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Fast Facts

Mission Statement


Programs

  • Early Career and Career Change MBA Program: The Early Career and Career Change MBA program is a full-time multi-sector MBA program designed for recent graduate and students with limited work experience seeking their first position or career change in business, government and not-for-profit organizations. The program emphasizes experiential learning and provides a variety of concentrations through which students can pursue greater in-depth knowledge and experiences in their career areas of interest. For brevity, the program is commonly referred to as the Willamette MBA.
  • MBA for Professionals Program: The Willamette MBA for Professionals program is an evening part-time MBA program designed for experienced managers seeking to prepare for career advancement and enhancement while employed.


Degree Titles

  • Masters of Business Administration for Business, Government and Not-for-Profit Management: The educational program leading to the “MBA for Business, Government and Not-for-Profit Management” is the Early Career and Career Change MBA program.
  • Master of Business Administration:The educational program leading to the "Master of Business Administration" is the MBA for Professionals program.

Accreditations


Mode of Delivery

  • Early Career and Career Change MBA: Full-time, Face-to-Face
  • MBA for Professionals: Evening, Face-to-Face

Number of Credit Hours Required

  • Early Career and Career Change MBA: 60 semester credits
  • MBA for Professionals: 48 semester credits

Length of Degree

  • Early Career and Career Change MBA: 21 months
  • MBA for Professionals: 24 months

Dual Degrees


Areas of Concentration


Admission Criteria


Number of Students

  • AGSM Total MBA Degree-Seeking Enrollment, 2022-23: 181
  • Early Career and Career Change MBA, 2022-23: 104
  • MBA for Professionals, 2022-23: 77
  • AGSM Total MBA Degree-Seeking Enrollment, 2021-22: 208
  • Early Career and Career Change MBA, 2021-22: 115
  • MBA for Professionals, 2021-22: 93

Number of Teaching Faculty

  • AGSM Total Teaching Faculty During 2021-22: 34
  • Teaching an Early Career and Career Change MBA Course During 2021-22: 28
  • Teaching an Evening MBA for Professionals Course During 2021-22: 20
Directory of Current Faculty

Tuition and Costs


Financial Aid


 Employment Reports

  • 2022 Report: Early Career and Career Change MBA

    The employment report provides career data for the graduating class of 2022.

    Data used in the employment report was provided to the Willamette MBA career management staff by members of the graduating class. The employment report refers to the graduates' first position after completing the Willamette MBA.

    As with most Willamette MBA graduates, the class of 2022 represented a wide range of career interests. Some were seeking their first management position and some were seeking career change or advancement. Some were seeking careers in business, while others were seeking careers related to public service or not-for-profit organizations.

    A few examples of salary comparisons for Portland, Oregon and other cities in the U.S. are presented at the bottom of this page.

    Conducting a successful job search is a partnership between students and the school. The school helps students develop their knowledge, experience and competitive career skills, facilitates networking and employment opportunities, and connects students to the information and resources they need. MBA students build their tools of management, identify their career goals, develop competitive resumes and interview skills, network through student professional organizations, alumni and employer contacts, and actively pursue employment opportunities.

    Employment - Graduating Class of 2022

    Members of the graduating class of 2022 entered the program seeking their first professional position or career change. Prior to the Willamette MBA program they had an average of 8 months pre MBA work experience, and median of 0 month of pre-MBA work experience. The range of months of work experience was with a range 0 to 96 months of work experience.

    The graduating class of 2022 consisted of 55 students, of whom 43 were seeking employment. Two were not seeking employment because they were returning to a job, two were pursuing further education, five were postponing their job search, and three did not provide information about their plans. The data below is based on the 43 students seeking employment.

    Accepted a Job Offer by Graduation 49%
    Accepted a Job Offer Within Three Months of Graduation 78%
    Average Salary (see salary notes at bottom of page) $69,815
    Salary Range $32,240 to $140,000

    Functions

    Consulting 13%
    Finance and Accounting 25%
    General Management 3%
    Human Resources 9%
    Marketing / Sales 25%
    Operations/Logistics 6%
    Other 19%

    Sample of Employers Who Hired 2022 Graduates

    • Adobe Systems
    • Cardinal Health
    • Fisher Investments
    • Honda
    • Intel Corporation
    • Jackson Hole Chamber of Commerce
    • LEARFIELD
    • Moss Adams
    • NAVEX
    • OnPoint Community Credit Union
    • Red Bull North America
    • San Francisco University High School
    • Securitas Inc, USA
    • Slalom Consulting
    • Standard Insurance & Realty Corp
    • Super Micro Computer, Inc.
    • The Boeing Company

    * Salary Notes:
    1) Employment and salary data vary from year to year depending on general economic trends, the career goals of the individual members of the graduating class, undergraduate degree, previous related work experience, level of managerial responsibility, and sector of employment. Salaries also vary by geographic location. For the graduating class of 2022, a $69,615 salary in Portland, Oregon is approximately equal to $88,227 in Seattle, Washington; $128,292 in San Francisco, California; $80,655 in Boston, Massachusetts; and $88,647 in New York, New York. (Source: "Sperling's BestPlaces" Cost of Living Calculator, 1/19/2023.)

