Simon Business School at the University of Rochester

MBA Program Stats

Academics And Programs

The Simon community is small by design, with an average class size of between 100–110 students. A smaller cohort allows for an array of perspectives and opinions, where students challenge each other in new ways that will prepare them for the challenges they will face entering the workforce. Simon offers the option to apply without a GMAT or GRE score.

Simon’s two-year MBA offers an economics-based approach to decision-making. 

“Our degree programs inspire a new level of clarity about how analytical frameworks drive success in business; about what it takes to collaborate and manage in the contemporary global workplace, and about professional growth and goals,” says Lewin.

The curriculum has a reputation for quantitative work with nine required courses, a Communicating Business Decisions sequence, and a client project aligned with future career interests. While there is a focus on quantitative thinking, students will also work closely with the Benet Center to develop soft skills that help them become competent and capable leaders.

Simon secures the title as the first business school in the U.S. to offer a STEM-designated option for each of its full-time specializations, which benefits students by helping them stand out in the job market. Simon offers 10 specializations under three tracks: Asset Management, Banking, Corporate Finance, Venture Capital & Private Equity under the Finance Track, Brand Management and Product Management under the Marketing Track, and Operations, Pricing, Strategy, and Technology under the Consulting Track.

With success in mind, Simon requires full-time students to complete a summer internship where they can practically exercise the skills they’ve learned in an actual business setting.

Students often participate in learning opportunities such as international immersions, working abroad with real businesses and stakeholders, case competitions where they craft and present solutions to real-world problems, and service/industry-focused clubs to enhance professional development and create a positive impact within the community.

Why Students Chose

“Simon is dedicated to building a strong, inclusive, and friendly environment for students. Most importantly, what sets it apart from other schools is its special attention and support to international students. Since the time I was accepted into the program, I did not have any trouble with the onboarding process. I always had someone to help me and direct me. Simon even has a separate orientation week for international students, which shows its strong commitment to creating an inclusive environment. In only two days of international orientation, I communicated with about 50 international students from 28 countries, and in one week’s time, I learned so much about them (like their pets’ names). Isn’t that amazing?!” Jasurbek Tursunov (‘24)

“Analysis, interpretation, and adaptation of data is becoming more important as the world gets more connected and digitalized – it is creating and changing industries (i.e., the emergence of data centers around the world or targeted advertisements that we could not have imagined years ago). I’m also drawn to Simon’s STEM-designated option. Simon’s focus on quantitative analysis will help improve my data analysis, interpretation, and decision-making skills.” Jeong Kim (‘24)

“I am eager to participate in experiential learning opportunities at Simon, where students learn by doing. I love being able to problem solve on the go and work with a team to come up with creative solutions. I am looking forward to participating in international immersions, case competitions, and the project elective class. I am particularly excited for the project elective class because it’s like a mini-internship—you’re given the opportunity to do a real-life project in the career field you’re interested in prior to diving into the summer internship to gain valuable first-hand work experience.” Chagan Sanathu (’24)

Career Stats

Compensation Statistics of Simon MBAs

Where Rochester Simon MBAs Went to Work

From Simon Business School

Ranked by US News & World Report as the #1 Most Diverse Full-Time MBA Program (U.S. News & World Report, 2021), Simon offers a rigorously quantitative, economics-based approach to decision-making. Our degree programs inspire a new level of clarity: about how analytical frameworks drive success in business; about what it takes to collaborate and manage in the contemporary, global workplace; and about professional growth and goals.

A top-ranked b-school, Simon was the first business school in the US to introduce a STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math)-designated option for each of its Full-Time MBA specializations. In addition to helping graduates stand out in the job market, STEM-designated MBA and MS degrees also give international students the ability to extend their Optional Practical Training (OPT) for an additional 24 months, for a total of three years of US work eligibility without H1B sponsorship.

Recruiters are consistently impressed with Simon students’ command of a variety of analytical tools and their ability to bring a strategic mindset to work. The Full-Time MBA Class of 2022 had 95 percent of students accept job offers within three months post-graduation. According to U.S. News & World Report calculations, the average overall compensation package (salary plus bonus) was $162,000 (rounded), up more than $7,000 from the previous year. Simon students were hired by leading employers including Accenture, Amazon, American Express, AstraZeneca, Citigroup, Cognizant, Colgate-Palmolive, Dell, Deloitte, Discover Financial Services, Eli Lilly and Company, EY-Parthenon, Gartner, Groupon, Inc., HP Inc., IBM, JPMorgan Chase & Co., Merck & Co., Microsoft, PepsiCo, Pfizer, Procter & Gamble, State Street Corporation, UBS, Walmart, Wayfair, and Wells Fargo.

One of the most cohesive, career-focused student experiences of any MBA program, Simon closely links coursework, co-curricular activities, and career search to ensure students are market-ready for their internship and full-time jobs.

The Simon student community is small by design and intentional in its inclusiveness. An extraordinary array of perspectives is always close by. Students push one another to listen in new ways and turn differences into a competitive edge; you’ll enter the workforce ready to lead the kind of cross-functional, multicultural teams that define today’s successful organizations.

