Online MBA in Alaska
Welcome to our in-depth guide on online MBA programs in Alaska! An online MBA can help open many employment opportunities and help advance your career goals. To help you find the right program, we have put together this resource-specific to MBA programs in Alaska. From MBA programs to job outlook data and financial aid, you will find plenty of in-depth information packed into this guide. All the best as you pursue your education!
Online MBA Programs in Alaska
The University of Alaska Fairbanks offers the only AACSB-Accredited online MBA program in the state. AACSB accreditation is considered by many to be the “gold standard” of business school accreditation. It is a coveted badge of honor that only 5% of b-schools worldwide possess and speaks to the quality and caliber level that one can expect from a program.
1. University of Alaska Fairbanks
The University of Alaska Fairbanks School of Management offers an AACSB-Accredited online MBA program in Alaska. It is available on campus and, depending on concentration, also fully or partially online. All courses are delivered by UAF’s top-notch faculty and built on a platform of innovation, discovery, and service.
The program is 30 credit hours in length and can be completed on a full-time or part-time basis. Two concentrations are offered: General Management and Capital Markets. The General Management option is available fully online and does not require any campus-based classes. Components of the Capital Markets focus are available online, but some classes are still campus-based. Full-time students typically take 9 credits per semester, and many finish the program within 2-3 years. Foundational pre-MBA modules are available online for students who lack a business background.
Program Admission
To apply, an accredited undergraduate degree is required. Depending on the GPA, an entrance exam and or GRE/GMAT exam score might be required. Applicants are encouraged to apply six months before they plan to begin their studies.
Foundational Coursework
Standard courses (18 credits) –Corporate Strategy, Financial Markets and Strategy, Marketing Management, Organizational Theory for Managers, and Quantitative Methods for Managers.
Program Concentrations and Specialization Options
- General Management (9 Credits) – Example Courses: Business Law and Ethics, Economics of Environmental and Business Sustainability, and Innovation Management.
- Capital Markets (9 Credits) – Example Courses: Controllership, Derivative Securities, and Fixed Income Securities and Markets.
MBA Programs in Alaska
There are a total of 2 AACSB-Accredited MBA programs in Alaska. Below you will find useful and organized facts on each program.
1. University of Alaska Anchorage
University of Alaska Anchorage’s College of Business and Public Policy offers a campus based MBA in General Management. The program is AACSB-Accredited and designed to prepare students to become effective leaders and managers in both the non-profit and for-profit sectors. The program is focused on management practice and aims to provide students with state-of-the-art management theory and practice.
The program is 36 credits in length, including 9 foundational credits, 21 core credits, 3 executive focus credits, and 3 foundational courses. Foundational courses can be waived depending on previous coursework taken. Students can pursue the program on either a full-time or part-time basis, and classes are generally scheduled during weeknights and Saturdays. Completion time is typically 3 years. Areas of emphasis include Business Intelligence and Business Analytics, Entrepreneurship, Leadership, and Marketing.
Admission
To apply, students must possess an accredited undergraduate degree and acceptable GPA. An official GMAT score is also required (waivable).
Foundational Coursework
Standard Courses (21 credits) –Applied Leadership, Business Intelligence and Analytics, Current Marketing Issues Seminar, Financial Decision Making, Organizational Behavior and Foundations of Behavioral Science, Seminar in Executive Uses of Accounting, and Strategic Management Seminar.
Program Concentrations and Specialization Options
- Business Intelligence (9 Credits) – Example Courses: Business Data Analysis, Business Intelligence and Data Mining, and Problem Formulation and Decision Analysis.
- Entrepreneurship (9 Credits) – Example Courses: Reading and Managing the Entrepreneurial Venture, Developing a Business Plan.
- Leadership (9 Credits) – Example Courses: Business Environmental Analysis, Change
Leadership and Facilitation, and Performance Management and Coaching. - Marketing (9 Credits) – Example Courses: Consumer Behavior, Global Marketing, and Social Media Strategy.
2. University of Alaska Fairbanks
The University of Alaska Fairbanks School of Management offers an AACSB-Accredited MBA program.The program is delivered both on-campus and online, and is designed to help students succeed professionally in Alaska and beyond.
The program is 30 credit hours in length and can be completed on a full-time or part-time basis (it is also available online). The majority of courses within the General Management concentration are available online, and other classes are continually being added. Full-time students typically take nine credits per semester, and many finish the program within 2-3 years. Concentrations are available and include Capital Markets and General Management. For students without a business degree, foundational pre-MBA modules can be taken online before beginning the MBA program.
Admission
To apply, an accredited undergraduate degree is required. Depending on the GPA, an entrance exam and or GRE/GMAT exam score might be required. Applicants are encouraged to apply six months before they plan to begin their studies.
Foundational Coursework
Standard courses (18 credits) –Corporate Strategy, Financial Markets and Strategy, Marketing Management, Organizational Theory for Managers, and Quantitative Methods for Managers.
Program Concentrations and Specialization Options
- General Management (9 Credits) – Example Courses: Business Law and Ethics, Economics of Environmental and Business Sustainability, and Innovation Management.
- Capital Markets (9 Credits) – Example Courses: Controllership, Derivative Securities, and Fixed Income Securities and Markets.
Alaska MBA Salary and Job Outlook
It is a good idea to understand what your job prospects will be once you graduate. Every state is unique in its job outlook and economic conditions, and Alaska is no different. So, to help you gain an understanding of what you can expect, we have researched and gathered information on major employers in Alaska, pay levels that MBA grads can expect, and much more.
The good news is, lots of opportunities exist.
For example, Providence Health & Services employs more than 4,000 employees, while Alaska Airlines employs 1500+ and FedEx 1000+. Each of these companies (Providence is a Catholic not-for-profit) employs tens of thousands across the United States and requires the unique skill sets that MBA graduates can offer. From maximizing profits to strong leadership and HR practices, large companies (and not-for-profits) are continually in need of the expertise that an MBA graduate can offer.
Many employment sectors, including government and health care, employee a large percentage of Alaskans, and are in need of the abilities MBA grads possess. Employment by sector in Alaska is as follows:
- Rest of Employment – 26.5%
- Government – 24.1%
- Retail – 11.3%
- Heath Care – 10.1%
- Professional and Business Services – 8.5%
- Transportation – 5.8%
- Construction – 5.4%
- Oil and Gas – 4.3%
- Manufacturing – 4.0%
* All data is taken from the April 2016 Official Alaska Economic Trendsreport.
Alaska is home to some excellent MBA programs offered at institutions such as the University of Alaska Anchorage and the University of Alaska Fairbanks. Each is AACSB-Accredited, and UA Fairbanks even offers an online option. In fact, 60% of UA Anchorage graduates are employed in Alaska 5 years after graduation.
In Alaska, MBA graduates typically hold outperform the annual mean wage by at least double. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the annual mean wage for all Alaska occupations for 2015 (May) is $55,760. In contrast, the annual mean wage of MBA holders in different occupations in Alaska are listed below.
- Chief Executives- $171,390
- General and Operations Managers- $104,130
- Managers, All Other- $105,670
- Financial Managers- $115,120
- Marketing Managers- $ 104,280