Online MBA Spotlight: ERP Using SAP

SAP, ERP and What it Means for Today’s MBAs 

A market leader in enterprise application software, German company SAP (Systems, Applications and Products), helps companies of all sizes and in all industries run their best. In fact, around 87% of the Forbes Global 2000 companies use SAP, 90% of Fortune 500 and international companies employ SAP’s main information systems infrastructure platform to operate their businesses through a unified system, and 77% of the world’s transaction revenue touches a SAP system.  

Currently, SAP has 437,000 customers in more than 180 countries, 18,000+ SAP partner companies globally, 186 million subscribers, more than 100 innovation centers, more than 98,600 employees from over 140 countries, and $24.74 billion in revenue for 2018.

ERP (enterprise resource planning) is a type of software developed by SAP. A leader in enterprise application software, SAP developed ERP software to help businesses streamline their processes, giving them the ability to use live data to predict customer trends, live and in the moment. Because SAP is the most widely used system, an MBA with ERP Using SAP (ERP SAP) training is one of the most valuable degrees in the market today. Skills in this area are so valuable, that companies are willing to pay a premium to attract today's ERP SAP graduate.

In fact, ERP SAP consultants are considered “the rock stars of the technology space” earning more than non-SAP-trained graduates with the same degree. According to sites such as Indeed, Glassdoor and ZipRecruiter, earnings for SAP professionals are well over $100,000 per year, especially at major companies, and up to nearly $250,000 for freelance specialists. For example:

• Indeed Reports that SAP Consultants average $152,776 annually
• ZipRecruiter reports that the average salary for SAP specialists nationwide is $105,846.
• Reported average salaries for SAP specialists at IBM and Valero are $131,098 and around $110,000 annually, respectively.
• Freelance specialists report earnings of $101 to $120 an hour. For full-time work, this amounts to around $210,080-$249,600 annually.
• The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that computer and information systems managers average $142,530 annually up to more than $208,000 for high performers.

Keep in mind that earnings could be even higher, as most ERP SAP specialists work more than 40 hours per week and many managers and consultants receive bonuses and other extras.

Schools with an Online MBA in ERP Using SAP

Thanks to demand for talented specialists, many business schools have added ERP Systems using SAP to their concentration and/or graduate certificate offerings. Some have simply incorporated ERP SAP into their curriculums. For schools that offer a certificate, students can earn an MBA with an “Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) Certificate with SAP,” or related designation.

The following schools offer MBAs with focused ERP SAP training, a certificate option, and other paths:

• California School of Management & Leadership at Alliant International University, MBA Information Technology with SAP (in partnership with SAP University Alliance)
• College of Business Administration at Georgia Southern University, MBA with ERP Certificate
• College of Business at Central Michigan University, MBA with SAP Emphasis
• College of Business at Lamar University, MBA in Enterprise Resource Planning
• College of Business at New Mexico State University, MBA Business Information Systems for Managers, Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) Integration with SAP
• College of Business at Texas A&M University-Commerce, MBA with SAP Certificate
• College of Business at University of North Alabama, MBA with “ERP Systems using SAP” Concentration
• College of Business at Valparaiso University, MBA with SAP/ERP Certification (SAP University Alliance) (Hybrid)
• Jenkins Graduate School of Management and Poole College of Management at NC State University, Jenkins MBA with SAP Certificate
• Kania School of Management at University of Scranton, MBA with Certificate in Enterprise Resource Planning
• Kelley School of Business at Indiana University Bloomington, MBA with 7-week Enterprise Resource Management Course
• Lubar School of Business at University of Wisconsin Milwaukee, MBA with ERP Certificate
• Maharishi University of Management, MBA in SAP Finance for Professionals
• Naveen Jindal School of Management at UT Dallas, MBA with SAP ERP Certificate
• Sam M. Walton College of Business at University of Arkansas, MBA with ERP Certificate
• School of Business Administration at Widener University, MBA with ERP Certificate Using SAP
• Seidman College of Business at Grand Valley State University, MBA with ERP Recognition Award Designation (Hybrid)

Students who choose the concentration, certificate or other path will take many of the same courses. A good guide, however, is University of North Alabama’s (UNA) MBA with ERP Systems using SAP Concentration. Students begin the program with the MBA core, followed by concentration courses and additional technology coursework.

