To earn an MBA you have to be committed. That means spending your time, money and your energy to attending class, completing homework and participating at all levels of the program. For some, two or more years is too much time to give when their job and family is also taken into consideration. That’s where an accelerated MBA program can be incredibly helpful. It allows you to complete your MBA as quickly and efficiently as possible—typically within one year—so you can get back on the job market and on with your career.
If you want to earn an MBA but you don’t want to turn everything in your life upside down to make it possible, then an accelerated MBA might be for you. To help, here’s our newest guide to the top Dallas accelerated MBA programs.
Cox School of Business – Southern Methodist University
The Cox School of Business at SMU was founded in 1920, and since that time has provided high-quality business programs, ranking in the top 30 in the world for research productivity. It offers four different MBA programs: a full-time, Executive and Professional MBA, plus an accelerated Fast Track MBA.
The Fast Track MBA is a 12-month program of concentrated curriculum. It’s an ideal choice for early career professionals who don’t want to take a long break from the job market. To graduate, students must complete 44 credits over three terms: summer, fall and spring. And though the MBA is accelerated, students can still concentrate their degree in one of eight areas: accounting, finance, general business, information technology and operations management, management, marketing, real estate and strategy and entrepreneurship.
Neeley School of Business – Texas Christian University
Founded in 1884, the TCU Neeley School of Business first offered an MBA degree in 1938. Now, the program offers six MBA programs including two accelerated options: the Accelerated MBA and the Accelerated Professional MBA. The class sizes at Neeley are small, with a 13-1 student to faculty ratio.
The full-time Accelerated MBA at Neeley is a 12-month program that takes place over the summer, fall and spring. It is designed for professionals who require minimal absence from the workplace. To graduate, students complete 36-hours of curriculum including 13.5 hours of core classes and 22.5 hours of electives. The electives can be used to tailor the MBA in finance, supply chain, marketing, management, energy, health care, real estate, entrepreneurship or consulting.
The Professional Accelerated MBA is an even more flexible program. This program allows MBA students to graduate in just 21-33 months while only taking evening courses. It’s an abbreviated 36-hour plan that is designed for professionals who already have a distinguished business career and do not wish to take any time off.
University of North Texas College of Business
The University of North Texas opened its doors in 1890 with the College of Business welcoming its first students in 1946. Since that time, the business program has received AACSB accreditation and offers two MBA program: the full-time MBA and the Accelerated Online MBA in Strategy Management.
The Accelerated Online MBA is a 14-month program that features eight-week courses and five available start dates. To graduate, students only need to complete 12 courses, though students without the necessary background may have to complete an additional 18 credits. The 36-hour program is designed to work around a student’s life and work schedule.
Professional MBA
Multiple business schools in Dallas also offer a flexible Professional MBA option. While not specifically an accelerated program, a Professional MBA is usually a slightly longer program with malleable class schedule options, including nights and weekends. These programs allow students to complete their MBA while still working full-time. Professional MBA programs are available at the Cox School, Neeley School, Naveen Jindal School and the University of Texas at Arlington.
Executive MBA
Similar to the Professional MBA, Executive MBA programs are for working professionals with multiple years of management experience. They’re flexible programs that require a minimum time commitment with classes offered on weekends and evenings. These programs can typically be completed in two years or less and are ideal for MBA students in the middle of their careers. Business schools in Dallas that offer Executive MBAs include the Cox School, Naveen Jindal, the University of Texas at Arlington, the Hankamer School at Baylor University and the McCombs School of Business at the University of Texas.