College of Business Administration, University of Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls, IA - University of Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls, IA

Academics

The CBA offers the Master of Business Administration (MBA) and Master of Accounting (MAcc). Other programs include foreign exchange with France, Austria, Denmark, Australia, and New Zealand and graduate assistantships. The strongest area of study is management. Regular programs bring distinguished speakers and visiting professors to campus. There is an Executive-in-Residence program as well as a faculty exchange for addressing international business matters.

Thirty-one total credits are required to complete the MBA, including 3 elective credits. Required courses include:

Managerial Economics
Managerial Accounting
Management Information Systems Concepts
Financial Management and Markets
Marketing Management
Statistics and Quantitative Analysis
Cross-Functional Operations
Leadership and Organizational Behavior
Strategic Planning and Organizational Analysis

Students may eliminate or substitute requirements where appropriate.

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 1 year; maximum, 2 years. For students attending part time, the minimum is 2 years; maximum, 7 years.

There are 40 total full-time graduate business faculty, all of whom hold a doctorate. Faculty salaries are rated above average for Category IIA institutions, based on the AAUP rating system. Average number of credit hours faculty teach is 8; average business class size is 25.

Admissions

A bachelor’s degree is required, along with a GPA of 3.0 and a GMAT score of 500. Most important admissions factors are GMAT results, grades in upper-level courses, and work experience. A strong mathematics background is not required.

Transfers are accepted. Minority students are actively recruited by drawing from historically black universities as well as from regional businesses.

Students may begin the MBA program in the fall only. To apply, students must submit an application form, a transcript, GMAT scores, a nonrefundable application fee of $30, 2 letters of recommendation, and addendum/essays. Check with the school for current application deadlines. Students are notified of the admissions decision immediately (or by June 1 if on wait list. The latest acceptable test date for fall entry is open. Once accepted, students may defer admission for up to 1 year.

Financial Aid

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 $5936 per year. Nonresidents pay $14,074 per year. On-campus room and board costs approximately $5740; books and supplies, $878; personal expenses, $2672; other fees, $826; and transportation, for an estimated annual total of $16,654 for in-state residents and $24,792 for out-of-state residents. Graduate student housing is available on and off campus.

Students

Thirty-five percent of a recent graduate business school class were enrolled full time; 90% have had an average of more than 5 years of full-time work experience prior to entering graduate school, a factor preferred by the school. The greatest percentage of students are from Iowa (60%). Thirty percent are women, 3% are minorities, and 30% are foreign nationals. The average age at entrance is 34; ages range from 23 to 50. Ten percent enter directly from undergraduate school; 10% already have a graduate degree. Students’ undergraduate majors were as follows: 50%, business; 25%, engineering; 10%, social sciences; 5%, economics; 5%, liberal arts; and 5%, education. About 20% of entering students leave by the end of the first year due to academic or personal reasons; 80% remain to receive their degree.