Finding the Best One Year MBAs in Philadelphia
Most applicants pursuing a one-year MBA generally know which industry or area of concentration they want to pursue. They are MBA candidates who want to advance their current careers, not switch them. Others chose the one year route because it can be difficult to leave two years of work and salary. If you’re a prospective MBA in the Philadelphia metro looking to make moves within your industry, we’ve outlined some of the best one year MBA options available.
The Best Philadelphia One Year MBA Offerings
The Philadelphia metro is home to some of the country’s premier business schools, like the Wharton School and the Villanova School of Business. However, those schools do not offer one year MBA programs. Schools in the Philly that offer accelerated MBA programs are:
- Haub School of Business – Saint Joseph’s University
- La Salle University
- Lehigh University College of Business and Economics
- Rohrer College of Business – Rowan University
- West Chester University
Let’s take a closer look at these school’s one year MBA offerings.
Haub School of Business – Saint Joseph’s University
Haub’s One Year Executive MBA is designed for professionals with an undergraduate degree in business and at least five years of professional work experience. The intensive program takes place in a cohort setting, and requires students to take 19 courses over three semesters. Classes meet for one full day each week on alternating Fridays and Saturdays. Seven courses are taken in the summer semester, five courses in the fall, and seven courses in the spring, with each semester totaling 10 credits. All courses are required.
According to recent figures, the program costs $69,300, which includes tuition, a laptop, textbooks, instructional materials, the international study tour costs, parking permits, a student ID, library and computer lab fees, breakfast and lunch on class days and Executive Coaching. Students whose tuition is being covered by their employers can pay their tuition at the end of each semester for an additional fee of $35.
La Salle University
La Salle’s One-Year program runs for 12 months on the Philadelphia campus, from fall through the end of the summer semester. The program offers students a choice of three set course sequences: Investment Analysis, the CFA Track and the Managerial Finance Track, and an Accounting Track. Summer pre-program, prerequisite courses and skill refresher workshops are also offered, including a 13-credit hour pre-MBA program for incoming students without an undergraduate business degree that runs for six weeks starting in early July.
Tuition is $39,900 for a full year (not including students that need to take additional pre-MBA courses) and includes all fees. In addition, full-time students at the La Salle School of Business must pay a general university fee of $135 and a technology fee of $100. Books and supplies, room and board, travel, and personal expenses are not calculated in the cost of attendance.
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Lehigh University College of Business and Economics
The Lehigh University College of Business and Economics One Year MBA program is a full-time cohort program designed for professionals. This on-campus program features a rigorous curriculum that emphasizes functional areas of business as well as more theoretical understanding of the modern business world. Most classes are offered during daytime hours, though some electives are offered in evenings. Required corporate visits may span day and evening.
Prior to arriving on campus, each student in this program is assigned a coaching team consisting of a One Year MBA program faculty member, a Lehigh alumnus, and a dedicated career services staff member. These team members serve as mentors to the students, assisting in finding internships and full-time jobs.
Tuition costs for the program are $64,750. International students must submit a copy of a financial guarantee demonstrating the ability to pay $81,025, which includes health insurance and living expenses in addition to tuition.
Editor’s Note: As part of the Lehigh 1-MBA program enhancements, the internship component was replaced with a Consulting Practicum. Click here to learn more about the 1-MBA
Rohrer College of Business – Rowan University
The Rohrer Accelerated full-time MBA is a 12 month, three semester program with summer classes. Rowan requires all MBA students to fulfill 36 semester credits, with 27 hours devoted to required courses and nine hours to business electives. Students may also choose a specialization by enrolling in three courses in one of the following six areas: Marketing; Management; Finance; Management Information Systems; Accounting; or Supply Chain and Logistical Systems. Students enrolled in the Rowan University full-time MBA program pay $891.65 per semester hour, with three semester hours per course.
West Chester University
All West Chester University MBA courses, whether in person or online, span one full term, with the full-time Accelerated MBA program consisting of five 7-week terms. Students can complete the program in as little as nine months if they so choose. Core courses in the program include: Strategic Cost Management; Financial Analysis and Valuation; Global Operations and Supply Chain Management; Components of Effective Leadership; Business, Society & Environment; Innovation and Marketing Strategy; and Strategic Management and Planning. Following the core courses, students have a choice of electives but have the option to complete a Project Management, Business Analytics, or Entrepreneurship Certification.
WCU provides among the lowest in-state tuition rates for an MBA program in the Philadelphia metro. For the 2017-18 academic year, Pennsylvania residents enrolled in the West Chester University MBA program pay $2,043 including fees per three-credit course.
About the Author
Max Pulcini
Max Pulcini is a Philadelphia-based writer and reporter. He has an affinity for Philly sports teams, Super Smash Bros. and cured meats and cheeses. Max has written for Philadelphia-based publications such as Spirit News, Philadelphia City Paper, and Billy Penn, as well as national news outlets like The Daily Beast.
