The MBA Experience

A lecture takes place in the Mosaic MBA classroom, with students participating in-person and online in real-time via webcam.

The Classroom & Beyond

The learning journey for MBA students at the College of Business encompasses more than traditional instruction. From immersive travel courses to collaboration with business leaders throughout Colorado, the nation and across the globe, our MBA students enjoy applied learning experiences that add depth and meaning to their degrees.

This innovative approach to business education is part of why the CSU College of Business is home to some of the top-rated MBA programs in the U.S. Our alumni make an impact in industries and communities throughout the world, and our faculty's cutting-edge research continues to shape strategic thinking across markets.

Learn more about what distinguishes our MBAs through the stories below. Want to talk to an advisor about whether the MBA is right for you? Contact us.

MBA students and College of Business Staff pose for a picture at the UCLA Training Center in Los Angeles.

Immersive Travel Opportunities

The College offers business immersion courses for MBA students many times each year. International and domestic trips help MBA students deepen their connection to real-world industries and leaders. Our students have gone to Denmark, Sweden, Panama, Peru and Los Angeles to learn from influential leaders in high-profile companies across a variety of sectors.

Two women at a table in a cafe examine a note.

Hands-On Learning

Our MBA students take on projects with real businesses looking for real-time solutions. This hands-on learning experience takes a practical approach that makes a difference to companies in an instant. Students apply class concepts to help local companies achieve real growth.

Time-Tested Online Programs

The College of Business has been doing distance MBA programs since the 1970s, and our Online MBA has been ranked No. 1 in Colorado since 2017. Today,  we leverage state-of-the-art video broadcast technology and online delivery systems that blur the line between the online and classroom experience.

Alumni Building a Better World

Online MBA Alum Blazes New Trail

After a decade in private investment, Tim Fuller pursued an MBA and leveraged his financial expertise to lead international marketing strategy for Michelin Aircraft Tire.

CSU College of Business alum Jordan Gaspard

Two-Time Alum Appears on Dirty Jobs TV Show

Jordan Gaspard knew that serving as managing director at Biochar Now could be a “dirty job” — but she never expected to appear on TV with Mike Rowe.

CSU MBA and Doctor of Veterinary Medicine alum Dr. Sarah McFadden-Palmer

Grad Pursues Joint Passions as Vet and Consultant

Dr. Sarah McFadden-Palmer graduated from CSU's combined Master of Business Administration and Doctor of Veterinary Medicine program to build her dream career from scratch.

What Alumni Are Saying

“My MBA experience has had a lasting impact on my career. It deepened my understanding of business strategy and enhanced my ability to coach, mentor and lead effectively.”
Geoff Preece
2024 Evening MBA Alum

“The Impact MBA program is a unique, one-of-a-kind program that attracts passionate individuals who desire to be leaders in sustainable business. My time in the program allowed me to build foundational business skills that I can bring to the table to leverage corporate sustainability strategies to help achieve a more just and resilient world.”
Miki Salamon
2023 Impact MBA Alum

“It made such a huge difference for me to watch my professors teach, the interaction with fellow students and the feeling that even though I was sitting in my home, I wasn’t going through the program alone, I was part of something.”
Teri Ditsch
2019 Online MBA Alum

Industry-Shaping Research & Insights

College of Business faculty don’t just shape student minds — they influence business practices outside the classroom, too, with impactful research that advances how industry leaders can clarify their purpose, tackle complex challenges and enhance their operations. Our AACSB accreditation — achieved by just 6% of business schools worldwide — reflects the caliber of instruction in our MBA programs and the transformative impact of our faculty's research.

Using Supply Chains to Stop Wildlife Trafficking

Illegal wildlife trafficking can be difficult to stop, but an interdisciplinary team is studying how supply chain disruption can be used to bring down trafficking networks.

Dr. John R. Macdonald

Macdonald is an associate professor of supply chain management and logistics in the Department of Management. His research interests include supply chain risk and resilience, behavior and decision making, sustainability, and illicit supply chains.

Rethinking Financial Vulnerability

New research is challenging the belief that financial vulnerability only affects low-income consumers, reframing it as a pervasive, dynamic issue that affects people across the socioeconomic spectrum.

Professor Kelly D. Martin, Ph.D. with the Department of Marketing

Dr. Kelly D. Martin

Martin is a professor with the Department of Marketing. Her primary research involves the marketing ethics-firm strategy interface on topics such as customer data privacy, political marketing strategy and approaches to reducing consumer vulnerability.

Exploring Organizational Purpose Beyond Profit

As consumers grapple with brands saying they care about the planet, Department of Marketing faculty investigate the rapidly evolving nature of organizational purpose and how companies are building goals beyond the bottom line into their identities.

Professor Chris P. Blocker, Ph.D. (left) and Associate Professor Jonathan Z. Zhang, Ph.D. (right) with the Department of Marketing

Dr. Chris P. Blocker

Blocker is a professor with the Department of Marketing. His research explores insights for creating economic and social value in services, sales and society.

Dr. Jonathan Z. Zhang

Zhang is an associate professor with the Department of Marketing. His research utilizes econometrics and machine learning to analyze trends in consumer behavior, customer loyalty and company performance.