From Willamette:
At A Glance
As a national leader in experiential learning, the Willamette Early Career / Career Change (full-time) MBA builds the knowledge, experience and professional career management skills needed for students to jumpstart or change their careers in business, government and not-for-profit organizations.
The Early Career / Career Change MBA program is accredited by AACSB International for business and NASPAA for public administration. It is one of only two programs in the world accredited for both business and public administration.
Rankings
#57 on Forbes (based on ROI achieved by graduates)
#78 on Poets & Quants
#81 on Businessweek (#9 for Entrepreneurship and #12 worldwide; #35 for Learning; #50 for Networking; #92 for Compensation; #27 worldwide for Inspiring and Supportive Instructors)
Career
An outstanding program of career services supports the goals of Willamette MBA students. Services include one-on-one coaching appointments, Mentorship Program, Career Close-Up Events (Willamette MBA career fairs), Management Writing Program, Mock Interview Day, professional student organizations, and Seattle, Portland, and San Francisco Treks.
100% of Early Career/Career Change students participate in an internship. Both domestic and international students have the option to complete up to 3 semesters of internship for credit. A sample of 2019 summer internship employers includes: 3M, Hewlett Packard, Intel, Nike, PACCAR, Raymond James Financial, Slalom Consulting, Thermo Fisher, Cambia Health Solutions, Boys & Girls Club, Kaiser Permanente, Los Angeles Clean-tech Incubator, Mercy Corps, Oregon Department of Forestry, Oregon Department of Transportation, Oregon Parks and Recreation Department, United Way.
85% of Early Career/Career Change students receive a job offer within three months of graduation. Select hiring companies include:
adidas
Amazon
Apple
Boeing
Charles Schwab Company
Deloitte
Hewlett Packard
Intel
Kaiser Permanente
Microsoft
Nike
PwC
Starbucks
State of Oregon agencies
Tektronix
Programs and Curriculum
The Early Career/Career Change MBA is specifically designed for students seeking career entry, change or advancement. The program emphasizes learning-by-doing, and does not require previous work experience. First-year students begin real consulting work through Practical Application for Careers and Enterprise (PACE). In just 21 months, Early Career/Career Change MBA students learn the core principles of management and strategic decision-making, refine their career interests, build a resume of respected professional experience, and develop in-depth expertise in one or more concentrations: Accounting, Entrepreneurship, Finance, Global Management, Human Resources, Marketing, Operations, Analysis & Systems, Organizational Analysis, Public & Not-for-Profit Management, Management Science and Quantitative Methods
Experiential Programs:
The Willamette Early Career/Career Change MBA builds your professional experience through internships, consulting projects with client organizations, and innovative elective courses. First-year students begin real consulting work through Practical Application for Careers and Enterprise (PACE). Second-year students have the opportunity to manage the O’Neill Investment Fund, learn strategies and cutting-edge research related to investing in Angel Investing, and manage and distribute Willamette MBA’s social impact investment portfolio for non-profit organizations in Philanthropic Investment for Community Impact.
Students have the opportunity to learn tableau, R, SPSS, and other analytical tools.
Expenses and Financial Aid
We offer merit-based scholarships, named scholarships, fellowships, graduate assistantships or aid to our admitted students to help offset our already competitive tuition cost. 100% of admitted students received merit-based scholarships, named scholarships, fellowships, graduate assistantships or aid.
Students
Early Career/Career Change students come from around the world and across the U.S. The average student is 24 years old, has zero to five years of work experience, and is utilizing the MBA to prepare for career entry or career change.
Campus and Location
Our location offers an excellent quality of life, friendly people, mild climate and the recreational resources of the beautiful Pacific Northwest. Professionally, the Portland-Salem area provides convenient access to a multitude of businesses (including Northwest legends Nike and Intel) and many government and not-for-profit organizations.
Willamette MBA students benefit from a vibrant recreational and social life. Students can ski the Cascade Mountains, enjoy Oregon’s Pacific Coast, windsurf in the Columbia River Gorge, hike forested areas, participate in student activities and professional organizations, and enjoy the big city opportunities of Portland.
Willamette’s campus is spacious and beautiful, and located across the street from the Oregon State Capitol near downtown Salem.
Degrees and Certificates Offered
MBA, JD/MBA, Business Minor (for undergraduates), Data Science for Professionals, and certificates offered through the Executive Development Center
Notable alumni
Punit Renjen, Chief Executive Officer, Deloitte; Gurpreet Pall, Corporate Vice President, Microsoft; Neil Bergquist, Co-Founder and CEO, Coinme & Uptoken.org; Colin Schilling, CEO, Schilling Cider.
