Top 10 Master’s in Management Programs in New York

A Master's of Science in Management is a great foundational degree for professionals who would benefit from a focused and efficient management graduate program centered on the delivery of rigorous curriculum and practical experience. This type of graduate program is effective in training students to become proficient planners, efficient problem-solvers, and cooperative decision-makers. Many of the programs listed in our ranking offer grad students flexibility of pace and format. Some programs can be completed in as little as one year and several business schools offer the same high quality coursework both in the classroom and online.

The demand for competently trained business leaders has never been greater. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics has recently reported that the employment of management occupations is projected to grow 6% through the year 2024, adding over 500,000 new jobs to the global workplace. Coupling that with a recent report from PayScale.com, that states the median salary for a Senior Strategy Manager is $123,574, reveals how lucrative a career in management can be. Other exciting careers that students can be getting prepared for with a MS in Leadership include organizational leadership, educational management, and communications.

One common feature within some of these highest-ranking Master's of Science degrees in Management is the mentoring and networking support offered by faculty and cooperating corporate firms associated with these business schools. Many of the ranked programs we list base their educational experience on cohort models offering their students a chance to have access to real-world experience with industry mentors. Many of these courses are also led by seasoned instructors with a vast working knowledge of strategy tools used by top consulting firms.

Let this ranking help you find the highest quality Master's of Science in Management in the state of New York!

Also, check out our Top 25 Undergraduate Business Schools in New York and our Top 25 Master's of Business Administration degrees in New York.

Methodology

In the state of New York, there are over 460 educational institutions listed with the U.S. Department of Education and the Institute of Education Sciences' National Center for Educational Statistics. There are over 20 colleges that offer focused master's degrees in the area of management and leadership. Programs within this ranking were vetted based on their location, focus in management and leadership, and the following six factors:

Accreditation: With any business school or business program, accreditation should take a significant role when evaluating prospective master's degrees. Accreditations affects program value, brand recognition, and thus each graduate's competitive advantage in the job market. Each master's program in this list is accredited by one of the six regional accrediting organizations recognized by the US Department of Education, specifically theMiddle States Commission on Higher Education. Additionally, each program was appraised on whether it holds a third party business accreditation from one of the top business school accrediting institutions: IACBE, ACBSP, and AACSB. AACSB is widely regarded as the highest level of business accreditation, thus the schools that hold this accreditation were given the highest scores.

Affordability: Each management master's program was evaluated on the estimated total base tuition for the full program. This cost ties into each student's return on investment, and thus is an important factor to consider. The tuition cost was gathered from the most recent data given on each program or school's website. The lowest tuition in this ranking is $24,189, the highest came in at $70,719, with the average resting at $41,808.

Average salary: Another other important factor to consider while looking at a degree program's ROI is the potential salary for graduates. This salary data was collected from PayScale's Graduate School Salary Report, which shows the average early-career salary reported by recent master's graduates from each institution. The highest early-career salary reported for this ranking is $72,900. Any school without a recorded PayScale early-career salary was calculated at zero because of no available third-party data.

Prestige: This criteria was collected from two of the most prestigious sources in educational rankings, US News and World Report and The Princeton Review. Each program was ranked on their score within the US News and World Report's Top Graduate Business School Ranking, as well as whether they were included in the Princeton Review's Best Northeastern Colleges Ranking.

All data was collected, weighted equally, and then averaged for this ranking. Here is our list of the Top 10 Master's in Management Programs in New York.

#10 Elmira College – Elmira, New York

Elmira College in Elmira, New York features a Master's of Science in Management. This 36-credit hour program is divided between seven core courses and five general business concentration courses including Business Ethics, The Legal Environment of Business, Managerial Economics, Marketing Management, and Organizational Behavior. Featuring revolving application deadlines, applicants are free to begin the application time at any time during the year. The school considers a complete application to include a completed form, all official transcripts showing a minimum undergraduate GPA of 2.7, a personal statement, three letters of recommendation, an interview with a Graduate Admissions Counselor, and a current resume. The total tuition cost of this 36-credit degree is $43,200.

Established in 1855 as an all-women's institution of higher learning, Elmira College was known for granting degrees of academically-equivalent quality to women that their men counterparts were receiving at other universities in the nation. Today, this four-year, private, not-for-profit coeducational college offers associate, undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral degrees to its nearly 1,200-member student body. Elmira, which receives its regional accreditation through the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, is one of only two educational centers for Mark Twain Studies in the world. Featured on campus is Twain's study from Quarry Farm, and every four years the school hosts an international conference centered on Mark Twain Studies.

