What sets the Central Michigan University MBA apart

For more than six decades, Central Michigan University’s MBA program has helped professionals sharpen their skills, expand their perspective, and step into leadership roles across industries.

The program blends rigorous academics with practical learning, giving students the tools to analyze complex problems, lead teams, and make informed decisions in a changing business landscape.

“The MBA program has a long history of the College of Business Administration,” said MBA Program Director Lhila Aparna. “We've been offering the program for more than 60 years. We keep the curriculum updated, and we get input from industry leaders to make sure that the it remains relevant.”

That ongoing industry input helps ensure students are learning the skills employers expect, across disciplines like accounting, finance, data analytics, management, marketing, and strategy.

Building a strong foundation in business

The MBA curriculum is designed to give students a broad understanding of how organizations operate before allowing them to specialize.

“The program is composed of 36 credit hours, which is 12 classes,” Aparna explained. “Nine of them are core courses that cover all the functional areas of business, like a little bit of accounting, a little bit of finance, data analytics, economics, management, marketing and strategy.”

Once students complete that core foundation, they can tailor the degree to their career goals through emphasis areas such as accounting, human resources, marketing, project management, logistics, finance, and information systems.

Several of these emphasis areas, including business data analytics, cybersecurity, information systems, logistics, finance, and project management, are STEM-certified, giving students additional opportunities in high-demand fields.

The program also holds accreditation from AACSB, widely recognized as the gold standard in business education.

“We're also very proud of the fact that we are accredited by AACSB,” Aparna said. “It means that an external organization is making sure that we are qualified, we have qualified faculty teaching our courses, that our curriculum is relevant, that what we say we are teaching is what we're actually teaching.”

Flexible paths for today’s learners

The CMU MBA is designed to meet students wherever they are in their careers.

Students can complete the program either on campus in Mount Pleasant, Mich., or fully online through an asynchronous format that allows working professionals to balance coursework with career and personal responsibilities.

“The online program can be completed completely online, asynchronous,” Aparna said. “And that's great for the working professionals who are balancing work and life.”

Undergraduate students at CMU can also begin their graduate journey early through an accelerated option that allows them to take MBA courses during their senior year.

An MBA for many career paths

One of the strengths of the CMU MBA program is its accessibility. Students come from a wide range of academic backgrounds and professional fields.

“You really can come from any background,” Aparna said. “If you're trying to become a manager or if you're trying to get promoted in whatever field you're in, an MBA can benefit you.”

Graduates go on to careers across industries, from automotive and healthcare to finance, insurance, and entrepreneurship.

“We've got students working at Ford and GM. We've got students in Blue Cross Blue Shield,” Aparna said. “Students go into positions like a project manager or a financial analyst or a marketing strategist, or they just want to start their own business.”

For many students, the degree becomes a launchpad for leadership opportunities or a way to pivot into new areas of business.

Making the most of the experience

Beyond coursework, Aparna encourages students to take full advantage of the professional development opportunities available through the program.

“Many students get so focused on schoolwork that they forget that there's all this other stuff that they can also do,” she said.

Career workshops, industry speakers, competitions, and networking events give students opportunities to apply what they learn while building professional connections.

“We have career workshops. We have dialog days where we have industry experts come and speak. We have the New Venture Challenge. We have the ERPsim,” she said. “There’s so many applied and professional development opportunities, and it would be a missed opportunity if you're just doing the 36 credit hours.”

Her advice is simple: get involved, meet people, and take advantage of every opportunity.

“You should get out, get involved, meet your faculty, network with the students because they are who are going to help you in the future.”

A community focused on growth

At its core, the CMU MBA program is about helping students grow, professionally, academically, and personally.

Through applied learning, supportive faculty, and strong industry connections, students develop the confidence and experience needed to lead in a complex and evolving business world.

And for prospective students considering the next step in their careers, Aparna offers one piece of encouragement:

“Don't wait for the perfect time,” she said. “Apply and start, and then we will help guide you through the process.”