

SAT average

1,508

4. Columbia University in the City of New York

New York, NY • Private

Admissions rate

6%

SAT average

1,512

5. Northeastern University

Boston, MA • Private

Admissions rate

19%

SAT average

1,466

6. University of Southern California

Los Angeles, CA • Private

Admissions rate

13%

SAT average

1,445

7. New York University

New York, NY • Private

Admissions rate

20%

SAT average

1,419

8. Boston University

Boston, MA • Private

Admissions rate

22%

SAT average

1,420

9. Johns Hopkins University

Baltimore, MD • Private

Admissions rate

11%

SAT average

1,513

10. Washington University in St Louis

Saint Louis, MO • Private

Admissions rate

15%

SAT average

1,506

Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for management information systems directors

The easiest schools for management information systems directors to get into are Barry University, capitol technology university, and ottawa university.

Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as a management information systems director without much hassle, check out the list of schools where you will be accepted in no time. We compiled admissions rates, average SAT scores, average ACT scores, and average salary of students six years after graduation to uncover which were the easiest schools to get into for management information systems directors.

1. Barry University

Miami, FL • Private

Admissions rate

91%

SAT average

1,006

2. Capitol Technology University

Laurel, MD • Private

Admissions rate

69%

SAT average

1,070

3. Ottawa University

Ottawa, KS • Private

Admissions rate

78%

SAT average

1,024

4. University of Baltimore

Baltimore, MD • Private

Admissions rate

78%

SAT average

1,020

5. Oklahoma Wesleyan University

Bartlesville, OK • Private

Admissions rate

68%

SAT average

964

6. Gwynedd Mercy University

Gwynedd Valley, PA • Private

Admissions rate

92%

SAT average

1,031

7. Thomas More University

Crestview Hills, KY • Private

Admissions rate

90%

SAT average

1,099

8. Chestnut Hill College

Philadelphia, PA • Private

Admissions rate

96%

SAT average

1,026

9. Felician University

Lodi, NJ • Private

Admissions rate

81%

SAT average

999

10. Lewis-Clark State College

Lewiston, ID • Private

Admissions rate

100%

SAT average

1,009

Average management information systems director salary by education level

Management information systems directors with a Doctorate degree earn more than those without, at $143,635 annually. With a Master's degree, management information systems directors earn a median annual income of $140,906 compared to $132,621 for management information systems directors with an Bachelor's degree.
Management information systems director education levelManagement information systems director salary
Master's Degree$140,906
Bachelor's Degree$132,621
Doctorate Degree$143,635
Some College/ Associate Degree$112,017

Management information systems director education FAQs

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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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