University of Connecticut School of Business

Statistics

Programs & Curriculum

Employment

Scholarships & Financial Aid

Rankings & Lists

School Says - General Information
Educating business leaders for nearly 130 years, the University of Connecticut (UConn) is ranked among the top 3% of business schools worldwide according to Business Week, Forbes, and U.S. News & World Report. UConn's MBA Program offers a comprehensive state-of-the-art business education that empowers business leaders to anticipate and effectively manage the challenges within today's dynamic and complex world of business. The competitive edge that UConn's MBA Program offers is the integration of award-winning innovative experiential learning opportunities that radically challenge your intellect, enhance your skill set and prepare you for success in life as well as in the competitive world of business.

School Says - Student Body
UConn MBA students come from a wide variety of undergraduate institutions, both domestic and international. Their undergraduate degrees represent majors in many diverse areas Ââ€" from engineering and English, sciences and fine arts, to business to economics. In a typical class of students, 35 percent are women, the average age is 28, and approximately 25-30 percent are international students. Friendliness and informality characterize student life at the main campus. Social and professional organizations, including the Graduate Business Association (GBA), offer a variety of activities to satisfy the needs of students.

School Says - Academics
The full-time, 2-year MBA program at UConn offers students a practical, comprehensive business education that truly integrates basic business fundamentals with innovative experiential learning. This carefully blended curriculum is what yields the highly desirable real-world experience that today's global businesses demand.

The curriculum includes fundamental business courses, an Internship Milestone, experiential learning opportunities and focused concentrations which include Finance, Health Care Management & Insurance Studies, Marketing, Operations & Information Management, Real Estate, and Venture Consulting.

School Says - Admissions
Admission to UConn's MBA Program is very competitive. The minimum requirements for admission include two years of postgraduate professional work experience; a minimum 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale, or the equivalent, from a four-year accredited institution; and a total GMAT score of at least 560. For international students whose native language is not English, a TOEFL score of at least 233 (computer-based) is required. The application deadline for international applicants is February 1 and for domestic applicants, March 1.

School Says - Campus Life
UConn students study in state-of-the-art research and learning facilities. Classrooms and meeting spaces are outfitted with broad multimedia capability reflecting the School's commitment to meet the demands of the information era.

Students Say - Academics
internship program, "UConn's MBA program [is] unique in that it offers numerous experiential learning accelerators," which are practice-based programs, often operated in conjunction with a corporate partner. For example, through an "exclusive partnership with GE," students work on strategic projects for the company, in collaboration with UConn faculty and GE managers." A current student elaborates, "I've been able to complete three semester-long consulting projects for real companies and non-profits, and have participated in two study abroad programs." A relatively small program, the full-time MBA "intimate class size" makes it easier for UConn students to build relationships with both their teachers and classmates. With roughly 60â€"70 students in each full-time class, "Being part of this small cohort allows for personal attention and focused learning." In general, professors are "receptive to any type of question" in class, and many are "extremely motivated and genuinely interested in the academic success of their students." However, students admit that when it comes to teaching style, "professors run a wide gamut," including some highly-skilled instructors, and some professors who seem more focused on their own projects. For Connecticut residents, "the price of attending a state school was more reasonable" than attending a similar, private institution. On the downside, "The effects of state budget cuts can be seen throughout UConn as a whole, as well as the business school." Currently, "UConn is undergoing a great deal of change under the leadership of a new Dean," and there have been some bumps in the road as the program changes course. However, optimistic students observe, "The dean and the MBA director are very responsive to students' concerns, and changes have been made and continue to be made to improve the value of the school."

Students Say - Admissions
UConn classifies its MBA admissions as "highly competitive." Applicants typically have GMAT scores of at least 560 and an undergraduate GPA of at least 3.0. They have at least 2 full years of post-undergraduate professional experience and have completed a college-level calculus course. Students who don't meet these standards are nonetheless encouraged to apply, particularly if their professional or life experiences will enrich the classroom experience. Applicants must submit the following materials: an application form, completed online; official transcripts from the student's degree-granting undergraduate institution and from any graduate programs attended; an official GMAT score report; two letters of recommendation from professional supervisors or mentors; and a current resume.
International applicants must meet the above requirements and must also submit professional translations and interpretations of transcripts in languages other than English. Students whose native language is not English must submit an official TOEFL score report (minimum score: 575, paper-based test; 233, computer-based test; 90-91, Internet-based test).

Students Say - Campus Life
On University of Connecticut's Storrs campus, "The School of Business is new and modern with all the requisite amenities," including an MBA lounge, comfortable classrooms, and lockers. While "dining hall food is unimpressive," "the Student Union is newer," boasting a larger food court with better options. Attracting a "diverse group from all over the world," almost 40 percent of University of Connecticut's full-time MBA candidates are international. A collaborative cohort environment, "team activities are an integrated part of our school culture," and students are generally "smart, cheerful, [and] enthusiastic." For first-year students, "School days are treated similar to a nine to five job," with class in the morning and homework to complete in the evening. Within this small program, everyone knows everyone, and students "typically socialize with the entire MBA class in-between classes." On campus, "mixers with students are fairly regular" and "some people are very motivated and active in clubs and networking events." However, "the full-time MBA is comprised of mostly commuter students, so we do not generally stay on campus when we are not in class." Plus, the school's campus in Storrs is "out in the middle of nowhere"â€"affording a great view of the New England woods, but limiting the scope of extracurricular and recreational activities in the immediate vicinity. On that note, prospective students "should keep in mind that a car is all but required to participate in local internships over the summer."

Students Say - Careers
While UConn enjoys great "local brand recognition" and "very good connections in the state of Connecticut," many students are disappointed with their school's career center. Drawing the majority of its business contacts from the immediate region, many feel that the "career center perhaps needs to widen its focus," and try "digging deeper into Wall Street or Boston" to make contact with more recruiters. On the flipside, a current student counters, "I have had interviews with Covidien, Pitney Bowes, General Electric, and Travelers Insurance, and I know UConn has a strong presence when I see that I am competing in the second round interviews with students from Yale and Cornell." In a recent year, 58 percent of UConn graduates were working, negotiating a job offer, or pursuing further study within three months of graduation. By six months, that number had jumped to 71 percent of students. The mean salary for recent UConn grads was $95,120 in the previous year, with a high of $120,000. Companies hiring UConn graduates include AC Nielsen, Aetna, Atlantic Records, Barclays, CIGNA, Citigroup, CVS Caremark, Deloitte Consulting, ESPN, General Electric, Hasbro Hewitt, Hubbell, Inc, IBM, ING, Liberty Mutual, Nestle, Nasdaq, PepsiCo, Pitney Bowes, Prudential Financial, Siemens, Sun Products Corporation, Travelers, Webster Bank, and XL Global Insurance.

Other Schools To Consider Top Programs