The Increasingly Competitive Online MBA Alternative

For busy career professionals who can’t afford to take time off of work or who travel or live away from a world-class university, an Online MBA program is a viable option. The latest programs offer incredible flexibility, rigorous curriculum, and a very comparable experience to an in-person MBA.

So, it should be no surprise that the online MBA is growing in popularity exponentially.

To better understand the landscape of the online MBA and to follow up on our first piece, The Online MBA: Which Programs Matter?, we reached back out to USC Marshall, UNC Kenan-Flagler, Michigan Ross, Indiana Kelley, and CMU Tepper. They allowed us to pick their collective brains even further to unravel the mystery around the online MBA.

The Evolution of the Online MBA

Just a few years ago, it seems, earning an MBA online was not considered a valid option. After all, what employer would take an online MBA seriously?  It was only for those students who wanted an “easy” degree and didn’t want to go through the effort of a “real” full-time MBA program.

In 2011 when UNC Kenan-Flagler launched their online MBA program with 19 students, The Wall Street Journal wrote, “UNC Makes Risky Online Bet.”  But times have changed, and so has the landscape of the MBA. While the full-time MBA isn’t going anywhere anytime soon, it does have some solid competition.

“Today that so-called ‘risky bet’ has yielded almost 2,000 graduates who are thriving in their careers and deeply connected to the UNC Kenan-Flagler community,” explains Kenan-Flagler Dean Douglas A. Shackelford.

An online MBA is not only a respectable choice, but a sought after choice. It’s all due to a better understanding of what an online MBA is and the perceptions of the quality and power of an online MBA.

“Online MBAs have certainly become a more viable option for students as the technology evolves and students see that they can get the same quality education remotely as they can on-campus,” explains Cindy McCauley, Executive Director of Online Masters Programs at CMU Tepper. “You no longer have to trade off learning from top faculty, or building a strong network, when you choose an online MBA program.” You get it all.

Benefits of an Online MBA

The surging economy has had a major impact on the growth of the online MBA. More so than ever before, professionals are reluctant to step out of work to complete a full-time MBA program.

There’s a segment of the business community—particularly mid-career and late-career professionals—who don’t want to put their career on hold for school, but they still want the benefits. These individuals need a convenient alternative that allows them to earn their MBA while still working. That’s where the online MBA comes into play.

Accessibility and Flexibility Are Hallmarks of the Online MBA

According to Patti Russo, the Managing Director of Part-Time MBA programs at Michigan Ross, online MBA programs offer two distinct features:

• Access
• Flexibility

“In terms of access, online programs extend a school’s reach to students who want to pursue a top-tier MBA program, but are not located geographically close to a school,” explains Russo. “The online program also makes earning an MBA really flexible by giving working professionals the opportunity to stay at their jobs while obtaining a world-class business education.”

Online MBA students can work around their schedule, taking time away if needed to pursue career advancement.

According to Ramesh Venkataraman, Chair of the IU Kelley Direct Online MBA & MS Programs, this flexibility especially comes in handy for professionals who have recently received a promotion or accepted a new position. Representing around two-thirds of the IU Kelley MBA class, these students cannot afford to spend time on campus, considering they don’t know where they’ll be at any given time.

“We also enroll a large population of active duty members of the military and working professionals who travel often for work, and who need the ability to complete coursework while living or working abroad,” says Venkataraman.

For example, one UNC Kenan-Flagler student attended class from five continents thanks to his busy work schedule, but he never had to stop his education. An online MBA program means that you can attend class from wherever you are as long as you have a computer and Internet access.

“The online MBA is available to anyone, regardless of where they live,” explains CMU Tepper’s McCauley. “And it offers the same rigorous, analytics-based curriculum as the full-time program.”

Business is Global

The third crucial feature of online MBA programs is their ability to prepare students for the digital business world. As Russo says, “The business world is becoming increasingly more digital with individuals working virtually with others spread across the globe, and online curriculum will prepare students to succeed in this new environment.”

