3 MBAs with great ROIs and exposure to innovation

Many pursuing a Master of Business Administration (MBA) today see it as an opportunity to upskill or advance their careers. That is, and has always been, what the popular postgraduate programme achieves. The best MBAs, however, are those that offer something more: a boost to a career in traditional and non-traditional industries.

From blockchain and artificial intelligence to virtual reality and e-commerce, these are areas that are transforming the business world. Employers are keen to hire MBAs who can help spur their digital transformation — and they’re especially keen to recruit MBAs who have experience and expertise in these emerging technologies. If this is the future you seek, the headstart you seek is located at one of the forward-thinking business schools:

Kennesaw State University offers an AACSB-accredited MBA programme, which positions it among the top business schools in the world. Source: Kennesaw State University

Kennesaw State University

An MBA from Kennesaw State University (KSU) is not just a degree. It is a sign of respect. The university’s Coles College of Business is among the top 2% of business schools worldwide featuring dual accreditation by AACSB International in both Business and Accounting.

The MBA is as innovative as it is esteemed. You can select one of seven concentrations to specialise in: General Management, Accounting, Finance, FinTech, Digital Marketing, Organisational Entrepreneurship and Innovation, Information Security and  Assurances. These are updated often to reflect industry trends, including the rise of AI technology.

Such prestige and innovative concentrations make the KSU MBA a great return on investment. It’s significantly more affordable than other institutions in the region – approximately US$20,000 for tuition fees. Your money spent will pay off when you start work as a KSU MBA graduate. Over a 30-year career, you can expect a cumulative salary increase of more than one million dollars. In the nearer future, you’re set to command a compensation package of over US$123,000, including salary, bonus, and other benefits, according to recent data. Nearly 30% report a promotion at or around the time of graduation too.

As the business school is the second largest in Georgia, it is well-linked to many companies in the Metro Atlanta area. A close-knit alumni community makes it even easier for you to network and seek job openings from them. Busy with work? The college’s flexible part-time Evening MBA offers 12 classes that can fit into your schedule. Class meets one evening each week from Monday to Thursday, starting at 6 p.m. at three convenient locations around the north Atlanta metro area, giving you leeway to plan your studies ahead so that they do not interfere with your nine-to-five job.

Apply to the Coles College of Business at Kennesaw State University today.

From famous alumni to world-renowned students, UC Berkeley is renowned for producing successful graduates. Source: Haas School of Business – UC Berkeley/Facebook

University of California, Berkeley

One thing that Haas School of Business, University of California Berkeley, the second oldest institution of its kind in the US, has to offer is an MBA schedule that could fit anyone’s time. Be it on the weekdays or weekends, students will earn the same life-changing MBA degree here.

The school also offers a flex option which is primarily based on online learning. This allows students to log in from anywhere and at any time — though they can choose to attend elective courses in person. Whether you’re looking to advance within your organisation, make a career change, fulfil a personal goal, or start a business, Haas School of Business provides an MBA experience that will get you there – on a schedule that best fits your life.

The Berkeley Haas Alumni Network is a community of more than 40,000 alumni all around the world. Composed of lifelong learners, friends, and colleagues, students here take advantage of the network by strengthening relationships, building partnerships, and advancing a career with professional resources from employees already in the field.

“Haas exposed me to a lot of different industries and gave me different skills,” says graduate Dominic Bea, now Vice President at Guggenheim Partners. “This exposure opened up the possibilities of what rewarding work would be. What does it mean to be fulfilled in investment banking, or consulting, or operations? It helped me see how I’d fit into these different industries in a meaningful way.”

MBA students at Vanderbilt University can customise their curriculum through the seven concentrations offered. Source: Vanderbilt University

 Vanderbilt University

The Owen Graduate School of Management at Vanderbilt University offers an MBA designed to provide the knowledge, skills, connections, and support to help you achieve your personal and professional goals. This two-year on-campus programme provides you with core business knowledge and skills that can benefit you in your career. You can even customise your curriculum through the various concentrations available. These include Accounting, General Management, Healthcare, Human and Organisational Performance, Marketing, Strategy, and three STEM-designated concentrations in Consumer Psychology and Marketing Analytics, Finance, and Operations and Analytics.

Graduates here earn big bucks as they continue to lead the industry across various fields. Evidently, the school’s most recent graduating class reported a record average base salary of USD$154,052 with a USD$34,591 bonus on top of that. Global companies such as Alvarez & Marsal, Deloitte Consulting, and Ernst & Young are some places where you will find Vanderbilt University graduates as they snag high-ranking positions shortly after graduation.

Located in the dynamic business community of Nashville, the university affiliates itself with its bustling economy that offers vast opportunities to expose yourself to the working environment. In addition to its business-centric district, the city is known for its endless entertainment options, incredible food scene, and beautiful greeneries. No wonder The New York Times, Forbes, and Fortune rank Nashville in the top places to live and do business.

*Some of the institutions featured in this article are commercial partners of Study International