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What Can You Do With an MBA in Idaho
In Idaho, master's of business administration (MBA) programs are available at several state universities. Idaho's universities recognize that the MBA program is one of the best-recognized advanced academic degrees among students. Within each university, colleges of business are the home for these programs. Idaho State University was the first school in the state that featured an MBA program on campus.
Colleges and schools of business are aware of the differing needs of people who search for an apply to these programs; some schools have an executive MBA (EMBA) program while others have designed a system to help their students relocate to a sister site in another state, should they wish to do so.
Still other programs have developed programs that cater to undergraduate students who want to earn MBAs and those who are already current business professionals, desiring the opportunity to advance their careers.
Featured Online Programs
Best MBA Programs in Idaho
Boise State University
Score: 87.9
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $8,782
- Out-of-State:$26,976
- Net Price: $17,724
- Acceptance Rate: 84%
- Retention Rate: 79%
- Graduation Rate: 60%
- Total Enrollment: 26,115
- Undergrad Students: 22,922
- Graduate Students: 3,193
- Grads Salary: $71,000
- Student-to-faculty: 20:1
Idaho State University
Score: 84.4
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $8,356
- Out-of-State:$27,466
- Net Price: $12,425
- Acceptance Rate: 100%
- Retention Rate: 71%
- Graduation Rate: 37%
- Total Enrollment: 12,301
- Undergrad Students: 10,017
- Graduate Students: 2,284
- Grads Salary: $73,000
- Student-to-faculty: 13:1
Northwest Nazarene University
Score: 78.74
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $39,370
- Out-of-State:$39,370
- Net Price: $25,674
- Acceptance Rate: 88%
- Retention Rate: 72%
- Graduation Rate: 58%
- Total Enrollment: 1,778
- Undergrad Students: 1,140
- Graduate Students: 638
- Grads Salary: $67,000
- Student-to-faculty: 13:1
Why Consider an Online MBA?
Students have various reasons for choosing a program in Idaho. Aside from living in the state, you may select a program here because it caters to your particular career goals, which may include law or legal studies, human resources, operations management, strategic management, or policy management, among others.
You may be drawn into a program because you want real-world scenarios that help to underscore the material you learn from your text books or the faculty may be published in business publications. As you learn and grow in your chosen career, you’ll soon be able to join the organization of your choice as a mid-level or manager or better.
If variety attracts you or you are interested in earning a dual MBA, look for a program that offers MBA's in a variety of professions, from taxation to pharmaceuticals and healthcare administration.
There can be a high cost associated with earning your MBA within two or fewer years. You'll want to keep your eyes open for ways of paying for your program, such as a graduate assistantship. With this, your tuition may be paid, plus you’ll earn badly needed money.
Percentage of Students Enrolled By Distance Education
These percentages are a representation of all Idaho students enrolled in university programs in the state.
MBA Concentrations for Idaho Students
MBA students in Idaho don’t have to worry about a lack of options in concentration. Depending on what most holds your interest in terms of your MBA's focus, you should be able to find one at your college of choice. From accountancy and finance to health administration, or informatics, you’ll be able to find the MBA program with content that’s geared to your career choice.
