Deciding between low cost MBA programs in USA


x800pci

Can anybody give me some advice on which one of these MBA programs is the best? I am looking primarily at budget when making my decision:

+ Rochester Institute of Technology (Saunders)
+ California State University (Fullerton)
+ Bentley University
+ San Diego State University
+ Baylor (Hankamer)
+ Iowa State University

Also open to others as well so suggestions welcome. Thanks!

Can anybody give me some advice on which one of these MBA programs is the best? I am looking primarily at budget when making my decision:

+ Rochester Institute of Technology (Saunders)
+ California State University (Fullerton)
+ Bentley University
+ San Diego State University
+ Baylor (Hankamer)
+ Iowa State University

Also open to others as well so suggestions welcome. Thanks!
quote
ralph

It depends. This is such a broad range of school that it's almost impossible to say which one is the best.

In general I would think that Iowa State and Baylor would have marginally better salaries than the other ones; and they probably also have the more competitive cohorts (the average GMAT at Baylor is 630ish compared to SDSU's 612.)

But it should ultimately depend on your career goals: Baylor has decent placements in pharma or biotech, Iowa State places well in manufacturing firms. Ask the schools directly for placement reports or scour LinkedIn for info about where graduates end up.

It depends. This is such a broad range of school that it's almost impossible to say which one is the best.

In general I would think that Iowa State and Baylor would have marginally better salaries than the other ones; and they probably also have the more competitive cohorts (the average GMAT at Baylor is 630ish compared to SDSU's 612.)

But it should ultimately depend on your career goals: Baylor has decent placements in pharma or biotech, Iowa State places well in manufacturing firms. Ask the schools directly for placement reports or scour LinkedIn for info about where graduates end up.
quote
x800pci

Do you have any idea about these schools, in terms of which is better for the technology consulting industry? Or others with low tuition fees. :)

Do you have any idea about these schools, in terms of which is better for the technology consulting industry? Or others with low tuition fees. :)
quote
ralph

I am not sure that any one is better than the others for tech consulting. I would start with schools that are strong with placements in consulting, and then see if those schools offer more tech-oriented curriculum.

Something like Carnegie Mellon - Tepper would be ideal, quite honestly.

Other, lower tier schools that may seem more affordable, which you might look at include ASU Carey and Georgia Terry.

I am not sure that any one is better than the others for tech consulting. I would start with schools that are strong with placements in consulting, and then see if those schools offer more tech-oriented curriculum.

Something like Carnegie Mellon - Tepper would be ideal, quite honestly.

Other, lower tier schools that may seem more affordable, which you might look at include ASU Carey and Georgia Terry.
quote
x800pci

I think that Carnegie Mellon might be a little too expensive but the others may be doable. I will look into them more closely. Thanks for the advice.

I think that Carnegie Mellon might be a little too expensive but the others may be doable. I will look into them more closely. Thanks for the advice.
quote
Gitashrii

Can anybody give me some advice on which one of these MBA programs is the best? I am looking primarily at budget when making my decision:

+ Rochester Institute of Technology (Saunders)
+ California State University (Fullerton)
+ Bentley University
+ San Diego State University
+ Baylor (Hankamer)
+ Iowa State University

Also open to others as well so suggestions welcome. Thanks!

I am also interested in MBA colleges with low fees in the US. Is San Diego State University better than California State University Fullerton? I would very much like to do my MBA in California. Please advise.

<blockquote>Can anybody give me some advice on which one of these MBA programs is the best? I am looking primarily at budget when making my decision:

+ Rochester Institute of Technology (Saunders)
+ California State University (Fullerton)
+ Bentley University
+ San Diego State University
+ Baylor (Hankamer)
+ Iowa State University

Also open to others as well so suggestions welcome. Thanks!</blockquote>
I am also interested in MBA colleges with low fees in the US. Is San Diego State University better than California State University Fullerton? I would very much like to do my MBA in California. Please advise.
quote
ezra

It depends, what are your goals?

Would you be applying as an international student who wants to work in the US after graduating? If so you'd probably be much better off if you saved up a bit more and went for a ranked MBA program instead.

It depends, what are your goals?

Would you be applying as an international student who wants to work in the US after graduating? If so you'd probably be much better off if you saved up a bit more and went for a ranked MBA program instead.
quote
Gitashrii

My goals are to work in either operations management or supply chain management in a company in California. Yes, I am applying as an international student. Do you know of any ranked MBA programs in California that have lower tuitions fees?

My goals are to work in either operations management or supply chain management in a company in California. Yes, I am applying as an international student. Do you know of any ranked MBA programs in California that have lower tuitions fees?
quote
Duncan

Take a look at Shortcut to find the best US MBA www.find-mba.com/board/36065

Honestly, there are no low-cost, high-quality programmes in California. You get what you pay for.

