UNLOCK THE POSSIBILITIES:
YOUR GUIDE TO EARNING AN MBA DEGREE
Many businesses are struggling to employ dynamic, driven and compassionate leaders who can thrive in a competitive, global market. They’re looking for individuals who have a strong foundation in business and management — that is, leaders who’ve earned a Master of Business Administration (MBA).
.png "hero_featured_graphic (1)")
HOW TO USE THIS RESOURCE
Review this resource from top to bottom, or drop down to the section that appeals to you most:
In addition to teaching the “nuts and bolts” of business management, an MBA is the kind of graduate degree that is highly customizable — making it a valuable choice for future leaders looking to make a difference in the business landscape.
Where Can an MBA Take You?
Below are just a few of the many jobs for MBA graduates available. The skills you learn in your MBA program will set you up for success in nearly every industry and career.
Finance
Become a financial analyst who analyzes data and provides recommendations to clients. Or, pursue a career as an investment banker and help corporations to raise capital.
Technology
Become an IT project manager who plans and executes technology projects. Or, pursue a career as an IT operations manager and oversee the daily operations of tech systems and infrastructure.
Marketing
Become a brand manager who develops consistent strategies, across marketing channels. Or, pursue a career as a digital marketing manager and create social media, pay-per-click and email marketing campaigns.
Healthcare
Become a clinical manager who oversees a team of healthcare professionals and maintains quality patient care. Or, pursue a career as a pharmaceutical product manager and use consumer research and trends to develop marketing plans.
Sales
Become a sales operations manager who develops new processes and strategies to improve effectiveness. Or, pursue a career as a sales manager and implement effective lead generation and conversion.
Human Resources
Become a talent acquisition manager who develops new recruitment strategies and innovative hiring practices. Or, pursue a career as a training and development manager and create programs that enhance employee skills and engagement.
Pursuing an MBA will require your time and energy, but the benefits are worth the investment.
For example, according to the Graduate Management Admission Council's 2024 Corporate Recruiters Survey, the estimated median starting salary for graduates from MBA programs is $120,000, which has remained consistent with 2023 salaries.
Median Starting Salary for
MBA Grads
$120,000
The Benefits of an MBA
Mount Saint Mary’s University offers several skills and pathways to your career in business. Read through the sections below to discover how these skills can help you reach your career goals and make a real, tangible difference.
An MBA program encompasses various areas of study, including (but not limited to) marketing, finance, information technology, management, leadership, accounting, human resources and analytics.
In addition to a robust foundation rooted in business administration, many MBA programs allow students to specialize in a specific area of business. That way, students can choose the area of emphasis that aligns with their specific interests and career goals.
An MBA will give you invaluable skills in:
Leadership
Organizational Management
Marketing
Strategy
Finance and Accounting
Entrepreneurship
International Business
Operations
When it comes to selecting an MBA program, it’s easy to get overwhelmed by the number of options out there. Below are some things to keep in mind as you search for your MBA program fit.
MBA Specializations
You want to select a program that will make you an expert in the area of business you’re passionate about. Whether you’re interested in organizational leadership, project management or want to become an entrepreneur, choose an MBA that will give you the opportunity to stretch your specialization muscles.
Faculty with Experience
The faculty teaching your MBA courses will be key to your success. Look for a program that’s home to faculty members with industry and on-the-ground experience. This will help you establish a network of industry professionals who can guide you as you earn your degree — and as you begin your new career.
A Robust Alumni Network
Pinpoint an MBA program (and a university) that fosters a strong alumni network. These connections will follow you after graduation and will help you make industry connections, learn about professional development opportunities and more.
The Right Format for You
Regardless of your personal and professional commitments, you’ll want to choose a program that suits your schedule. For example, many universities offer full-time, part-time, hybrid, online, and weekend formats for you to choose from.
The driving force behind our MBA program's success is accessibility. The weekend MBA program is structured and priced for busy, working professionals with family responsibilities and financial commitments that go beyond themselves – it affords hard-working students the opportunity to balance work, family and school, at a minimal financial cost.
Classes meet only six weekends per semester and contain both in-person and online components for added flexibility. Total tuition is less than $46,000 (2024-25), or $36,000, if exempt from foundation courses.
Applying to MSMU means choosing a transformative private school education that is global in scope, collaborative by design, and flexible in delivery, at a tuition price point you can afford.
Unlimited Possibilities.
Students with a business major can complete the program in only 3 semesters! Otherwise, the program can be completed in just 16 months (4 semesters). Regardless of your time-to-degree, upon entering our program, you will connect with experienced alumni and faculty who have a genuine passion for the work they do. You will also learn from dozens of industry experts through an active, hands-on approach and collaborate with classmates and colleagues — on campus, online and even abroad.
Mode of Study
Hybrid
Learning Format
Weekends
Timeframe
12-16 Months
Your MBA journey unfolds over three or four semesters, each building off the last. In just 12-16 months, you’ll gain valuable skills to advance your career while transforming into an industry genius. Find out where the journey starts, and where you’ll go.
Sky View
Students without an undergraduate degree in business begin their MBA journey with Sky View — a one-semester, executive-level overview of the five core business areas of management, marketing, accounting, finance and economics. In this semester, you will grow accustomed to our intense weekend-only format in a supportive and gradual way.
MBA Core A
In your second semester, you’ll learn how to analyze and interpret the outside conditions in which organizations operate. Along the way, you’ll take modules focused on change management, business strategy, economic decision-making and competitive analysis. We place special emphasis on learning how to interpret data to persuasively advocate for a particular point of view.
MBA Core B
In your third semester, you’ll learn how to analyze an organization’s inner workings and then use that knowledge to create long-term competitive advantage in the marketplace. Topics you'll explore include financial decision-making, brand positioning, strategic resource allocation, leadership theory, operational support and entrepreneurial pre-conditioning.
