MBA in USA Colleges, Eligibility, Fees, Admission, Tests & Requirements

Last Updated on August 10, 2023 by Diya

Are you an MBA aspirant in the USA? Are you an international student looking to pursue MBA in the USA? If yes, this article will be of help to you. Here, I’ve listed down some of the best MBA programs (specializations), colleges, and fees.

MBA stands for Master of Business Administration. It is a postgraduate-level management education program.   MBA is a very popular choice among college graduates in the USA. Not just that, many international students also dream about pursuing an MBA Degree in the US!

It is not uncommon to see Graduates from around the world moving to the USA in order to pursue MBA! Quality of institutes, easy immigration process, and availability of new opportunities – are the main attractions that the USA offers to International Students.   “What are the benefits of pursuing an MBA?”, you may ask. The benefits are many! You will find the main advantages in the next section.

Why MBA?

In USA and Europe, managerial/administrative jobs are financially well rewarding. An MBA can help you build a dream career in the management sector!   A Bachelor’s Degree will help give direction and shape to your career. But a Master’s Degree like an MBA will help broaden the career prospects. It will open new doors of opportunity in front of you!   It is not uncommon to see Bachelor’s Degree holders hitting a plateau in their careers! An MBA can help give a boost to your stalled career growth!

Why the USA?

Looking from International Students’ point of view, American B-Schools have a lot to offer. Some of the main attractions are –

• Competitive curriculum.
• Availability of reputed Institutes and Universities.
• Chance to settle down in the USA.
• Chance to experience the culture and lifestyle.
• Experienced faculty.
• Excellent infrastructure.
• Opportunity to work part-time.

The USA has always been a very popular destination among International Students. The higher education system in the USA is designed to accommodate them easily. Apart from that, the diversity of the ‘student population’ is also an advantage that attracts foreign students to the USA.   An American MBA is also a very valuable addition to one’s CV! MBA programs in the USA are highly rated and recognized by reputed accreditation bodies. It can help open new doors of opportunities in front of you!

Types of MBA programs in the USA

MBA programs can broadly be classified into two types –

• General management program
• Specialization program

A general MBA program focuses on the fundamentals of management. The curriculum covers core management subjects such as HRM, Marketing, Finance, Entrepreneurship etc.   Apart from that, there also exists numerous MBA programs, which focus on a particular niche/domain/discipline. Such programs are known as specialization programs.  A typical specialization program focuses on both general management subjects and specialization-specific subjects.

Best MBA Specializations in the USA

• MBA in HR Management.
• MBA in Digital Marketing.
• MBA in Business Analytics.
• MBA in Media Management.
• MBA in Healthcare Management.
• MBA in Information Technology.
• MBA in Operations Management.
• MBA in International Business.
• MBA in Finance Management.
• MBA in Marketing Management.
• MBA in Project Management.
• MBA in Retail Management.
• MBA in Banking and Insurance.
• MBA in Taxation.
• MBA in Shipping and Logistics Management.

Here’s a brief introduction to some notable MBA specializations –

MBA in HR Management

HRM is here to stay! As long as companies recruit and employ personnel, HR managers will be in demand! Companies hire skilled HR managers to take care of tasks such as recruitment, employee development, training & retention, performance analysis, compensation, and rewards.

MBA in Marketing Management

In order to sell goods and services, businesses need an effective marketing strategy. They depend on skilled marketing managers to develop, test and execute marketing campaigns and strategies. In short, skilled marketing managers will always be in demand!

MBA in Digital Marketing

Thanks to the advent of IT and Digital Technology, Digital Marketing has become very important. Sectors such as Digital Media, Online Branding, and E-Commerce have opened doors to new opportunities!   In order to remain competitive in Digital Age, companies need skilled Digital Marketers. This relatively new MBA specialization is here to stay and will generate more job opportunities in the future!

MBA in IT

IT (Information Technology) plays a key role in our day-to-day lives. We use IT systems for purposes such as healthcare, education, governance, entertainment, and shopping!   MBA in IT program is well known for churning out IT managers. IT managers are hired by IT firms and allied companies to take manage IT projects.

MBA in Travel and Tourism Management

The USA has a thriving travel and tourism industry. Each year, hundreds of thousands of tourists visit NZ!   If you want to build a career in the travel and tourism sector, this academic program will be of help to you!

