By Olivia Koravos
According to The Boston Business Journal’s most recent data on The Master of Business Administration programs in Massachusetts, Fitchburg State University holds the program with the highest majority of females enrolled, with 54.3%. There are many features offered with Fitchburg State’s MBA program. Small groups that allow essential interaction time with other students and faculty, and even 100% online MBA programs are a couple of the most appealing. The on-campus MBA degrees that are offered here at FSU are Master of Business Administration in Accounting, Master of Business Administration in Human Resources and Management, and Master of Business Administration in Management.
Ciara Rodriguez, a first year MBA student at Fitchburg State University talked about what drew her towards this school’s MBA program in particular. Rodriguez stated that, “There were many factors that drew me to the program. Two of the most important were affordability and flexibility of the classes.” Students who want to complete an MBA degree within as few as 12 months’ pay about $12,510. In terms of the flexibility present that Rodriguez mentioned, there are multiple start dates each year, and for her, being able to attend classes in the evenings or on the weekends allowed for more time to pursue additional passions.
Joseph McAloon, chair of the MBA program at Fitchburg State spoke about the many components of this program that make the female experience here so different from other programs offered by the schools around Massachusetts. “Affordability, multiple starting dates, and a streamlined admissions process.” McAloon began, and asked the question: “Why pay $50,000 in Boston when you can get a $12,000 accredited MBA program at Fitchburg?” McAloon added that Fitchburg State partners with a company called Academic Partnerships, and they help FSU with marketing the program as well as keeping the students there.
When asked about the importance of such a strong female presence in this program, Rodriguez discussed what it concretely reflects, as well as how it makes her feel as she works on her studies. “It emphasizes the fact to other women that they can just as equally belong in the business world or become entrepreneurs with their own unique ideas,” Rodriguez stated. “I am inspired every day in class as I see women of all ages and different identities come together to share their experiences, and give advice.”
Those interested can visit fitchburgstate.edu/mba for more information on Fitchburg’s diverse MBA programs.
This article was written prior to the passing of Fitchburg State’s Joseph McAloon.