Dr. Lance Tatum, President | Northwest Missouri State University
Dr. Lance Tatum, President | Northwest Missouri State University
A business administration degree offers diverse career opportunities, ranging from leading marketing teams at Fortune 500 companies to analyzing financial markets on Wall Street. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) anticipates nearly one million annual business job openings through 2033, indicating a high demand for graduates who can lead teams and make data-driven decisions.
Northwest Missouri State University’s business administration program aims to prepare students for such roles. Graduates often begin their careers with starting salaries averaging $79,050 per year, which is significantly higher than the median annual wage for all occupations reported by BLS.
The program provides comprehensive training in essential business disciplines like management, marketing, and finance. Students are equipped with both theoretical knowledge and practical skills in leadership, critical thinking, communication, and ethical decision-making. This foundation supports various career paths across multiple sectors such as healthcare, technology, finance, and manufacturing.
Employers value the versatility of business administration graduates due to their strategic thinking and project management capabilities. Northwest's curriculum is designed to give students a competitive edge in the job market by focusing on developing these in-demand skills.
The program allows students to customize their education by choosing specializations that align with their career goals. It emphasizes experiential learning through field trips, internships, and professional development activities that connect classroom knowledge with real-world scenarios.
Northwest also prepares students for global business challenges by offering exposure to international perspectives through its diverse faculty and global programs. Industry connections are strengthened through partnerships with regional companies and guidance from a professional advisory board comprising industry leaders.
Alumni like Keilon Hunter exemplify the program's success. Hunter credits his time at Northwest for providing valuable experiences that shaped his career path. Today he works as a capacity portfolio manager at C.H. Robinson after benefiting from small class sizes and personalized support during his studies.
Overall, a business administration degree from Northwest represents both an academic achievement and an investment in one's professional future. With high employment rates among graduates and robust support systems in place, the university aims to ensure student success post-graduation.