  • 2021 Report: Early Career and Career Change MBA

    The employment report provides career data for the graduating class of 2021.

    Data used in the employment report was provided to the Willamette MBA career management staff by members of the graduating class. The employment report refers to the graduates' first position after completing the Willamette MBA.

    As with most Willamette MBA graduates, the class of 2021 represented a wide range of career interests. Some were seeking their first management position and some were seeking career change or advancement. Some were seeking careers in business, while others were seeking careers related to public service or not-for-profit organizations.

    A few examples of salary comparisons for Portland, Oregon and other cities in the U.S. are presented at the bottom of this page.

    Conducting a successful job search is a partnership between students and the school. The school helps students develop their knowledge, experience and competitive career skills, facilitates networking and employment opportunities, and connects students to the information and resources they need. MBA students build their tools of management, identify their career goals, develop competitive resumes and interview skills, network through student professional organizations, alumni and employer contacts, and actively pursue employment opportunities.

    Employment - Graduating Class of 2021

    Members of the graduating class of 2020 entered the program seeking their first professional position or career change. Prior to the Willamette MBA program they had an average of 12 months pre MBA work experience, and median of 0 month of pre-MBA work experience. The range of months of work experience was with a range 0 to 94 months of work experience.

    The graduating class of 2021 consisted of 31 students, of whom 27 were seeking employment. Four were not seeking employment because they were returning to a job, starting a new business, or pursuing further education. The data below is based on the 27 students seeking employment.

    Accepted a Job Offer by Graduation 56%
    Accepted a Job Offer Within Three Months of Graduation 67%
    Average Salary (see salary notes at bottom of page) $73,827
    Salary Range $44,096 to $102,000

    Sector

    Business 90%
    Government and Not-for-Profit 10%

    Functions

    Finance and Accounting 50%
    General Management 22%
    Operations/Logistics 17%
    Other 11%

    Sample of Employers Who Hired 2022 Graduates

    • Intel
    • Hewlett Packard
    • Clearwater Analytics, LLC
    • ArcBest
    • TIE Angel Oregon
    • Oregon State University
    • Renaissance Financial
    • Techtronic Industries
    • ESPN Honolulu
    • Primerica Financial Services
    • Mercer
    • State of Oregon Department of Human Services

    * Salary Notes:
    1) Employment and salary data vary from year to year depending on general economic trends, the career goals of the individual members of the graduating class, undergraduate degree, previous related work experience, level of managerial responsibility, and sector of employment. Salaries also vary by geographic location. For the graduating class of 2021, a $73,827 salary in Portland, Oregon is approximately equal to $101,899 in Seattle, Washington; $152,200 in San Francisco, California; $90,710 in Boston, Massachusetts; and $104,547 in New York, New York. (Source: "Sperling's BestPlaces" Cost of Living Calculator, 1/19/2022.)


Internship Reports

  • 2022 Report: Early Career and Career Change MBA

    Willamette MBA students have the rare opportunity to participate in up to three semesters of supervised internship experiences. This means eligible students can participate in a full-time internship in the summer between the first and second year of study, and part-time internships during the fall and spring semesters of the second year of the MBA program.

    98% of Willamette MBA students seeking an internship for the summer semester 2022 accepted an internship offer. Internship salaries averaged $27 per hour. The average length of an internship was 12 weeks. 81% of 2022 internships were in the business sector, and 19% were in government or non-profit organizations.

    Industries included accounting, consulting, financial services, technology, logistics, manufacturing, human and social services, electronics, real estate, education, international trade, and government.

    Functions included marketing, strategic planning, data analytics, operations, human resources, finance, process improvement, auditing, planning, compliance, business analysis, sustainability, investments, and project management.

    Several students have already received job offers from their summer internship employer, and will begin working full-time after completion of their MBA degree. In addition, many students will participate in part-time internships during the academic year.

    Internships provide important opportunities to apply what you have learned in your MBA courses, explore your career interests, build your resume of real-world experience, and develop your professional network! And, because most internships are paid, they provide a source of income that helps students fund their educational and living expenses.

