Best Michigan MBA Schools and Programs

Once you’ve decided on an MBA concentration, you’ll be ready to enroll. The process can be overwhelming, so make a plan before you start. Set up a dedicated file or folder on your computer and make a checklist of items you need to know or have before you’re ready to enroll.

A full-time MBA program will typically take one or two years, and a part-time program can take between four and six years. This means you’re about to dedicate a large amount of time to your classes, so it makes sense to cover all the bases before you begin.

Although you may have decided to utilize the convenience of an online MBA program it’s still a good idea to choose a school within driving distance if at all possible. Having a school you can visit will give you access to the library, seminars, and other events and will also give you access to businesses that have partnerships with that specific school.

If you’ve decided on a concentration, you can use that to narrow your choices. Check the school site to figure out what specific courses required for your degree and make sure they meet your future plans.

Once you’ve narrowed your list of choices you can look at their track records. Check the graduation rates against the enrollment rates to make sure there’s a low percentage of dropouts from the program. If a lot of students enroll but don’t complete their MBA it may be a red flag that there isn’t enough student support to enable successful graduation.

Look for post-graduate employment data for the program you’re interested in. Make sure it meets your plans and expectations and look for specific companies that hire a high percentage of grads.

Attending college incurs more costs above the basic tuition, so make sure you have a close estimate of total costs. For example, Central Michigan University charges $596 per credit hour but there are other fees involved: service fees, book costs, lab fees, and similar charges. If you decide to live on campus it will cost an additional $5,038 per semester (2018 costs; lowest in state). If you’re living elsewhere, you’ll need to add travel costs and possibly other expenses such as meals and childcare, so look hard at your personal situation and try to cover all the angles.

If you’re attending online you won’t have to worry about travel expenses but you’ll still need to purchase books and other study materials. If you have young children you may also have to utilize a daycare in order to get the needed time to do homework and study.

Before you enroll you should look at the specific classes required for your MBA to make sure the courses are at a convenient time and day, such as evening or weekend courses. Make sure they coordinate with your work schedule, and if they don’t check with your employer before you remove the school from your list of choices. Often employers are willing to offer a flexible work schedule for students, so you may have options to consider.

Check the scheduling of future classes and ask the school if this schedule typically remains the same or if it changes on a regular basis. That way you can make tentative plans for the next few semesters of your future.

If you plan to attend online make sure you have the time to meet the course requirements, due dates, and times. If you’re working full-time this may be a problem, so again check with your employer before you enroll.

Check with your employer and ask if they have a tuition reimbursement program or similar incentives for employee students. Often companies will pay for an employee to return to school under an agreement to work a specific number of years after graduation.

Check your schools of choice for business partnerships. For example, Central Michigan has a program called the CMU strategic business partnership which allows the school to work closely with companies for employee retention, recruitment, and development. Current strategic partners include the federal and state governments, Quicken Loans, and the Michigan Municipal League. A similar partnership may be the key to both your education and your future employment success. Most colleges have these types of business partnerships and you may be able to both pay for your education and guarantee your future at the same time.

In the Detroit Metro area most colleges have agreements with the automotive industry, so if your long-term plans include working for GM or Ford make sure you look at what agreements are in place before you choose a school.