Estimated Program Tuition: $43,200

#9 Manhattanville College School of Business – Purchase, New York

The School of Business at Manhattanville College offers a Master's of Science in Business Leadership. This 39-credit hour program is priced at $915 per credit hour making the total cost of tuition $35,685. The School of Business, which receives its business accreditation through the IACBE, has divided this MS into 24 credit hours of core courses and 15 credit hours of Management-specific electives, including: Global Business, Leveraging Information Technology for a Competitive Advantage, Entrepreneurship, Operations Management, Managing in a Mission-based Organization, and Special Topics in Business Leadership. Core requirements include: Business Strategy, Communicating Effectively, Project Management, Generating Growth and Innovation, and Transitioning from Manager to Leader. Students interested in applying for this Master's of Science in Business Leadership are encouraged to submit an online application, essay, professional resume, official undergraduate transcripts, health records showing proof of measles and rubella immunization, and two signed letters of recommendation.

Manhattanville College is a four-year, private, not-for-profit co-ed liberal arts college situated in Purchase, New York. The school, which receives its regional accreditation through the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, currently oversees a student body of 2,921 seeking degrees at the undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral levels. Established in 1841 as the Academy of the Sacred Heart, the name was changed to Manhattanville College in 1966 and school administration gradually removed the Catholic symbols and traditions from the school to secularize the institution. Five years later, the first male students were accepted at the college making it a coeducational institution of higher learning. The college's stated mission is to "educate students to become ethically and socially responsible leaders for the global community."

Estimated Program Tuition: $35,685

#8 Roberts Wesleyan College School of Business – Rochester, New York

A Master's of Science in Strategic Leadership is featured at Roberts Wesleyan College's School of Business. With a $778 per credit cost, this 40-credit hour MS in Management features a total tuition price of $31,120. This MLS includes such courses as Leadership Ethics, Business Research Methods, Strategic Leadership, Economics of Organizational Architecture and Strategy, Accounting for Strategic Decision-Making, and Organizational Diagnosis & Change Management. This program culminates into a capstone experience which will offer students the opportunity to put real-time application to coursework theory covered in the classroom. The School of Business, which receives its business accreditation through the IACBE, has designed this program to help students be transformed into ethical and strategic leaders prepared to lead others in business. Applicants interested in pursuing this degree are encouraged to complete an online application and submit an official transcript from an accredited undergraduate university, two letters of recommendation, and a current professional resume at least two weeks before the desired start date.

Established as the first institution of higher learning for Free Methodists in North America in 1866, the Roberts Wesleyan College now exists as a four-year, private, not-for-profit Christian college offering degrees at the associate, undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral levels to the 1,376 students currently enrolled there. Receiving its regional accreditation through the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, the campus of Roberts Wesleyan College is situated in Rochester, New York. The school currently offers 87 degree-completion programs and reports a low student to faculty ratio of 11 to one. Home of the Redhawks, the athletic department at Roberts Wesleyan College supports 19 men's and women's varsity teams that compete at the NCAA Division II level within the East Coast Conference.

Estimated Program Tuition: $31,120

#7 The New School Milano School of International Affairs, Management, and Urban Policy – New York, New York

The Milano School of International Affairs, Management, and Urban Policy at The New School features a Master's of Science in Organizational Change Management. This 42-credit program is priced at $1,590 per credit making the total cost of tuition $66,780. Some students have reported an average early career salary of $51,200 upon completing this degree in Organizational Change Management revealing a solid return on the investment of education. The Milano School of International Affairs, Management, and Urban Policy has designed this MS with flexibility in mind allowing students to take coursework on a full or part-time basis depending on internships and full-time career opportunities that get presented during the duration of their studies. This 42-credit program is divided between six credits of core courses, 24 credits of program courses including Foundations of Organizational Change, Management and Organizational Behavior, Managing the Client-Consultant Relationship, and Organizational Assessment and Diagnosis, and 12 credits of electives. Students interested in applying for this Master's of Science in Organizational Change Management are encouraged to begin their acceptance process by filling out an online application form.

Situated in the storied area of lower Manhattan's Greenwich Village, The New School is a four-year, private, not-for-profit research university first established in 1919 by progressive New York educators including professors and intellectuals including free-thinkers like Alvin Johnson, James Harvey Robinson, Horace M. Kallen, and John Dewey. Originally known as The New School for Social Research, the name of the institution was officially shortened in 2005. The New School, which receives its regional accreditation through the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, has been responsible for launching or maintaining such institutions as the Center for New York City Affairs, the Vera List Center for Art and Politics, The India China Institute, and the World Policy Institute. The school's official motto is "To the Living Spirit" and each autonomous college of the school is known as a "division" which is led by a dean and features its own unique acceptance rates, scholarships, and standards of admission.

