Finding the Top Part-Time MBAs in Florida
Florida may not be the first U.S. state that comes to mind when rising business leaders consider where to make their mark. But don’t be fooled by the “Florida Man” meme; the Sunshine State is not only home to three of the highest-ranked “boomtowns,” but it also has the nation’s fourth-largest GDP and total personal income. It makes perfect sense why Forbes ranks Florida #7 on its 2018 “Best States for Business” list.
For prospective MBAs interested in part-time business school opportunities in Florida, we took a closer look at several stand-out options.
The Best Florida Part-Time MBA Programs
Ranked 32nd on the U.S. News & World Report list of the best part-time MBAs in the U.S., the University of Florida’s Hough Graduate School of Business offers several part-time MBA tracks.
The Weekend Professional MBA is available in both a two-year and a 16-month accelerated course to those who have completed an undergraduate business degree within the previous seven years. For those without an undergraduate background in business, a two-year track without prerequisites is also offered.
For students seeking options outside the Gainesville area main campus, University of Florida’s MBA Sunrise Center in Southern Florida offers another two-year track.
Part-time online options are also available. Tuition is reported at $26,622 per year in-state $26,622 and per year out-of-state.
Located in the capital city of Tallahassee, FSU’s College of Business offers multiple business degree options for those seeking a part-time MBA option. Overall, the program currently ranks 57th on the U.S. News & World Report ranking.
The Evening MBA format presents a seven-semester program tailored to working professionals, including a pathway for “Florida’s state-employee tuition waivers, giving state workers the opportunity to pursue an exceptional graduate business degree at minimal cost.”
The school also offers an Online MBA and a hybrid Online part-time with Real Estate track. Tuition is reported at $780.18 in-state and $810.24 out-of-state
UCF’s College of Business Administration offers two part-time MBA options, earning the 89th spot on the U.S. News & World Report part-time MBA ranking. The Evening MBA program allows a flexible pace with weekday evening classes at UCF’s main campus in Orlando.
The AACSB-accredited part-time Professional MBA program “features convenient evening classes at the UCF Executive Development Center each summer term and at UCF regional campus locations on a rotational basis.” Tuition is reported at $370 per credit in-state and $1,194 per credit out-of-state.
The Muma College of Business at University of South Florida offers a part-time MBA “designed with the full-time working professional in mind.” Located in Tampa Bay, Muma draws students from across the Tampa Bay area and boasts notable alumni such as FedEx Co-CEO and CIO Robert Carter and Dell Chief Innovation Officer Jim Stikeleather. The part-time program holds the 99th spot on the U.S. News & World Report part-time MBA ranking.
With a curriculum focused on “data analytics” and developing creativity in its business leaders, an accelerated calendar and evening courses are also offered to part-time MBA candidates. Tuition is reported at $467 per credit in-state and $913 out-of-state.
The Chapman Graduate School of Business at Florida International University offers a variety of part-time MBA options, including a Professional MBA Weekend, Professional MBA Downtown, Professional MBA Flex, and an the Professional MBA Online. In all, the school currently holds the 109th spot on the U.S. News & World Report part-time MBA ranking.
Each option is tailored to particular needs of the working professional, ranging in options from accelerated course schedules to flexibility in electives and field specialization.
Chapman’s Online program is AACSB-accredited and the school’s part-time programs boast a $103,000 average salary. Total in-state tuition is $48,000 while out-of-staters can expect to pay $54,000.
Want To Work For NBCUniversal? An MBA Can Help
NBCUniversal is among the world’s largest entertainment companies, bringing “the development, production, and marketing of entertainment, news and information to a global audience.” From television networks and a motion picture company to theme parks and Internet-based businesses, NBCUniversal is the perfect place for an MBA to put their degree to work.
NBCUniversal History
Both NBC and Universal were founded in the early 20th century, with Universal opening in 1915 as “the only moving-picture city in the world” and NBC as the nation’s first permanent radio networking beginning in 1926. Over the years, the companies have been responsible for some of the most memorable moments of entertainment history, such as the 1936 Berlin Olympics broadcast over NBC Radio, hosting the first presidential TV debates between John F. Kennedy and Richard Nixon on NBC in 1960, and the premier of now-classic films like Back to the Future on Universal.
In 2004, NBC and Universal officially became one company—NBCUniversal—joining together cable networks like USA, SCI FI, Bravo and others with Universal’s movie studio and theme parks in Hollywood and Orlando.
Why Work at NBCUniversal?
With such a vast portfolio of companies and networks within NBCUniversal, someone with an advanced business degree can find a number of places throughout the company that can benefit from their in-depth business knowledge and leadership. Roles are available at the company all throughout the country in a number of business fields such as Human Resources, Business Development, Communications, Finance & Accounting, Marketing, Ad Sales, Public Relations, and more.
Getting Your Foot in the Door
NBC Universal offers a number of Internships and Campus 2 Career programs that give opportunities to both undergraduate and graduate students, with many of these opportunities can lead to full-time roles. Through the Campus 2 Career center at NBCUniversal, a number of roles are available in fields like Marketing, Human Resources, Web Content Management, Ad Sales and more.
Every semester, recruiters from NBC Universal request interns through the Campus 2 Career center. The company also hosts special recruiting and networking events, working alongside organizations such as the Society of Hispanic Engineers or the National Black MBA Association (NBMBAA).
YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE: Top MBA Recruiters: Time Warner
Typically, internships at NBCUniversal run from three to four months long, coinciding with the school semesters. The internships are paid, although salary varies by department, and—while not guaranteed—can often result in getting hired for a full-time role with the company.
For recently graduated MBAs, the company also offers a number of Early Career & Leadership programs, such as the East/West Coast Page Program or the Experienced Commercial Leadership Program.
What Type of Jobs are Available?
Through the Campus 2 Career program, NBC Universal has a number of openings for interns in a variety of business departments. Below are just some of the roles currently available at the company which specifically seek MBA candidates.
- Digital Distribution MBA Intern—Universal City, CA
- MBA Strategy & Business Development Intern—Universal City, CA
- Home Entertainment: MBA Strategy Intern—Universal City, CA
NBCUniversal is dedicated to advancing the careers of individuals who are passionate about their work and want to move into higher-level management or leadership roles. Programs like the International Future Leaders Programme expose early-career post-graduates to four different roles over the course of two years, allowing them to experience work in all three of the company business units. Participants in this program will also gather together at the end of the program to work on a project with a real impact within the company. They will also attend a number of courses specifically designed to train up-and-coming managers.
Programs like the NYU Stern School of Business full-time MBA, which gives students an opportunity to focus their studies towards earning a career in the entertainment industry, give a definitive advantage. Several Stern MBA grads do, in fact, work with the entertainment giant.
Even if the path of an MBA may not be your preferred journey, you can always become a page.