    A Sample of Recent Internship Employers

    • American Fiduciary Services LLC
    • Bank of America/Merrill Lynch
    • BNP Paribas
    • Boeing
    • Boys & Girls Club
    • Cambia Health Solutions
    • Charles Schwab
    • City of Salem
    • Cloudera
    • Columbia Sportswear Company
    • Daimler Trucks North America
    • Deloitte
    • Energy Trust of Oregon
    • Family Building Blocks
    • Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp (Freddie mac)
    • Garmin
    • Hallmark Cards
    • Hewlett Packard
    • Intel Corporation
    • Kaiser Permanente
    • Key Bank
    • McKesson Corporation
    • Mentor Graphics
    • Mercy Corps
    • MercyCorps Northwest
    • Micron Technology
    • Moss Adams
    • Morgan Stanley
    • National Association of Television Program Executives
    • Nike, Inc.
    • Oregon Department of Human Services
    • Oregon Department of Transportation
    • Oregon Health Authority
    • Oregon Lottery
    • Oregon Media Production Association
    • Pacific Seafoods
    • Peace Corps
    • Power Oregon
    • Raytheon
    • Salem Art Association
    • Salem Health
    • TD Ameritrade
    • Tektronix
    • The Standard
    • US Department of Commerce
    • United Way
    • Wieden & Kennedy
    • Willamette Humane Society

    A Sample of Recent Internship Titles

    • Audit Intern
    • Benefits Accounting Intern
    • Business Analyst
    • Business Development Manager
    • Business Intelligence Analyst
    • Business Operation Officer
    • Capital Market Analyst
    • Data Analyst
    • Data Quality Improvement Analyst
    • Data Analytics Intern
    • Digital Marketing Social Media Strategist
    • Diversity and Inclusion Intern
    • E-Commerce Marketing Specialist
    • Economic Development Research Intern
    • Employee Engagement Partner
    • Employee Wellness Intern
    • Financial Advising Summer Analyst
    • Financial Analyst
    • Financial Sustainability Intern
    • Governance and Strategic Initiatives Intern
    • Human Resource Data Analytics and Business Analyst
    • Human Resource Specialist Intern
    • Human Resource Business Partner Intern
    • International Trade Intern
    • Marketing & Communication Intern
    • Marketing Coordinator
    • Marketing & Systems Management
    • Media Coordinator
    • Operations Intern
    • Operations of Change Management Intern
    • Operations & Policy Analyst
    • Outcomes Based Reporting Intern
    • Process Improvement Intern
    • Project Management Intern
    • Project Strategy Intern
    • Public Relations Intern
    • Purchasing Contractor
    • Quality Analyst
    • Risk Management Intern
    • Social Media Marketing Intern
    • Supply Chain Security Analyst Support Intern
    • Sustainability Intern
    • Strategic Management Intern
    • Strategic Planning & Analysis Intern
    • Systems Analysis & Process Mapping Intern
    • Technical Community Strategy & Communications Intern
  • 2021 Report: Early Career and Career Change MBA

    Willamette MBA students have the rare opportunity to participate in up to three semesters of supervised internship experiences. This means eligible students can participate in a full-time internship in the summer between the first and second year of study, and part-time internships during the fall and spring semesters of the second year of the MBA program.

    98% of Willamette MBA students seeking an internship for the summer or fall 2021 semester accepted an internship offer. Internship salaries averaged $19.19 per hour. The average length of an internship was 11 weeks. 82% of 2021 internships were in the business sector, and 18% were in government or non-profit organizations.

    Industries included accounting, consulting, financial services, technology, logistics, manufacturing, human and social services, electronics, real estate, education, international trade, and government.

    Functions included marketing, strategic planning, data analytics, operations, human resources, finance, process improvement, auditing, planning, compliance, business analysis, sustainability, investments, and project management.

    Several students have already received job offers from their summer internship employer, and will begin working full-time after completion of their MBA degree. In addition, many students will participate in part-time internships during the academic year.

    Internships provide important opportunities to apply what you have learned in your MBA courses, explore your career interests, build your resume of real-world experience, and develop your professional network! And, because most internships are paid, they provide a source of income that helps students fund their educational and living expenses.

    A Sample of Recent Internship Employers

    • 3M
    • Ashland Partners
    • Astra Business Women Alliance
    • Bank of America/Merrill Lynch
    • BNP Paribas
    • Boys & Girls Club
    • Cambia Health Solutions
    • Charles Schwab
    • Cloudera
    • Columbia Sportswear Company
    • Daimler Trucks North America
    • Deloitte
    • Energy Trust of Oregon
    • Family Building Blocks
    • Garmin
    • Hewlett Packard
    • Hydro Flask – Helen of Troy
    • Intel Corporation
    • Kaiser Permanente
    • McKesson Corporation
    • Mentor Graphics
    • Mercy Corps
    • MercyCorps Northwest
    • Moss Adams
    • Morgan Stanley
    • Mountain West Investment Corporation
    • Nike, Inc.
    • North Santiam Watershed Council
    • Northwestern Mutual
    • Oregon Department of Administrative Services
    • Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife
    • Oregon Department of Transportation
    • Oregon Health Authority
    • Oregon Lottery
    • Oregon Media Production Association
    • Peace Corps
    • Power Oregon
    • Raytheon
    • Salem Art Association
    • Salem Health
    • Salem Keizer Education Foundation
    • TD Ameritrade
    • Tektronix
    • The Standard
    • US Commercial Service
    • United Way
    • Wieden & Kennedy
    • Willamette Humane Society

