School of Management, Marist College in Poughkeepsie, NY

Academics

The School of Management offers the Master of Business Administration (MBA) and Master of Public Administration (MPA). The Master of Science in Technology Management (MSTM) is an interdisciplinary program offered jointly by the School of Management and the School of Computer Science and Mathematics. Other programs include internships and faculty-sponsored research projects. The strongest areas of study are accounting, finance, human resources, information systems, leadership, and international. The most popular courses are Financial Statement Analysis and Leadership Power and Influence.

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

Strategic Marketing Planning
Business Analysis and Decision Making
Managing Organizational Change
Corporate Financial Theory and Practice
Global Environment of Business
Strategic Management
Operational Excellence

Students may eliminate or substitute requirements through previous course work. Up to 21 hours of foundation courses may be waived, and some courses may be substituted.

The minimum time permitted to complete the master’s degree program attending full time is 4 semesters; maximum, 7 years. For students attending part time, the maximum is 7 years.

There are 31 total full-time graduate business faculty, of whom 94% hold a doctorate; there is 1 part-time faculty member. Faculty salaries are rated average for Category IIA institutions, based on the AAUP rating system. Average number of courses faculty teach is 3; average business class size is 30.

Admissions

A bachelor’s degree is required, along with a GPA of 3.0 and a GMAT score of 450. The formula for using the GPA and GMAT scores is (GPA x 200) + GMAT. Most important admissions factors are GMAT results, letters of recommendation, and work experience. A strong mathematics background is not required.

The number of applicants for the 2006-2007 class was 80; 71 were accepted; 51 enrolled. The average GPA was 3.15; average GMAT score was 543. Transfers are accepted. Minority students are actively recruited.

Students may begin the MBA program in the fall, spring, and summer. To apply, students must submit an application form, a transcript, GMAT scores, and a nonrefundable application fee of $50. The application deadlines are July 1 for fall entry; December 1, spring; April 1, summer. Students are notified on a rolling basis of the admissions decision. The latest acceptable test date for fall entry is open. Once accepted, students may defer admission for 1 or 2 semesters.

Financial Aid

About 21% of graduate business school students receive financial aid from scholarships, loans, and graduate assistantships, for a total average of $10,947 annually; maximum $18,500. Some financial aid is available for minority students. The FAFSA, the school’s own financial statement, and the previous year’s tax return are required. The application deadlines are August 15 for fall entry; January 1, spring; May 1, summer.

Tuition for all students is $630 per credit, or $7560 per year. Books and supplies cost approximately $498; personal expenses, $800; and other fees, $60, for an estimated annual total of $8918. Graduate student housing is not available on campus but is plentiful off campus. There is a referral service to help procure off-campus housing.

Students

Four percent of the current graduate business school class are enrolled full time; 96% have had an average of 7 years of full-time work experience prior to entering graduate school, a factor preferred by the school. The greatest percentage of students are from New York (72%). Thirty-six percent are women, 10% are minorities, and 4% are foreign nationals. The average age at entrance is 30; ages range from 22 to 53. One percent enter directly from undergraduate school; 17% already have a graduate degree. Students’ undergraduate majors were as follows: 36%, business; 17%, math and science; 15%, engineering; 8%, liberal arts; 6%, economics; and 4%, social sciences. About 15% of entering students leave by the end of the first year due to academic or personal reasons; 70% remain to receive their degree. In 2006, 43 graduate business degrees were awarded.