Business Degrees
The mission of the Robert W. Plaster College of Business is to equip students to pursue academic excellence through professional programs with a biblical worldview in a caring environment committed to the principles of free enterprise.
Division of Business
Area of Accounting
SBU's accounting degree prepares graduates for diversified careers in the practice of public accounting, not-for-profit accounting, internal auditing, federal taxation, and general accounting management, all with a Christ-centered worldview in order to prepare the graduates to be servant leaders in a global society. This area offers the following bachelor's degree:
Area of Business - Undergraduate Degrees
SBU's business administration degrees provide students with a broad curriculum of study in business-related courses with a Christ-centered worldview, preparing them for diverse, ever-changing, global careers, and equipping them for continued education and service. This area offers six undergraduate majors:
- Business (Associate)
- Business Management
- Digital Marketing
- Economics/Finance
- Global Business
- Marketing
Area of Business - Graduate Degrees and Certificates
SBU's Robert W. Plaster College of Business also offers a variety of graduate degrees. These programs were established to enhance the professional and personal development of the students, and provide the foundation necessary for occupational advancement. This area offers four graduate programs and four additional graduate certificates.
- Master of Business Administration
- Master of Science in Management Science
- Master of Arts in Organizational Leadership
- Master of Science in Sports Administration
- Business Administration Certificates
Accreditation
Specialized Accreditation
The Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP) has accredited the following programs within the Robert W. Plaster College of Business:
- Accounting, B.S.
- Business Administration, B.S.
- Master of Business Administration, M.B.A.
The business administration programs that are accredited include Business Management, Marketing, Economics/Finance, Digital Marketing, and Global Business.
The following majors degrees have been recent additions to the College and as a result are not currently accredited by ACBSP: Management Science, Organizational Leadership, and Sports Administration. All programs are covered by SBU's overall accreditation by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC).
Program Review
There are several different reporting measures the College utilizes in order to identify what our graduates obtain as a result of their educational experience at SBU. While the pursuit of a Christian higher education has a number of intangible experiences, the items that follow will help to convey the educational significance our graduates have gained.
Major Field Test
The Major Field Test is a test given to students pursuing a bachelor’s degree by the ETS organization (the same company that administers the SAT test). 560 colleges and universities utilize this instrument to evaluate the capabilities of their soon-to-be graduates.
According the ETS website, “the ETS® Major Field Tests are … outcomes assessments designed to measure the critical knowledge and understanding obtained by students in a major field of study. The Major Field Tests go beyond the measurement of factual knowledge by helping you evaluate students’ ability to analyze and solve problems, understand relationships and interpret material from their major field of study.” The areas of study considered on the Major Field Test are:
- Accounting
- Economics
- Finance
- Information Systems
- International Issues
- Legal and Social Environment
- Management
- Marketing
- Quantitative Business Analysis
The ETS website goes on to say that, “ETS offers comprehensive national comparative data for the Major Field Tests, enabling you to evaluate your students' performance and compare your program's effectiveness to programs at similar institutions nationwide.”
The data is presented in percentiles with 99% being the highest ranking of those taking the test and 1% being the lowest. Here is how Southwest Baptist University students have performed over the last several semesters.
| Date | SBU Overall Percentile |
| 2024-25 | 74th percentile |
| 2023-24 | 73rd percentile |
| 2022-23 | 60th percentile |
| 2021-22 | 67th percentile |
Certified Public Accountant (CPA) Exam Results
The CPA is administered by the American Institute of CPAs. The test is administered in four different sections. These are:
- Auditing and Attestation
- Business Environment and Concepts
- Financial Accounting and Reporting
- Regulation
SBU Accounting graduates over a five-year average (2019-2024 graduates) have passed CPA exam at a 72% first time, per-part rate versus a 53% national average.
Nearly 100% of our graduates are employed in accounting positions prior to graduation. Many of them have job offers before the end of their junior year.
Employment Rates of Graduates
We actively track continuing education or job placement of our graduates. We want to know when our graduates accept employment offers or have been accepted into an additional educational program such as an MBA, PhD, etc.The following chart communicates the percentage of our graduates that accept employment or are admitted into an educational program.
Business Alumni Placement Rate and Salary Data (PDF)
Where do our students find jobs?
What follows is a non-comprehensive list of organizations that employ our graduates. It has been segmented according to each academic discipline area.
Business Administration and Accounting
- Accenture
- Bank of America
- BNSF Railway
- Boeing Intellectual Property Management
- Central Bank
- Cerner Corporation
- Citizens Memorial Healthcare
- Dannon
- Duck Creek Technologies
- Edward Jones
- Ernst & Young
- FORVIS
- GE Capital (Netherlands)
- Grant Thornton
- Hallmark
- Jack Henry & Associates
- KPGM
- KPM CPAs
- Leggett & Platt
- Microsoft
- Missouri State Auditors
- Neptune Marine Services (Australia)
- Nestle
- New York Life
- O'Reilly Auto Parts, Corporate Headquarters
- Progressive Insurance
- Reckitt Benckiser (Budapest)
- Rubin Brown
- Sam's Club
- The Bank of Missouri
- Walmart Headquarters
- Whirlpool
Master of Business Administration
- American National Insurance Company
- Chick-fil-A, Inc.
- Citizens Memorial Hospital
- Federal Protection, Inc.
- Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City
- Great Southern Bank
- Lockton Companies
- MFA Inc.
- Mid-Missouri Bank
- Nexus Therapy Management
- Ozark Orthopedics
- Samaritan's Purse
- Southern Baptists of Texas Foundation
- Southwest Electric Cooperative
- SS&C Technologies
- Strategic Financial Concepts
Retention rates
The rates for retaining students from their first to their second year within the College is as follows:
| College of Business | University | |
| Fall 2024 to Fall 2025 | 79% | 69% |
| Fall 2023 to Fall 2024 | 30% | 39% |
| Fall 2022 to Fall 2023 | 61% | 67% |
| Fall 2021 to Fall 2022 | 74% | 74% |
| Fall 2020 to Fall 2021 | 71% | 71% |
Graduation rates
The graduation rates for first-year, first-time degree-seeking students within the College is as follows:
| College of Business | University | |
| Fall 2019 first-year students that graduated by 2025 | 51% | 45% |
| Fall 2018 first-year students that graduated by 2024 | 62% | 52% |
| Fall 2017 first-year students that graduated by 2023 | 56% | 50% |
| Fall 2016 first-year students that graduated by 2022 | 56% | 40% |
| Fall 2015 first-year students that graduated by 2021 | 52% | 51% |
Assessment Reports
College of Business Program Learning Outcomes (PDF)
College of Business Course & Instructor Means
Student Learning Outcomes
Standard 4 Student Learning Assessment
Student Learning Assessment