This thought is echoed by USC Marshall’s Vice Dean for Online Learning Programs, Sandra Chrystal. She explains that it was USC Marshall’s recognition of how global corporations rely on virtual teams and training to conduct business that sparked the creation of their online MBA.

“USC Marshall prides itself on innovation and continuous improvement,” says Vice Dean Chrystal. “We created a 21st-century multi-disciplinary integrated curriculum designed for a virtual platform, which mirrors business practices. Management communication and business analytics are components of all of the courses, and virtual team building begins immediately.”

More High Profile Players than Ever Before

The online MBA is also more competitive than ever before, which means the product offerings are better, according to IU Kelley’s Venkataraman.

“The increase in high-profile, credible organizations releasing rankings for online MBA programs have brought more attention and credibility to the online MBA space and, therefore, more interest in it by prospective students,” says Venkataraman.

A decade ago, few high profile top business schools offered an online MBA. Now, these same schools that were once reluctant to enter the online space are offering rigorous MBA programs, flooding the marketplace with exceptional curriculum, faculty, and opportunities.

And that change is being reflected in the rankings. Now, U.S. News & World Report, Princeton Review, and The Financial Times all release online MBA rankings. Students no longer have to choose between a well-ranked MBA and an online program—they can have both.

The students are also more high profile. An online MBA provides students with access to classmates who live and work around the globe and in a range of industries. This means that students can connect with a wider variety of individuals, building an expansive network.

It’s important to note that the class profile of an Online MBA program is more similar to an Executive MBA or part-time MBA program compared to a full-time program.

“Comparing the class profile of the online and on-campus programs is like comparing apples and oranges,” Kenan-Flagler Dean Shackleford says. “GMAT and GPA scores have little relevancy for evaluating them. They’ve been out of school for a long time and have significant work experience; what matters now is what they have achieved in those years—their career growth.”

Students Are Comfortable Online

Last, but certainly not least, is the change in how students perceive the online MBA. Applicants nowadays are used to technology and the increasingly digital world, so they’re not afraid of using technology for their education. In fact, they expect it.

“Students today are comfortable with online learning,” says UNC Dean Shackelford. “Even if they’re not digital natives, working professionals are accustomed to collaborating with remote workers and teams as part of their jobs.”

As for those students who aren’t as comfortable in an online environment and digital learning, an online MBA is a perfect opportunity to change that.

“Students will learn teamwork and leadership skills in a virtual environment,” said Michigan Ross’ Russo. “They will have to work remotely with their classmates on the course material and group projects, including our signature action-based learning experience MAP, which pairs student teams with global companies and organizations to tackle those entities’ greatest challenges.”

The Future of the Online MBA

So, where is the online MBA headed? What can applicants expect in the future?  We asked USC Marshall, UNC Kenan-Flagler, Michigan Ross, Indiana Kelley, and CMU Tepper: “What is the long-term vision for your Online MBA?”

Here’s what they had to say:

Sandra Chrystal

USC Marshall School of Business Online MBA

“Although our Online MBA will continue to increase its diverse demographics, cohorts will not exceed fifty students. The number of cohorts may increase, however, and growth will be prudent. Since Marshall faculty teach all of these classes and Marshall instructional designers and production media teams create the asynchronous materials, the online MBA will consistently seek quality learning over larger enrollments.”

–Sandra Chrystal, Vice Dean for Online Learning

UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School MBA@UNC

“From the very start, our vision has been that the MBA@UNC is the same MBA program offered in a different format. We built the online MBA with the concept of no compromise: offering our MBA in a new format with the same quality (students, faculty, curriculum) and experience (deep engagement among our students and their professors to build lifelong relationships and networks) as our on-campus programs.

Now we are advancing that vision. First, we integrated all of our MBA programs’ operations, and now we are changing our processes so students can take courses in any MBA format we offer. We are blurring the lines of program format to meet the needs of students.

