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The economy in Vermont is more than maple syrup, although the two million gallons exported each year is certainly nothing to shake a (maple) stick at. Vermont boasts one of the lowest unemployment rates and one of the highest rates of health insurance coverage in the country. Over 97 percent of Vermont residents are insured and almost 20 percent of its population is over the age of 65. This makes Vermont one of the top states for healthcare companies. In fact, healthcare-related industry makes up 5 percent of their gross domestic product and provides over 17,000 jobs.
Manufacturing and production are also key industries in Vermont and include logging, ice cream and frozen dessert manufacturing, coffee and tea manufacturing, and breweries. Many of these manufacturing and production businesses support Vermont’s outdoor and agricultural tourism industry, which now accounts for $2.8 billion in spending on local goods and services. This industry has grown $200 million since 2016 and represents almost 10 percent of jobs in the state.
In such an exciting business climate, an MBA is a prudent investment for those looking to advance their career and increase their earnings. The National Association of Colleges and Employers (Winter 2019) found that those who have an MBA saw their salaries increase by over 10 percent, roughly $20,000 more than those who only hold a bachelor’s degree in business. Furthermore, professionals with an MBA have learned valuable leadership and managerial skills that provide the foundation needed for a successful career in business.
Those looking to specialize in a certain field can pursue concentrations or additional certifications ranging from healthcare to human resources. Many programs also offer dual degrees in policy or accounting so students may maximize their time in a graduate program and coordinate learning opportunities.
For those looking to get an MBA and start the next phase of their career, explore the online MBA programs in Vermont below.
Featured Online MBA Programs in Vermont
Norwich University offers a hybrid MBA with seven concentrations, each designed to support working professionals looking to build leadership capacity and gain real-world experience in the business world. Notably, Norwich University also offers a Project Management Institute (PMI)-accredited concentration in project management, preparing graduates to sit for PMI examinations and become a certified project manager.
The 36-credit program is made up of six courses that are taken one at a time to maximize learning and flexibility. Each course takes 11 weeks to complete and is fully online. Core coursework includes strategic resources management, managerial finance, and strategic marketing and operations management. Norwich University also offers the following concentrations for those looking to dive deeper into different business fields:
- General MBA
- Energy Management
- Organizational Leadership
- Supply Chain Management
- Construction Management
- Finance
- Project Management
- Technology Management
Students are required to take a final comprehensive exam upon completion of coursework to demonstrate knowledge of business concepts learned throughout the program. There is also a weeklong on-campus residency at Norwich University’s campus that students attend after their final course is taken. This residency provides students the opportunity to continue building their network by meeting fellow faculty, staff, and students in formal classroom and informal settings.
This MBA program does not require GMAT or GRE scores. Successful completion of a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution is required, as well as a minimum undergraduate GPA of 2.75. Prospective students must also submit a letter of intent and resume.
| Location: Northfield, Vermont |
| Accreditation: ACBSP |
| Expected Time to Completion: 18 to 24 months |
| Estimated Tuition: $808 per credit-hour |
The comprehensive, fully online MBA at Champlain College is designed for adult students already working in business and looking to increase value for their organization and themselves. Flexibility is foundational, and students are able to choose either an accelerated one-year program or a two-year program.
Depending on program track, students take one to two classes every eight weeks. The application of course knowledge to real-world scenarios is a core part of the curriculum for this MBA, which is best demonstrated by the field-based capstone project course taken in the last term of the program. Students use their capstone project to take MBA concepts and then directly apply them to either their current organization or as a service learning project for a non-profit or internship.
Coursework is designed to fit the needs of individual students and working professionals with an emphasis on providing integrated classes that can be immediately applied to the workplace. Classes are grounded in theory and emerging trends in the real world and include topics such as the impact of globalization on business, process integration and performance, and financial decision-making for management. Champlain College also provides certifications in the following fields:
- Advanced Management
- Employment Law
- Healthcare Administration
- Human Resource Management
- Information Security
- Leadership
- Organization Development
- Supply Chain Management
Each certification is an additional 12 credits and fully available online. The MBA program is 36 credits, although students who have not completed required business prerequisites may need to take an additional six credits of coursework.
Admission to the MBA program requires at least two years of work experience, as well as current employment at an organization where there is an opportunity to apply new skills. GMAT and GRE scores are not required. Students should have completed an undergraduate degree from a regionally accredited institution in business or management, although those with a degree in another subject may still be admitted, provided prerequisite coursework is completed with a grade of “B” or better. A minimum undergraduate GPA of 2.5 is required, although those with a lower GPA may be admitted on a case-by-case basis. Prospective students should also submit an essay that responds to four questions about personal and professional goals, in addition to their ability to successfully engage in an online learning environment. Last, students should submit their resume.
| Location: Burlington, Vermont |
| Accreditation: New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE) |
| Expected Time to Completion: One year (accelerated) to two years (part-time) |
| Estimated Tuition: $33,390 (total) |
As Vermont’s oldest institution of higher education, Castleton University provides an accelerated online MBA degree for students looking to advance their career without breaking the bank. With one of the lowest cost-per-credit rates in the United States, this MBA program has four concentrations available and offers coursework in eight-week modules that allow students to take the next step in their career at their own pace. This 36-credit program also offers an accelerated track where students may take two classes every eight weeks, completing an MBA in as little as one year.
With 27-credits of core courses, students are able to build a deep understanding of business theory and practice. Coursework includes leadership theory, risk and financial management, legal studies and ethics, and human resource management. Each student chooses a concentration, where they are able to take nine credits of specialized coursework to complete their degree. Concentrations include:
- Leading Organizational Change
- Healthcare Administration
- Analytics
- Media and Communication
Admission requirements for this program include completion of a bachelor’s degree with a minimum 3.0 GPA and sending one’s undergraduate transcripts. Notably, GRE and GMAT scores are not required. Rather, Castleton University emphasises a holistic admissions approach that takes into account work experience, recommendations, and personal objectives and goals. Accordingly, prospective students should submit a resume, two letters of recommendation, and a 500-word personal statement.
| Location: Castleton, Vermont |
| Accreditation: New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE) |
| Expected Time to Completion: One year (accelerated) to two years (part-time) |
| Estimated Tuition: $643 per credit |
Hybrid MBA Programs in Vermont
A hybrid program uses in-person engagement, online classroom environments, real-world scenarios, and experiential projects that emphasize hands-on learning to bridge the flexibility of an online degree with the benefits of on-campus learning. These programs are developed for working professionals who may not be able to access on-campus classrooms for the length of time necessary to complete a graduate program. Unlike fully online degree programs, hybrid programs may have a residency requirement that require applicants to live nearby or within a certain distance. Applicants should check for this requirement prior to selecting a hybrid MBA program.
There is only one hybrid MBA program offered in Vermont. The University of Vermont – Grossman School of Business offers a sustainable innovation MBA that can be completed in as little as one year. Ranked by the Princeton Review as the “best green MBA” in the United States, this full-time program offers on-campus learning modules and off-site completion of prerequisites and practicums.
