Find The Best Iowa MBA Programs and Degrees

Your Guide to Career, Curriculum and Education

Home/States/Find The Best Iowa MBA Programs and Degrees

EARN AN ONLINE MBA DEGREE TODAY

As you think about earning your MBA, don’t forget that you need to find the right program for your goals and career. As well as you may be doing now, you know you can expand your career and options with an MBA.

In Iowa, you can choose from several accredited MBA programs. Depending on your individual and family situation, you’ll need to choose one of several programs—online, full-time, or part-time.

If you can take the time away from your job, you may be able to enroll in a program that offers a cohort approach to your degree. Look for additional features to the programs you’re looking at.

With this in mind, look for a program that allows you to best meet your goals and graduate with the concentration you want (health care management, informatics or another concentration).

WHY CONSIDER AN ONLINE MBA?

If you already live in Iowa, you may not want to leave home to earn your MBA. You may have come here from another state for work or because of family. If so, you shouldn’t have to leave.

Instead, find a program at one of several Iowa universities. You’ll benefit from a supportive learning environment with professors and instructors who encourage their students to do their best.

As you’re thinking about your choices, conduct a side-by-side comparison. Along with studying each MBA program, look at full-time, concurrent, professional, and executive MBA programs.

Don’t forget to think about the number of credits you’ll be required to take during your MBA. A good, two-year, full-time program may total 36 credit hours. Several of these will be core courses while the remaining classes will be elective courses that round out your MBA education.

Percentage of Students Enrolled in Online Programs in Iowa

MBA Concentrations for Iowa Students

At the University of Iowa, Tippie College of Business, you’ll have your choice of four concentrations within three study areas. These include Business Analytics, Corporate Finance, and Investment Management within the Finance concentration and finally, a Marketing concentration.

At Iowa State university, choose between an MBA in Technology and Innovation Management, the MBA in Supply Chain Management, an MBA in Marketing, the MBA in Finance, an Accounting MBA, an MBA in Business Analytics or an MBA in Information Systems.

Drake University’s on-campus MBA offers a hybrid MBA (online and on-campus). Concentration areas include: Nonprofit Management, Accounting, Marketing, Financial Management, Innovation and Leadership, Health Care Management and Human Resources.

Accreditation in Iowa

The University of Iowa’s Tippie College of Business is accredited by the Association for the Advancement of Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB). Tippie College of Business has maintained its accreditation since 1923.

Drake’s College of Business and Public Administration has also been accredited by the AACSB.

The University of Northern Iowa maintains high standards, which have helped them to earn accreditations from the AACSB.

University of Northern Iowa holds international recognition with its accreditation from the AACSB. Fewer than 5 business schools worldwide hold this distinction.

CAREER AND JOB OUTLOOK FOR GRADUATES

As of August 2018, Iowa’s economy has shown gains in several employment areas. Overall, the labor force has grown slightly.

For graduates of MBA programs within the state, employment is promising, according to the numbers published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). In positions, such as general and operations managers, employment sits at just under 25,000. Throughout the state, marketing managers fill about 2,200 management positions.

Computer and Information Systems managers hold down nearly 3,700 positions, with Financial Managers occupying about 8,790 positions. Industrial Production managers occupy 3,360 positions while Human Resources managers fill 1,570. Medical and Health Services managers occupy 6,160 management positions and managers in general, 3,380.

According to the University of Iowa’s Tippie College of Business, MBA graduates can expect to find full-time management positions within three months of their graduations. In 2016, an average of 92% of students were presented with job offers. The average acceptance of job offers was just behind, at 90%.

Even better, Iowa MBA graduates received signing bonuses averaging $17,339; their starting salaries were, on average, about $88,722.

Top Employers in Lowa

CompanyIndustryHeadquarters CityNumber of Employees
Community State BankBanking, investmentAnkeny, IA21 in Ankeny branch
MidAmerican EnergyProject AnalystDes Moines72
Des Moines Community CollegeAdjunct instructorDes Moines1,737
Iowa CornLeadership Development ManagerDes Moines30

EARNING POTENTIAL WITH AN MBA IN IOWA

Closing Specialist, Farm Credit Services of America, in Harlan. $37,890 to $72,940/year.

In this position, the specialist performs loan-closing functions. Theymanage all non-credit issues from loan approval through finalization of loans, monitor appraisals and closing conditions, and ensure compliance with all regulations and procedures connected to loan closing.

Regional Director of Business Development, Deer Oaks Consultation Services in Des Moines. $54,000 to $74,000/annually.

This manager ensures the expansion of service delivery in an assigned territory. They cultivate and develop relationships with existing and future customer facilities throughout the sales cycle. They must understand and drive the momentum of the Deer Oaks Consultation Service and understand the challenges the company faces in its region—market saturation, payer source support, and behavioral health awareness. The position reports to the Chief Growth Officer, working in conjunction with other Deer Oaks leadership to expand several service lines.

