A Look at the Midwest’s Best Accelerated MBAs
Finding the time to complete an MBA is of foremost concern to many students. Taking any time out of a work schedule to commit to earning the degree can seem like an unrealistic prospect for those already in the process of advancing in their careers. Luckily, accelerated programs are becoming more and more prevalent. Online, in person, and hybrid delivery methods are available at large at well-known business programs and at smaller, more affordable schools alike. Here is a look at the midwest region, which possesses a solid cross section of each of these accelerated program types.
The Top Midwest Accelerated MBA Programs
One of the forerunners of the accelerated MBA trend is available at the Northwestern University Kellogg School of Management. The program begins and ends in June. Students take three to five courses during the summer and then join the two-year MBA class in the fall to complete the elective portion of the degree.
Before enrolling, students must complete coursework in statistics, economics, marketing, and operations. These courses must have been completed within 10 years prior to application submission. Kellogg’s one-year MBA consists of 15.5 credits, and students may choose from one of seven majors: accounting; economics; finance; marketing; operations; strategy; and managing organizations. Graduates may also receive a General Management designation. Kellogg’s one-year program costs $98,720.
The University of Notre Dame Mendoza College of Business’ one-year program’s motto is “Get in, get out, get back to work.” Like Kellogg, Mendoza’s one-year students join with their two-year peers in the second portion of their studies. The program begins and ends in May. The school’s site emphasizes that one-year classes are closely aligned with the broader student population, and with an average class size of around 43, individual attention is a priority.
The program’s 46 credit hours encompasses an intensive nine week summer session, along with majors in business analytics, business leadership, consulting, corporate finance, innovation & entrepreneurship, investments, and marketing. Tuition is currently $75,768.
Western Illinois University College of Business and Technology in Macomb, IL is among the most affordable programs in the region at less than $15,000. A hybrid one-year MBA, the degree is comprised of 33 credits and begins and ends in the summer. Core courses include Corporate Financial Reporting and Analysis, Economics for Managers, Corporate Information Systems, and Decision Making for Global Markets. Majors are general management, business analytics, supply chain management, corporate security, accounting, international business, and information systems.
Applications to WIU’s hybrid MBA are accepted on a rolling basis.
University of Cincinnati Lindner College of Business has one of the fastest possible completion times—as little as nine months. Lindner’s MBA begins in the fall, consisting of 35-48 credits that break down into 10 foundation courses, 26 core classes, and 12 credits worth of electives. Students with recent undergraduate work in business administration or those with relevant work experience may waive the foundation course requirement. In state tuition is $20,958 and $28,796 for out of state students.
The accelerated MBA at the Dayton University School of Business Administration is a highly ranked program open to recent recipients of an undergrad business degree and those with eight or more years of work experience, preferably in senior or mid-level management positions. It can be completed in 12 months with 7.5 credits for the first three terms, 6 credits in the fourth term, and an optional 3 credits of electives in the fifth term.
The accelerated MBA at Dayton takes place online, with available concentrations in marketing and businessa analytics. Admissions decisions are on a rolling basis, and tuition is $41,422.50–$51,285, based upon the number of credits.
Northern Illinois University’s College of Business‘ 12 Month MBA is geared toward those in management positions who wish to advance or shift in their current careers. Applications for admission are due on December 10 for a January start date. The program consists of 48 credits though some of these may be waived based upon prior studies and experience.
Tuition for the one year program at Northern Illinois is $39,000.
The Accelerated MBA at the University of Illinois at Chicago’s Liautaud Graduate School of Business consists of 26 core credits and 28 electives. Ranked among the top 25 percent of business schools in the country, Liataud offers a high quality education at a relatively affordable price: $13,900 for in-state students and $22,068 for non-Illinois residents. Among the available concentrations are accounting, business analytics, economics, entrepreneurship, finance, marketing, and real estate.
Walsh University in Canton, Ohio offers a one-year MBA in management, healthcare, or marketing. Boasting small classes and a flexible schedule, the Walsh MBA is offered online, consisting of 42 credits. Tuition is $705 per credit hour, or $29,610 for the one year MBA.
Walsh does not require a GMAT scores for admission, and students from non-business backgrounds are encouraged to apply. There are six intakes for the program per year.
An MBA from the University of St. Francis in Fort Wayne, Indiana is another great value at less than $20,000 per year. St. Francis offers both a generalized MBA and a specialty degree in Sustainability. Each degree is offered entirely online.
