Skip to main content
    Admissions Overview
    Find all the information you need about applying to our undergraduate and graduate degree programs. Start your application to Willamette here.
Pre-College Programs
Admitted Students
Enrolling Students
New Student Orientation
    Cost & Aid Overview
    Get the latest information about tuition costs and financial aid opportunities available to Willamette students.
Tuition & Fees
    Academics Overview
    Learn more about our academic programs – from courses and faculty to unique opportunities you won’t find anywhere else.
All Programs and Degrees
Advising Resources
Library
    Life on Campus Overview
    Get a feel for life at Willamette. Learn more about Salem, our campus culture, and how we foster a sense of community.
Learning in the Pacific Northwest
Athletics
Diversity at Willamette
Health and Wellness
Housing and Dining
Arts
Campus Recreation
Events
Commencement
Safety
    Our Stories
    We’re proud of the difference our students and alumni are making. Dive into the stories of how they’re leading in their fields and transforming knowledge into meaningful action.
Athletics
Arts
Big Data
Climate Change
Democratic Institutions
Interdisciplinary Studies
Regional Impact
Request Info Visit Apply Give
About News Events Alumni Parents Athletics The Arts Academic Calendar

Early Career & Career Change MBA Program

Take your next step. Jumpstart your career with Oregon's #1 MBA program.

Program Snapshot

Degree Type

MBA

Program Type

Graduate

Credit Hours

60-65

Time to complete

2 years

Campus

Salem

Request Info
Information for Current MBA Students
Student sitting at conference room table with a laptop

Our Early Career & Career Change MBA Program

Build your resume, expand your network, and gain real-world experience with a Willamette MBA. Designed for early-career professionals and those seeking a career change, our full-time MBA program combines experiential learning with dedicated support and resources. You’ll develop in-demand skills, gain valuable industry insight, and graduate prepared to launch your career with confidence.

Why choose the Early Career & Career Change MBA Program at Willamette? 

  • Oregon's #1 MBA program. Our program is consistently ranked as a top program in Oregon and the Pacific Northwest. Learn from professors who emphasize real-world opportunities and build a professional network that matters.
  • Our accreditation is your reputation. Our program is dually accredited for business by AACSB International and for public administration by NASPAA. This distinction sets our students apart when applying for jobs and provides flexibility to move from sector to sector. 
  • Connections to industry leaders. With campuses in both Salem and Portland, MBA students have access to major companies like Intel, Nike, Hewlett-Packard, and Columbia Sportswear. 

Schedule a Visit Virtual Campus Tour


Request Information

Loading...

Student Success

Hadisa Gowhari MBA '23, gained the experience and connections she needed to land her dream job while she finished her degree. After completing two internships with Intel, the tech giant offered her a job as a senior financial analyst.

Hadisa's Story

Internships lead to a full-time position at Intel for Hadisa Gowhari MBA’23

Despite owning and managing two businesses in her home country of Afghanistan, Hadisa had to work hard to build a career in the States. She worked with the counselors and resources at Willamette to find an internship that would help her on her professional path.

View Story
Hadisa Gowhari MBA’23
Hadisa's studies at the Atkinson Graduate School of Management were funded by a Fulbright scholarship -- and led to her finding a new home in Oregon.

Alumni Stories

Graduates of the MBA program have gone on to have thriving careers in a variety of sectors. They have taken on leadership and decision-making roles with major brands, government offices, non-profits, and start-ups. Learn more about how our alumni are making their mark.

  • Cole Lindberg’s BA’24, MBA’25

    Cole Lindberg’s BA’24, MBA’25

    Industry-relevant skills attracts employers before graduation
    In a highly competitive job market, the skills and experience gained through two WU degrees helped Cole Lindberg BA’24 MBA’25 land a job before graduation.

  • Gianna Marchese BA’22, MBA’23

    Gianna Marchese BA’22, MBA’23

    From Willamette to Warner Bros.
    Whether she’s brainstorming publicity strategies in LA or coordinating press tours in NYC, Marchese is making her mark in the industry. Most recently, she’s worked on the team promoting The Color Purple.

Introducing Some of Our Faculty

MBA students benefit from a faculty comprised of industry experts who are actively working in a variety of leadership roles. They bring their real-world experience to the classroom, offering students meaningful insights into the world of business, government, and non-profit organizations. Professors connect one-on-one with students and act as mentors, providing career and academic advice.

  • Romana Autrey

    Meet Dean Autrey

    Dr. Autrey brings a wealth of accounting experience to the classroom, having performed a wide variety of forensic accounting services throughout her career. The recipient of several awards for outstanding teaching, she takes an interdisciplinary approach to educating her students.

  • Jane Machin

    Meet Jane Machin

    Dr. Machin brings expertise in marketing, branding, and design thinking, shaped by both research and industry experience with companies like Unilever. An award-winning teacher and scholar, she helps students apply creative thinking to real-world business challenges.

