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By University HQ Staff Writers
Edited by Evelyn Keener
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What Can You Do With an MBA in Utah

An MBA offers diverse opportunities depending on your concentration and industry. In Utah, where worker shortages persist, an MBA can help drive economic growth by fostering new businesses and creating well-paying jobs. Graduates may also contribute to state government initiatives, attracting companies and developing strategies to boost economic activity. For example, leveraging tax revenue for job creation and educational investments can yield long-term benefits, including more MBA-trained professionals. The intellectual capital gained from an MBA plays a vital role in strengthening Utah's economy.

An MBA is about more than helping degree holders earn more and secure swell corner offices. While that is important, the training provided by an MBA program can yield long-term benefits for communities and entire states. After all, MBAs hold positions in many parts of the economy including state and local government, the educational system, and more. Wherever there are groups of people seeking to accomplish a goal, an MBA graduate can facilitate that project. An MBA from the Beehive State can offer learning that puts students on the right track for a successful career in the business discipline of their choosing. Here’s how you may be able to benefit from gaining admission to an online MBA in Utah.

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Top 5 Best MBA Programs in Utah

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1

Brigham Young University

Score: 90.95

  • Undergraduate Tuition
    • In-State: $6,496
    • Out-of-State:$6,496
  • Net Price: $13,521
  • Acceptance Rate: 67%
  • Retention Rate: 90%
  • Graduation Rate: 79%
  • Total Enrollment: 34,464
  • Undergrad Students: 31,411
  • Graduate Students: 3,053
  • Grads Salary: $83,000
  • Student-to-faculty: 21:1
  • Brigham Young University
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2

University of Utah

Score: 82.69

  • Undergraduate Tuition
    • In-State: $9,315
    • Out-of-State:$29,837
  • Net Price: $12,399
  • Acceptance Rate: 89%
  • Retention Rate: 85%
  • Graduation Rate: 65%
  • Total Enrollment: 34,734
  • Undergrad Students: 26,355
  • Graduate Students: 8,379
  • Grads Salary: $80,000
  • Student-to-faculty: 18:1
  • University of Utah
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3

Westminster University

Score: 78.45

  • Undergraduate Tuition
    • In-State: $41,416
    • Out-of-State:$41,416
  • Net Price: $27,068
  • Acceptance Rate: 70%
  • Retention Rate: 75%
  • Graduation Rate: 65%
  • Total Enrollment: 1,280
  • Undergrad Students: 961
  • Graduate Students: 319
  • Grads Salary: $91,000
  • Student-to-faculty: 8:1
  • Westminster University
4

Southern Utah University

Score: 73.58

  • Undergraduate Tuition
    • In-State: $6,770
    • Out-of-State:$20,586
  • Net Price: $12,681
  • Acceptance Rate: 84%
  • Retention Rate: 71%
  • Graduation Rate: 58%
  • Total Enrollment: 14,330
  • Undergrad Students: 12,649
  • Graduate Students: 1,681
  • Grads Salary: $68,000
  • Student-to-faculty: 22:1
  • Southern Utah University
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5

Utah State University

Score: 73.5

  • Undergraduate Tuition
    • In-State: $9,228
    • Out-of-State:$24,802
  • Net Price: $14,577
  • Acceptance Rate: 94%
  • Retention Rate: 74%
  • Graduation Rate: 54%
  • Total Enrollment: 27,943
  • Undergrad Students: 24,835
  • Graduate Students: 3,108
  • Grads Salary: $76,000
  • Student-to-faculty: 19:1
  • Utah State University
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Why Consider an Online MBA?

As Utah's population continues to grow, the state's academic institutions are rising to meet the demand. From undergraduate programs to part-time and full-time MBA offerings, Utah’s schools provide professionals with opportunities to enhance their skills and advance in their careers. These programs prepare individuals to excel in corporate roles, lead their departments, and drive success within their organizations.

Local students can enjoy reduced tuition costs at some of the state’s most prestigious schools, including some that offer the ability to earn your MBA online. Utah’s low cost of living makes it an attractive option for graduate students looking to build a home in a state with ample opportunities, that won’t drain their bank accounts.

Online students who are ready to search for an MBA program in Utah will have several choices, many offered with their own uniquely attractive features. The University of Utah offers an online program that’s considered to be among the top choices in the nation for MBA students. Western Governors University may be a good option for students looking to support a quick career change, offering a six-month MBA program with no GMAT scores required.

No matter your future business career goals, earning an online MBA in Utah may be a great place to start, no matter where you live in the country.


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Percentage of Students Enrolled By Distance Education

Typical MBA Concentrations

An MBA concentration allows a student to center their main class content on a specific subject or discipline they will learn everything about over the course of earning their degree. These can include universally applicable professional options like marketing, finance, human resources, strategy, business analytics, or information technology, as well as industry-specific studies like healthcare administration or agribusiness. Considering how beneficial it can be to add a specialization designed to help you master a specific field in the business world, you won’t want to skip over these great options in addition to a general MBA.

Below are two examples of programs that could be particularly beneficial in Utah’s current corporate climate.

  • Supply Chain Management
    An advanced understanding of how supply chains function can help Utah MBA alumni find a job in many of the state’s top industries. It covers topics like sourcing, procurement, and fulfillment. It also gives students a full grasp of the logistics involved in running a successful business based on the purchase, sale, and distribution of material goods.
  • Entrepreneurship

    This concentration gives students the information they need to start their own business in today’s fickle economy. An online MBA in entrepreneurship teaches students how to think outside the box and utilize previously untapped resources to reach business success, as well as how to turn your passion into ideas and action.