    A Sample of Recent Internship Titles

    • Affordable Housing Development Intern
    • Audit Intern
    • Benefits Accounting Intern
    • Business Analyst
    • Business Development Manager
    • Business Intelligence Analyst
    • Business Operation Officer
    • Capital Market Analyst
    • Communications Coordinator
    • Data Analyst
    • Data Quality Improvement Analyst
    • Data Analytics Intern
    • Digital Marketing Strategist
    • Diversity and Inclusion Intern
    • E-Commerce Marketing Specialist
    • Economic Development Research Intern
    • Employee Engagement Partner
    • Employee Wellness Intern
    • Financial Advising Summer Analyst
    • Financial Analyst
    • Financial Sustainability Intern
    • Governance and Strategic Initiatives Intern
    • Hospital Administrator
    • Human Resource Data Analytics and Business Analyst
    • Human Resource Specialist Intern
    • Human Resource Business Partner Intern
    • International Trade Intern
    • Marketing & Communication Intern
    • Marketing Coordinator
    • Marketing & Systems Management
    • Operations Intern
    • Operations & Policy Analyst
    • Outcomes Based Reporting Intern
    • Process Improvement Intern
    • Project Management Intern
    • Project Strategy Intern
    • Public Relations Intern
    • Purchasing Contractor
    • Quality Analyst
    • Real Estate Project Analyst
    • Risk Management Intern
    • Social Media Marketing Intern
    • Supply Chain Security Analyst Support Intern
    • Sustainability Intern
    • Strategic Planning & Analysis Intern
    • Systems Analysis & Process Mapping Intern

Graduation Rates

  • Early Career and Career Change MBA

    Note: Different MBA formats of the Full-time MBA program have different program lengths. The MBA and BA/MBA Formats are 21 month programs, the JD/MBA program is a four year program, and the Accelerated MBA is generally a one year program.

    Number of students who enrolled fall semester 2017 64
    Number and percent who graduated within two years 52 81%
    Number and percent who graduated within three years 58 89%
    Number and percent who graduated within four years 60 94%
    Total number and percent who graduated. 60 94%
    Number of students who enrolled fall semester 2016 68
    Number and percent who graduated within two years 57 84%
    Number and percent who graduated within three years 65 96%
    Number and percent who graduated within four years 65 96%
    Total number and percent who graduated 65 96%
    Number of students who enrolled fall semester 2015 81
    Number and percent who graduated within two years 72 81%
    Number and percent who graduated within three years 74 91%
    Number and percent who graduated within four years 76 94%
    Total number and percent who graduated. 76 94%
    Number of students who entered fall semester 2014 106
    Number and percent who graduated within two years 89 84%
    Number and percent who graduated within three years 100 94%
    Number and percent who graduated within four years 100 94%
    Total number and percent who graduated 100 94%
  • MBA for Professionals
    Number of students who enrolled in 2017-18 60
    Percent who graduated or are still enrolled as of fall 2019 85%
    Percent who graduated "on-time" within standard program length 68%
    Percent who graduated within 150% of standard program length 5%
    Percent who are still enrolled as of fall 2019 12%
    Number of students who enrolled in 2016-17 60
    Percent who graduated or are still enrolled as of fall 2019 83%
    Percent who graduated "on-time" within standard program length 75%
    Percent who graduated within 150% of standard program length 7%
    Percent who are still enrolled as of fall 2019 1%
    Number of students who enrolled fall semester 2015 46
    Percent who graduated 78%
    Percent who graduated "on-time" within the standard program length 67%
    Percent who graduated within 150% of the program length 9%
    Percent who graduated within 200% of the program length 2%
    Number of students who enrolled fall semester 2014 40
    Percent who graduated 81%
    Percent who graduated "on-time" within the standard program length 66%
    Percent who graduated within 150% of the standard program length 13%
    Percent who graduated within 200% of the standard program length 2%

Current Rankings: Early Career and Career Change MBA


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Willamette University Motto

Non nobis solum nati sumus — Not unto ourselves alone are we born

Willamette University

Atkinson Graduate School of Management

Salem Campus

Address
900 State Street
Salem Oregon 97301 U.S.A.
Phone
503-370-6167

Portland Center

Address
200 SW Market Street, Suite 101
Portland Oregon 97201 U.S.A.
Phone
971-717-7260