Our model is blended. You watch lectures recorded in high-quality format and meet for discussion in live classes on our platform where you see and interact with a small group of classmates and your professor. You also study together in person at our Global Summits—two in the U.S. and two in other countries every year. These small class sessions, group projects, and in-person summits are among the ways we ensure the UNC Kenan-Flagler culture is integral to our students’ experiences.”

—Douglas Shackelford, Dean, UNC Kenan-Flagler

Michigan Ross School of Business Online MBA

Patti Russo

“Our first Online MBA class is shaping up to be a group of highly diverse, very talented, and accomplished professionals. We are confident that future cohorts will be as well. In addition, the majority of students who attend Michigan Ross credit the program for widening not only their career prospects, but also expanding their worldview.

Our online students will join the Michigan Ross community, connecting them to a powerful global alumni network and tuition-free Ross executive education open enrollment courses for life.”

—Patti Russo, Managing Director, Part-Time MBA Programs

IU Kelley School of Business Online MBA

“The long-term vision for the Kelley Direct Online MBA is to continue offering a high quality, engaging, and rewarding student experience to students across the globe who are looking to progress in their careers and make a positive impact on their organizations and communities. We are pleased with the quality of candidates who have chosen Kelley Direct and will continue to seek out current and future leaders from a variety of industries to add to our powerful network of Kelley alumni.”

—Ramesh Venkataraman, Chair, Kelley Direct MBA & MS Programs

Cindy McCauley

CMU Tepper School of Business Online MBA

“We want our Online MBA program to provide the best educational experience and career outcomes for our students. We maintain a small class size to ensure that all classes are taught by our own faculty who teach in the full-time program and are not willing to trade quality for scale.

In our program, every class starts with in-person classes, so students can meet their faculty and connect with colleagues. Following these classes, students meet online in a format that allows faculty to see everyone in the class, and for students to interact as if they are in a classroom.”

—Cindy McCauley, Executive Director, Online Masters Programs

Posted in: Featured Home, News, Online MBA | Comments Off on The Increasingly Competitive Online MBA Alternative

The Online MBA: Which Programs Matter?

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to earn your MBA online? We wanted to take an in-depth look at the advantages of an Online MBA program and what it looks like to complete your graduate business education online—how long it will take, what activities will be available to you, and how it will enhance your career.

To that effect, we interviewed the admissions staff at some of the top brick and mortar business schools with leading Online MBA programs: CMU Tepper, Indiana Kelley, Michigan Ross, UNC Kenan-Flagler, and USC Marshall. Here’s what we learned:

CMU Tepper School of Business Online MBA

The CMU Tepper School of Business Online MBA program is a hybrid program, meaning students attend live, interactive online classes two evenings a week (for 70 minutes each) and then work the rest of the time offline, at their own pace. Students take the same rigorous curriculum as full-time students and are taught by the same faculty and staff.

• Duration: Flexible program duration
• Travel: Six times a year, students meet in-person for Access Weekends in Pittsburgh, Silicon Valley, Philadelphia, and Washington, D.C.
• Workload: You’ll attend two, 70-minute live class sessions every week with an additional 3-5 hours of offline assignments.

CA: How do your Online MBA students take advantage of extracurricular activities (e.g., can they join a finance club, organize a tech conference, what are the similarities for an online program with the full-time program)?

“The Tepper School part-time Online Hybrid MBA is structured to provide maximum flexibility without sacrificing the extra-curricular experience, which is an essential component of an MBA program. Our online students have access to various campus activities, including student clubs, speaker events, and career treks that enrich the academic experience and provide opportunities to connect with colleagues, alumni, and potential employers. We also have a TepperBot (picture attached), which  is a great way for students to actively join campus activities remotely. They can control the TepperBot’s movements from their phones, adjust the height, roll through spaces. It’s an excellent way for online students to be part of the on-campus experience.

