You’ve decided you want a business graduate degree. Maybe you want to enhance your current career journey, or perhaps you’re looking to open doors to new opportunities. Whatever your reason, it’s time to find an MBA program. With so many programs in the higher education market, it takes time and research to identify the best one for your needs.
Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota offers a Master of Business Administration degree program to prepare students for rewarding careers in finance, leadership, and beyond. Here, we discuss the most important questions to ask an admissions advisor when considering different MBA programs.
Is the Program Accredited?
The first, and most important, question to ask your MBA admissions advisor is accreditation. This is a rigorous review process performed by an accepted authority on education. The accreditation agency investigates the program’s instructors, curriculum, resources, ethics, and student outcomes to determine how it measures against a standard. If the program passes review, it is rewarded with accreditation. This process must be repeated every few years to maintain accredited status.
Accreditation tells you which programs you can trust to deliver a high-quality education. On a material level, it also tells you which programs are recognized as valid. Class hours from a non-accredited school may not be transferable to other institutions, and prospective employers may not accept your degree.
Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota has consistently maintained accreditation by Higher Learning Commission (HLC) since 1934. HLC is recognized by U.S. Department of Education as a trusted institutional accreditor. In addition, we are a member of International Accreditation Council for Business Education (IACBE), which is recognized as an accrediting agency for schools of business. Our MBA program and other business programs are accredited by this agency.
What Are the Entrance Requirements?
Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota does not require any business background. If you start our program without any prior business experience, we will provide the foundational knowledge you will need to thrive. In addition, we don’t require students to pass a Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT). We believe in removing barriers to career opportunities, so essential skills can be learned while at school.
How Experienced Is the Faculty?
After confirming that the program is accredited, ask about its faculty. A solid business education is about so much more than textbooks. Experienced instructors complement the curriculum by bringing their own business knowledge and expertise to the table.
This is true of any master’s degree program, but especially business. This industry is constantly evolving, with new technologies and trends that transform how people do business. It is also highly relational, with many decisions depending on interpersonal interactions. This makes business difficult to fully represent on paper. When professors themselves have been entrepreneurs and executives, they can better prepare students for the reality of their future workplaces.
The MBA courses at Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota is taught by highly experienced faculty. All instructors have extensive expertise not only in teaching, but also in the business world. They share this with students, helping them prepare for successful careers.
What Differentiates This Program from Others?
Not every business program delivers the same education. Just as students have different ambitions and reasons for seeking an MBA, programs themselves have different strengths. One school may specialize in entrepreneurship, while another may offer an excellent education in finance.
Because of this variance, it is important to understand your own goals and pursue a program that matches them. Depending on where they specialize, the top-rated MBA programs may not actually be the best for your needs. Make sure the program is right for you by asking about its strengths, weaknesses, and what sets it apart from others on the market. This allows you to focus on your career goals right from enrollment, including specialties such as:
- Accounting leadership
- Artificial intelligence
- Business analytics
- Cybersecurity management
- Cybersecurity technology
- Finance
- Healthcare administration
- Healthcare analytics
- Human resource management
- Individual and team leadership
- Nonprofit management
- Organizational and change leadership
- Project management
Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota specializes in customizability. We offer more ways to personalize your degree than any other program in Minnesota. This flexible design allows you to tailor your education toward your unique career goals, whether you’re interested in accounting, human resources, artificial intelligence, or entrepreneurship.
What Is the Average Class Size?
MBA programs come in different sizes. While some might only train a handful of students at a time, others may fit over a hundred future business professionals into a single lecture hall. While this may not impact the curriculum itself, it significantly affects your learning experience. Knowing what you’re signing up for, therefore, is crucial.
Look for programs that limit their cohort to a manageable size, between 10 and 20 students per class. This may make enrollment more competitive. However, it also ensures that you will be learning alongside other top students. Intelligent and passionate peers will contribute to the most interesting classroom discussions. In addition, smaller class sizes let professors engage with students personally. You’ll have more opportunities to ask questions, seek advice, and take advantage of your teacher’s expertise.
Is There a Strong Program Community?
