10 Factors to Help You Choose the Right MBA
If you are researching MBA programs, you have a lot to think about. Going back to school to earn your MBA is a significant commitment of time and resources and can affect the trajectory of your life and career for years to come, so it’s essential to make an informed decision.
Finding a program that not only fits your educational and career goals but also your busy life takes some research, but it’s worth the effort. Here are 10 reasons to consider the Walsh MBA.
Reputation
Reputation matters. The Walsh MBA is an internationally ranked program with an employment rate of 98% and our alumni can be found in nearly every Fortune 500 company in Michigan. Walsh has earned a reputation for graduates who have the knowledge and practical skills they need right away in their careers. This is because we integrate academic theory and practical application throughout rigorous curriculum that is developed with input from industry advisors to reflect the most current needs of 21st century business.
Flexible Curriculum and Delivery
The Walsh MBA is an MBA for the future, with innovative courses such as Design Thinking and Leading Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Change in Organizations, preparing graduates to lead with data-based decisions, clarity, and empathy. This carefully curated, fully-accredited program provides a comprehensive, holistic study of critical areas of business including accounting, business analytics, finance, information technology, management, and marketing.
You will have the flexibility to customize your program based on your career goals and interests, with elective options in business law, communication, economics, IT, management strategies, marketing, public relations and more.
You will gain in-demand skills through business case studies, hands-on learning exercises and simulations as part of your coursework. In Organizational Behavior and Leadership, emotional intelligence is explored as an importance competency to collaborate and build successful teams. In the Capstone course, students will manage an organizational system and make strategic decisions simulating the decisions made by those in the C-suite. These are just a few examples of the practical and unique learning experiences Walsh students gain to better prepare them to be the business leaders of today and tomorrow.
For students without an undergraduate degree in business, the Foundations of Business Success course provides a broad overview of basic areas of business, laying the framework for success in the program. The Walsh MBA can be completed in as little as 18 months and courses can be taken 100% online, on ground, or a combination of each. There is no difference in the program if you attend entirely online.
Connected Classrooms
Walsh has been using technology as a tool for teaching, learning, and engagement ever since we offered our first online class in 1998. Our dynamic connected classrooms contain state-of-the-art, user-friendly technology that allows faculty, in person students, and remote students to seamlessly engage with one another in real time. No matter how you choose to attend, you will experience personal attention from faculty in small class settings.
Faculty Experience
Approximately 95% of Walsh faculty have years of real-world business experience, and many of them are still working in industry while teaching. You will learn from seasoned professionals who understand theory and practice and bring current, relevant perspective to your classes. You may even find you have a professor working in a professional role to which you aspire. This creates a powerful networking relationship and the opportunity to receive true career advice from someone working in your industry. Walsh students and alumni have often said they are able to take something they learned in class and put it into practice the very next day at work. Walsh’s caring, engaged faculty are invested in your success.
Leveraging what I learned at Walsh and directly applying it to initiatives I was doing at work was instrumental in my ability to establish my credibility as a business leader.
TeQuion Brookins, MBA/MSF
There’s nothing more gratifying than connecting a student with the right opportunity. I can call a former student who is now a senior VP and let them know I have a student in mind if they have any job openings.
John Moore, Ph.D., CPA, professor and chair, finance
Personal Attention and Support
As a Walsh student, you’ll feel supported from your first contact and throughout your program with personal attention from faculty and staff, free tutoring, professional mentoring, and networking opportunities.
Your academic advisor will help you plan your degree path for optimal success, and with four 11-week semesters, you can keep that momentum going and move through your program at a pace that fits your individual needs and goals.
There are many options available for financing your education including scholarships, grants, and more. Our financial aid advisors will answer your questions and help you through the financial aid process.
I didn’t have time to go to an in-person meeting but I had a million questions about applying and enrollment. My admissions advisor was so helpful over the phone and email.
Sherri Jeske, accounting student
Lifetime Career Services
As both a student and alumnus, you can take advantage of lifetime career services. More than 1,000 companies recruit at Walsh, and we have the tools and resources to help you find a new job, navigate a career change, or advance your current role with personal attention and professional staff.
Accreditation
Accreditation matters. Walsh is accredited as an institution by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) and individual business degree programs are accredited by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP).
Walsh has ACBSP accreditation because it reflects the kind of educational experience you can expect as a student. ACBSP accreditation focuses on the quality of instruction and practical learning outcomes that give students the skills employers are seeking. Walsh students are fortunate to get the best of both worlds because in addition to bringing real-world experience to their courses, Walsh faculty participate in research and provide scholarly contributions to their areas of expertise.
Options
Walsh offers a number of MBA options depending on your educational and career objectives. Our dual MBA programs combine the strength of our internationally ranked MBA with the depth of an area of expertise, and can often be completed with just three to six additional courses:
- Master of Accountancy/MBA
- MBA/Master of Science in Finance
- MBA/Master of Science in Information Technology Leadership
- MBA/Master of Science in Management
- MBA/Master of Science in Marketing
The Cyber MBA is a fusion of business and cyber risk mitigation that will prepare you to align strategic visioning, risk management, and process maturity in business and technical operations to build resilient, successful organizations.
The Walsh/Kettering Tech MBA is an interdisciplinary program combining the Walsh MBA with a certificate of Technology Leadership from Kettering University. You will gain the knowledge and skills to develop advanced engineering solutions to complex business problems.
A FastTrack option allows you to take up to four doctoral-level courses as part of your master’s degree requirements.
Return on Investment
You may still be wondering, is an MBA worth it? A recent report from the Graduate Management Admissions Council (GMAC) indicates that employers expect hiring of MBA graduates to increase in the coming year and the GMAC’s 2020 Corporate Recruiters Survey noted that MBA holders can earn up to 75% more than people with a bachelor’s degree. That same survey revealed that employers continue to see value in hiring MBA graduates because they bring strategic thinking, communication skills, and versatility to their roles.
Admission Process
Ready to take the next step? We make it easy:
- Streamlined application process
- Virtual or phone appointment options
- Multiple term start dates throughout the year
- Year-round registration: plan your entire academic year in advance!
- No GMAT requirement
“Someday” has arrived. We are here to help. Are you ready?