    Choosing a concentration in your online MBA program can give you the boost you need to succeed in your future business career.

Accreditation

Students are strongly advised to only consider schools that have earned accreditation from a national or a regional accrediting agency. National accreditation may sound more prestigious, but either one can be useful depending on your end goal. Nationally accredited schools are often for-profit, vocational, and technical schools and these credentials may be what you want if you’re planning to take you degree outside of the Utah region. Regional accreditation is granted to the schools that meet the highest academic standards and means that those programs are well thought of in the state of Utah and the region. Either way, it means that they faculty and curriculum will be top notch.

In Utah, regionally accredited schools will have been given the seal of approval by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU), which oversees universities in the northwest region of the United States. Online programs may receive additional national accreditation from the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB), the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP), or the International Assembly for Collegiate Business Education (IACBE).

Accreditation is what allows students to easily transfer credit hours and gain access to federal student funding and other, organizational financial aid each year they attend, either on site or online. It also lets future employers know that your degree is the real deal and your education is the best it can be.

Career and Job Outlook for MBA Graduates

Utah’s economic future looks bright. The state is enjoying levels of unemployment significantly lower than those nationally and the economy is among the top five in the U.S.

Metropolitan regions like Salt Lake City, West Valley City, and Provo-Orem contain a large concentration of business in industries like aerospace, manufacturing, healthcare, and information technology. Overall, Utah is projected to experience 2.5% job growth over the next several years.

Top Employers in the State by Number of Employees

Company Industry Headquarters City Number of Employees
Intermountain Healthcare Healthcare Salt Lake City 60,000+
State of Utah Government Salt Lake City 21,000+
University of Utah Education Salt Lake City 20,000+

An online MBA can open the door to a ton of new opportunities, including positions at these prominent Utah organizations.

Careers and Salaries for MBA Graduates in Utah

After earning an online MBA in Utah, students can go on to enjoy lucrative careers that command high salaries. The average Utah resident’s annual salary is about $45,000, but for individuals who hold an MBA, that number skyrockets to more than $91,000.

Please refer to the chart below for more information on earning potential with an MBA in Utah.

Average Degree Salary Ranges Potential

  • Earnings with Associate - $50,498
  • Earnings with Bachelors - $60,230
  • Earnings with MBA - $91,204

Careers for Graduates

  • Health Services Manager
    As a health services manager, MBA graduates will oversee the daily operations of running a healthcare organization (or a department within a larger facility). This usually includes handling issues pertaining to policy, administration, staffing, training, and overall patient satisfaction. They also look for ways to streamline billing and patient care issues, and work with their team to find solutions.
  • Information Systems Manager
    IT systems managers are responsible for coordinating, implementing, and maintaining a functioning computer network within their organization. They can work to identify IT related goals for the company going forward and advise management on how to best reach them.
  • Management Analyst
    Management analysts study company data and identify ways to maximize efficiency within the flow of operations. They may work on a consulting basis or may be hired on staff to keep tabs on the operational and financial sustainability of the company that employs them.
  • Finance Manager
    The role of a finance manager is to make sure their company stays on track to meet fiscal goals. They find ways to improve or sustain the overall health of their organization and may create financial reports to share with C-suite executives and shareholders.
  • Purchasing Manager
    A purchasing manager’s job is to keep tabs on all things inventory related within their company. They plan, coordinate, and execute their place in the supply chain, and oversee purchasing staff working beneath them.

How to Choose a Program

Choosing an online MBA program isn’t a decision to be made lightly. There are several factors that prospective students should take into consideration when selecting the online MBA program that’s right for them.

  • Think About Location
    Even though online schools are associated with remote classwork, that’s not the case 100% of the time. Some universities require students to show up on campus from time to time, and distance can be prohibitive if you live far from your school. Colleges close to home may also have an upper hand when the time comes to place you in a position or internship, depending on what kind of business partnerships they’ve established. Additionally, even if events on campus are social rather than a requirement, it may help you netowrk if you slot some of these into your calendar and meet your fellow students.

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  • Ensure Classes Will Work for Your Schedule
    Some courses give students the ability to complete their work as their own schedules allow, at their own pace. However, other programs may require students to attend remote classes at a certain time, logging on at the same time as their classmates. If this class structure poses a problem for you, you’ll need to know about it before you commit to your program.
  • Compare Student Outcome Data
    Prospective students can get a sense of the strengths and weaknesses of each program by taking a look at data like retention rate, graduation rate, average student debt, and how long it takes to find a job after graduation. Though this won’t give you a comprehensive picture of each program, it can give you a sense of what your future may hold if you choose that school.
  • Talk to Students and Alumni
    To get a feel for what the program is really like for students, there’s no better population to contact than students who have been through the program themselves. Many school websites provide prospective students with the ability to contact a recent graduate or current student. Take advantage of this, and don’t be afraid to ask lots of questions.
  • Consider the Costs
    Tuition isn’t everything when you’re planning for program costs. Scholarships may be enough to offset additional expenses like technology costs, administrative fees, admissions fees, and the like, but you won’t know to apply for them unless you do your research ahead of time.

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