Top MBA Careers in Iowa

Rembrandt Foods:The cost analyst develops internal and external relationships. They manage month-end activities and leverage assets to maximize performance and minimize waste. They also identify risks and opportunities for product movement. Reports of key performance metrics are provided to higher level executives.

Johnson Controls: This executive reports to the Major Projects Sales Manager. The employee in this position is responsible for sale of large volume, integrated low voltage technology solutions to contractors and consultants who are responsible for new construction and renovation projects.

Mechdyne Corporation:The technical sales representative must be a high energy, driven individual with a strong business acumen, high-level relationship skills, and a strong fascination with new technology.

Iowa State University: Debbie and Jerry Ivy College of Business provides marketing classes to undergraduate students. A lecturer must be able to capably deliver course materials through several delivery methods.

Des Moines Area Community College:A position for a temporary, part-time instructor. The instructor will teach assigned courses in compliance with course competencies and syllabi. They will be expected to use a variety of instructional strategies.

Iowa State University: Debbie and Jerry Ivy College of Business needs lecturers to teach undergraduate students within the Management Department. They will teach course materials using a variety of teaching methods.

TOP ONLINE MASTERS PROGRAM CHOICES

Location:

Iowa City, IA

Tuition:

$ $ $ $ $

  • Jackson_State_University_logo
  • Tuition

    29,925

  • Receiving financial aid

    47%

  • Student population

    24% (33,334)

  • Public or Private

    Public

Location:

Ames, IA

Tuition:

$ $ $ $ $

  • J_University_of_Mississippi
  • Tuition

    16,983

  • Receiving financial aid

    81%

  • Student population

    14% (36,321)

  • Public or Private

    Public

Location:

Des Moines, IA

Tuition:

$ $ $ $ $

  • Mississippi_State_University
  • Tuition

    27,300

  • Receiving financial aid

    99%

  • Student population

    34% (4,991)

  • Public or Private

    Private

Location:

Fayette, IA

Tuition:

$ $ $ $ $

  • University_of_Southern_Mississippi
  • Tuition

    19,260

  • Receiving financial aid

    85%

  • Student population

    11.9% (900)

  • Public or Private

    Private

Location:

Davenport, IA

Tuition:

$ $ $ $ $

  • Millsaps_College_logo
  • Tuition

    22,500

  • Receiving financial aid

    98%

  • Student population

    28% (2,370)

  • Public or Private

    Private

HOW TO CHOOSE THE BEST MBA PROGRAM

Figure out how much your chosen MBA program will cost you. Don’t forget about food and a living space if you’re relocating.

Choose classes that fit with your work schedule and family obligations. An online, self-paced program allows you to study while working or taking care of family obligations.

Make sure the MBA program at your chosen university has been accredited. This makes it much easier for you to find a job post-graduation.

Contact the alumni offices of each school you’re interested in. Ask for connections to former students. Ask them about all the details of the programs you’re considering.

1

Know who you are and what goals you want to achieve. This helps you to be “real” as you apply to each graduate program you’re interested in. Ask yourself questions about your anticipated future—what are your weaknesses and strengths? What are your career goals? Don’t limit your goals and plans. Go big. Describe how you want to change the world and look for the common denominator that connects your past choices to your goals. Tell your story and make sure that it contains a clear vision of your future. Speak to others to get to know yourself.

2

Choose a school by choosing schools that are a stretch for your goals. If you’re not sure about your decisions, the admissions committee will be able to sense this. Look at each program’s features rather than just MBA rankings. Talk to current students and alumni. Ask them to tell you truthfully what they like about their school and what they don’t like. You’re looking for little-known nuggets of information, not the trite statements. After all, in learning what others really think, you’ll be able to make a better choice.

3

Think like a marketer—of yourself. Develop a personal brand by identifying your own individual expertise and the contributions you could make to an MBA program. Use this thinking in every part of your admission applications. What has affected your view of the world? Once you identify these events, use them to illustrate who you are as you work on your essays and applications. If you come from a special group (woman, minority, LGTBQ) push this as you work on your applications. Your interests can also set you apart. If you competed in a recent Olympics, for instance, use that.

4

Study for your GMAT. In the end, you may need to take it a few times until you earn your desired score. Remember, you can’t run a marathon the first time you run. Achieve your GMAT testing goal in small increments until you reach it. If there is one section that is giving you trouble, study that or get together with a study buddy to help you out. Go over the material until you understand it without effort. Take practice tests to measure your progress and so you can continue to monitor those troublesome areas for yourself.

5

Write out a fresh resume that you’ll use only for your applications. Support your value to each program with supporting evidence—past sales goals achievements or restructuring of a department for your employer, for instance. As you write your resume out, avoid using technical language and industry-specific jargon. You’ll make admissions committees zone out. Emphasize the skills you have that are relevant to your planned role as an MBA student. Remember that someone else with your job title elsewhere in the country is probably applying to several of your chosen schools. Why are you better than this person?