Military MBA

Contact Information

Smeal MBA Admissions
Penn State University
220 Business Building
University Park, PA 16802

Phone: 814-863-0474
Web: www.smeal.psu.edu/mba
Click Here to Contact Pennsylvania State University directly.

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Program Accreditation(s):

Pennsylvania State University is accredited by the AACSB International (Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business).

 

• MBA/JD
  A law degree program offered with the Dickinson School of Law, now located at either the Carlisle, Pennsylvania campus or the new University Park, Pennsylvania campus.

• Science BS/MBA
  An undergraduate degree in science with a Smeal MBA, preparing highly qualified and motivated students to be the future leaders of the world's scientific organizations.
  
  For additional information on joint degrees please visit our joint degree page.
  

 

Admission Requirements

The goal of the Smeal 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.

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.

Admissions Criteria

 

Criteria	Measurement(s)	Associated Application Requirements
	GMAT score	Official GMAT Score
Academic Ability	4-Year Bachelors Degree GPA English language proficiency	Certified Transcripts TOEFL Score
Work Experience	Length and Quality of Work Experience	Resume Recommendations
Leadership Skills	Length and Quality Work Experience Extracurricular Activities	Resume Recommendations
Fit with Program	Career Goals Learning and Leadership Styles	Personal Essays Interview

 

Tuition

Below are estimated tuition expenses for the current academic year:

Estimated Expenses for the 2011 - 2012 Academic Year

Expenses	PA Residents	Out-of-State Residents
Tuition	$21,066	$34,062
Fees	$838	$838
Orientation Fees	$140	$140
Communications Course	$60	$60
Room, Board, & Personal (estimated)	$17,400	$17,400
Laptop Computer	$1,300-$2,200	$1,300-$2,200
Books & Supplies	$2,200-$2,500	$2,200-$2,500
Global Immersion (first-year only)	$1,700	$1,700

 

Description of Learning Environment for Students
Smeal MBA students work hard, play hard, and take advantage of an extraordinary set of opportunities for developing their intellectual and professional potential. You will be encouraged to stretch yourself and reach beyond your previous experiences. "I never worked so hard in all my life, and I never had so much fun," recalls a recent graduate. "When you work on projects with other very bright students and see things taking shape that you wouldn't have thought possible, you just become fearless."

Our Honor Code and Values shape us as students and as future business leaders. If these resonate with you, you belong at Penn State.

We are...Individuals of Character and Integrity
• We value honesty, humility, and hard work.
• We value passion, commitment, and personal responsibility
• We honor our obligation to each other and to the world in which we live.

We are...A Diverse Community built on Common Values
• We value each person's unique contributions to the Community.
• We value trust, mutual respect and collaboration.
• We share our struggles and our successes - and have fun along the way.

We are...Leaders focused on Learning and Individual Growth
• We value intellectual curiosity, creative thinking, and a commitment to excellence.
• We value a curriculum that is relevant, innovative, and practical, and demanding.
• We take risks and reach beyond our perceived limitations.

We are Penn State.

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 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.

Description of Learning Environment for Students
The Penn State Smeal MBA Program 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.

Highlights:
• We have nearly every US military branch represented in the Penn State Smeal MBA program. Several are army logistics officers returning to active duty roles following graduation. Many are those separating and entering civilian professional careers.
• Our dedicated Office of Veterans Programs supports your application, transition, and tenure here at Penn State.
Penn State offers every imaginable resource and research on a massive scale of 40,000 students, yet the class itself is only about 100 members. We are tight-knit and individually focused.
• Our culture is team oriented with a philosophy of “compete outside, collaborate inside.” We help each other develop and count on each other’s support. This is a network built for a lifetime.
• Our MBA recruiters all in the top 100 for government contractors – aligning your past experience and future opportunities.
• Smeal participates in the Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC) "military-friendly" school program.
• In funding, research, and support, Penn State is extremely military and veteran focused.

• Our Office of Military and Security Programs, supports the Homeland Security Initiative and aims to “position Penn State in the lead among academic institutions for military, homeland security and defense, and information operations research and technology development.”
• Penn State does over $355 million in military research. Penn State’s Applied Research Laboratories is one of the U.S. Navy's top civilian research facilities, as well as Penn State's single largest research unit with well over 1,000 employees.
• We consistently rank among the nation’s top universities for federal investment. We were 18th in the nation overall in the 2007 National Science Foundation ranking (last on record). And we are 4th behind only MIT, Johns Hopkins, and Carnegie Mellon in the Top 100 DoD Contractors Receiving Contract Awards for Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation (RDT&E).

Eligibility
Any United States military personnel who have been on active duty within three years prior to applying are eligible for the Smeal MBA Program.

Application Fee
Your application fee of $65 will be waived. Simply contact us at smealmba@psu.edu to request the military fee waiver code.

Financial Support
We commit to making financial aid available to qualified military personnel who have transitioned from the service in the two years prior to enrollment with the Smeal MBA Program. The amount of support offered will be based on the criteria used for our merit-based awards of scholarships and assistantships.

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 information, log onto:http://www.gibill.va.gov/GI_Bill_info/ch33/yellow_ribbon.htm.

Lion Partners
Many military students come to Smeal with their families. Lion Partners provides support to significant others, spouses, and families. As an official Smeal organization, the group plans activities such as weekly dinners, hikes on Mount Nittany, and outings to local cultural and athletic events.

Deferral
We will provide up to two years of enrollment deferral if your MBA plans are delayed by your military service.