  • Kieran O'Connor

    Meet Kieran O'Connor

    Dr. Kieran O’Connor brings expertise in leadership, organizational behavior, and decision making, with research on authenticity and ethics in organizations published in top journals such as Harvard Business Review. He helps students apply theory to real-world challenges, building practical and ethical leadership skills.

Curriculum

Our curriculum is designed to give you both breadth and depth. Required courses build a broad foundation in management, while electives let you explore areas of interest. Hands-on experiences, including the first-year PACE program and up to three semesters of internships, help you develop skills you can apply throughout your career.

  • GSM 5108 PACE: Practical Applications for Careers and Enterprises

    Build career-ready skills through immersive, hands-on learning experiences that reflect real workplace dynamics. Work in teams to solve meaningful challenges, strengthen your leadership abilities, and make informed decisions. Deliver results for a nonprofit or public client through a consulting project that adds tangible experience to your resume.

  • GSM 6121 Politics and Public Policy for Managers

    Engage with real-world issues at the intersection of business, government, and society. Analyze how organizations respond to evolving laws, policies, and global pressures through applied exercises and discussion. Strengthen your ability to make informed, ethical decisions grounded in accountability, fairness, and transparency.

Concentrations

Tailor your degree to your career goals. Our concentrations help students build expertise, gain hands-on experience, and position themselves for success. Consider options such as:

Program Requirements

Our MBA for career change and early career professionals is a 60-65 credit program. Most students complete the requirements within two years.

A professor looking over the shoulder of two MBA students

Admissions Information

Our program welcomes applicants from across the U.S. and around the world. A bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution is required, but prior work experience is not. The GMAT and GRE tests are optional.

A group of students sitting within a classroom at Willamette

Financial Aid and Scholarships

Our merit-based scholarships help make a hands-on, career-focused education at Willamette more accessible. Awards range from 10% to 100% of tuition, and almost every full-time MBA student receives scholarship assistance.

An MBA professor pointing to a white board at Willamette

FAQs

An MBA is a versatile degree that can open doors across industries and career paths. Graduates pursue job opportunities such as:

  • General Management
  • Project Management
  • Healthcare and Hospital Administration
  • Policy Analysis
  • Educational Leadership
  • City and Urban Planning
  • Public Finance and Financial Management

Beyond specific roles, an MBA builds a strong foundation in core business areas like management, marketing, finance, human resources, and data analysis. Whether you’re looking to launch your career, pivot to a new field, or advance into leadership, an MBA gives you the skills and perspective to move forward with confidence.

Absolutely! Students do not need a business degree for our early career MBA program. While some programs like our One-Year MBA may require a business background, our Early Career and Career Change program offers a strong foundation of business topics.

An Early Career & Career Change MBA program is designed for individuals with limited work experience or those looking to transition into new fields. It offers foundational management knowledge and leadership skills, and it builds professional work experience. This type of program is ideal for recent graduates or professionals seeking to transition to new roles or industries.

Willamette offers MBA programs accredited by AACSB International, the leading global organization for business education. Fewer than 6% of business schools worldwide earn this distinction. Our full-time program is also accredited by NASPAA, providing a unique foundation across business, government, and nonprofit management. In addition, Willamette is consistently recognized by Businessweek, Forbes, Poets & Quants, and The Princeton Review.

No matter which format you choose, you’ll gain meaningful professional experience through hands-on learning. Work on real-time consulting projects, help manage an investment fund, and build connections through internships. This action-oriented approach, combined with a highly interactive classroom environment, helps you form strong relationships with peers and faculty.

Along the way, you’ll build essential skills in problem-solving, decision-making, communication, leadership, and teamwork. You can also choose a concentration to deepen your expertise in a specific area.

You’ll graduate with access to a strong alumni network, with connections at leading organizations across the Pacific Northwest and beyond. Expand your network through events like power lunches, job fairs, and company visits, all supported by the Career Development Center.

And your experience doesn’t end at graduation. Return anytime to take MBA courses tuition-free and continue growing throughout your career. Learn more about earning a Salem MBA or a Portland MBA.

Absolutely. Our MBA for Professionals is a part-time, hybrid program designed for students with prior work experience. The program offers a hybrid format in both Portland and Salem. It helps students gain the skills they need to advance their careers, build their network, and gain practical experience.

You can also explore Willamette’s full range of MBA options, including:

Once you’ve decided to pursue an MBA, choosing the right format comes down to your goals, schedule, and experience level.

At Willamette, the path is clear. Full-time programs are designed for early-career professionals or those making a career change and are based in Salem. Our part-time hybrid program is built for experienced professionals who want to keep working while earning their degree, with options in Portland and Salem.

Willamette University

Atkinson Graduate School of Management