UNA MBA Core

• Cost for Management Decision Analysis
• Enterprise Systems Analysis and Design
• Managerial Finance
• Foundations of Business
• Organizational Behavior
• Management Policy
• Marketing Strategy
• Decision Theory

ERP Systems Using SAP Concentration Electives

• Information Systems Management
• Business Process Integration with ERP Systems
• Software Engineering for the Enterprise
• Database Management Systems
• Electronic Commerce

ERP Using SAP Certificate Programs

• Enterprise Systems for Management Using SAP Software
• Configuration and Implementation for Global Systems Using SAP Software
• Business Intelligence Using SAP
• Configuration, Control, & Implementation of Global Accounting Systems Using GRC
• Integration of Business Processes for Management Using SAP Software

Whether you choose a concentration, certificate or program with integrated coursework, MBA graduates with ERP SAP training can expect a bright future. Not only are salaries expected to rise even more, the employment outlook is excellent. At a 12% increase in employment for the 2016-2026 decade, job growth is nearly double the growth rate for all occupations combined.

Considering an Online MBA? Use our interactive map to find information on schools and colleges offering Online MBA programs in your state and across the U.S.

Sources

"About SAP SE." SAP.com. SAP Corporate, n.d. Web. 15 June 2017.

"MBA ERP Systems Using SAP Concentration." College of Business. University of North Alabama, 2017. Web. 15 June 2017.

"Computer and Information Systems Managers." BLS.gov, Occupational Outlook Handbook. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 29 Mar. 2019. Web. 25 Jun. 2019.

"Computer and Information Technology Occupations." BLS.gov, Occupational Outlook Handbook. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 17 Dec. 2015. Web. 15 June 2017.

"How SAP became the world’s third largest independent software supplier." ComputerWeekly.com. TechTarget, n.d. Web. 24 Jun. 2019.

Isco, Cleo. "SAP Salaries: Why SAP Jobs Pay Much" ERP 360. ERP 360, 15 Mar. 2016. Web. 15 June 2017.

“MBA ERP Systems using SAP Concentration.” College of Business. University of North Alabama, 2016. Web. 24 Jun. 2019.

"MBA Information Systems Management - SAP." Sykes College of Business. The University of Tampa, 2017. Web. 15 June 2017.

"Occupations with the most job growth." BLS.gov. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Office of Occupational Statistics and Employment Projections, 12 Apr. 2019. Web. 24 Jun. 2019.

"SAP Certificate, NC State Jenkins MBA." Jenkins Graduate School of Management. North Carolina State University (NC State University), 2017. Web. 15 June 2017.

"SAP Company Information." SAP.com. SAP, Inc., 2019. Web. 24. Jun. 2019.

"SAP Consultant Salaries in the United States." Indeed. Indeed, 17 Jun. 2019. Web. 24 Jun. 2019.

"SAP Corporate Fact Sheet." SAP.com. SAP, Inc., 24 Apr. 2019. Web. 24. Jun. 2019.

"SAP Specialist Salary." ZipRecruiter. ZipRecruiter, Inc., 2019. Web. 24. Jun. 2019.

Thibodeau, Patrick. "Here's the Data on Pay, Perks, Gender and Visas of SAP Workers." Computerworld. IDG Communications, Inc., 12 Aug. 2013. Web. 15 June 2017.

"Valero Energy SAP Specialist Salaries." Glassdoor. Glassdoor, Inc., 18 Feb. 2017. Web. 24. Jun. 2019.