A Cost Analysis of Graduate Education in Logistics Management.

The purpose of this thesis was to compare the full cost to the Air Force for providing an officer with a Master of Science degree in Logistics Management from AFIT with the full cost of a similar degree from a civilian institution. Graduate logistics programs of twelve universities were evaluated to determine if their graduate degree requirements were similar to AFIT resident program requirements; the requirements of four universities were found to be similar. Elements of cost necessary to make a comparative cost analysis were identified and defined. The elements were subdivided into three categories to facilitate cost comparison and to more readily identify the areas of greatest cost. The three categories were direct and indirect costs of education and pay and allowances. The average monetary value of each element of cost was determined. Then an analysis of the total cost of each program was performed. The authors concluded that pay and allowances are the most sensitive element of cost and that the AFIT resident program was the least expensive. (Author)