Throughout their Tepper experience, online MBA students actively participate in student club activities; leadership coaching and workshops; corporate presentations and recruiting; and all that business school has to offer. Our online students have an active student leadership organization, and even started a virtual Friday afternoon happy hour!

CA: How do your Online MBA students take advantage of career resources. Do you offer the full-time MBA equivalent of on-campus recruiting?

“Our part-time Online Hybrid MBAs have access to the same career resources as our full-time students, including on-campus recruiting, corporate presentations, career treks to visit employers around the country, and connections to jobs at premier companies. Our top-ranked Masters Career Center provides career coaching from seasoned professionals to help them successfully manage career opportunities.”

IU Kelley School of Business Online MBA

The IU Kelley Direct Online MBA is delivered completely online. Students must complete 54 units to graduate—27 credits of core courses and 27 credits of electives. Courses are taught by the same faculty that teach the full-time MBA, but students have the flexibility to fit the coursework into their busy schedule.  You can either participate in live lectures with your classmates or watch recorded lectures on your own schedule.

• Duration: Two to four years
• Travel: Students attend two Kelley Connect Weeks, which are intensive seven-day, in-person experiences on IU’s Bloomington campus.
• Workload: Live weekly classes are around 75 minutes in length in addition to prep work and additional study.

CA: How do your Online MBA students take advantage of co-curricular activities (e.g., can they join a finance club, organize a tech conference, what are the similarities for an online program with the full-time program)?

“Effective November 1, we have re-branded student services to the Office of Student Services and Advising. That unit is now responsible for co-curricular and experiential activities. What is true about an online MBA student is that they want to build a set of experiences that complement what they do in the classroom, but there is a lot of variability in terms of what they want to build.

Our co-curricular experiences have been divided into various buckets.

• There are four-credit experiential learning opportunities. Specifically, there are global learning courses that offer two types of experiential learning. There is a consulting course where they work on a live project, and then there’s an exploratory course where students spend a few weeks in a different country working with and learning from high-performing corporations outside the U.S.
• We also offer a robust suite of affinity groups—both identity-oriented groups and functional groups. As an example, there are several events for online MBA students, including virtual happy hours and excursions to visit Warren Buffet in Nebraska.
• Third, twice a year, we have a Global Connect Night where students get together and have refreshments with each other all across the world. Students entirely coordinate these events.
• Finally, we have a high-impact suite of offerings from our Career Management Center and one-on-one career coaching.”

CA: How do your Online MBA students take advantage of career resources. Do you offer the full-time MBA equivalent of on-campus recruiting?

“We have a five-phase career development model for our online MBA students that begins before a student’s very first Kelley Connect Week. They are sent access to a website that allows them to begin pre-work on their career goals and what they’re hoping to get out of their online MBA.

We recognize that most students in our program are primarily seekers looking to change their function, industry, or location, or they are career navigators looking to move up in their organization. So, as a first-year student, we ask them to complete career work early and then come to campus for a two-hour content session led by the Career Center to gain more insight into their options.

Then, our online MBA students have touch-points with their career coaches throughout their time in the program. Not only do they have access to the Career Center online, but they can check-in with their coach in person as well; it’s up to the individual. Our career office also sends out regular communications with career tips, job offers, and more. Students can also participate in several 1.5-credit hour courses offered by our career office for job seekers, career navigators, consultants, and more.”

Michigan Ross School of Business Online MBA

The Michigan Ross Online MBA (OMBA) is a flexible format that includes live class sessions, self-guided study, and leadership development training on the Ross campus. To graduate, students must complete 57 credit hours including 27 credits of core curriculum, 18 credits of electives, nine credits of in-person residencies, and three credits for an action-based learning project (MAP). It’s a highly flexible, self-paced program.

