MBA Program Spotlight: Women in Business
Recent statistics indicate that women in America earn only 77 cents to the dollar when compared to men. Even though that statistic has been disputed and amended several times, and even though the discrepancy cannot be solely linked to discrimination, as a woman about to make a large investment in business school, you want assurance that you will receive a good return on that investment. One way to ensure your future success is to choose a school that understands the unique challenges you will face and places special emphasis on women in business. Here are three great options.
Pepperdine – Graziadio School of Business and Management
What’s so great about this school? Pepperdine has been ranked as one of the top ten business schools for women by the Financial Times. Among the reasons cited was the attention given to criteria that matter most to women when selecting a school. These include: the ease of establishing a mentoring network, values-centered learning, a 42 percent female enrollment, and a strong presence of women in the school administration. Pepperdine allows fully employed women up to seven years to complete their MBA so that they can continue to grow their careers as they complete their education.
School Type: Private
Median GMAT Score: 660
Average Incoming GPA: 3.21
Percent of Applicants Accepted: 70%
Student to Faculty Ratio: 18 to 1
Average Age: 27
Babson
What’s so great about this school? Babson is the school for female entrepreneurs. The Center for Women’s Entrepreneurial Leadership is the only center of its kind in the world and focuses on research that examines the economic value women create in the business world. In addition, currently enrolled female students cite Babson’s percent of female faculty, supportive culture for female students, rigor of entrepreneurial coursework, and case studies that proportionately reflect women in business as reasons to choose Babson.
School Type: Private
Median GMAT Score: 618
Average Incoming GPA: 3.18
Percent of Applicants Accepted: 70%
Student to Faculty Ratio: 1.5 to 1
Average Student Age: 27
Simmons College School of Management
What’s so great about this school? No men! The Simmons School of Management was the first in the country to design an MBA program just for women and therefore offers an unparalleled educational experience. Gender dynamics are incorporated into classes to help women better understand how to succeed in leadership roles. Other perks of the program include a faculty that is 85 percent female, the opportunity to earn a Health Care MBA or a joint degree with a Masters in Social Work, and access to the Center for Gender in Organizations. This center publishes internationally respected research on gender equity and provides students with unique networking and career advancement opportunities.
School Type: Private
Median GMAT Score: 530
Average Incoming GPA: 3.17
Percent of Applicants Accepted: 94%
Student to Faculty Ratio: 6 to 1
Average Student Age: 30
Image Courtesy of Jodi Womack with Creative Commons License