College of Business Administration, Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff, AZ - Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff, AZ

Academics

The College of Business Administration offers the Master of Business Administration (MBA). Other programs include work-study and joint research with faculty. The strongest areas of study are accounting, finance, and general management. Regular programs bring distinguished speakers and visiting professors to campus, including round-table discussions and in-class presentations by visiting executives.

Thirty-one total credits are required to complete the MBA, including 12 elective credits. Required courses include:

Professional Development
Systems, Orientation, and Training
Customers, Markets, and Organizations
Managing People and Processes
Professional Development
Individuals, Teams, and Careers
Managerial Decision Making
Control and Innovation

Students may eliminate or substitute requirements by limited transfer of credit from other MBA programs to complete elective requirements only.

Business students may take relevant nonbusiness courses in other departments. The minimum time permitted to complete the master’s degree program attending full time is 10 months; maximum, 2 years. For students attending part time, the minimum is 2 years; maximum, 6 years.

There are 14 total full-time graduate business faculty, all of whom hold a doctorate; there is 1 part-time faculty member. Faculty salaries are rated well below average for Category I institutions, based on the AAUP rating system. Average number of credit hours faculty teach is 9; average business class size is 35.

Admissions

A bachelor’s degree is required, along with a GPA of 3.0 and a GMAT score of 550. Most important admissions factors are GMAT results, work experience, and a successful interview. A strong mathematics background is required.

The number of applicants for the 2006-2007 class was 19; 17 were accepted; 13 enrolled. The average GPA was 3.48; average GMAT score was 529. Transfers are accepted. Minority students are actively recruited.

Students may begin the MBA program in the summer. To apply, students must submit an application form, a transcript, GMAT scores, a nonrefundable application fee of $50, 2 letters of recommendation, 2 essays, and a resume. The application deadline is March 1 for summer entry. Students are notified of the admissions decision within 30 days of the deadline date. Once accepted, students may defer admission for up to 1 year with the approval of the MBA Director.

Financial Aid

In a recent year, about 85% of graduate business school students received financial aid from scholarships, loans, and graduate assistantships. Stipends and programs available for minority students include graduate assistantships. The FAFSA and the school’s own financial statement are required. Check with the school for current application deadlines.

Tuition for in-state residents is $248 per credit, or $6202 per year. Nonresidents pay $570 per credit, or $15,162 per year. On-campus room and board costs approximately $7264; books and supplies, $1095; personal expenses, $3960; and other fees, $3500, for an estimated annual total of $22,021 for in-state residents and $30,981 for out-of-state residents. Graduate student housing includes traditional and apartment-style residence halls and married-student housing consisting of 1- and 2-bedroom apartments. There is a referral service to help procure off-campus housing.

Students

All of the current graduate business school class are enrolled full time; 70% have had an average of 2 years of full-time work experience prior to entering graduate school, a factor preferred by the school. The greatest percentage of students are from Arizona (30%). Twenty percent are women, 40% are minorities, and 10% are foreign nationals. The average age at entrance is 25; ages range from 21 to 33. Thirty percent enter directly from undergraduate school. Students’ undergraduate majors were as follows: 70%, business; 10%, engineering; 10%, math and science; and 10%, various. About 10% of entering students leave by the end of the first year due to academic or personal reasons; 90% remain to receive their degree. In 2006, 12 graduate business degrees were awarded.