• Duration: Two or more years
• Travel: Students must attend three in-person residencies on the Ross campus that take place Thursday through mid-Sunday.
• Workload: Each 2.25-credit course requires students to participate in four live classes via the online platform.

CA: How do your Online MBA students take advantage of extracurricular activities (e.g., can they join a finance club, organize a tech conference, what are the similarities for an online program with the full-time program)?

“We will work with club leadership to devise ways to accommodate these students, knowing that this will be an enriching experience for both the online students and the clubs.  We are planning on using technology for students to participate remotely in events.”

CA: How do your Online MBA students take advantage of career resources. Do you offer the full-time MBA equivalent of on-campus recruiting?

“Online students will be able to take part in the formal recruiting process if they wish.  We have a career professional dedicated to our PT students, who is familiar with their specific needs and common career paths. OMBA students will have access to comprehensive career development services to prepare them for recruiting. These include resume reviews, networking guidance, interview practice, and negotiation advice.”

UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School MBA@UNC

The UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School MBA@UNC is an online MBA program where the teaching and coursework are delivered online. Students must complete a total of 62 credits, including a broad business foundation and an emphasis on strategic leadership. Weekly, students meet face-to-face online for collaborative sessions that build on coursework and foster stronger connections. However, using the mobile learning platform, students can complete coursework 24/7 from anywhere in the world.

• Duration: Anytime between 18 to 36 months, as it fits their work/personal commitments.
• Travel: Optional three-day intensive Global Summits are available every quarter, and students must attend two prior to graduation. Summits are held around the world and students can choose the location and term that best fits their schedule.
• Workload: Throughout each week, students complete interactive assignments on their own time comprised of case studies, video simulations, group projects, and reading materials. Students then meet each week in a webcam-based online classroom of no more than 15 students to discuss the week’s material with classmates and professors.

CA: How do your Online MBA students take advantage of extracurricular activities (e.g., can they join a finance club, organize a tech conference, what are the similarities for an online program with the full-time program)?

“Yes! Online MBA students at the University of North Carolina Kenan-Flagler Business School students engage in our many and very active student-led MBA clubs. Some use online social media channels for communication and promotion, while others hold virtual meetings and webinars. In some cities, they have regularly scheduled in-person social outings.

They also participate in events on campus–in-person or via live-stream–including speakers and conferences. Conferences include Carolina Women in Business, Careers with Impact Forum, Real Estate Conference, and Healthcare Club Conference.

For those students who join our in-person orientation, their networking/relationships begin before classes start. Then it occurs organically through group projects in courses, but they also use “cyber-rooms” (where they study with classmates and work on group projects) to run happy hours.

At our in-person summits (four per year – two in the U.S. and two in other countries), students spend a great deal of time creating and strengthening their networks and relationships. Many plan personal trips together before or after the summits.”

CA: How do your Online MBA students take advantage of career resources. Do you offer the full-time MBA equivalent of on-campus recruiting?

“Our students take advantage of the school’s many career resources, including:

• Every student participates in a 360 Multirater process at the beginning of the program and conducts a one-hour debrief with an Executive Coach to help understand their strengths and areas for improvement as a leader.
• Our Career & Leadership team conducts over 400 additional (optional) individual, one-hour personalized coaching sessions annually for our online students on a variety of topics, including developing a personalized action plan, assistance with job search, working through leadership challenges with their team, onboarding into a new role, etc.
• We conduct nearly 100 Career & Leadership programs (in-person events, webinars, networking forums, etc.) annually on topics ranging from leadership development to industry education and preparation sessions, to tactical career search elements. We deliver many of these ourselves; well also offer them in collaboration with national experts when appropriate.
• We offer a complementary suite of recruiting activities for our working professional students. These include virtual career fairs, networking events with employers, student, and alumni panels, and two in-person career fairs per year, in addition to the MBA National Conferences, which provide company networking and interview opportunities as well.
• We participate in a wide variety of national MBA career fairs (Forte, Prospanica, MBA Veterans Conference, ROMBA, National Black, etc.) where we provide on-site support.
• The long history of the MBA@UNC program and UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School has helped us grow a strong student and alumni base at top companies. Students have exposure to this network through industry/functional panels; our 17-city alumni networking summer series; and ongoing, informal events throughout the year at our various alumni chapters both nationally and internationally. We have about 37,000 alumni living and working in 86 countries.”

