Enrollment: 751
Rolling Admission: Yes
School Type: Public

Part Time Program: Yes
Evening Program: Yes
Executive MBA Program Offered: No

Out-of-State Tuition: $16,063.00
In-State Tuition: $5,747.00

Students Say - Academics
East Carolina University is a medium-sized public school that offers a fully accredited MBA program both online and on campus. Academically, the MBA curriculum is designed to provide a "solid foundation in business fundamentals across the board." Students are required to complete a series of breadth classes in seven business areas, and later, may tailor their education through elective coursework in areas like finance, health care, and supply chain management. A current student attests, "I am an aspiring entrepreneur and I chose this institution for its comprehensive curriculum to build a solid, broad business foundation. I feel I chose well." In addition to coursework, "there are numerous opportunities available to become involved with department-related projects and academic groups," or to augment your experience (while lowering the tuition price) through graduate assistantships. Students can also add international experience to the MBA through one of two summer exchange programs in China and Australia.
Despite the school's low in-state tuition, East Carolina University isn't besieged by the bureaucratic hassles that plague other public institutions. Led by an administrative staff that is "very accessible and willing to lend a helping hand," students assure us that "when the university becomes aware of an improvement needed, they are quick to respond." In fact, "if you are an on-campus student, you get the opportunity to know the school's administrators on a first name basis. They are very accessible and want to help." In addition to the administrative support, students are guided in their academic career through an assigned advisor, "who is always available and always has the answers you need." Experts in the business school experience, "all of the advisors and staff for the MBA program have received an MBA from ECU; therefore they know how the courses are and how the curriculum is set up first hand."
If you are planning to pursue a degree part time, be aware that "the homework and class work is very demanding and time-consuming," which can be particularly challenging for those who are balancing a full life outside of school. A first-year student writes, "So far, I have been very stressed out adapting to the MBA program, but the program has enough flexibility to allow me time to get adjusted to the course load." For extremely busy professionals, East Carolina University also gives students the "ability to complete the entire MBA online," or the opportunity to complete the degree through a combination of online and campus classes. Fortunately, "the distance education program is well run" and online students benefit from the same quality academic programs you'll find on campus. A student attests, "Every professor I have had treats online students exactly as they treat their on-campus students and holds us to the same standards."

Students Say - Admissions
East Carolina University admits students using an admission index number, which is calculated using a student's standardized test scores and undergraduate GPA. To be eligible for the program, students must hold an undergraduate degree in any subject. Students in the most recent graduating class had an average undergraduate GPA of 3.29 and an average GMAT score of 519.

Students Say - Campus Life
Boasting a pleasant campus environment with a touch of Southern charm, ECU "has a great atmosphere from small-town North Carolina. Everyone at the university is friendly and always willing to help." Within the business school, "the graduate student body is professional and everyone seems genuinely eager to learn." While the school draws a predominantly local crowd, you'll still feel at home, even if you aren't from the area. A current MBA attests, "My fellow students are very helpful. I am not from North Carolina and many of them are very eager to show me around and help me out." Located in the small city of Greenville, the school's "on-campus facilities such as gym, theater, auditorium are good to excellent, and offer opportunities for staying healthy and active." The Graduate Business Association (GBA), the largest graduate student group on the ECU campus, "is well run and is a good association for socializing." Both the business school and the GBA host various recreational and career-development events throughout the year. Even an online student shares, "I get tons of emails about everything going on all the time, so I never feel in the dark." While they are well apprised of the many things they are missing, part-time and online students say they rarely participate in campus life. Explains one, "Keeping up with your familial obligations and job plus school leaves almost no time for anything else."

Students Say - Careers
Through ECU's Career Services office, students can get highly individualized counseling services and participate in a range of career development activities. Students particularly appreciate the fact that the team at Career Services "know you by name and remember speaking with you. They are quick to respond to any questions or concerns you might have." A current student adds, "They go through your entire resume and help you tweak it until it is just right, and they even hold regular mock-interviews with actual company personnel."
Career Services also maintains a monthly schedule of campus recruiting events, campus interviews, and corporate speakers. Companies that visited campus in the past year include Credit-Suisse, CIA, Wachovia Bank, Sherwin Williams, FMI, Coyote Logistics, Lowes, Vanguard, Northwestern Mutual, and BB&T Bank.

North Carolina State University
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

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