- Master of Taxation
This program is where you’ll become familiar with both technical and analytical skills you’ll need when you move into a taxation position. Your learning will surpass that of an undergraduate degree. If you choose to enter a public accounting position working with taxes, you’ll have a strong background for this position, as well as the ability to earn your CPA credential. If you are interested in working for the government, your MBA will make you even more attractive. - Master of Business Administration in Accounting
Here, you’ll earn a Master of Accountancy (MAcct). You’ll learn management concepts in each course that will enable you to accept more and more managerial responsibility. Once you graduate, you’ll be meet all requirements to be offered a position in taxation, accounting or any other position that requires a CPA license in the U.S. - Master of Accountancy
This is primarily intended to give you a strong grounding in public accounting working as a CPA. In your classes, you’ll focus on both the attest and audit functions of public accountancy. Today’s complex business world demands that businesses have experts in accounting principles and procedures. You’ll also need to easily understand all the consequences of business transactions—managerial, legal, tax and financial. This program provides MBA candidates the required preparation for a role in decision-making within the business sphere. - Master of Business Administration in Project Management (PMBA)
The professional MBA (PMBA) program is where you’ll learn the main concepts and skills to convert ideas into activities such as teamwork, project management, general business management, and commercializing intellectual property. You’ll be able to create opportunities within your career with flexible class schedules. This program is an ideal fit for early- to mid-career professionals who are looking for a high-level educational program. If you need to continue working as you earn your MBA, you’ll be able to do so. - Executive Master of Business Administration
This program is offered face-to-face or online, full- or part-time at most institutions. You’ll be able to enroll for the program that best fits your schedule and needs. This program was created for real working professionals. It’s a generalist program, with special emphasis given to targeted economic sectors. Your professional experience and your work/home schedule are both taken into account as you create your schedule of classes so you won't have to skip class for a meeting. If you take two classes for eight weeks each, you can finish your MBA program in less than 18 months.
Accreditation in Idaho
Idaho State University’s MBA program is accredited by the AACSB. It's one of only 175 universities to hold both business and accounting accreditation. This distinction places their college of business in the top 2% of business schools worldwide.
Boise State University’s College of Business and Economics was granted the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) accreditation for both its accountancy program and business school. This school has maintained its accreditation continuously since 1979.
The University of Idaho has been accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU). Its Executive MBA (EMBA) program is also accredited by the AACSB.
Northwest Nazarene University’s international MBA program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP).
Career and Job Outlook for MBA Graduates
According to a report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Idaho MBA graduates in management occupations have seen their employment prospects rise. Total employment for management occupations in Idaho recently was at 41,600+.
The average hourly wage for managers was $36.49 and the annual average wage was $88,050. All of this data was as of 2020. MBA graduates who choose to remain in, or relocate to, Idaho will also do as well as managers in other states.
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Top Employers in the State by Number of Employees
| Company | Industry | Headquarters City | Number of Employees |
|---|---|---|---|
| Idaho Government | Government | Idaho | 124,000+ |
| Micron Technology Inc | Technology | Boise | 8,000 |
| Mountain Home Air Force Base | Military | Mountain Home AFB | 5,000+ |
| Albertsons Companies | Retail | Boise | 273,000 |
| Boise State University | Education | Boise | 4,800+ |
Earning Potential With An MBA In Idaho
A graduate with an associate degree living and working in Idaho as a regional account manager can anticipate earning about $55,000 per year. These types of positions will generally be in sales; managers will be responsible for organization of communications (email and social media such as Facebook) and programs to solidify value propositions.
A manager with a Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) can expect to earn around $57,975 annually. They may work for companies such as Bank of America, J.P. Morgan Chase, The Boeing Company, or Ernst & Young. Their responsibilities will be more than for a manager with an associates degree.
A graduate with an MBA working as a business development manager in Boise can expect to earn almost $69,000 annually.
Average Degree Salary Ranges Potential
- Earnings with Associates - $55,000
- Earnings with Bachelors - $57,975
- Earnings with MBA - $69,000
Potential Careers for Idaho MBA Grads
- Brand Marketing Manager
Manager should have either an MBA or advanced degree in a related marketing field. Estimated annual salary is $92,000 to $120,000. - Production Supervisor
A supervisor should have an MBA. This executive will have the the latitude to make decisions; they will be walking into a leadership position on their first day. Salary ranges from $49,000 to $66,000 annually. - E-commerce Associate Product Manager
An associate product manager in e-commerce will work with clients and on the production side. Their expected annual salary is $97,000 to $140,000 per year. - Physician Recruiter
An MBA graduate working as a physician recruiter works to find and recruit physicians for the health system in Boise. Their estimated annual salary is $99,000 to $140,000. - An MBA Graduate
Working as a category manager for a produce company will earn you an estimated annual salary of $96,000 to $120,000 annually. - Lead Manager
A tech company will need to be able to effectively communicate knowledge of new products and services with clients, customers, and even sales staff. Their estimated annual salary is $76,000 to $100,000.
