Seattle University - Albers School of Business and Economics

The Albers School of Business and Economics at Seattle University is a “unique” and “well-structured” program with a strong “Jesuit tradition” on a “beautiful campus in an economically thriving city.” In short, it is a “diamond in the rough.” Located “in the heart of Seattle Metro Area,” Albers “has a diverse cultural set of faculty, students, and staff.” The Seattle location is especially attractive for MBA students as many major American companies like Amazon, T-Mobile, Microsoft, and Starbucks are based here. The Albers MBA program builds a “strong sense of community,” and its unique “focus on social justice” and “strong core values” are baked into “every aspect of the school.”

Students praise the “convenience and flexibility” of the program and call it a “great program for working professionals.” For example, “classes [are] offered at night in two locations” and students are allowed “up to five years to finish coursework (which helps for students that work full time & have families).” The school also has a new “Bridge MBA” program that “has classes during the day.” The Bridge MBA is a twelve-month program aimed at helping non-business undergraduates get a jumpstart on their business careers.

The professors at SU “are amazing” and “willing to spend time with you so that you understand the materials.” “I have been happy with every professor I have had, and many of them have been outstanding,” one student attests. Most of the teachers here “have worked in business so can relate real world experiences to classroom work.” Students say that the administration is “very open and willing to help,” and provide “abundant” “opportunities to tweak the program” to student needs. Students also praise the school’s efforts “helping students network.” “They often host events outside of school and off campus to help students get together and network and socialize,” one student explains. Another sums up his experience at Albers: “The actual academic program at Seattle U has exceeded my expectations, and I truly believe I’m getting a great return on my investment.”

Students say that “the placement center at Albers is exceptional” and “holds numerous events for networking and career advancement.” A huge advantage of Seattle University is the location. Seattle is an economic powerhouse of the West Coast, and the school uses those connections to help students. “I participated in the mentoring program for two years and it was absolutely fantastic to network with executives from Nordstrom and Starbucks,” one student says. Some notable alumni include William Foley, Jr., the Chairman of Fidelity National Financial; Mohamed Ali Alabbar, Chairman of Emaar Properties; and Gary Brinson, founder of The Brinson Foundation. Top employers of Seattle MBA grads include Amazon, Microsoft, Boeing, Ernst & Young, T-Mobile, KPMG, and Starbucks.

Students are described as “driven,” “hard-working,” “open-minded,” “fun,” “eager,” and “entrepreneurial.” The peer group really helps “develop the learning environment” at Seattle U. Many are already “accomplished leaders within their organizations.” SU students are “very dedicated to the work that they do and have a great sense of self and social awareness.” “I am impressed at the intelligence, capability and varied experience my classmates bring to the table,” one student says.

As SU is “an evening program,” “people come do their thing, then go.” “Night classes and working during the day makes it difficult to participate in club or activities on cam- pus” for many students, but for those who have the time “life at school is incredibly fun, engaging and exciting.” Campus life is “definitely geared more toward a younger stu- dent (without spouse or children),” and “there are always activities and clubs meeting.” Most people are in “pretty tight cohorts,” and “the socials are fun as well as it allows us to relax and at times connect with other years and cohorts.” But no matter how much time students spend on campus, they all love “the community.” As one student put it, “My fellow students are people I would like to work with in the ‘real world.’”