Top 10 Master’s in Management Programs in Texas

While the MBA may be the most popular master's program for business students, some prospective master's students choose an alternative route in a master's degree in management (MiM). This type of master's degree is usually focused on general business management, like the MBA, but most MiM programs matriculate students with less professional experience and focus study on the ins and outs of organizational management and leadership. Many MiM programs are also shorter programs, which allows professionals to move into their future management pursuits faster. This management degree is reported as a popular degree in Europe and has shown great value to organizations that want a highly educated professional with the option of training them strictly through their company. For professionals who are looking for an advanced degree specifically focused to the opportunities and problems of management and leadership, these specialized master's degrees are a great choice to fast track a management career.

In the state of Texas alone, there are 480 educational institutions listed with the U.S. Department of Education and the Institute of Education Sciences' National Center for Educational Statistics. Of these institutions, less than 20 offer master's programs in management and leadership. Students still have multiple choices, and thus must weed through the list with their top priorities in location, focus, accreditation, and prestige. Let this ranking help you find the best Master's of Management program in Texas!

Also, check out our Top 25 Undergraduate Business Schools in Texas and our Top 25 Master's of Business Administration programs in Texas.

Methodology

This ranking is designed to find the best Master's in Management programs available in the state of Texas. While the pool of schools offering graduate programs in management and leadership is smaller than those offering traditional MBAs, multiple options are still available for students. Programs were vetted based on their focus in management and leadership, as well as the following six factors:

Accreditation: As in other business programs, accreditation plays a major part in vetting future management master's degrees. Because accreditations directly affect program value, brand recognition, and thus and alumnus competitive advantage, this criterion is one that should not be overlooked. 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 the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Colleges. Additionally, each program was ranked on whether it obtained an additional third party business accreditation from one of the top business school accrediting institutions: IACBE, ACBSP, and AACSB. AACSB is widely regarded as the gold standard of business accreditations, thus the schools that achieve this accreditation were given the highest marks.

Affordability: Each program was vetted based on the estimated total base tuition for the master's program. This data directly affects each student's return on investment, and thus is an important factor to take into account. The cost was gathered from the most recent data given on each program or school website. The lowest tuition in the list was $7,392, the highest came in at $41,820, with the average resting at $23,886.09.

Average salary: This data was collected from PayScale's Graduate School Salary Report to find the average early-career salary reported by recent master's graduates from each institution. Students can combine this data point with the estimated tuition cost to paint a better picture on a possible ROI. The highest early-career salary reported that was used in this ranking is $70,300. Any program without a recorded PayScale early-career salary was calculated at zero because of no available third-party data.

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

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

#10 Southwestern Assemblies of God University Harrison Graduate School – Waxahachie, Texas

Southwestern Assemblies of God University offers an online Master of Organizational Leadership at its Harrison Graduate School. This 36-credit program is priced at $575 per hour, making the total cost of tuition 20,700. This online MOL is designed to equip leaders from a variety of backgrounds and experiences into influential and competent members of organizations and groups by allowing them to explore concepts and theories of leaders past and present. Upon completing this online degree in Master of Organizational Leadership, the Harrison Graduate School's top goal is for a student is to be aware of and express her personal leadership style and gifting, possess abilities to make a positive impact on the church and the marketplace, and maintain a dynamic plan for personal change and growth. Students interested in this program can choose the Executive Organizational Leadership route which includes a three-day meeting with cohorts each semester, or the Standard Organizational Leadership option which is 100% online. Some courses included in this program include, Leading High-Impact Teams, Spiritual Formation, and Biblical Servant Leadership.

Located on 70 acres in the small Texas town of Waxahachie, Southwestern Assemblies of God University receives its regional accreditation through the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Colleges. This four-year, private, not-for-profit university oversees just under 2,000 students pursuing degrees at the associate, undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral levels. Originally called the Southwestern Bible Institute, SAGU got its start in 1943 as the result of three Bible schools merging. Today, students enjoy sightings of Judah the Lion, the school's mascot, on campus and at sports events. Among SAGU's many recognitions include a nod for best counseling degrees among small colleges, most beautiful campus, a NAIA Champions of Character award, and U.S. News and World Reports' top online bachelor's program.