Simon Distinctions:

• The first business school to introduce a STEM-designated option for each of its MBA and MS specializations
• The first business school to offer a specialized pricing track within the MBA program
• 26^th top MBA in the US (Financial Times, 2023)
• Ranked 1^st for ROI, based on percentage increase on pre-MBA salary (The Economist, 2022)
• 14th among the nation’s top 25 graduate schools for entrepreneurial studies (The Princeton Review, 2021)
• 5th top MBA for finance in the world (Financial Times, 2019)

Academic Experience

Full-Time MBA

Simon is known for our strong reputation for quantitative work. Our Full-Time MBA program shows students how to use data to formulate better insights and get buy-in for their ideas, and our emphasis on analytical thinking and economics gives a new perspective on the role of data.

Simon’s Full-Time MBA curriculum allows students to take more electives in the first year and take them earlier in their program of study; travel through curricular experience with a cohort of students with similar career interests; and enrich studies by choosing breadth electives designed to bolster the professional skills employers desire. At the heart of Simon’s curriculum is the core: nine required courses, a Communicating Business Decisions sequence, and a client project aligned with your future career interests, which together act as the foundation for the rest of your education.

You can sharpen your career goals and take a deep dive in an area of study by choosing a specialization. Arranged into three tracks—Marketing, Consulting, and Finance—Simon’s 10 specializations allow you to customize your MBA experience by building a skill set tailored to the field you plan to pursue. Available specializations include:

• Asset Management
• Banking
• Brand Management
• Corporate Finance
• Operations
• Pricing
• Product Management
• Strategy
• Technology
• Venture Capital & Private Equity

You can broaden your studies by choosing one or more minors, designed to provide a deeper understanding in 10 key areas: Accounting, Analytics, Consulting—Operations and Technology, Consulting—Strategy and Pricing, Entrepreneurship, Finance, Global Business, Health Sciences Management, Leadership, and Marketing.

To ensure every Simon MBA enters the workforce positioned to make an immediate impact, students must take at least two breadth electives, courses focused on professional skills such as leadership, business ethics, negotiation, and organizational behavior. You can further hone your communication, teamwork, and leadership skills via the Jay S. and Jeanne Benet Career Management Center (Benet CMC), a dynamic organization committed to the success of our students. From résumé development to mock interviews and career counseling, the specialists at Benet CMC will prepare you to be a top candidate. You’ll gain access to self-assessments, workshops, webinars, and more.

Part-Time MBA Program Options

Professional MBA

Simon’s Professional MBA (PMBA) is designed for professionals seeking a part-time, evening program, allowing for the flexibility to work while completing the degree. The program, which can be completed in as few as 2.5 years, includes nine core courses in a class cohort system, with a choice of 11 required electives to complete your desired specialization or minor(s). PMBA students can also choose from numerous areas of concentration to specialize their education. There are two matriculated entrance dates, January or August, and there is an opportunity for students to begin the program with non-matriculated courses each term.

Executive MBA Program  

The Executive MBA (EMBA) program offers candidates the same curriculum, resources, and faculty as the full-time program without career interruption. Classes meet each Wednesday and two Saturdays per month, and the program’s high-flex format allows students to complete the program online or with a combination of online and in-class learning—making going back to school more manageable. The program is completed in 21 months of coursework.

The Simon EMBA program also gives students hands-on, global experience. Simon Business School was the first accredited US business school to establish a European Executive MBA program. Simon’s EMBA in Bern, Switzerland is offered in collaboration with the Institut für Finanzmanagement at the Universität Bern. This partnership adds a global perspective to both the Rochester and European programs, as Rochester-based EMBA students take courses with Bern students during their four-week residency in Rochester.

In addition to Switzerland, Simon also offers international immersion elective course opportunities in India, Israel, Singapore, South Africa, and South Korea. 

Other Programs

MS Programs

Simon’s full-time Master of Science programs include MS in Accountancy, MS in Finance (ranked no. 2 in the US by Financial Times), MS in Marketing Analytics, and MS Business Analytics. Each of these MS programs is STEM-designated, and each offers the opportunity to extend the length of the program to include a summer internship.

Online MS in Business Analytics for Managers

The part-time Online MS in Business Analytics for Managers degree from Simon Business School provides the technical and management skills needed to lead your organization at the next level—without putting your career on pause. This program is geared toward aspiring managers ready to start leading as well as managers ready to take the next step in analytics. It takes 14 months to complete with synchronous and asynchronous classes and includes both online and in-person experiences.

Part-Time MS in Medical Management

Simon also offers a part-time MS in Medical Management designed for patient care providers and non-clinical staff to enhance their business acumen while working full-time—allowing them to put their classroom learning to work on the job the next day.

Combined Degree Programs  

Simon offers an MD/MBA in conjunction with the University of Rochester’s School of Medicine and dentistry, as well as an MB/MBA in conjunction with the University of Rochester’s Eastman School of Music.

Essay Questions For Simon Business School

Simon applicants are asked to submit two essays: one focused on goals, and the other explaining the applicant’s commitment to EDI between 250-500 words. Prospective MBAs can also submit an optional video essay.

Rankings Data For Simon Business School