College of Business, Pittsburg State University in Pittsburg, KS - Pittsburg State University in Pittsburg, KS

Academics

The College of Business offers the Master of Business Administration (MBA). Other programs include internships. The strongest areas of study are accounting, marketing, and organizational behavior.

Thirty-four total credits are required to complete the MBA, including 12 elective credits. Required courses include:

Organizational Theory and Behavior
Managerial Finance
Basic Marketing
Legal and Social Environment of Business
Economic Analysis
Statistical Methods for Management
Financial and Managerial Accounting
Management Information Systems
Production Management
Management Control Systems
Quantitative Business Analysis
Business, Government, and Society
International Trade
Financial Strategy
Marketing Strategy
Management Strategy and Administration
MBA Experience

Students may eliminate or substitute requirements for foundation courses only.

Business students may take relevant nonbusiness courses in other departments. The minimum time permitted to complete the master’s degree program attending full or part time varies; maximum, 6 years.

There are 27 total full-time graduate business faculty, of whom 93% hold a doctorate. Faculty salaries are rated average for Category IIA institutions, based on the AAUP rating system. Average number of credit hours faculty teach is 18; average business class size is 22.

Admissions

A bachelor’s degree is required, along with a GPA of 2.5 and a GMAT score of 400. The formula for using the GPA and GMAT scores is (200 x GPA) + GMAT, or minimum 1050. Most important admissions factors are GMAT results, grades in upper-level courses, and academic accomplishments and ability. A strong mathematics background is required.

Transfers are accepted. Minority students are actively recruited.

Students may begin the MBA program in the fall, spring, and summer. To apply, students must submit an application form, a transcript, GMAT scores, and a nonrefundable application fee of $35. The application deadline is rolling for fall entry. Students are notified of the admission within 3 weeks of the application’s arrival.

Financial Aid

In a recent year, about 36% of graduate business school students received financial aid from scholarships, loans, and graduate assistantships, for a total average of $6891 annually; maximum $13,680. The FAFSA and the school’s own financial statement are required. Check with the school for current application deadlines.

Tuition for in-state residents is $4288 per year. Nonresidents pay $10,546 per year. On-campus room and board costs approximately $5867. Graduate student housing is available both on and off campus. There is a referral service to help procure off-campus housing.

Students

Seventy-three percent a recent current graduate business school class were enrolled full time; 35% had an average of 4 years of full-time work experience prior to entering graduate school. The greatest percentage of students were from the Midwest (49%). Thirty-eight percent were women, 12% were minorities, and 44% were foreign nationals. The average age at entrance was 27; ages ranged from 22 to 47. Thirty-seven percent entered directly from undergraduate school; 5% already have a graduate degree. Students’ undergraduate majors were as follows: 70%, business; 8%, engineering; 8%, math and science; 5%, social sciences; 4%, liberal arts; 3%, economics; and 2%, education. About 8% of entering students leave by the end of the first year due to academic or personal reasons; 74% remain to receive their degree.