University of Utah - Eccles School of Business

The David Eccles School of Business is arguably the "best MBA [program] in the state of Utah." Indeed, it has a well-earned and well-deserved "reputation for excellence." Eccles tends to be a huge draw for "full-time, working professionals" as the school allows for a tremendous amount of "flexibility." In fact, the program "was designed [with] professionals [in mind.]" Some MBA hopefuls also set their sights on Utah for its innovative dual MBA/ MHA (Master of Healthcare Administration) program. And there's plenty to pursue outside of healthcare as well. We're told that Utah really gives students "the ability to create the education [they] want to receive." We'd also be remiss if we neglected to mention that "small class sizes" are a hallmark of an Eccles education and frequently lead to "customized attention."

Utah MBAs speak quite highly of their professors whom they describe as "top-notch." Importantly, instructors here have "extensive academic and industry backgrounds which lead to more lively discussions of topics." And a happy second-year student shares, "They have pushed me very hard while at the same time they have been very understanding when I do not grasp a concept at first. I am so lucky to be a part of this program!" Finally, students also give high marks to the "very involved and helpful" administration. It's clearly evident that "they are very much interested in the well-being of the students."

Utah's Career Center is certainly a boon to MBA students. Their dedicated staff work dili- gently to help MBAs maximize their investment. From networking seminars to interview workshops, Eccles students are certainly prepared for their job hunt. As an extremely sat- isfied second-year gushes, "The career advancement center was a huge help in improving my résumé, interviewing skills, and finding my worth. With graduation near, I have an offer that will increase my salary by 44 percent and my bonus by 300 percent. The program has definitely paid for itself in a short time." Additionally, students are privy to a "successful alumni" network that "continue[s] to give back" with their time, donations and connections.

Companies that frequently hire Eccles MBA include: American Airlines, Amazon, GE Healthcare, Capitol One, Hewlett Packard, General Mills, IBM, LDS Church, Oracle, TIAA- CREF and Pfizer.

Given its location in Salt Lake City, it's not surprising that there's a "strong Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints influence" among those who attend Utah. Fortunately, the student body still manages to feel "diverse." And regardless of religious affiliation, MBA candidates here agree that their peers are "hardworking," "fun" and "very friendly." As one happy second-year shares, "My cohort is very active in supporting and assisting each other in and out of the classroom."

Students also report that the school is "very accommodating" for those balancing work and family life in addition to school. Eccles hosts "a lot of activities for [both] networking and for . . . families" and students and their partners can participate in everything from "museum days [to] BBQs." Moreover, the student leadership team is quite proactive when it comes to organizing events for "students to get to know each other in a relaxing and public atmosphere." However, though these future MBAs are "very committed to school" many are also "heavily committed to their...roles [outside of Eccles.]" Therefore, it's quite common for most students to simply head home after class.