USC Marshall School of Business Online MBA

The USC Marshall Online MBA offers a unique, integrated curriculum designed for the online platform. Each class is taught weekly via live, interactive class discussions and asynchronous coursework. To graduate, students must complete 51 credits to graduate or six courses: Role of the Manager; Fundamentals of Business; Opportunity Recognition and Implementation; Managing Inside the Firm; Managing Outside Firm; and Business Environment & Leadership.

• Duration: 21 months
• Travel: Students must participate in a one-week, on-campus residency
• Workload: Every course requires two meetings per week for about one to two hours for each live class meeting—typically, Monday through Thursday from 5 pm to 10 pm. On average, students are expected to spend between 20-30 hours per week on coursework.

CA: How do your Online MBA students take advantage of extracurricular activities (e.g., can they join a finance club, organize a tech conference, what are the similarities for an online program with the full-time program)?

“The Marshall online MBA students may join the student organizations, attend all campus events, and participate in USC and Marshall alumni events. They are fully USC Marshall students. Some have attended alumni events in their region. Similar to the residential program, students may serve as cohort ambassadors, graduate with all of the residential MBA students and with the same diploma. Some have engaged in entrepreneurship competitions. Many attend the monthly virtual conversations with executives.”

CA: How do your Online MBA students take advantage of career resources. Do you offer the full-time MBA equivalent of on-campus recruiting?

“Because 100 percent of the students are fully employed–meaning they also cannot pursue internships–and nearly 40 percent are financially supported by their employers, and because the average work experience is 10+ years, OMBA students have a different set of career resource needs than our residential MBAs. When the Marshall admissions committee interviews final candidates, we explain the career options to avoid any later disappointments. Our Online MBA students consistently make appointments with the Online MBA career coaches for individual career counseling, most use the Marshall alumni network, and some attend on-campus job fairs. A few have even hired cohort-mates, and four OMBAs started a new company together.”

This article has been edited and republished from its original source, Clear Admit.

Posted in: Featured Home, News, Online MBA | Comments Off on The Online MBA: Which Programs Matter?

The Best MBA Internships: Midwest

The Midwest is a great place to live. Not only is it among the friendliest places in the U.S., but it’s home to some top-rated MBA programs including the University of Chicago’s Booth School of Business, Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management, the University of Michigan Ross School of Business, and Indiana University’s Kelly School of Business.

So, with all these great schools in the area, the question is, where should you look for your MBA internship in the Midwest?

Below, we’ve highlighted 14 of the best MBA internships spread out over the cities of Chicago, Milwaukee, Cleveland, St. Louis, and Minneapolis.

When it comes to the Midwest, Chicago is the foregone epicenter. And there’s no doubt that it’s a great city for internships with many top companies. Chicago is home to nearly 40 Fortune 500 companies while also being considered the financial and cultural hub of the area.

So, where should you look for an internship in Chicago? There are many options:

• McKinsey & Company: McKinsey is known for recruiting from a variety of Midwest schools, including Chicago Booth, Northwestern Kellogg, Indiana University Kelley, and Carnegie Mellon Tepper. In fact, last year McKinsey & Co hired 48 employees from Booth. This accounts for nearly 10 percent of the 2017 Booth MBA class.
• United Airlines: United Airlines is headquartered in Chicago, IL and has a wide variety of MBA internship opportunities available in the city. There are opportunities in marketing, financial planning and analysis, HR, legal, corporate and government affairs, and more.
• Google: For an internship with Google in the Midwest, then Chicago is where you need to be. The Google internship program has openings for students interested in business strategy, finance, hardware, people operations, product management, and more.