Estimated Program Tuition: $20,700

#9 Dallas Baptist University Graduate School of Business – Dallas, Texas

An Master of Arts in Management and a Master of Science in Management are offered at the Graduate School of Business at Dallas Baptist University. The university is regionally accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Colleges, and both master's programs hold an outstanding accreditation from ACBSP. This accreditation shows that DBU has reached high education standards in the area of teaching and business education. Both degrees featured in this ranking consist of 36 hours priced at $856 per credit hour, making the total cost of each degree $30,816. The M.A. in Management is divided between 24 hours of core curriculum and 12 hours of concentration-focused courses. The M.S. in Management consists of 13 hours of core curriculum and 23 hours of the General Management focus. In addition to over 80% of undergraduates receiving some form of financial aid for their programs, students enjoy interactive class sizes of 13 and an average faculty-to-student ratio of 13 to one.

Established all the way back in 1898 as Decatur Baptist College, Dallas Baptist University has seen much growth from its humble beginnings. Currently this four-year, private, not-for-profit Christian university offers associate, undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral degrees to its 5,319-member student body. The school offers 72 bachelor's programs, 29 master's degrees, and two doctoral degrees. Students interested in the MA in Management degree have a total of seven specializations to choose from including, Conflict Resolution Management, General Management, Health Care Management, Human Resource Management, and Organizational Communication. This program includes a dual degree option for students interested in seeking further education in communication, education, global leadership, or ministry. Classes within the MS in Management degree consist of Business Negotiation and Conflict Resolution, Global Initiatives in Management, Motivating and Vision Casting, and Business Strategy and Planning. Both degrees offer students the option of taking courses on-campus or completely online.

Estimated Program Tuition: $30,816

#8 Amberton University – Garland, Texas

Amberton University offers a Master of Science in Managerial Science to both distance learners and students desiring an on-campus classroom experience. This program has been designed to give graduate students real-world education and perspective within the three areas of communications, management, and human behavior. Receiving its regional accreditation through the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Colleges, Amberton University has continually kept its focus on equipping adults in the professional world with the education and skills they need to reach their professional and personal goals. The impressive price of this 36-credit hour M.S. in Managerial Science is based on a $750-per three credit hour cost making the total cost of tuition $9,000. The required coursework for this degree is divided between six credit hours of Graduate Studies courses consisting of Theory & Application of Research Methods and Ethics for Decision Making, and 30 hours of Major Requirements including Communication, Leadership Theories/Practices, Organizational Culture, Leadership and Team Development, and Management.

This four-year, private not-for-profit school was originally established as an alternative educational center in Mesquite for Abilene Christian University in 1971. Three years later the campus was moved to Garland, Texas and the focus of the university was narrowed to provide working adults the benefits of a quality staff, curriculum, and infrastructure without the unneeded amenities of cafeterias, athletic programs and student housing. Besides the main campus in Garland, Amberton University holds classes just 30 miles away at its Frisco campus as well. AU provides degrees at the undergraduate and graduate levels for its 1,379-member student body.

Estimated Program Tuition: $9,000

#7 Belhaven University School of Business Administration – Houston, Texas

Belhaven University features a Master of Science in Leadership at its School of Business Administration. The university receives its regional accreditation through the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges and currently enjoys an interactive faculty-to-student ratio of 12 to one. The MSL program holds the outstanding accreditation from the IACBE, which focuses on mission-driven outcomes and ensures that this master's program reaches high education standards and produces exceptional outcomes. This 36-credit hour program is priced at $560 per hour making the total cost of tuition $20,160, a lower than average tuition cost from the schools in this ranking. Some courses required for this M.S. in Leadership include, Organizational Behavior, Leading Productive Teams, Principles of Executive Leadership, The Legal Environment of Business, Coaching, Mentoring and Resolving Conflicts, and Strategic Leadership.

While its main campus was established in 1883 in Jackson, Mississippi, Belhaven University features additional campuses in Atlanta, Georgia, Houston, Texas, Orlando, Florida, two major cities in Tennessee, and online. This has allowed the school to grow to the point of offering undergraduate and graduate degrees to over 5,000 students across the country. With a heritage rooted in the Reformed Christian faith, Belhaven welcomes students of all backgrounds and cultures. Students interested in applying for admission into this MSL program are required to submit a resume showing at least two years of professional experience within their field of study (active military personnel applying will have this pre-requisite waived), official transcripts from an accredited university, and a 2.5 GPA during undergraduate education. Students not able to meet these requirements may be considered once completing an essay and two letters of recommendation which will be reviewed by the admission board.