MBA in Finance Management

Why do companies hire finance managers? Finance managers ensure that there is good cash flow. They take care of strategic management and monetary decisions. They play a crucial role in ensuring the operational health of a company.   Skilled finance managers will always be in demand!

MBA in Business Analytics

Data, if analyzed properly, can work wonders for a company! Business analytics mainly deals with data analytics and statistical methods!   Business analytics uses a set of metrics to investigate and study the past performance of a company. The conclusion can be used to formulate strategy and plans for the company’s future!

MBA in Healthcare management

The healthcare sector is growing at a healthy pace in the USA. In order to ensure the healthcare system’s smooth functioning, we need skilled healthcare managers!

MBA in Media Management

Media managers are recruited by newspapers, Digital media firms, Internet media firms, Publishing firms etc. Media – traditional and new age – is here to stay. As long as it stays, skilled media managers will always be in demand!

MBA in Aviation Management

The aviation industry is doing decently well in the USA. Around the globe, this sector is doing well. It generates ample job opportunities. Aviation management professionals are hired by Airlines, travel, and tourism firms.

Other Management Programs

If you are not interested in an MBA, there are other Master’s level management programs available in the USA. Some such notable programs are –

• Master of Science.
• Postgraduate Diploma in Management.

Attractive specializations are also available in these programs. Notable specialization programs are –

• Master of Science in Logistics Management.
• Master of Science in Supply Chain Management.
• Master of Science in Marketing Management.
• Master of Science in International Business.
• PG Diploma in Business Administration.

Different modes of learning

In the USA, you will find learning modes designed for everyone’s needs! An individual may choose a learning mode based on his/her present status (employed, student, international student, etc).   Here are some of the notable learning modes –

• Regular Classroom programs.
• Online learning programs.
• Distance Education programs.
• Fast-track programs.
• Executive programs.
• Part-time programs.

Dynamic nature of programs

The MBA curriculum is constantly evolving. We are living in the Digital Age now. Here, business practices get easily influenced by technology. As a result, in order to keep up with these changes in business practices, the MBA curriculum must also be updated!

Signs of change are visible though. The emergence of relatively new MBA programs such as the MBA in Digital Marketing & MBA in IT (Information Technology) shows that management education is still capable of evolving!

Eligibility

In order to be considered eligible to pursue this academic program, one must satisfy some basic requirements. For US citizens and international students, the minimum educational qualification required is – a completed undergraduate or Bachelor’s Degree from a recognized Institute/University.

Admission Process

While applying for admission, applicants must submit GMAT (Graduate Management Admissions Test) or GRE (Graduate Record Examination) results (not older than the specified period).   Non-native English speakers and International students must hold a valid score on English language tests such as TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) and PTE (Pearson Test of English Academic).

Apart from that, depending upon the admission policy of the institute, they must also submit the following documents and things –

• Resume.
• Essays.
• Transcripts.
• Other supporting documents.

Colleges

Here are some of the best MBA colleges in the USA –

• Harvard University.
• Stanford University.
• Yale University.
• MIT.
• Cornell University.
• Carnegie Mellon University.
• Columbia University.
• New York University.
• The University of Washington.
• George Washington University.
• University of Florida.
• Michigan State University.
• Purdue University.
• Boston University.
• University of California (San Diego).
• University of California (LA).
• University of California (Davis).
• University of California (Berkeley).
• University of Southern California.
• University of Pennsylvania.
• Rice University.
• University of Texas at Austin.
• University of North Carolina.
• University of Michigan.
• Duke University.
• The University of Virginia.
• The University of Chicago.
• Northwestern University.
• Arizona State University.
• University of Maryland.
• The University of Iowa.
• The University of Rochester.
• Boston College.
• University of Texas at Dallas.
• Ohio State University.
• Indiana University.
• The University of Wisconsin.
• University of Illinois.
• University of Minnesota.

Fees

Fees charged for the program varies from one institute to another. Tuition fees depend upon the following factors –

• Type of institute (Government, Private, Aided, etc).
• Status and rating of the college.
• Scholarship status (of a student, if applicable).

It could be anywhere between 25-90K $. For Institute-specific tuition fees, readers should check the institute’s prospectus or website.