University of Alabama—Tuscaloosa - Manderson Graduate School of Business

The Manderson Graduate School of Business at the University of Alabama—Tuscaloosa offers a full-time, campus-based two-year MBA program with focuses in areas such as Business Analytics, Financial Risk, and Cyber-security/Management Information Systems. Undergraduates also consider the STEM Path to the MBA, which allows them to earn an MBA in one year following graduation and “apply…problem solving and critical thinking skills from an engineering degree to the business world.” Each traditional MBA class of 50-60 students follows a lockstep curriculum as a cohort, and with more than 75 years of existence under its belt, “the infrastructure is so developed and the program is established.” That’s not to say it’s static: “Manderson continues to innovate and offer more courses in areas of interest” and “the main areas that have been pivoted and continue to grow [are] consulting, business analytics, real estate, and strategy.”

Faculty here are “a decorated staff ready to teach” that “come from a diverse background to give you a different perspective on your core curriculum” and “are prepared for each class and try not to overcomplicate lectures.” Though the curriculum is fixed, there are many “opportunities beyond the classroom that would amplify…career opportunities,” and professors “give seminars outside of class to the business school, and are very successful and well connected.” The administration is similarly attentive and helpful, and are “a great resource for getting information and reaching your career goals.” Overall, Manderson “provides a stimulating and rigorous academic experience that is beneficial in a multitude of ways.”

The program at University of Alabama—Tuscaloosa's Manderson Graduate School of Business is meant to bridge a gap between pre-professional students and leadership roles . Accordingly, “most of the students in this program are younger” and often attended UA for undergrad. But regardless of how you came to the school, there are “lots of resources for every aspect of student life.” The MBA Association (MBAA) “holds socials every other week to allow for us to engage with people in all MBA classes and meet students who are not in our specific classes,” and a number of organizations serve to connect students of different backgrounds (such as Manderson Women in Business and the National Black MBAA). Additionally, there are “social, philanthropic, educational, and mentorship activities” happening continually, and every week the program “has a special topic speaker.” The “environment in Tuscaloosa is amazing (especially around football season),” and the supportive students at Manderson “really want to create an environment where we can learn as peers effectively.”

The focus on future leadership is evident in the “strong internship culture between the traditional two year program,” and there are opportunities for “unparalleled networking, both with our alumni community and with the professional world” (the Class of 2019 had a 91.3% job placement rate within 90 days of graduation ). The administration “clearly puts an emphasis on growth outside of the classroom,” and “does an excellent job of facilitating extracurricular career-building activities.”

Prospective MBAs will be delighted to hear that the Manderson Graduate School of Business is teeming with “lots of opportunities to learn and grow.” To begin with, “extracurricular activities [such as] intramural sports [and] MBA case team…are promoted throughout the year, and participation is high.” Further, the “MBA Association (MBAA) does a good job of hosting social parties to let the students bond and de-stress.” And certainly, the university at large hosts “great athletic events which are fun for students to attend.” We’ve also been told that when spring rolls around, the “weather is unbeatable” and many students flock to hang out “on the quad or [one of] the many parks around the city.” Lastly, though Tuscaloosa is “a small town,” students insist that it “has a lot to offer as far as restaurants, bars, and even concerts at the local amphitheater.”

When it comes to their classmates, students report that they tend to skew on the “younger” side. In fact, many “are just out of undergrad” and therefore their work “experience is minimal.” Manderson MBA students “are very friendly and approach everything in a team-oriented manner.” They also seem to place a premium on both “networking and developing friendships.” Students here are typically “hard-working” as well as “very driven and hungry for success.” And one content student sums up his experience by stating, “The Alabama MBA program does a great job of placing us in groups that get along very well with one another.”