Estimated Program Tuition: $20,160

#6 Texas A&M University-Central Texas College of Business Administration – Killeen, Texas

A Master of Science in Management and Leadership is featured at the College of Business Administration at Texas A&M University-Central Texas. This 36-hour program is priced at just $616 per three-hour course making it the most affordable master's degree on our list at a total tuition cost of just $7,392. The main priority of this M.S. in Management and Leadership is to give students the tools they need to lead change within the microcosms of business, government, military, and non-profit organizations. This degree is divided between 30 hours of required courses including, Business Research Methods, Organizational Behavior, Analysis and Designs of Organizations, Leadership Development, and Negotiations, and six approved graduate-level electives.

Founded as Tarleton-Central Texas on September 1, 1999, Texas A&M University-Central Texas became a member of the Texas A&M University system ten years later in 2009. Today this four-year, public university located in Killeen, Texas offers undergraduate and graduate degrees to a student body of over 2,500 and receives its accreditation through the ACBSP and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Colleges. Spread amongst several community colleges in the area and with a location at Fort Hood, Texas A&M University-Central Texas accommodates a wide variety of students looking for part-time and full-time coursework during days, evenings, weekends and online.

Estimated Program Tuition: $7,392

#5 Our Lady of the Lake University School of Business and Leadership – San Antonio, Texas

The School of Business and Leadership at Our Lady of the Lake University offers a Master of Science in Organizational Leadership. The university is regionally accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Colleges, and this MSOL program holds an outstanding accreditation from ACBSP. The ACBSP accreditation shows that OLLU has reached high education standards in the area of teaching and business education. This 36-hour program combines a tuition priced at $855 per hour, making the total base cost $30,780, with a reported early-career salary for graduates at $49,600. The schedule of this cohort-based degree features weekend classes to meet the needs of active business professionals already committed to leading in the workplace. Most classes offered within this M.S. in Organizational Leadership are four hours in duration, and students taking two courses each semester can expect to complete all coursework in as little as two years. Applicants are required to submit an application and fee, official undergraduate transcripts, two letters of professional recommendation, a complete resume, and a personal statement in essay format explaining future professional goals and academic interests. There are two rolling admission deadlines offered each year.

With a main campus in San Antonio, Texas, Our Lady of the Lake University is a four-year, private not-for-profit Catholic University established by the Sisters of the Congregation of Divine Providence in 1895 that currently oversees over 3,300 students seeking degrees at the undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral levels. Besides its beautiful scenic campus in San Antonio, known for the distinctive neo-gothic architecture of the buildings, OLLU also maintains educational centers for learning in The Woodlands of north Houston and La Feria in the Rio Grande Valley of Texas. Recent recognitions of the school include College Choice naming it #26 among the top 50 Best Colleges in Texas and a ranking among the top 80 universities in the western United States by U.S. News and World Report.

Estimated Program Tuition: $30,780

#4 St. Edward's University Bill Munday School of Business – Austin, Texas

A Master of Science in Leadership and Change is offered at St. Edward's University's Bill Munday School of Business. This 30-hour program is priced at $1,394 per hour making the total cost of tuition $41,820. The Bill Munday School of Business has structured this degree to benefit the working professional with a limited-residency format allowing students to complete all coursework in as little as five semesters while taking two courses each semester. The Master's of Science in Leadership and Change is divided between 24 credit hours of core courses and six hours of elective courses including, Leading High Performance Teams, Creativity and Innovation, Contemporary Issues in Leadership and Change, Executing Strategic Change, and Special Topics in Global Business. Princeton Review has recognized this program as one of the best in the nation.

Home of the Hilltoppers, St. Edwards University is a four-year, private, not-for-profit, Catholic university located in trendy Austin, Texas. The school currently offers undergraduate and graduate degrees to its 4,620-member student body and houses nearly 1,400 students on campus. Known for its diversity, St. Edwards reports a student enrollment of 49% ethnic minority and receives its accreditation through the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Colleges. For the 14th year in a row, U.S. News & World Report has recently named St. Edwards University as one of the best colleges in the nation, while Washington Monthly Magazine has included the school on its "Best Bang for the Buck" list of colleges throughout the U.S.

