Here are some tips for selecting schools, based on an analysis comparing each school to all others across dozens of factors:
Schools Concentrating On Systems Analysts
- Focus: For schools with a focus on this career area, look at Columbia College, Ozarks Technical Community College, STLCC - Meramec, and Park University.
Fastest Response From Schools
- Request Info: For the fastest information for prospective students, look at the Spotlight schools on this page.
Student Body
- Part-Time: For schools emphasizing part-time studies, consider Drury, Maryville, University of Missouri-St Louis, and Columbia College.
- Diverse: For a diverse student body, consider Harris - Stowe, STLCC - Forest Park, STLCC - Florissant Valley, and Webster University.
- Adult Learners: For lots of adult learners, consider Webster University, Lindenwood, STLCC - Forest Park, and STLCC - Florissant Valley.
School Setting
- Out of State: For geographic diversity, take note of Culver - Stockton, Park University, Westminster College, and Missouri Southern.
- Dorms: For a residential campus environment, take note of Culver - Stockton, William Jewell College, College of the Ozarks, and CMU.
Excellence
- SAT: For students with high SAT scores, look at Missouri University of Science and Technology, University of Missouri, UMKC, and Culver - Stockton.
- % Accepted: For selective institutions, look at College of the Ozarks, Avila, Columbia College, and Missouri State.
- Class Size: For small class sizes, look at Linn State, William Jewell College, Missouri University of Science and Technology, and Westminster College.
Student/Alumnus Reviews of Schools for This Career and State
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Missouri State • Springfield, MO
Studying Computer Information Systems (College Of Business) (completion in 1998)
• 7/28/2011
"I went to a Big 5 consulting firm and worked alongside grads from Stanford and Northwestern. My education actually gave me an advantage in the system analysis and consulting projects we did for our clients."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | Again, the business courses are very useful. Most IT people are going to work on financial or sales/marketing systems, so it's good to have a background within that domain. I think the mix of business and tech skills is very useful in a state where we have a lot of corporate and government jobs, but not a lot of high tech companies, like on the coast, where comp sci would be more useful. |
| Program Reputation | 6 | I believe the program is still good. I think the program size has decreased significantly since IT isn't as hot of an industry as it was before Y2K. |
| Program Quality | 8 | Having the business school classes as part of the program was very useful. I think this program is better for most of the corporate IT roles available in our state compared to the computer science program. |
| Instruction | 7 | I thought the intro courses in the major were very well taught. Some of the courses like CASE tools were pretty irrelevant to the industry. |
| How Difficult | 5 | I didn't have a burdensome amount of studying or homework. I think if you have aptitude towards problem solving and computers, it is a straight-forward program. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Most of the programming courses were completely hands-on with grades being based on project work. The standard business classes were much more book based, but CIS had a very good mix of lecture and project work. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 5 | I was there in the 90s, so we had night classes, but no virtual options. Some advanced classes were only offered at one time per semester. |
| Academic Facilities | 8 | All of the professors were very approachable. Professors taught all of the classes (no GAs). The College of Business building was nearly brand new and excellent. |
| Social Life | 7 | I loved participating in the music programs at my school. I met my wife as a part of it and traveled throughout the state and country, too. |
| Placement Services | 8 | I had at least 3 job offers for both full time and internships through the career office. I knew the director at the time from a student organization I was in so I had a lot of individual attention. |
| Alumni Network | 5 | I don't see many people from my school in St. Louis, especially compared to students from the University of Missouri. |
Lindenwood University • Saint Charles, MO
Studying Information Technology (completion in 2010)
• 8/10/2011
"A bit expensive compared to other schools that are known to have better IT programs. The flexibility of their adult programs was most important to me."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | maybe | If flexibility is not as important to them, I would look for the best school for their own personal degree requirements. Just because a school is expensive, doesn't mean it's the best option or the best value. Closely compare all schools and match one to your needs. |
| Program Reputation | 5 | It's more of a business administration school. Few select this school to pursue IT degrees. The school is thought to be very expensive compared to others in the area. |
| Program Quality | 6 | It's more geared towards business students. They have too few IT teachers and if you don't like them, you are out of luck. |
| Instruction | 7 | The instructors do a great job of keeping up with the latest technologies. They do a fair job of teaching relevant information systems and how they tie in to real jobs. |
| How Difficult | 6 | One night a week is easily manageable for adult professionals. Students must be diligent to manage their time appropriately to get the most out of the program. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Although they don't have the space to conduct multiple large lectures and labs, they often organize events outside the school to accommodate these. This subjects varies wildly depending on the instructor, but the school is attempting to standardize the formula. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 10 | The one-night-a-week program is an excellent option for adults and those with families. Those in this program must be diligent and be sure to allocate enough time at home to study. |
| Academic Facilities | 8 | They have enough computers for all students, and the hardware is newer and well maintained. They do not have the best selection in the library, but professors are willing to help on an individual basis, especially because many professors are also counselors. |
| Social Life | 10 | Even the night school program brings students together with a similar mindset, and nearly all students are happy to be there and study. Students even organize their own after school meetings and show general interest in success. |
| Placement Services | 6 | They don't have the most highly rated career program Students must do a lot of work on their own. It may take a while for local businesses to recognize the value of this school and their recent graduates. |
| Alumni Network | 7 | They have a very thorough and updated career search online board. I have received direct support from their career staff, but they could use more staff for this. |
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