Colorado State University College of Business

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Students Say - Academics
Convenience and affordability define the MBA experience at Colorado State University, whether you choose to attend classes at the school's scenic Fort Collins campus, or from your home computer 1,000 miles away. Operating one of the longest-running distance MBAs in the country, CSU has online education down to a science. What makes the CSU distance MBA unique is that it runs concurrently with the Professional MBA program on the CSU campus. Together, distance and campus-based students complete the MBA simultaneouslyâ€"viewing lectures, completing group projects, and turning in assignments in tandem. For distance students, "The in-class lectures are recorded and made available to distance students within 24 hours of each class ending" via the Internet, and "DVDs are mailed to you" within the week. As a result, distance students literally watch "the same lecture that is delivered to the on-campus students" and even "hear questions that the ground students have." "Technology is top-notch" and students can easily meet for group work via the school's web-based platforms. With absolutely no residency requirements or in-person orientation programs, CSU's program is "completely online and affordable," attracting professional students from every corner of the countryâ€"and the globe. While many students consider other low-residency MBAs before deciding where to apply, they say Colorado State offers the "best combination of course content, reputation, accreditation, cost, and flexibility for distance learners." Whether taking place in the lecture hall or on the small screen, CSU classes are a "good balance of practical and theoretical ideas" and "the material is current and in-depth." Here, you'll get all the MBA essentials, with a touch of innovation; at CSU, "they continue to push the envelope academically but not at the expense of what is real and proven in the field." Professors "are knowledgeable, engaging, and bring excellent guest speakers to the lectures." Most faculty members "have real-world business experience, not just theory" to share. Classes are "demanding," yet both online and on-campus students benefit from the excellent personal relationships they build with CSU professors. As one online student explains, "The professors are responsive and really care for the success of the students." "They know my name, even though I am one of 1,200 students." Coordinating such a large program is a feat, but the CSU administration is a well-oiled machine. Students praise the remarkable "ability of the administration and staff to assemble an impressive collection of students from around the globe, and then to effectively manage such a diverse group." A current student attests, "I cannot say enough about how much assistance I receive from professors, the distance coordinator, and administrators. I have a very unique job that requires me to be in remote areas with little or no Internet access, and my professors are more than accommodating in working with me during these times." Adds another, "Even though I am a distance student, I feel as connected as I would be if I were on campus."

Students Say - Admissions
To be considered for admission to the graduate school of business, students must have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 from a four-year college. Diversity is very important to CSU, and the business school aims to admit a large cross-section of students from various career fields and educational backgrounds. Students with at least eight years of professional work experience may apply for a GMAT waiver. Once all application materials have been received, the admissions office will usually send a decision within three weeks.

Students Say - Campus Life
Drawing students from far and wide, CSU brings together a "great mix of people, from diverse work environments, from all around the world, each bringing their piece of diversity to the mix." The program is well suited to busy professionals, and distance students are "mostly mid-career with backgrounds ranging from engineering to veterinary." Needless to say, "Personal interactions are limited due to the distance format," though students are still expected to participate in group projects through the university's technology platforms. It might sound like a bit of a headache, but current students assure us that, "All the online students are courteous and willing to help." Those who study on campus say that CSU's business school, located on "a safe and friendly campus" in the pretty town of Fort Collins, Colorado, "offers a great environment in which to learn and grow personally and professionally." With spectacular recreational opportunities in the surrounding Rocky Mountains, affordable cost-of-living, and a laid-back social scene, students ask us, "How can you complain?"

Students Say - Careers
The Office of Career Services at the College of Business offers individual career counseling, resume critiques, and networking events for undergraduate and graduate business students. The emphasis, however, is on undergraduate students looking to start a career, rather than MBA candidates. In recent years, undergraduate and graduate students at CSU have gone on to jobs at Accenture, Oppenheimer, Target, EnCana Oil & Gas, and Ernest and Julio Gallo Winery. For online students, career development is a different story. Most of CSU's distance students "are looking to move their careers forward, are dedicated employees, and want to gain more knowledge to make them better employees and managers." To that end, most are not seeking new career opportunitiesâ€"and most, it should be added, do not live in the Colorado area. As a result, graduate student career services are not particularly robust at CSU, and "career center resources are non-existent for distance students." Fortunately, Colorado State University "has a great reputation around the country and the world," which is an asset to any career or job search.

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