Poets&Quants | University of Minnesota's Carlson School of Management

The Carlson School of Management MBA: What You Need To Know

Founded in 1935 and ranked No. 11 in the world by The Economist in 2021, the Carlson School of Management combines the value of general management with rigorous applied experiential learning. Carlson offers an intimate MBA experience, with an average class size of 90 students divided into two cohorts that undergo core courses together. Assistant Dean Phil Miller says, “A small cohort of students translates into personal support and engagement as well as experiential opportunities that are impractical at larger programs. Our career coaches know every student in the class.”

The Carlson School strives to build a well-rounded and diverse cohort each year, looking at each candidate holistically to assure they are the right fit for the program. Among application materials are GMAT/GRE scores, two professional references, a transcript, a video essay, and an interview.

The curriculum is designed to ground all students in business and management fundamentals. Core teams of 4-5 classmates work together across all courses, creating a strong sense of community and cohesion. Carlson is now offering a new Management Science program within the FTMBA: a STEM-designated degree that builds critical skills for full-time students considering careers in finance, consulting, analytics or technology.

The most distinct part of the program is the 15-month experiential learning experience that every student must undertake. The “enterprise” experience — in one of four areas such as brand, consulting, ventures, and funds — accounts for one-sixth of an MBA’s entire workload. Students are placed in small teams managed by both a professional and academic director and put to work on real problems with local companies. Carlson MBA candidates interested in finance or investment management, for example, can help manage a student-run mutual fund with $50 million in assets from actual clients.

The “global discovery program” is part of a second-year course that culminates in a two-week international trip every January. Each section of the class travels to a different locale around the globe. Once they return, students reconvene in the course to engage in a comparative analysis of different regions.

Carlson School of Management MBA Rankings Data

Carlson School of Management MBA Employment Stats

MBA Program Consideration Set:

Stretch Schools: Emory, Indiana, USC

Match Schools: Georgetown, Notre Dame, Washington University, Rice, Vanderbilt, Texas A&M, Wisconsin, Michigan State

Safe Schools: University of Washington, Brigham Young, Southern Methodist, Rochester, Maryland

Notes: MBA Program Consideration Set: If you believe you’re a close match to this school–based on your GMAT and GPA scores, your age and work experience, you should look at these other competitive full-time MBA programs as well. We list them by stretch, match, and safety. These options are presented on the basis of brand image and ranking status.