Estimated Program Tuition: $66,780

#6 St. Bonaventure University Jandoli School of Communication – Saint Bonaventure, New York

A Master's of Arts in Strategic Leadership is featured at the Jandoli School of Communication at St. Bonaventure University. While there are no GRE or GMAT scores required for acceptance into this program, applicants are encouraged to complete an application, submit a short essay, possess an undergraduate degree from an accredited university, and submit transcripts and a current resume showing three years of professional experience into the Jandoli School of Communication to be considered for this MA in Strategic Leadership. This 33-credit degree is priced at $733 per credit, making the total cost of tuition an attractive $24,189. Students are offered a flexible schedule and can complete this degree in a little as one year as an online format or as a two-year, part-time program on-campus. Courses within this MSL include Leadership and Diversity, Developing Human Resources, Global Leadership, Organizational Structure and Behavior, Leading the Digital World, and Legal and Political Environments.

Home of the Bonnies and wearing the school's official colors of brown and white, the 14 men's and women's varsity sports teams at St. Bonaventure compete at the NCAA Division I level and are members of the Atlantic 10 Conference. The school's most-recent athletic success was the women's basketball team reaching the Sweet 16 in 2012. Established in 1858, the school was originally founded by the Franciscan Brothers. Today this four-year, private, not-for-profit Catholic university situated in Saint Bonaventure, New York oversees almost 2,000 students seeking degrees at the undergraduate and graduate levels. The school receives its regional accreditation through the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.

Estimated Program Tuition: $24,189

#5 Nazareth College School of Management – Rochester, New York

Nazareth College's School of Management offers a Master's of Science in Management. Unlike a traditional MBA which equips students from scratch, the School of Management, which receives its business accreditation through the IACBE, has designed this MS program to build on a student's previous work experience to hone skills needed for quality management. This approach means an efficiency within a program that can be completed in as few as 20 months, resulting in a quicker graduation time and lower tuition cost. This 33-credit hour program is priced at $880 per credit making the total cost of tuition an attractive $29,040. An average early career salary of $41,000 has been reported by some students upon completing this degree, revealing a strong return on the investment of education. This degree consists of seven core courses including Management and Behavior in Organizations, Quality and Performance Management, Accounting & Finance for Non-Financial Managers, Ethics and the Practice of Management, and Leadership Theory and Practice, one capstone seminar and three elective courses specific to the Management concentration.

Commonly known as "Naz", Nazareth College is a four-year, private, not-for-profit, religiously independent college situated in Rochester, New York. Founded in 1924 by the Sisters of St. Joseph at the request of Bishop Thomas Francis Hickey, the school featured an inaugural class of 25 young female students. Just four years later, because of the school's growing popularity, classes were moved to a larger facility. In 2003, the school officially dropped its ties to the Catholic church thus becoming known as a religiously independent institution. Today, Nazareth College oversees 2,871 co-ed students seeking degrees within 60 undergraduate, 20 graduate, and three doctoral programs. Receiving its regional accreditation through the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, Naz has recently been recognized as one of the best Northeastern Colleges in the nation by the Princeton Review, as well as highly ranked with U.S. News & World Report and G.I. Jobs Magazine.

Estimated Program Tuition: $29,040

#4 Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Lally School of Management – Troy, New York

The Lally School of Management at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute features a Master's of Science in Management. Recognized by the TFE Times' 2016 Master of Management Rankings as the 5th best program in the nation, this MS in Management has been designed to help managers build on their experience to develop as better leaders. The Lally School of Management, which receives its excellent business accreditation through the AACSB, offers this program as a one-year accelerated degree featuring a total tuition rate of $70,719. Some students have reported an average early career salary of up to $70,000 upon completing this MS in Management revealing a strong return on the investment of education. This 30-credit program is divided between two required Professional Development & Career Workshops, six required core courses, and four Management-specific courses covering such topics as, Business Analytics, Finance, Management Information Systems, Marketing – New Product Development, Supply Chain Management, and Technical Entrepreneurship.

Featuring a blend of traditional and modern architecture, the 265-acre campus of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is built into a hillside overlooking the city of Troy, New York, along the Hudson River. In addition to featuring an on-campus business incubator, the school sits just next to the Rensselaer Technology Park, a 1,250-acre campus that houses 70 corporate tenants and employs over 2,400 professionals. Established in 1824 by Stephen van Rensselaer, the founder desired an institute "for the purpose of instructing persons, who may choose to apply themselves, in the application of science to the common purposes of life." Today the school, which receives its regional accreditation through the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, exists as a four-year, private, not-for-profit research university which offers degrees at the undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral levels to the 6,982 students currently enrolled there.

