MBA Programs in Philly That Don’t Require Work Experience
Not everyone comes from a traditional working background earns an MBA for the same reason. So, in the same ways that some MBA programs don’t require the GRE or GMAT score for their applications, some business schools are also willing to consider applicants with limited or no prior professional experience.
Business schools in the Philadelphia metro are no stranger to MBA programs that don’t require work experience.
Fox School of Business – Temple University
Founded in 1918 and accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business International in 1973, The Fox School of Business began offering an MBA degree in 1942. Today, Fox business students have several MBA options, including: the Global (full-time) MBA, part-time MBA, Executive MBA, Online MBA and joint JD/MBA.
Temple does not have a required number of years of work experience in order for students to apply. Instead, the school’s admissions department requires: completed application form ($60 fee), college transcripts , resume, two letters of recommendation, two required essays and one optional statement (topics include: leadership and statement of goals, GMAT and/or GRE scores are also accepted for applicants who have taken this test within the last five years).
Haub School of Business – Saint Joseph’s University
Named after Erivan K. Haub, St. Joseph’s Haub School of Business (HSB) was established in 1979 as a Jesuit institution. HSB is the largest Jesuit business school in the country, boasting 3,400 enrolled students and more than 22,000 alumni.
Haub features an assortment of MBA options: traditional full-time or part-time MBA programs for working professionals, four EMBA degree options and an online MBA. While most students enter with an average of four years of work experience, none are required.
Applying to HSB does require: a completed application form ($35 fee), two letters of recommendation, resume, personal statement and GMAT or GRE scores (HSB now offers an opportunity to petition for a GMAT/GRE waiver based on certain professional or academic qualifications).
La Salle University
The School of Business at La Salle University was founded in 1954. Today, the MBA program is among the top three largest graduate programs offered by the school. The school features four degree-earning options, which include: the full-time MBA, an accelerated One-Year MBA, a Saturday MBA and a flexible part-time MBA that holds classes in the evenings, on weekends and in a distance learning format. La Salle School of Business also features an intensive weekend program that spans 15 months of study in Switzerland at the Basel Chamber of Commerce. Students also have the option to complete the MBA program in a hybrid online format.
No work experience is required to apply to any of La Salle’s programs. All students must file an online application, official transcripts from all institutions previously attended, a resume or personal statement and test scores from the GMAT. Applicants with an undergraduate business degree from an AACSB-accredited program who have a minimum overall GPA of 3.2 or higher are granted a GMAT/GRE waiver.
LeBow College of Business – Drexel University
Formerly the Drexel University School of Business Administration, the school adopted the LeBow name in 1999 following a $10 million gift from the financier. LeBow offered its first part-time MBA program in 1947, with the first degree conferred in 1949.
LeBow offers a number of MBA programs, including: a One-Year Full-Time MBA, part-time evening accelerated MBA programs that may be completed either in person or online in the course of two years, a two-year online MBA in Pharmaceutical & Healthcare Management and an Executive MBA (EMBA). Students may also complete a part-time degree at their own pace.
A number of criteria determine admission to LeBow graduate programs, including your college transcript(s), letters of reference, standardized test scores and professional work experience, but no experience is required. Students do, however, enter with an average of 5 years work experience.
Lehigh University College of Business and Economics
Having recently celebrated its 100 year anniversary in 2010, today, the Lehigh University College of Business and Economics offers both a flexible pacing and one year MBA programs to students on campus and through distance education formats. Students also have the option to earn a dual MBA degree in either engineering or educational leadership.
While Lehigh MBA programs requires applicants to have at least two years of work experience prior to entry, the school does offer a work around. MBA candidates are allowed to begin studying as non-degree students while they build up work experience. Credits that students earn as a non-degree student go on counting toward the MBA Program.
Rohrer College of Business – Rowan University
Even though it’s not in Philadelphia, Rohrer College of Business in nearby New Jersey is an Association to Advance Collegiate Schools in Business International accredited business school. Located in the town of Glassboro, Rowan University is located just 18 miles southeast of Philadelphia and is easily accessible from the Atlantic City Expressway and New Jersey Turnpike, as well as any of the Delaware bridges.
Rowan offers a traditional full-time MBA program, a part-time program and an online MBA option. The full-time and part-time MBA programs can each be completed in a regular or accelerated format and can be begun in either the fall or spring semesters. No experience is required in order to be considered for admissions to any of these programs, but students average 5.3 years before starting at Rowan.
The Wharton School – University of Pennsylvania
Founded in 1881, Wharton was the first dedicated school of business at the college level in the United States. Today, the school enrolls 1,788 total students in its MBA program and 436 students in the MBA Program for Executives.
Wharton is cut and dry with its MBA offerings: a full-time MBA program and an Executive MBA program. It also offers certificate programs and a number of opportunities to pursue dual degrees. Among the joint degrees is the MBA/MA Lauder Joint Degree in International Studies, designed to prepare students for careers in international management.
Although no work experience is formally required, students entering Wharton generally have 5-6 years of professional experience prior to matriculation. Being the premier business school in the country, competition at Wharton is fierce.
About the Author
Max Pulcini
Max Pulcini is a Philadelphia-based writer and reporter. He has an affinity for Philly sports teams, Super Smash Bros. and cured meats and cheeses. Max has written for Philadelphia-based publications such as Spirit News, Philadelphia City Paper, and Billy Penn, as well as national news outlets like The Daily Beast.
