Pennsylvania State University--University Park (Smeal)

Business School Overview

U.S. News Rankings

Ranking score and category

Rank Category Name #49 Best Business Schools

Specialties Locked in Accounting Locked in Production / Operations #3 in Supply Chain / Logistics

Business School Overview

The Mary Jean and Frank P. Smeal College of Business at Pennsylvania State University--University Park offers graduate programs in these departments and concentrations: entrepreneurship, finance, general management, health care administration, leadership, marketing, production/operations management, and supply chain management/logistics. Its tuition is full-time: $21,676 per year (in-state); full-time: $34,886 per year (out-of-state); executive: $93,000 total program (in-state); and executive: $93,000 total program (out-of-state). At graduation, 54.4 percent of graduates of the full-time program are employed.

Students at the Mary Jean and Frank P. Smeal College of Business can learn to make their voices heard in the boardroom and beyond through the school’s yearlong Leadership Communications Program. The Smeal College of Business at Pennsylvania State University—University Park offers full-time and executive M.B.A. programs, as well as master’s degrees in accounting, and supply chain management. Smeal’s joint degree options include a four-year J.D./M.B.A. pairing with the Penn State College of Law, or a B.S./M.B.A. combo with the Eberly College of Science.

Full-time students at Smeal can customize their degree concentrations, or choose from pre-designed tracks in finance, marketing, supply chain management, strategic leadership, and innovation and entrepreneurship. Working professionals enrolled in Smeal’s Executive M.B.A. program meet every other weekend to complete the 21-month program. Classes are held at a conference center just outside of Philadelphia, but students visit the University Park campus twice for weeklong residencies.

Research opportunities at Smeal range from studying business markets to sports teams. Through the school’s Center for Sports Business Research, students can intern with State College Spikes, a minor league baseball affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates. The Center for Technological and Organizational Change at Smeal studies the management challenges of introducing new technology in the workplace. Students can research emerging international markets at the Center for Global Business Studies, the experience those markets firsthand during their global immersion trip, a requirement for all M.B.A. students.

Outside of the classroom, M.B.A. candidates can join fellow Nittany Lions in cheering on the university’s storied football program. Notable Smeal alumni include Dan Mead, president and CEO of Verizon Wireless; and Lisa Baird, chief marketing officer for the U.S. Olympic Committee.

Admissions

Application deadline (U.S. residents)	April 11
Application deadline (international students)	January 10
Applicants (full-time)
Applicants (part-time)	N/A

Academics

Departments/concentrations

entrepreneurship marketing finance production/operations management general management supply chain management/logistics health care administration other leadership

Student Body

Enrollment (full-time)	159
Gender distribution (full-time)

Cost

Tuition
Full-time: $21,676 per year (in-state) Full-time: $34,886 per year (out-of-state) Executive: $93,000 total program (in-state) Executive: $93,000 total program (out-of-state)
Required fees (full-time and part-time)	$1,082 per year
Required fees (executive degree program)	N/A

Salary

Average base salary	$84,345
Full-time graduates employed at graduation	54.4%

* Business School Overview details based on 2012 data