Speaking of professors and peers, business school is a great opportunity to begin building your professional network. As you may already know, your education is only part of the equation for a promising career. Success in business also depends on knowing the right people in the right places. The earlier you can start making these connections, the better.
Your MBA program will give you numerous opportunities to connect with faculty and fellow students alike. While this is possible at any institution, it will be smoothest and most natural at schools that foster a strong sense of community.
This also extends to the alumni. MBA program graduates are working professionals in the business world, making them an invaluable resource for learning more about career paths and securing a desirable position after graduation. At a school that maintains a strong alumni network, such as Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota, you’ll have an easier time taking advantage. Our Alumni Association and Career Services host in-person networking events and webinars focused on professional development that will help you advance in your career.
Is the Program Online, On-Campus, or Hybrid?
As technology becomes increasingly central to modern life, it’s transforming how we interact with the world. This includes education. Many schools now offer fully online degree programs. Rather than attend classes on a campus, students engage remotely using an Internet-connected device. This setup offers several distinct advantages:
- Flexibility: Online classes can be taken from any location, and materials may be accessed on your schedule, giving you flexibility in how you learn.
- Accessibility: Online learning doesn’t require a commute, allowing you to pursue high-quality programs that are outside your geographic area.
- Diversity: Because online classes aren’t limited by geography, they can include students from all over the country for diverse networking opportunities.
- Discipline: The flexibility of online classes prompts students to develop time management and self-starting skills that are valued in the business world.
Remote learning may not be for everyone. In-person programs, meanwhile, come with their own benefits that may be appealing to some students:
- Connectivity: Learning on campus leads to in-person interactions between peers and professors, making it easier to build relationships and network.
- Resources: Campuses offer a variety of useful learning resources, such as libraries and help desks, that may not be accessible online.
- Campus involvement: Students can participate in on-campus clubs, workshops, organizations, and activities that are related to their degree or other interests.
- Structure: Some students may benefit from the rigid structure of in-person classes, using this to stay motivated and on schedule.
Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota accommodates differing student needs by offering two parallel MBA programs. Our online program is fully remote, allowing students to learn from anywhere in the country. Our hybrid program, meanwhile, combines the flexibility of remote learning with the opportunities and resources available at our Minneapolis campus. Both programs offer the same experienced instructors and high-quality curriculum.
What Is the Graduation Rate?
After inspecting the program faculty, specialties, and format, it’s time to look into another important feature: the graduation rate. This refers to the percentage of enrolled students who complete their degree within the expected time frame. Graduation rates can tell you a lot about the quality of an MBA program.
Whatever the reason, a low graduation rate is a red flag. After all, you aren’t paying graduate school tuition so you can drop out. You want a program that will support you through your entire academic journey, from enrollment to graduation.
Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota has excellent graduation rates. In 2023, 69% of our graduate students completed their Master’s degree within five years. This is on par or slightly higher than the national averages. You can expect a program that will challenge your skills while providing committed students with the support they need to thrive.
Are There Career Services?
Of course, your career journey doesn’t end at graduation. Once you’ve finished your MBA degree, think about ways that you can leverage your degree within your own organization or perhaps pivot and move in a new direction.
You don’t have to take this first step alone. Many universities offer career services to assist alumni in their job search. High-quality career services help students identify their strengths and interests, then provide tools and resources for improved employability. This can help you find a high-earning early position that also sets you on the right career path. Some career services even extend past graduation, meaning that you can come back for help whenever you need it.
Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota offers comprehensive career services. We support your journey with self-assessment tests, cover letter and résumé assistance, interview training, career fairs and internship opportunities, masterclasses, and more. We’re invested in our students’ success, so we do what we can to help them thrive after graduation.
Enroll in Our MBA Program at Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota
If you are searching for a high-quality, customizable online or hybrid MBA program, look no further than Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota. We are a private, nonprofit Lasallian Catholic university committed to improving students’ futures with higher education. Our commitment to Lasallian Catholic values helps differentiate us from other MBA programs and universities. To learn more about our programs, request information, or visit our campus in Minneapolis, MN. Apply for admission to start learning.
