Lamar University College of Business

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Programs & Curriculum

Employment

Scholarships & Financial Aid

Rankings & Lists

Students Say - Academics
"They are constantly trying to improve and innovate the program" at Lamar University, where students love being part of an "an outstanding university that is growing almost exponentially." Not that it needs much in the way of improvement; even as it currently stands, Lamar is seen by its students as "a great school with well-educated professors and a good learning environment." A student body drawn largely from Beaumont and the surrounding area chooses the Lamar MBA for its convenience, its low cost, its reputation, and its unwillingness to settle for "good enough." Lamar offers a Cohort MBA, a full-time evening program that includes several experiential learning opportunities. The program is intense: Classes meet four nights a week, and the curriculum goes pretty much nonstop for 16 months, but those who tough it out are rewarded with an MBA earned in a relatively short time for relatively little money. Cohort MBA participants must have earned an undergraduate degree in business. The school also offers a traditional MBA, which also meets in the evenings, but it allows for part-time attendance. The traditional MBA program is open to all college graduates; those who lack the requisite academic business background must complete a series of leveling courses before commencing the MBA proper. Students report that the programs have more of a cooperative than competitive feel. They appreciate the "relaxed classroom settings" and "the ability to meet with faculty and students without pressure and [to discuss] issues related to business." "Smaller classes" make it "easy to obtain one-on-one time with a professor" and also ensure that students aren't just a number or name on a list to administrators. In fact, "every student is required to be advised, which means the people in MBA office know who you are and what you are doing when you walk into the office." "The administration for the MBA program is well-organized." Lamar professors "keep current with the latest business developments and they constantly work on outside research projects. They often present papers at conferences and work to expand their professional knowledge base. We have several professors that work as marketers or business owners so they bring their practical experience to class." The faculty consists of a "small core group of professors," which "builds relationships [between students and teachers] throughout the years."

Students Say - Admissions
Lamar University requires all applicants to provide GMAT scores, undergraduate transcripts, essays, and TOEFL scores (for students whose native language is not English). An interview, letters of recommendation, personal statement, resume, and evidence of computer experience are all recommended but not required; all are taken into account in rendering an admissions decision. Applicants must earn a score of at least 950 under the formula (200 multiplied by GPA plus GMAT) or a score of 1000 under the formula (200 multiplied by GPA for final 60 semester hours of undergraduate work plus GMAT). In both cases, a minimum GMAT score of 450 is required for unconditional admission; students with scores between 400 and 450 qualify for conditional admission. International applicants must provide proof of financial support.

Students Say - Campus Life
"Lamar has traditionally been a commuter [school]," and while "that is changing," for the most part it's still the case that "students come to class and go home afterwards even when activities are planned." There are some "active on-campus organizations" for MBAs, but they "tend to be geared towards those living on-campus, which mainly consist of international students and those receiving full scholarships." Lamar's business facility is "dated, and some classrooms have equipment and maps that are falling apart," which understandably rankles some. Students also complain that "more business-specific applications could be available on our college's computers, [as well as] more labs with larger work stations to accommodate groups. Much of the MBA program is centered around group work, and it is difficult to cram into a narrow row of computers set up traditional classroom-style to spread out and collaborate." Lamar's "friendly, yet competitive" MBAs mostly "work full time, and they bring plenty of real-world experience to the class." The program creates "quite a diverse setting with many international students as well as local commuters. Lamar is very well-rounded and diverse for its size."

Students Say - Careers
The Career and Testing Center at Lamar provides services for all undergraduates, graduate students, and alumni of the university. Services include counseling, workshops, online job database access, and recruitment events. The majority of Lamar MBAs work full time while attending the program. Many do not plan to leave their employers during or after the program. Employers who most frequently hire graduates include: Ernst and Young, Melton and Melton, Merrill Lynch, Smith Barney, JP Morgan Chase, Medical Center of Southeast Texas, Wells Fargo, and Verizon.

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