Estimated Program Tuition: $70,719

#3 Manhattan College School of Continuing & Professional Studies – Riverdale, New York

A Master's of Science in Organizational Leadership is offered at Manhattan College's School of Continuing & Professional Studies. This 33-credit hour program is priced at $850 per credit making the total cost of tuition an accessible $28,050. Coupling the lower tuition rate with an average early career salary of $67,500 reported by some students upon graduating, makes this a program the budget-minded professional will want to consider. Accepting candidates twice annually, the School of Continuing & Professional Studies encourage applicants to submit a transcript from an accredited undergraduate university showing a cumulative GPA of 2.75, two letters of recommendation, a personal statement, a current resume, and have a minimum of three years' work experience. This 33-credit hour program is divided between nine core courses and two Management-focused electives including Organizational Planning, Administration and Governance, Talent and Performance Management, HR Issues in the Workplace, Employment Law for Organizational Leaders, and Non-Profit and Government Leadership.

Located in Riverdale area of the Bronx, Manhattan College is a four-year, private, not-for-profit university that currently oversees just over 4,000 students seeking degrees at the undergraduate and graduate levels. Among the school's recent recognitions includes U.S. News & World Report's naming it among the top 20 schools in the Regional Universities North category and Payscale.com's naming it #15 in the nation among best returns on the price of tuition. Founded by the Brothers of the Christian Schools in 1853, the college to this day remains as a Roman Catholic institute of higher learning. Featuring a relatively small urban campus, the school features four main buildings centered around "the Quad", a grassy lawn where students socialize, study, and enjoy casual recreation. Manhattan College receives its regional accreditation through the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.

Estimated Program Tuition: $28,050

#2 Pace University Lubin School of Business – New York, New York

Pace University features a Master's of Science in Strategic Management at the Lubin School of Business. Qualified students can complete all coursework for this program with as few as 31-credit hours. With a per-credit price of $1,195, this MS in Strategic Management features a total tuition cost of $37,045. Coupling the tuition fee with an average early career salary of $63,300 reported by some students upon graduation, reveals a healthy ROI that the budget-minded graduate student will want to consider. The Lubin School of Business, which receives its excellent business accreditation through the AACSB, recently reported that 92% of its master's graduates from 2015 are either currently employed or continuing their education. This program has great name recognition with the Princeton Review listing Pace as one of the best Northeastern Colleges in the nation, and US News and World Report listing the Lubin School among the best business schools in the nation. This 31-credit hour program is divided between one Business Writing course, three Foundation courses that some students may be qualified to waive, one elective Specialization course, and eight required Specialization courses including: Venture Initiation and Entrepreneurship, Competitive Business Strategy, Negotiations and Bargaining, Global Corporate Governance, and Government Institutions and Business Strategy.

Featuring a main campus in Manhattan and two secondary campuses in Pleasantville and White Plains, Pace University is a four-year, private, not-for-profit institute of higher learning that oversees 12,843 students seeking degrees at the associate, undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral levels. Established in 1906 by brothers Charles Ashford Pace and Homer St. Clair Pace, Pace University got its start in a rented classroom of the New York Tribune Building and featured an inaugural class of 13 men and women. The school achieved university status in 1973 and today receives its regional accreditation through the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.

Estimated Program Tuition: $37,045

#1 Rochester Institute of Technology Saunders College of Business – Rochester, New York

Rochester Institute of Technology's Saunders College of Business features a Master's of Science in Management. This 30-credit hour program is divided between 21 core-course credits, six business electives and three track electives including the following courses: Managing for Environmental Sustainability, Entrepreneurship and New Venture Creation, Advanced Topics in Technology Management, and Field Experiences in Business Consulting. Priced at $1,732 per credit, this 30-credit MS features a total tuition rate of $52,260. An average early career salary of $72,900 has been reported by some students upon competing this degree, revealing a strong return on the investment of education. The Saunders College of Business has been recognized by U.S. News & World Report as the #91 best Business School in the nation, additionally the university is recognized by the Princeton Review as as one of the best Northeastern Colleges in the country. The Saunders College of Business receives its exemplary business accreditation through the AACSB, while the Rochester Institute of Technology is regionally accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.

Known as being one of the few engineering institutes in the state of New York, Rochester Institute of Technology is a four-year, private, not-for-profit university which offers associate, undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral degrees to the 16,639 students currently enrolled there. Comprised of nine academic colleges, the Institute was established in 1829 as the result of a merger taking place between the literary society of Rochester Athenaeum and Mechanics Institute, a technical school founded in 1885. Home of the Tigers, the athletic department of RIT is comprised of 24 men's and women's varsity teams that compete at the NCAA Division III level as members of the Empire 8 Conference. Featuring a student body comprised of 10% deaf or hard-of-hearing, one of the university's unique features is its housing the National Technical Institute for the Deaf as one of its colleges.

Estimated Program Tuition: $52,260