University of Illinois at Urbana—Champaign - College of Business

The low in-state tuition and access to the resources of a large university have made the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign’s MBA program a popular one. That means getting into popular courses can be difficult, especially highly desired electives seen as “much more interesting” than the sometimes “very elementary” basic business courses. These electives, which have “excellent professors and course material,” is where UI shines. Students at UI are encouraged to tailor their MBA to their own career goals. In year two, students take sixteen credits of electives and sixteen credits towards a concentration in fields like marketing, finance, information technology, or general management. The “relentless coursework” —one student referred to it as “a proving ground” —is balanced by a “terrific staff” who “care about students doing well and make themselves available to everyone for additional support.”

Developing not only your skills but also your ability to use those skills after school is a priority for many professors here. “Overall, the professors here take an interest in students beyond class work and will offer their support in a career search and personal learning and growth.” Indeed, “the school provides ample opportunities for students to get as involved as they’d like. There are several out of the classroom opportunities to gain experience (case competitions, leadership roles, work experience, consulting).” That experience is not limited to working with business leaders in the region, either. “The international opportunities here for MBAs are outstanding. Every student is given the opportunity to do at least one global consulting project that includes travel to a foreign country. Some students are able to travel to two or more countries related to their studies.”

Though professors here are almost universally praised, the administration “has a lot of room for improvement,” especially with regard to “inefficient” communication with students—though others note that the administration is clearly “concerned about student needs.” Overall, “in addition to peerless international immersion opportunities, the University of Illinois provides a close-knit, family-like atmosphere that is simply not matched by any other MBA program, public or private.”

The University of Illinois proves to be a draw in part because “it provides international opportunities that far exceed any other program” in the same price range. One student notes the school “gave me the chance to travel to five emerging economies and apply my media and consulting skill set to diverse clientele.” Responding to student suggestions that the school improve its corporate ties in big cities, the MBA Career Services Organization has become part of a new college wide Business Career Services Organization aimed at increasing visibility for MBA students to companies that recruit at the college.

Prospects for graduates tend to be good. The media base salary for graduates of the Illinois MBA program is close to $90,000 annually, ranging from about $60,000 on the low end to $160,000 on the high end. General management and finance fields draw the highest number of graduates, about half of them taking jobs in the Midwest. The top hiring companies included AT&T, Cisco Systems, Ernst & Young, ExxonMobil, Hewitt Associates, LG, Peabody Energy, Procter & Gamble, Robert Bosch Corporation, and Sears Holdings Corporation.

With peers who tend to be “young professionals who generally are more likely to spend a night in studying class material than go out socially or network,” and who represent a diverse range of places, ages and experiences—some 40 percent come from overseas—it may be surprising that students here are “are easy to engage, very involved and support- ive in each others’ learning.” There is a high level of competition to do well, but students are not overly competitive with one another. “Students are more concerned about seeing success in everyone than putting others down so they can rise to the top.” One student noted, “I was pleasantly surprised that everyone has been really collaborative and not cut throat. Everyone wants to see one another succeed.”

Students here stay busy. If not immersed in studies, they are involved with extracurricular activities, networking, or simply enjoying what this college town has to offer. “It’s been a great place to try new things, meet new people, and figure out what my strengths are.” It’s easy to find the time to wind down from the grind if you’re so inclined, such as on “Thursday nights for Mug Club, when the class goes out to a different bar every week and celebrates the survival of another seven days.” Clubs and students organizations are numerous. “I feel that Illinois strongly encourages students to take on new challenges,” one student notes, “and I’ve gained a lot from this.”