Mississippi State University - College of Business and Industry

What Mississippi State University - College of Business and Industry does

Mississippi State University's College of Business, founded in 1915, is the oldest college of business in Mississippi and a constituent unit of a public land-grant state university headquartered in McCool Hall, Starkville, Mississippi. It serves more than 3,600 enrolled students and 109 faculty and staff, supported by a 40,000+ alumni network across all 50 states and 142 countries. The college holds AACSB accreditation for both the College of Business and the Richard C. Adkerson School of Accountancy, a credential earned by fewer than 5% of business schools worldwide, and comprises four academic departments (Adkerson School of Accountancy; Finance and Economics; Management and Information Systems; Marketing, Quantitative Analysis and Supply Chain Logistics) plus research and outreach centers such as the Center for Entrepreneurship and Outreach, the Market Innovation Lab and Observatory (MILO), COFER, the Small Business Development Center, the Technology Resource Institute, and the Veterans Business Outreach Center.

The college's core "products" are undergraduate BBAs across nine majors, master's programs (MBA, MPA, MSIS, MTX), four PhD programs, fully online versions of its BBA and graduate degrees, and specialized programs (International Business dual degree, PGA Golf Management, Engineering Leadership Excellence). Teaching is supported by differentiated infrastructure including Bloomberg terminals in the Strategic Finance Lab, the MILO biometric research lab, and industry-standard logistics software in transportation labs. Revenue is generated primarily through tuition and fees (e.g., the on-campus MBA is estimated at $22,565 in total tuition and fees for the 30-hour program, with $60 domestic and $80 international application fees), augmented by alumni giving through the Club 1915 monthly giving program, corporate partnerships (Regions Bank, TVA, Raytheon, CSBS, IANA) that fund live case competitions and scholarships, and state appropriations via the parent university. Career outcomes within six months of graduation are reported at 92-98% across programs (98% Supply Chain Logistics, 94% Marketing, 93% Finance, 92% Economics, ~100% Accountancy).

Go-to-market is a multi-channel, relationship-driven educational model combining event-based recruiting (campus visits, virtual tours, career fairs, the Banking Career Exchange and RMI Career Fair), content and brand marketing through Dividends Magazine and the Bulldog Business Show, paid search and organic social on Facebook/Instagram/LinkedIn/X/YouTube, and referral-style outreach via a student ambassador program and alumni engagement. Distribution spans on-campus instruction at Starkville, fully online degree delivery for global reach, study abroad exchange partnerships in eight countries (Belgium, Canada, China, France, Germany, South Africa, Spain, Taiwan), and corporate custom programs. The college is led by Dean Dr. Scott Grawe (11th Dean, since July 1, 2023), supported by Associate/Assistant Deans, four Department Heads, and directors across graduate programs, centers, and outreach functions. The college holds no external investors; it operates as a state-government academic unit within Mississippi State University under the Mississippi Institutions of Higher Learning.

Name

Mississippi State University - College of Business and Industry

Legal name

Mississippi State University - College of Business

Website

https://business.msstate.edu

Company type

Private

Founded year

1915

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Mississippi State University's College of Business is a public, AACSB-accredited business school founded in 1915, serving 3,600+ students across nine undergraduate majors, four graduate degrees, and four PhD programs through on-campus and fully online delivery in Starkville, Mississippi.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education - Business Education

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (611310)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYEDAHAHAA

Undergraduate Business Schools (BBA/BSBA Programs)

Education/Higher Education (Colleges & Universities)/Business Schools & Management Institutes

SECONDARYEDAHAEAH

Technical Universities with Entrepreneurship & Incubation Focus

Education/Higher Education (Colleges & Universities)/Technical & Polytechnic Universities

SECONDARYEDALABAI

Graduate & Professional School Preparation

Education/Student Services & Campus Operations/Academic Advising, Career Services & Student Success

Keywords

• Business education programs
• Undergraduate business degrees
• Graduate business degrees
• Doctoral business programs
• Online business education

Headquarters

HQ city

Mississippi State

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Fees: Revenue from undergraduate and graduate tuition, including online programs, with specific fee structures per credit hour and program fees
2. Alumni Giving and Donations: Fundraising through Club 1915 monthly giving program, capital campaigns for classroom modernization, endowed scholarships, and faculty support
3. Corporate Sponsorship and Partnerships: Support from corporations for live learning experiences, scholarships, and program sponsorships

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Mississippi State University - College of Business and Industry is a public AACSB-accredited academic college that delivers undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral business degrees across nine majors (Accountancy, Business Administration, Business Information Systems, Economics, Entrepreneurship, Finance, Management, Marketing, Supply Chain Logistics). It offers specialized programs (International Business, PGA Golf Management, Engineering Leadership), online degrees, and a Bulldog Business Experience Hub integrating experiential learning with career services. The college also operates research and outreach centers supporting entrepreneurship, small business development, family enterprise, and veteran entrepreneurship.

