Florida International University - Alvah H. Chapman, Jr. Graduate School of Business

As its moniker suggests, Florida International University offers MBAs that are "more internationally-oriented" than your standard graduate business program. This emphasis is especially pronounced in the school's one-year International Business program, but it applies to all the graduate degrees offered here. The school parlays its location in Miami, "the gateway to the Americas," to focus particular attention on Latin America and the Caribbean, regions well-represented on the faculty and among the student body.

No matter your academic interests and scheduling needs, FIU probably has an MBA program to suit you. Its twenty-month Executive MBA "is an excellent program for managers with over twelve years of work experience." For less experienced professionals, the eighteen-month Downtown MBA or the Evening MBA on FIU's campus may be good fits. For those unable to get away from the office, the Corporate MBA delivers the program to the workplace. And if you're looking for a specialized MBA in healthcare, FIU offers that as well.

Students praise FIU's "excellent reputation in the south Florida business community," its affordability, and the "top-notch" professors and administration. Students report approvingly that "the school has a team of administrators assigned to the MBA program. They handle everything for us, and I mean everything: enrollment, books, materials, copies, meals, etc." One MBA notes, "It is especially appealing that the business program is run somewhat independently from the rest of the university to ensure higher quality services and resources." Overall, students find the program "very well-organized," led by "extremely competitive and prepared" professors who "are all known leaders in their field and have great experiences to share with us." "The faculty have provided real insight into their industr[ies] and created stimulating learning environments for the most part," one student explains. Classroom discussion is enhanced by a "very international" and diverse student body. "You get investment bankers [and people in] rank and file jobs trying to get ahead, all working together" here. With all these assets, no wonder students call an FIU MBA "a superb investment at a very low price."

Chapman's Career Management Services office provides graduate students and alumni with counseling and placement assistance. The office works closely with the university's general Career Services Office to coordinate career fairs, on-campus interviews, and other career-related events. Students tell us that FIU's alumni network is large and very helpful.

Top employers of FIU MBAs (including currently employed students attending one of the part-time programs) include: PricewaterhouseCoopers, B/E Aerospace, Commerce Bank, P&G, FPL, Fitch Ratings, Brightstar Corporation, Bank of America, Caterpillar, GE, and Choice Hotels International.

FIU's MBA program is housed "in a brand-new building with extremely comfortable and high-technology resources," with "many locations for classmates to gather and work in a comfortable environment." "The resources you need for research and completing assignments are readily available" here, and the school even "makes ample provision for students who are without computers; for example, access to computers whether in the computer room or the library." Full-time students report that they experience "a fast-paced environment" driven by classes, extracurriculars, and an active Student Government Association. They also tell us that "the sports program is up and coming, so the students are very excited and try hard to get the rest of us motivated to cheer for the Golden Panthers!" Part-timers tend to visit campus only for classes and schoolwork, and as a result are less engaged in campus life.

The FIU MBA program is "like the United Nations. We come from many nations: Germany, France, [United States], Central America, and South America. When they say 'Florida International University'—they mean it." Students are drawn from an equally impressive array of industries "including banking, healthcare, pharmaceutical, automotive, logistics, insurance, etc." There are a lot of "strong A-type personalities, which in my book means we 'Ace' in everything we do, be it group assignments, weekly tests, heated arguments over project submissions, or a chilled beer to commemorate the end of a quarter."