Take a look at Shortcut to find the best US MBA www.find-mba.com/board/36065

Honestly, there are no low-cost, high-quality programmes in California. You get what you pay for.
quote
ezra

For international students, there are really no "bargain" MBA programs in California. Even UC Irvine, the lowest-ranked CA school on the Businessweek, is only marginally less costly than even Haas.

But the thing is that you have to look at the return on investment too: look at the average post-graduation salaries for these schools, and you can see that the ranked MBA programs do end up paying for themselves, time after time.

Most of the data is on the Businessweek rankings.

For international students, there are really no "bargain" MBA programs in California. Even UC Irvine, the lowest-ranked CA school on the Businessweek, is only marginally less costly than even Haas.

But the thing is that you have to look at the return on investment too: look at the average post-graduation salaries for these schools, and you can see that the ranked MBA programs do end up paying for themselves, time after time.

Most of the data is on the Businessweek rankings.
quote
Gitashrii

Is San Diego State University a good alternative to these ranked MBA programs?

Is San Diego State University a good alternative to these ranked MBA programs?
quote
ezra

I don't think it's in the same league.

It looks like the average salaries post-graduation are around $60k on average, versus $85k at Merage and $103k at Marshall.

Just do the math: investing more to get a ranked program will most likely pay off in the long run.

I don't think it's in the same league.

It looks like the average salaries post-graduation are around $60k on average, versus $85k at Merage and $103k at Marshall.

Just do the math: investing more to get a ranked program will most likely pay off in the long run.
quote
Gitashrii

I see. It sounds like it's going to be hard to find a quality MBA program that's also a value. I guess I may have to get some more funds together. Thanks for your help.

I see. It sounds like it's going to be hard to find a quality MBA program that's also a value. I guess I may have to get some more funds together. Thanks for your help.
quote

I don't think it's in the same league.

It looks like the average salaries post-graduation are around $60k on average, versus $85k at Merage and $103k at Marshall.

Just do the math: investing more to get a ranked program will most likely pay off in the long run.

I'm having trouble understanding this, because I've seen this $60k salary statistic elsewhere. I've also seen that Ernst & Young is a big recruiter of graduates from SDSU -- wouldn't EY's starting salaries be higher than that? If not, what do these SDSU MBAs do at EY for that salary? Mail clerking?

[quote]I don't think it's in the same league.

It looks like the average salaries post-graduation are around $60k on average, versus $85k at Merage and $103k at Marshall.

Just do the math: investing more to get a ranked program will most likely pay off in the long run.[/quote]
I'm having trouble understanding this, because I've seen this $60k salary statistic elsewhere. I've also seen that Ernst & Young is a big recruiter of graduates from SDSU -- wouldn't EY's starting salaries be higher than that? If not, what do these SDSU MBAs do at EY for that salary? Mail clerking?
quote
Duncan

I looked on LinkedIn, and found 7,544 SDSU alumni with MBA degrees. Eight of them work at EY. That is not enough to increase the average salary by much.

Read: How to use LinkedIn to find the best school www.find-mba.com/board/33571

I looked on LinkedIn, and found 7,544 SDSU alumni with MBA degrees. Eight of them work at EY. That is not enough to increase the average salary by much.

Read: How to use LinkedIn to find the best school www.find-mba.com/board/33571
quote
Razors Edg...

Yes, I'm not sure that SDSU is considered a feeder school into EY. In any case I would assume that the school's Master of Science in Accountancy program funnels more students into the Big Four.

And even so, not all EY jobs pay excellently. If you wanted a high paying EY job you'd probably be better off looking at the MBA programs from NYU, Wharton, even Kellogg.

Yes, I'm not sure that SDSU is considered a feeder school into EY. In any case I would assume that the school's Master of Science in Accountancy program funnels more students into the Big Four.

And even so, not all EY jobs pay excellently. If you wanted a high paying EY job you'd probably be better off looking at the MBA programs from NYU, Wharton, even Kellogg.
quote

I don't necessarily want to work at EY but just find this whole thing interesting. The school's profile on BusinessWeek says that 5 grads out of 39 went to EY (not sure what year they base their data on), which I had assumed would make the average salary increase somewhat... But I suppose you're right, not all EY jobs pay $100k+.

I don't necessarily want to work at EY but just find this whole thing interesting. The school's profile on BusinessWeek says that 5 grads out of 39 went to EY (not sure what year they base their data on), which I had assumed would make the average salary increase somewhat... But I suppose you're right, not all EY jobs pay $100k+.
quote

Reply to Post

Related Business Schools

Rochester, New York 8 Followers 21 Discussions
San Diego, California 41 Followers 29 Discussions
Fullerton, California 15 Followers 24 Discussions
Ames, Iowa 2 Followers 13 Discussions
Waltham, Massachusetts 7 Followers 17 Discussions
Waco, Texas 7 Followers 10 Discussions

Other Related Content

Tracking Down the Funds: How to Pay for Your MBA

Article Oct 18, 2013

An MBA is expensive. Here are some tips for getting the money together to do one.