Penn State World Campus
Contact Information
Penn State World Campus - Online MBA Admissions
The Pennsylvania State University
128 Outreach Building
University Park, PA 16802
Phone: 814-863-5386
Main Website: www.worldcampus.psu.edu/mba4military
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Program Accreditation(s):
The Penn State Online MBA program, led by the internationally-ranked Penn State Smeal College of Business and offered through Penn State World Campus, carries the elite AACSB accreditation, an honor reserved for the top 5% of business schools worldwide. The Pennsylvania State University is also accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.
Admission Requirements
Online MBA
The goal of the Penn State Online MBA admission process is to recruit, admit, and enroll candidates who will succeed academically in the MBA program, excel as leaders, and achieve professional success as Penn State Alumni.Applications are submitted electronically. You will need to upload the following items as part of your application:
• A copy of an official transcript from each institution attended
• GPA and GMAT/GRE test scores *
• Two References
• Résumé
• Essay Response
• Online interview may be requested* GMAT or GRE waivers are offered to applicants with Ph.D., M.D., or D.O. degrees, and may also be considered for those with other advanced professional degrees and/or progressive work experience and/or leadership experience. Factors considered for granting a waiver include demonstration of readiness to complete graduate education, quantitative ability, and advanced analytical reasoning skills. Request for waiver consideration should be sent to psuonlinemba@psu.edu. Please include your résumé and academic transcripts with your request. All waiver requests will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.
We have identified four major criteria that, when considered together, help us effectively evaluate potential for success. The criteria are discussed in more detail below.
Tuition
Online MBA Program Estimated Annual Expenses for the 2017-18 Academic Year:Tuition* $1,185/credit hour
Credits Required 48
Total Estimated Tuition $56,880Additional Costs
Information Technology Fee** $86 - $252/semester
Books and Materials varies by courseThe cost for the Online MBA program covers all tuition, residency lodging, and meals during the residency. Transportation to the residency is not included and is the responsibility of the student. There is no additional charge for non-Pennsylvania residents.
*Total tuition is based on 2017-18 per credit rates and may increase slightly at the start of each academic year.
**The technology fee is assessed every semester and varies based on total number of credits.
Description of Learning Environment for Students
The Penn State Online MBA promotes discipline, team orientation, and practical skill building much like the training that you have experienced in your military career. Our program is well-suited for students furthering their education during or following a military career.
Courses in the Online MBA program are asynchronous — so you are not required to attend online classes at a specific time. Most courses, however, will include a voluntary synchronous component so you can interact with professors and peers virtually every week.
Your education will also blend self-study with peer-to-peer interaction over an online learning network. You will complete weekly assignments, readings, discussions, and occasional group work, as well as exams and other activities designed to enhance your learning outcomes, usually at times that are convenient for you.
As a student, you will also participate in a 5-day residency experience on Penn State's University Park campus at the start of the program. This residency helps to prepare you for a successful, integrative, collaborative, and engaging online learning experience.
Faculty
Top-Ranked Faculty
The Smeal faculty ranks #1 in Supply Chain Management education, and #1 in Management Research. We are top 20 in research excellence across all business disciplines. In strategy, we are ranked third in the country, with two of our professors listed among the top ten coaches in the world for strategy and leadership. As a resource, our faculty bring vast experience to the table, which is applied in a uniquely personal, one-on-one process. We believe learning is doing, and our structure ensures you'll have close contact with our faculty at all times. So, you become an integral part of the knowledge creation process working side by side with faculty members on the actual research projects that are guiding businesses today.
Military Highlights
• Nearly 5,000 military and veteran students are advancing their education through Penn State. More than half of them are doing so online through Penn State World Campus.
• Approximately 23 percent of online students enrolled in Penn State’s current MBA program are military or veteran students.
• Our dedicated Office of Veterans Programs is available as a resource to our students. In addition, Penn State World Campus has a team of VA Certifying Officials who can help answer questions regarding VA benefit eligibility.
• Penn State World Campus abides the high standards set forth through the Department of Defense (DoD) Memorandum of Understanding (MOU),) Executive Order 13607 Principles of Excellence, and the 8 Keys to Veterans’ Success.
• Our commitment to veteran and military students has been acknowledged by several publications and organizations:
o U.S. News & World Report’s Best Online Programs for Veterans; No. 4, Best Online MBA programs***
o Military Times Best for Vets: Colleges 2017
o 2017 Gold-level Military Friendly® School
o Military Advanced Education & Transition 2017 Top Colleges and Universities
• Smeal participates in the Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC) "military-friendly" school program.
• Our Online MBA recruiters all in the top 100 for government contractors – aligning your past experience and future opportunities.***Ranking based on current intercollege MBA program that is being replaced with the redesigned and enhanced Online MBA, led by Smeal College of Business.
Application Fee
Your application fee of $65 will be waived for active-duty military personnel and veterans. Simply contact us at psuonlinemba@psu.edu to request the military fee waiver code.Financial Support and/or Scholarships
Penn State Smeal College of Business offers a few highly competitive merit-based scholarships to Online MBA students who have demonstrated extraordinary personal, professional, or academic achievements, or the ability to contribute a unique perspective to the class. Because all applicants are automatically considered for a scholarship, you are encouraged to submit your completed application portfolio as soon as possible. To learn more, please contact psuonlinemba@psu.edu.Post-9/11 GI Bill and The Yellow Ribbon Program
Fully qualified U.S. veterans who have served on active duty since Sept. 11, 2001, and who wish to attend Penn State are eligible for assistance with tuition costs, thanks to Smeal's participation in the U.S. Government Yellow Ribbon Program, part of the Post 9/11 GI Bill. "Penn State recognizes the tremendous contributions being made by our servicemen and women and wants to ensure they have access to a Penn State education, regardless of their state of origin," said Brian Clark, director of Penn State's Office of Veterans Programs. For more info, go to http://www.gibill.va.gov/GI_Bill_info/ch33/yellow_ribbon.htm.Deferral
Penn State World Campus is committed to meeting the diverse needs of its military students. We will provide up to two years of enrollment deferral if your MBA plans are delayed by your military service.