Estimated Program Tuition: $41,820

#3 Texas A&M University-Commerce College of Business – Commerce, Texas

The School of Business at Texas A&M University-Commerce features a Master of Science in Management. This program is designed for students with a business background and those without one looking to form their leadership skills to better lead within profit and non-profit organizations. Students lacking the proper academic credentials will be required to complete the following three Foundation Study in Management courses: Operations and Organizations, Marketing Environment, and Finance for Decision Makers. This 30-hour M.S. in Management is divided between four areas of coursework including six hours of Support Coursework Outside of Management, nine hours of Advanced Breadth of Management, three hours of Research Component, and 12 hours of General Option courses students will choose as electives. The elective courses for this degree include Managing Groups and Teams, Global Competitiveness, and Transforming Organizations. Students interested in this degree can submit an application throughout the calendar year and must include an official transcript, $50 application fee, the option of GMAT/GRE score or 3.0 GPA, and one letter of recommendation. This 30-hour program is priced at $1,150 per class making the total cost of tuition $11,508. A reported early-career salary for master's student at TAMUC is $51,500, offering students a great possible return on investment.

Established in 1889 by visionary William Leonidas Mayo who desired to see an institution of higher education that would lead the way with "ceaseless industry, fearless investigation, unfettered thought, and unselfish service to others," Texas A&M University-Commerce was first known as East Texas Normal College and was originally located in Cooper, Texas. Even though the university was first established to train teachers exclusively, there is still a top priority for faculty and administrators alike to educate those who will in turn lead and influence others both in the marketplace and throughout academia. Today, this four-year, public university located in Commerce, Texas offers undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral degrees to its nearly 13,000-member student body. The school receives its excellent accreditation through the AACSB and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Colleges.

Estimated Program Tuition: $11,508

#2 Southern Methodist University Edwin L. Cox School of Business – Dallas, Texas

The Edwin L. Cox School of Business at Southern Methodist University features a Master's of Science in Management. This 30-credit MSM degree is divided between 20 hours of required courses and 10 hours of electives. The required courses for this degree include, Managerial Finance, Managerial Statistics, Organizational Behavior, and Strategic Management. This 30-hour program is priced $40,236 for a full-time student when all coursework is completed in two semesters. While this tuition is above average in this ranking, students reap the benefits of a graduate degree at SMU with a reported early-career salary of$67,900. The School of Business holds the elite accreditation from AACSB, while places this school among the best in the world. US News and World Report rank this business school among the 50 business schools in the country, and the Princeton Review ranks SMU among the best colleges in the west. Students interested in this Master of Science in Management are required to submit official undergraduate transcripts, GMAT or GRE score, two essays, and two references listed in the online application.

With a student enrollment of over 11,000, Southern Methodist University is a four-year, private, not-for-profit university sitting on 230+ acres located just five miles from downtown Dallas, Texas. The diverse student body represents all 50 states and over 90 foreign countries. Besides the main campus in Dallas, SMU also maintains centers for learning at its campuses in Plano and Taos, Texas. The school offers 106 undergraduate degrees, 114 master's programs, and over 30 doctoral-research degrees. Despite reporting a large overall enrollment, SMU can maintain an interactive faculty-to-student ratio of 11 to one. The university holds a regional accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Colleges.

Estimated Program Tuition: $40,236

#1 University of Texas at Dallas Naveen Jindal School of Management – Richardson, Texas

A Master of Science in Management Science is offered at the University of Texas at Dallas' Naveen Jindal School of Management. This program is among the most prestigious in the state. The School of Management is ranked as one of the best business schools in the nation by U.S. News and World Report, sitting at #37, as well as listed in the Best Colleges in the West Ranking by the Princeton Review. UT Dallas couples their prestigious with a great possible student ROI. This 36-semester credit hour M.S. is priced at $4,408 per six hours of courses, making the base cost of tuition $26,448. A reported early-career salary from graduate alumni is $70,300, assuring students of a great investment. The top-notch Naveen Jindal School of Management receives its business accreditation from the AACSB, widely seen as the gold-star standard in business accreditation. In addition to the prestigious mentions in rankings by US News and The Princeton Review, UT Dallas has been ranked by Kiplinger's Personal Finance as one of the 100-best tuition values the past four years running.

The University of Texas at Dallas is a four-year public institution of higher learning established in 1969 in Richardson, Texas. The school currently oversees nearly 25,000 students seeking degrees at the undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral levels. The university receives its regional accreditation through the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Colleges. This MSMS program at UT Dallas is a STEM program. It has a core in business management, with customizable electives, and many additional concentrations available in the areas of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Coursework for this Master of Science in Management Science can be completed online or in the classroom. This M.S. in Management Science is divided between 10 semester credit hours including the following courses, Financial Accounting, Business Economics, Information Technology for Management, and Qualitative Introduction to Risk and Uncertainty in Business, followed by 26 semester credit hours of elective courses from the areas of accounting, business analytics, or healthcare. Students can complete a concentration with an additional 15 credit hours.

Estimated Program Tuition: $26,448