College of Business Administration, Clarion University of Pennsylvania in Clarion, PA - Clarion University of Pennsylvania in Clarion, PA

Academics

The MBA Program offers the Master of Business Administration (MBA). The most popular courses are finance and marketing. Regular programs bring distinguished speakers and visiting professors to campus, including speakers from the business community each semester, and as part of the Economic Policy Lecture Series.

Thirty-three total credits are required to complete the MBA, including 9 elective credits. Required courses include:

Leadership, Organization, and Assessment
Quantitative Methods and Statistics
Managerial Accounting
Legal/Ethical Environment of Business
Managerial Economic Analysis
Financial Management
Marketing Concepts and Strategy
Operations and Information Management
Global Environment of Business
Strategic Management/Integration

The minimum time permitted to complete the master’s degree program attending full time is 11 months; maximum, 6 years. For students attending part time, the minimum is 2 years; maximum, 6 years.

There are 22 total full-time graduate business faculty, all of whom hold a doctorate. Faculty salaries are rated well above average for Category IIA institutions, based on the AAUP rating system. Average number of credit hours faculty teach is 18; average business class size is 15.

Admissions

A bachelor’s degree is required, along with a GPA of 2.75 and a GMAT score of 450. The formula for using the GPA and GMAT scores is (200 x GPA) + GMAT. Most important admissions factors are academic accomplishments and ability, GMAT results, and letters of recommendation. A strong mathematics background is not required.

The number of applicants for the 2006-2007 class was 53; 46 were accepted; 24 enrolled. The average GPA was 3.4; average GMAT score was 508. Transfers are accepted. Minority students are actively recruited by providing graduate assistantship positions for minority students, making regular mailings to predominantly black colleges, and attending minority graduate school fairs.

Students may begin the MBA program in the fall, spring, and summer. To apply, students must submit an application form, a transcript, GMAT scores, a nonrefundable application fee of $30, and 3 letters of recommendation. The recommended application deadlines are August 1 for fall entry; December 1, spring. The latest acceptable test date for fall entry is June. Once accepted, students may defer admission for up to 1 year.

Financial Aid

About 91% of graduate business school students receive financial aid from scholarships, loans, and graduate assistantships, for a total average of $9540 annually; maximum $23,500. Stipends and programs available for minority students include graduate assistantships. The FAFSA is required. The application deadlines are July 1 for fall entry; November 15, spring; April 15, summer.

Tuition for in-state residents is $336 per credit, or $6048 per year. Nonresidents pay $538 per credit, or $9678 per year. On-campus room and board costs approximately $5246; books and supplies, $1200; personal expenses, $600; and other fees, $1766 to $1830, for an estimated annual total of $14,860 for in-state residents and $18,554 for out-of-state residents. Graduate student housing is limited in the university-supervised residence halls. There is a referral service to help procure off-campus housing.

Students

Seventy percent of the current graduate business school class are enrolled full time; 55% have had an average of 7 of full-time work experience prior to entering graduate school. The greatest percentage of students are from Pennsylvania (70%). Forty-three percent are women, 8% are minorities, and 23% are foreign nationals. The average age at entrance is 31; ages range from 22 to 55. Forty-five percent enter directly from undergraduate school; 4% already have a graduate degree. Students’ undergraduate majors were as follows: 57%, business; 17%, engineering; 13%, math and science; 10%, social sciences; and 3%, liberal arts. In 2006, 17 graduate business degrees were awarded.