As the largest city in Wisconsin and the fifth largest city in the Midwest, Milwaukee is another great location for MBA internships. The city is known for manufacturing and service companies and is home to six Fortune 500 companies. In particular, the city is known for having a large number of financial service firms and health care opportunities.

In terms of internships in the city, you should keep your eye on these companies:

• U.S. Bank: An internship at U.S. Bank is a great choice if you’re looking for the opportunity to work for the fifth largest bank in the U.S. There are opportunities to intern in distributed database administration, fund services, product management, private capital management, lending services, and more.
• Northwestern Mutual: Headquartered in the city, Northwestern Mutual is home to many MBA-level internships. Students can intern in public investments, analytics, strategic sourcing, and more.
• SC Johnson: In Racine, WI, just outside of Milwaukee, MBA students can find an internship opportunity at SC Johnson. There are openings in marketing, finance, sales, research and development, manufacturing, and IT. It’s an ideal company for those interested in a career in manufacturing.

Cleveland, Ohio home to manufacturing, financial services, healthcare, and biomedical companies. Many top-rated companies call the city home including NACCO Industries, Sherwin-Williams, Applied Industrial Technologies, and KeyCorp. NASA also maintains a facility in Cleveland.

For internship opportunities in the area, look to:

• Eaton: The Eaton MBA internship program is ideal for global MBA students who are interested in the energy industry. Eaton is a $20.4 billion company with 95,000 employees around the world with MBA internships in supply chain management, human resources, and more.
• Nestle: Located in Solon, OH, just outside of Cleveland, Nestlé has an MBA internship program for students interested in marketing or brand management. Internships get the opportunity to work with the company’s global portfolio of more than 2,000 leading brands.
• KeyCorp: Headquartered in Cleveland, KeyCorp is one of the nation’s largest bank-based financial services companies with more than $134.5 billion in assets. Every year, they high MBA summer associates in investment banking

St. Louis is the cultural and economic epicenter of Missouri. As the 19th largest city in the U.S., it is considered a major economical center for service, manufacturing, trade, and tourism. The metro area is home to many major corporations including Anheuser-Busch, Boeing Defense, Energizer, Panera, Enterprise, Edward Jones, and Purina. In fact, nine Fortune 500 companies call the city home.

Top MBA internships in St. Louis include:

• Monsanto: The beleaguered Monsanto was recently acquired by Bayer to strengthen its agricultural division. The MBA internship is designed for individuals interested in digital strategy and innovation.
• Emerson: The U.S. MBA leadership program at Emerson is designed for students interested in marketing, operations, supply chain, strategy, HR, financial, or business development. Each year, the company interviews more than 400 MBA candidates to fill their roles.
• Ameren Corp: As a leader in energy, the Ameren MBA internship is ideal for candidates interested in providing new solutions to tomorrow’s energy needs. MBAs interested in environmental policy and sustainability are preferred.

Minneapolis is the larger of the Twin Cities and the 16th largest metro area in the U.S. Recognized as a global city, the economy is known for business, medicine, sports, manufacturing, and research. Five Fortune 500 companies call Minneapolis their home including Target, U.S. Bancorp, Xcel Energy, Ameriprise Financial, and Thrivent Financial.

The best MBA internships in the area include:

• Target: The Target Arrows Leadership Development Program is designed for MBA students interested in being a part of Target’s global supply chain and logistics. It’s ideal for individuals interested in operations.
• S. Bank: Headquartered in the city, U.S. Bank is home to a ten-week competitive internship for students interested in retail payment solutions, enterprise strategy, lending services, performance engineering, and more. Here’s an example of the ad for a product management intern.

Posted in: Chicago, Featured Home, Featured Region, MBA Employers, News | Comments Off on The Best MBA Internships: Midwest