What Chicago MBAs Can You Earn the Fastest?
Here’s a lesson everyone learns well before ever stepping foot into business school: time is money.
Some students want to complete their MBA coursework as quickly and efficiently as possible. That’s where accelerated MBA programs come into play: in only 12 months, those who earn an accelerated MBA reenter the job market ready to start their next career.
Accelerated programs— also known as One-Year MBA programs—are designed for students who have clear ideas for what they want to do after graduation, as well as those who already have a strong base in business.
While one-year MBA programs are popular in Europe, they are less common in the U.S. However, several top business schools in the Chicago metro feature accelerated MBA programs.
Let’s take a look:
University of Illinois at Chicago Accelerated MBA Program – Under 12 Months
The Liautaud Graduate School of Business Accelerated MBA launched in fall 2015 and was designed for recent graduates or students with limited work experience to develop knowledge of business principles and skills in three semesters of full-time study.
Students begin the program by taking core courses—financial accounting, corporate finance, marketing, microeconomics, operations management, and organizational behavior—before moving on to advanced electives. Core coursework is completed in a cohort during the fall and spring semesters. The final semester may be completed in the summer semester or in the subsequent fall semester. This degree can be completed in under one year by students who carry a heavy course load each semester.
Kellogg Accelerated MBA – 12 Months
The Northwestern Kellogg School of Management was the first top-tier business school to offer a One-Year MBA program, launching the program more than 50 years ago. The degree option was designed for students who have both a business-related degree and several years of work experience. Fun fact: Kellogg has increased the size of the accelerated program by nearly 20 percent over the past two years.
Kellogg’s Accelerated MBA allow students to bypass core classes. Required courses are taken in the summer, and elective courses taken in the fall, winter, and spring. Students take at least two summer courses in Leadership and Business Strategy, a Crisis Management half credit course right before the fall term, and then join second-year MBA students for the final 13 courses before earning their degree.
Notre Dame One Year MBA Program – 12 Months
Notre Dame University’s Mendoza College of Business’ One Year MBA, located just outside of Chicago on the border of Indiana, begins in May and ends the same month of the following year. The program starts with a 10-week summer session before students join classes with other MBA students in the fall and spring. Summer courses include leadership & organizational behavior, marketing management, and strategic essentials. Following the summer session classes, students declare a concentration in either business analytics, business leadership, consulting, corporate finance, innovation & entrepreneurship, investments, or marketing.
The immersive Mendoza College of Business’ One Year MBA includes international expeditions / Photo via morrisinn.nd.edu
Notre Dame’s One Year MBA also has an international immersion option. Between fall break and Christmas, one year students take a full schedule of MBA courses in partnership with Universidad Catholica in Chile. In addition to business courses in English, students will have the opportunity to learn or improve their Spanish language skills. These class feature numerous travel opportunities for students to explore the Andes region, including trips to Chile’s Atacama Desert, Machu Picchu in Peru, and multi-day trekking in Patagonia. Read more about Mendoza’s Global Opportunities here.
Northern Illinois University One Year MBA Program – 12 Months
Unlike most accelerated programs, NIU’s One-Year program accepts one cohort each winter. Classes begin in January and students finish coursework in 12 months by attending class just two evenings per week. Classes are further broken down into groups, which are expected to meet up at least once per week outside of normal classroom hours.
The program also includes a nine-day international trip, which is usually scheduled in March. These experiences generally include a combination of company visits, government briefings, and university lectures. Recent international immersions have had students visiting places like Lisbon and Barcelona.
Northern Illinois University Fast Trak MBA – 12 Months
NIU is also unique in that it offers two different MBA options that can be copleted in 12 months or less. The school’s Fast Trak MBA is a day-time, 12-month program with required international experiences in Bordeaux, France or Murcia, Spain. Students attend classes Monday through Friday during spring and fall semesters.
NIU’s Fast Trak MBA has all students enter and experience the program together and begins with a mandatory orientation session in mid-August for all students. The MBA program is broken up into five modules, with students taking between two and four courses during these five-to-eight week intensive class blocks. Students enrolled in the program also have the opportunity to earn a second Masters degree in International Management from IAE the Bordeaux University School of Management or a Master of International Management from the ENAE School of Business in Murcia, Spain.
For more information on Chicago MBA programs, click here.