How to Choose & FAQ's
Before you enroll in an online MBA program, you have to know that it’s the right one for you. Can you afford the tuition? If you have already attended college elsewhere, you need to know if your credits will transfer. If you are, or were, in the military, you need to know whether the online program of your choice will be able to meet your unique needs.
Next, learn whether the online MBA programs you’re considering will meet your needs, experiences and interests.
Ask each college you’re interested in if it has a live, online area where you can discuss your questions and get them answered.
- Start early! Graduate school admission timeframes are set in stone
Look at the timeframes for each graduate school you’re considering and write them down so you can refer to them more easily.
You’ll need to complete and send your admission paperwork months before your first class takes place. Once you’ve done this, you’ll still have more paperwork to do—thus, more dates to keep track of. Create the first drafts of your statements and essays. Get them well-edited.
Visit schools’ MBA programs and talk to the advisors. You want to make sure that the school and its faculty will be a good match for you and your professional goals. Create a new list of the schools that you’re considering more seriously.
Create a spreadsheet with each task you need to finish. As you complete them, check them off or cross them off completely. Look back on the tasks you wrote down so you can see what progress you’re making.
- You’ll start working on personal documents
Again, have them edited so they are error-free. Expect to have personal documents and essays edited at least two times, if not more. Now that you’ve narrowed your school choice down, you won’t have to worry about sending out as many personal statements, essays or documents as you did earlier in the process.
This means that, now, you’ll have more time to work on revisions of your essays and personal documents. As you do so, shoot for having final versions submitted before Thanksgiving. It’s better to get your documentation in early than right on time. Your statements and essays will be among the first to be read and considered. This gives you a better chance to be seriously considered and it leaves you more time to get more work, such as your financial aid, started.
- Don’t forget about taking your GMAT and GRE
Hopefully, you’ve been studying and taking practice tests, then studying the areas where you’re weak in knowledge. As you figure out what you need to study more, try to keep track of what your practice test scores are, so you can see if you’re making improvement on those areas.
It’s always a good idea to reach out and ask someone whose business acumen you trust, if they would help review troublesome areas with you. As you work together, you may be able to learn the points you’ve been missing in your study and practice tests.
Once you do take your tests, don’t forget that you can re-take them if you didn’t score as high as you had hoped. Remember, the higher your score, the more seriously your application will be considered. Just make sure that, when you take your tests, you leave enough time for your results to be sent to the schools you have selected again. You want each school you’re trying to enter to consider the whole picture, including your business knowledge.
- If you are working and you plan to continue
doing so after you begin grad school, you want a program that allows you to work. This might mean applying to an accredited online program. Or you may choose to enter a hybrid program, where you’ll do some of your coursework online and the rest face-to-face.
Most MBA programs, online as well as residence, will require that you finish your courses within 18 to 24 months before you graduate. You’ll be busy with studying, reading, writing papers and getting ready for tests and your capstone project. If you have a family, make sure you’ll be able to take part in family life and family events as well. Conversely, make sure that your family life will leave you sufficient time to study so you will earn the grades that allow you to graduate.
- As you get closer and closer to graduation
make sure you begin applying for those managerial jobs you’ve been eying. Even with an MBA after your name, your management role will be considered “entry-level.”
Get ready for interviews with the same attention to detail that you gave to studying, papers and tests. Learn everything you can about every company and organization you’re interested in—whether you’re called for an interview or not. If you do get in the door for an interview, your knowledge of the company will show you in a good light—you’ve studied the company culture, its services and/or products and its managerial structure.
After your interview, have a small supply of thank-you cards and stamps handy so you can send personally written thank-you notes to each manager with whom you interviewed. Again, you’ll rise above other applicants who didn’t send such notes.
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