Product overview

The Mississippi State University College of Business is a comprehensive academic institution offering a portfolio of educational products and services spanning undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral degrees across nine majors (Accountancy, Business Administration, Business Information Systems, Economics, Entrepreneurship, Finance, Management, Marketing, Supply Chain Logistics), along with specialized programs (International Business, PGA Golf Management, Engineering Leadership). The college provides four PhD programs, three online graduate degrees (MBA, MPA, MSIS, MTX) with multiple delivery formats, and two doctoral programs. Experiential learning is delivered through the Bulldog Business Experience Hub integrating career services, student organizations, and study abroad. Research and engagement centers include the Center for Entrepreneurship & Outreach, Market Innovation Lab & Observatory (MILO), Center of Family Enterprise Research (COFER), Small Business Development Center (SBDC), Technology Resource Institute, Veterans Business Outreach Center, and Boots to Business program. The college is AACSB accredited for both the College of Business and the Richard C. Adkerson School of Accountancy.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Bulldog Business Experience: The Bulldog Business Experience Hub brings together experiential learning resources including live learning cases, global study abroad programs, career services, student organizations, and experiential learning initiatives.
• Center for Entrepreneurship and Outreach
• Dividends Magazine
• The Bulldog Business Show

Products and services

• Bachelor of Accountancy A four-year undergraduate degree preparing students for positions in public, private, or governmental accounting and providing a foundation for CPA certification and professional accounting careers.
• BBA in Business Administration A flexible general business degree covering universal business functions including planning, organizing, staffing, directing, controlling, and budgeting, with customizable specialization areas.
• BBA in Business Information Systems An interdisciplinary degree bridging business and technology, training students to manage data pipelines that AI depends on, evaluate integrated systems, and lead digital transformations across industries.
• BBA in Economics A Bachelor of Arts degree focusing on the scientific study of how people and institutions make choices concerning scarce resource allocation, including quantitative and statistical analysis.
• BBA in Entrepreneurship A degree designed to prepare students for launching startups, growing family firms, or driving innovation inside existing businesses through venture creation and strategic business development.
• BBA in Finance A degree focusing on financial analysis, asset valuation, and financial management skills for careers in banking, investments, insurance, and corporate finance.
• BBA in Management A degree preparing students to lead teams and organizations through coursework in human resources, leadership, organizational behavior, and innovation strategy.
• BBA in Marketing A degree combining creativity and strategy to prepare students for careers in brand management, digital marketing, consumer behavior analysis, and market research.
• BBA in Supply Chain Logistics A degree focused on the strategy and execution of moving goods, managing information, and optimizing operations for careers in logistics, procurement, and operations management.
• Master of Business Administration (MBA) A 30-hour, 12-month accelerated graduate business degree with both on-campus and fully online options, preparing students for leadership roles across industries.
• Master of Professional Accountancy (MPA) A graduate degree preparing students for leadership in audit, tax, and corporate accounting roles, available on campus and fully online.
• Master of Science in Information Systems (MSIS) A graduate degree focusing on information systems management, data analytics, and technology leadership in business environments.
• Master of Taxation (MTX) A graduate degree focused on advanced tax practice and policy, available fully online for working professionals.
• PhD in Business Information Systems A research-focused doctoral program preparing scholars for academic careers in business information systems.
• PhD in Finance A research-focused doctoral program preparing scholars for academic careers in finance.
• PhD in Management A research-focused doctoral program preparing scholars for academic careers in management.
• PhD in Marketing A research-focused doctoral program preparing scholars for academic careers in marketing.
• Online BBA A fully online Bachelor of Business Administration degree providing flexible access to business education.
• Online MBA A top-ranked fully online Master of Business Administration program with the same rigor as the on-campus option.
• Online MPA A fully online Master of Professional Accountancy for those seeking accounting leadership careers.
• Online MSIS A fully online Master of Science in Information Systems degree for technology leadership careers.
• Online MTX A fully online Master of Taxation degree focused on advanced tax practice.
• International Business Program A dual-degree program where students earn a BBA with an international business concentration plus a BA in a foreign language, with required study abroad and international internship.
• PGA Golf Management Program A specialized program preparing students for careers in golf management, professional golf operations, and sports business.
• Engineering Leadership Excellence Program (ELX) A joint program with the College of Engineering providing dual business and engineering leadership education.
• Bulldog Business Experience Hub An integrated student experience platform bringing together experiential learning, career services, student organizations, and study abroad opportunities for business students.
• Center for Entrepreneurship & Outreach A research and engagement center supporting student entrepreneurship through mentoring, funding, and startup development programs including VentureCatalyst and Startup Summit.
• Market Innovation Lab & Observatory (MILO) A research center and lab featuring biometric research capabilities for studying consumer behavior and market innovation.
• Center of Family Enterprise Research (COFER) A research center focused on family business management, succession planning, and governance for family-owned enterprises.
• Small Business Development Center (SBDC) A center providing support, consulting, and resources for small business development across Mississippi.
• Technology Resource Institute A technology-focused research center providing resources and support for business technology initiatives.
• Veterans Business Outreach Center (VBOC) A center providing entrepreneurship support and resources specifically for veterans.
• Boots to Business (B2B) Revenue Readiness A program supporting veterans transitioning to business ownership through training and revenue readiness development.
• MSU Idea Shop A startup support facility providing resources for student entrepreneurs to develop and launch new ventures.