MBA Final
In your fourth and final semester, you’ll choose one of four concentrations as well as one of two culminating experiences:
Industry Consulting
Work on a real-life consulting project. Our family of consulting clients is incredibly diverse, representing dozens of industries, from Fortune 500 companies to scrappy nonprofits.
International Travel
Visit international markets and learn how business is done abroad. Our selected international destinations will rotate over time and provide an opportunity to see the world.
In your final semester, you’ll choose a concentration designed to give you an edge in business. You’ll actively develop highly valued skills that will take your career to the next level in one of the following four areas: Organizational Leadership, Project Management, Entrepreneurship or Finance and Accounting.
Organizational Leadership Concentration
The Organizational Leadership concentration focuses on building leadership skills relevant across all industries. The innovative curriculum pairs contemporary leadership theory with the best of today’s leadership practices.
Working closely with faculty, you’ll transform into a powerful leader who’s able to enhance the organizations and people with whom you'll interact throughout your entire career. Upon graduation, you'll be an expert in decision-making, problem-solving, creative thinking, strategy and various analytical tools and diagnostics.
With this concentration you will:
- Learn how to execute strategic initiatives. You'll learn to assess major issues affecting organizations and how to design an appropriate strategic response.
- Become a more powerful and effective leader. You'll master strategic decision-making, problem-solving, creative reasoning and the use of various analytical models.
- Develop skills to lead in both private and nonprofit sectors. Our Organizational Leadership graduates are prepared to lead others in government, healthcare, education and all other industries.
Project Management Concentration
The Project Management concentration provides a unique opportunity for anyone looking to obtain a professional certification in project management while also earning their MBA.
This concentration provides you with detailed instructions on how to manage various types of projects within diverse industries and various development lifecycles. Along the way, you’ll gain in-demand skills related to technical project management, strategic and business management and effective project leadership.
With this concentration you will:
- Be prepared to sit for the CAPM® and PMP® tests. The concentration provides you with the hours of project management education needed to sit for the certification exam. And our program has a 98 percent passing rate for MBA students who sit for the exams.
- Increase your earning potential. Project Management graduates have secured new positions and promotions in mid-level to senior-level management including project manager, program manager, director of a PMO and other senior PM-related positions.
Entrepreneurship Concentration
Our Entrepreneurship concentration guides you through the key phases of imagination, perception and innovation. Along the way, you’ll elevate your business ideas to create a well-defined and feasible business plan.
Our coursework utilizes frameworks of leadership and project management to help your entrepreneurial dreams mature, transform and grow. In class, we give special attention to sustainability and the need for socially responsible entrepreneurship in both complex corporate and start-up environments.
With this concentration you will:
- Bring your idea to life. Turn your idea into a viable business plan that considers financial feasibility, marketing strategy, risk management and implementation.
- Perfect your pitch. Learn how to sell yourself and your venture to potential investors by perfecting your elevator pitch and presentation skills.
- Manage and grow your new venture. Faculty prepare you for personal and financial success by teaching you how to make the right decisions to build a successful venture.
Finance and Accounting Concentration
Our new Accounting and Finance concentration provides a one-of-a-kind opportunity to take remote synchronous courses with our partner institution, Woodbury University, while maintaining MSMU student status and paying only MSMU MBA tuition rates.
Achieve greater access and equity in business. Research shows that Finance, Accounting, and Project Management are some of the most in demand, yet least inclusive, fields in business. By partnering with Woodbury, we provide greater access to high demand business fields, particularly for the unique populations we serve.
Contact the Office of Graduate Admission at 213.477.2800 or gradprograms@msmu.edu for inquiries and help with questions.
SPOTLIGHT ON:
MFA FILM AND MBA DUAL DEGREE
The MFA Film and MBA programs have come together to design and offer a dual degree program for students who wish to pursue both degrees concurrently. Pursuing both degrees broadens the skills set of our graduates and makes them more competitive in the job market. It also allows students to pursue two degrees at a discounted rate of time and tuition, compared to completing both degrees individually.
Students selecting to pursue the MFA in Producing for Film and Television and the MBA in Entertainment Management must complete a total of 75 units to receive both degrees, compared to 82 units if pursued individually.
Applicants who hold an undergraduate degree are welcome to apply to one of Mount Saint Mary’s University’s programs. The student's previous academic record must give evidence of the ability and the preparation necessary for successfully pursuing graduate study.
Admission will be based on an evaluation of the applicant's potential for success in both the program and the profession.
Note: The Mount does not require MBA applicants to take the GRE or GMAT exams.
How to Finance Your MBA Degree
Tuition at MSMU is $1,175 per unit (2024-25). The total estimated tuition cost for the entire program is $45,825, making it financially feasible for students with other financial obligations.To assist with your investment, we offer financing of up to $41,000 ($20,500 per school year) through the Federal Direct Loan Program.
In addition to federal aid, the Mount also offers various scholarships and tuition discounts to help make your education more affordable; and all our applicants are automatically considered for our institutional graduate scholarships.
Contact the Office of Graduate Admission at 213.477.2800 or gradprograms@msmu.edu to explore these opportunities.
Find Your Place at the Mount
.png "MSMU MBA eBook Stock Images (1)")
Upon entering our MBA program, you’ll connect with experienced alums and faculty who have a genuine passion for students. In a big city like Los Angeles, it’s hard to find relationships as real as the ones you’ll find at the Mount.
Our MBA alums are extremely active, coming back regularly to engage our students and to offer networking and mentorship support. This deep connection between alumni and students is a hallmark of our MBA community and one that offers tremendous value.