MBA FAQs

Although there’s never a guarantee that your salary will increase after completing an MBA, it’s highly likely that it will. A recent survey of Online MBA graduates reported an average salary of $127,395 – which is approximately a 23 percent increase prior to earning their MBA. According to the Graduate Management Admissions Council’s (GMAC) 2020 Corporate Recruiters Survey, the median starting base salary for recent MBA graduates in the United States was $100,000.

An MBA is a natural complement at any point of your career after just a few years of experience. The cohorts in each of our programs include young professionals, experienced executives, those looking to develop new skills and still others looking to change careers.

You should consider an MBA when you feel ready for one. It’s not uncommon for students to enter one of our programs once they feel they’ve reached a career plateau or if they’re ready to make a career shift. Others are motivated by the opportunities for promotion and possible salary increases an MBA may provide.

Colorado State’s College of Business has a variety of MBA programs offering flexible formats, tracks and specializations. All of our MBAs offer foundational business skills and ways to build on your interests through electives. Whether you’re looking for an on-campus experience or want to complete your MBA degree online, our programs are suited for those with just a few years of experience to those in senior leadership positions. CSU has an MBA program for almost any goal and lifestyle.

• Online MBA
• Online MBA - Marketing Data Analytics
• Online MBA - Mosaic
• Evening MBA - On Campus
• Impact MBA

The College of Business has been a leader in remote and online learning for decades. Our Online MBA program presents the same academic rigor and challenge as our in-person programs. The curricula for the Online MBA and the on-campus MBA are identical. The Online MBA is a great option for those who want added flexibility in their graduate studies. The Online MBA program is more than worth it depending on your goals and ambitions.

Our MBA curriculum is the same, whether it's delivered on campus or online.  Whether you completed your degree online or on campus, your actual diploma and transcripts will read the same: Master of Business Administration. An MBA from the CSU College of Business is respected across the industry, whether you completed your program online or in person.

Part-time MBA programs offer students more flexibility when pursuing their degree. Both the Online MBA and the Online MBA – Marketing Data Analytics programs can be completed as part-time programs. Students can finish their degree in as little as 21 months or up to five years. These part-time programs are ideal for students who want to work and study at the same time, have other focuses or just want to enjoy the flexibility a part-time MBA program has to offer.

Colorado State University’s College of Business believes our graduates can help solve the most complex human challenges. That means you’ll be working alongside professors, students, staff, and alumni who want to use business for a better world.

Our world-class faculty and staff serve as your champions, your advocates and your mentors. They support your pursuit of graduate business education and help you connect academic methods and theories to real-world situations in industry. Faculty research helps lead innovative discovery and scholarship to address local and global challenges. This helps you get the most of your education and prepares you to advance both personally and professionally.

Our award-winning Career Management Center connects our business community with students before and after graduation to create relevant and innovative opportunities for our students before and after graduation. Through career electives, counseling, and job search support, staff help students take their careers to the next level and empower graduates to better support themselves, their families, their organizations, and their communities.

As a student or graduate of the largest and most highly ranked MBA program in Colorado, you’ll be in good company with thousands of others who are a part of the CSU Ram network.

In our ever-changing world, business skills are useful in nearly every context. From problem-solving to leadership, negotiation to management, the skills learned in an MBA program can be used in any number of careers and roles. CSU’s College of Business MBA programs are focused on advancing your skills, developing your network and helping you excel in business. Thanks to the broad nature of business administration, you can tailor your MBA program to meet your interests and needs. 

But more than just new skills, an MBA can offer improved job security, better marketability, more confidence in a leadership role and even salary increases. What you can do with an MBA is only limited by your interests and ambitions.

MBA classes at the College of Business are broken into sections of 40 students. Each section of the class has a dedicated Instructional Coordinator.

Instructional Coordinators are here to offer student support by reinforcing course content, providing real-world experience, monitoring and guiding discussions to facilitate learning, coaching, and providing fast and personal service. Instructional Coordinators are the liaison between the professor and online students, and help with grading, providing feedback, and more. These individuals are industry professionals, with an average of 23 years of professional experience. They all have a Master’s degree, and some have a Ph.D., representing various industries from all over the world.

These smaller class sections allow students to highly engage in group discussions, projects and learn from each other.

A business certificate is an excellent way to refine your skills in a certain process, learn new methods and make your resume stand out. The College of Business offers a variety of graduate business certificates that can help you fill in gaps of your training, discover a new passion or refine your focus. All our graduate business certificate courses are for-credit and can be applied toward our MBA programs. These certificate courses are taught by the same faculty as our MBA program and can be taken online or on-campus.

Each MBA program at the College of Business has specific admission requirements, so be sure to check your qualifications and talk with an enrollment counselor before starting your application.

• Online MBA
• Online MBA - Marketing Data Analytics Specialization
• Evening and Mosaic MBA
• Impact MBA

Given an increase in MBA applications throughout the United States, a successful business school application requires time, planning, and self-reflection. The amount of time it takes to complete the application process mostly depends on how long it takes you to gather your materials. Completing and submitting your application quickly will allow us to give you a decision sooner.

Each Master of Business Administration program at the College of Business has start dates distinct to that program. Some programs offer start dates throughout the year, while others have start dates that line with the traditional academic calendar. With a variety of start dates, you can find an MBA that works best for your schedule.

• Online MBA — August, October, January, March and May start dates
• Online MBA - Marketing Data Analytics — August and January start dates
• Online MBA - Mosaic — August start date
• Evening MBA - On Campus — August start date
• Impact MBA — August start date

CSU believes that a prospective student’s work experience and success in their field speaks to the ability to perform in the MBA programs the College of Business offers. In 2017, the College of Business changed its admission requirements, forgoing the GMAT as a requirement for its Online MBA, Evening MBA, Mosaic MBA and Marketing Data Analytics programs.

For additional guidance, please consult with an enrollment counselor.

Yes, CSU's College of Business MBA programs are highly ranked. Our program is ranked by a variety of reputable institutions. These impartial, third-party groups highlight our student outcomes, learning opportunities and the value our MBA programs offer students.

Yes. Depending on your financial situation and academic qualifications, scholarships, Graduate Assistantships (GSA) and aid (in addition to federal financial aid) are available to help pay for your education. Each MBA program has different opportunities:

• Impact MBA Tuition & Aid
• Online MBA Tuition & Aid 
• Evening MBA Tuition & Aid

Yes. All degree programs, including the Master of Business Administration, are accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business. In fact, CSU had one of the first AACSB-accredited online MBA programs in the United States. 

STEM MBA programs pair business management with technical proficiency. The result is a degree program that prepares students to work in organizations that are increasingly relying on using technology to their advantage. At the CSU College of Business, our Evening MBA and Impact MBA programs meet the federal definition of a STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) program.

As a STEM-designated MBA program, students can apply for OPT (Optional Practical Training) after completing the program. International students can also apply for an additional 24 months OPT extension.

Our enrollment counselors are dedicated to answering questions and helping you through the decision process to make sure that CSU is a good fit for you and your future. Once you're ready to apply, our graduate admission coordinators will be there for you every step of the application process. And once you're a student, our graduate advisors will work with you to ensure that you're acclimated to the program as well as counsel you during your academic journey. Connect with us by sending an email to cobgradinfo@colostate.edu or by calling (800) 491-4622.