Quantifiable outcome

• 92-98% career outcomes rates across programs within six months of graduation
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

AI capability3 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTVA partners with the Finance department to provide the TVA Investment Challenge, where student teams manage a real portfolio of $500,000 in assets. This experiential learning opportunity allows students to apply financial management concepts in a real-world investment context.
• Conference of State Bank Supervisors (CSBS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCSBS partners with the college for the Community Bank Case Study competition, where students partner with local community banks to produce original case studies on issues shaping the banking industry.
• Intermodal Association of North America (IANA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIANA partners with the Supply Chain Logistics program for the Academic Challenge case study competition, where students solve real-world problems from the intermodal freight industry including logistics, ports, rail, and trucking.
• Regions BankcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegions Bank sponsors the 'Bank of Ideas' Challenge, where students build and present solutions to real business problems and pitch plans to Regions executives.
• RaytheoncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRaytheon sponsors the Invitational Business Case Competition focused on supply chain and operations challenges, providing students with real-world business problems to solve.
• International Business Exchange Partner InstitutionsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFormal exchange program partnerships with institutions in Belgium, Canada, China, France, Germany, South Africa, Spain, and Taiwan for study abroad opportunities.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Regional players

• Delta State University - School of Business: Regional Mississippi public university business school that competes in the same in-state student market and is subject to the same Mississippi IHL governance and funding dynamics.
• Mississippi Valley State University - Department of Business Administration: Another Mississippi-based public business program operating in the same regional and regulatory environment. A smaller-scale regional peer for in-state student competition and shared state funding dynamics.
• University of Southern Mississippi - College of Business and Economic Development: Mississippi's other public university business school, operating in the same state and competing for in-state students and employers. Smaller and less research-intensive than MSU's College of Business, but a regional comparator for state-funded business education.

Direct peers

• Louisiana State University - E.J. Ourso College of Business: SEC business school peer offering AACSB-accredited programs across the same disciplines (accounting, finance, marketing, supply chain). Competes directly with MSU for students in the Gulf South region and for corporate partnerships.
• University of Georgia - Terry College of Business: Top-tier SEC business school that sets the benchmark for peer SEC institutions like Mississippi State. Directly comparable program structure and accreditation profile, with broader name recognition that pressures MSU's out-of-state recruiting.
• University of Tennessee - Haslam College of Business: SEC business school with AACSB-accredited programs in supply chain, finance, and accounting, and a strong reputation in the Southeast. A directly comparable peer for both undergraduate enrollment competition and corporate recruiting.
• Auburn University - Harbert College of Business: SEC peer business school with strong AACSB-accredited programs in supply chain, finance, and accounting. Directly comparable in size, mission, and SEC positioning to Mississippi State College of Business.
• University of Mississippi School of Business Administration: The other major public business school in Mississippi and direct in-state competitor for students, faculty, and corporate recruiting relationships. Both schools are SEC members offering AACSB-accredited BBA and graduate programs in overlapping disciplines.
• University of Alabama - Culverhouse College of Business: Another SEC business school competitor with AACSB accreditation and similar undergraduate/graduate business program mix, including strong supply chain, marketing, and accountancy programs that compete for the same regional talent pool.

Broad incumbents

• Tulane University - Freeman School of Business: Private research business school in the broader Gulf South region offering AACSB-accredited MBA and specialized masters programs. Not a direct public-peer matchup, but a regional incumbent competing for the same out-of-state graduate students and corporate recruiting relationships.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/MSUBusiness
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCpF2oWd7rPl7eFGaCuvkrMQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/MSUBusiness
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/msubusiness
• Instagraminstagram.com/msubusiness

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles19 records

Subsidiaries10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Mississippi State University - College of Business and Industry