Rochester Executive-format MBA

Designed from the ground up for working professionals in the Rochester area, this program provides a flexible, primarily face-to-face MBA curriculum to meet the needs of the region’s career-focused students. All core classes meet on the University of Minnesota Rochester campus. The executive-style format offers Friday afternoon and Saturday morning classes that take place on alternating weekends throughout the year, with some additional format choices for elective courses. The average time to completion is 2 years, though students may shorten or extend their timeline based on their desires. 

As the only AACSB-accredited MBA program in the region and with a majority of students coming from management levels within local organizations such as Mayo Clinic, IBM, Hormel Foods, major businesses in the Twin Cities metro area and national companies offering remote work, you can be assured of a high-level discussion relevant to your career. Our faculty are experts at developing interactive classrooms where you will learn not only from them but also from your classmates who represent a diverse set of work experiences. 

Our goal is to effectively prepare you to excel in your current role, qualify for future positions, and meet your personal career aspirations. We accomplish this by providing you with global industry-relevant curriculum, topic-qualified faculty, a strong alumni network, and a support system to ensure you confidently navigate the application process through your student experience–culminating in the completion of your MBA degree.

US News & World Report Best Grad Schools 2024 Ranking Logo

The Labovitz School of Business and Economics was ranked as a top 5 "Best Business School" in the Upper Midwest (MN, IA, ND, SD, WI) by U.S. News & World Report in 2024. Of universities with MBA programs, the school ranks second in Minnesota.

Program Overview

Academics

The Labovitz MBA curriculum is designed to effectively prepare you for management roles within a variety of industries. The Labovitz School puts an emphasis on outstanding and innovative learning that is centered around creative problem-solving. We equip you for success in an ever-expanding global marketplace.

Unlike many other programs, the Labovitz MBA program requires completion of only 32 graduate-level credits.

MBA Core Courses (20 credits)

  • Business Ethics
  • Data Analysis & Statistics for Managers
  • Decision Making in Operations
  • Accounting for Decision Making and Control
  • Managerial Economics
  • Financial Management and Decision Making
  • Strategic Marketing Management
  • Human Resources Challenges

Elective Courses (9 credits)

  • 1-3 credit electives at the 5xxx or 8xxx level
  • Other options include directed research, special topics, or short-term study abroad

Capstone Course (3 credits)

  • Strategic Management

Upcoming Rochester Class Schedule PDF

Study Abroad Opportunities

Students in the Labovitz MBA may choose to study abroad as one of their electives. Each year, there are numerous opportunities to participate in short-term, faculty-led, study abroad opportunities offered through the Labovitz School.

Recent programs have included courses in Australia, China, India, Ireland, Peru, and Thailand. Unlike most graduate-level courses, graduate students on these short-term programs pay the same program fee as undergraduates but earn graduate-level credit that counts towards their electives in the program.

Explore the Study Abroad Office to learn more.

Prerequisites

Foundation Coursework

Current Schedule of Foundation Courses

A basic foundation in business is required to prepare you for the graduate level MBA program. Students may satisfy these prerequisites through foundation coursework, prior undergraduate coursework, or proving competency by exam.

Our two-credit foundation courses are offered fully online at the undergraduate tuition rate. Foundation courses are to be completed ahead of program admission or within your first four semesters. Courses include Accounting, Economics, Operations, Management, Statistics, Finance, Marketing, and Human Resources.

Students completing all 8 courses can choose to earn a Certificate in Business Administration from the Labovitz School.

Mathematics

All students are required to have an adequate quantitative background to begin the MBA program, which includes College Algebra and Finite Mathematics/Precalculus.

Admission Requirements

As part of the Labovitz MBA admission process, each applicant's complete application is carefully considered, including undergraduate GPA, GMAT or GRE score, years of full-time work experience, professional goals, and completion of formal education or training in foundation areas.

Requirements

Preferred Qualifications

  • Undergraduate GPA minimum of 3.0 (on a 4-point scale)
  • 2+ years of full-time work experience
  • 570+ GMAT Score

Detailed Application Instructions