Enrollment: 210
Average GMAT: 532.00
GMAT Range (25-75%): 470-575
Average Undergrad GPA: 3.42
Regular Application Deadline: 07/01
Rolling Admission: Yes
School Type: Private
Average Age: 31.00
Average Work Experience (months): 108
Student Faculty Ratio: 9:1

Part Time Program: Yes
Evening Program: Yes
Executive MBA Program Offered: No
Total Faculty: 23

Average Starting Salary: $65,000.00

In-State Tuition: $11,970.00
Financial Aid Deadline: 08/15
Students Receiving Some Aid: 21%
Average Annual Total Financial Aid: $14,869.00

Students Say - Academics
For more than 30 years, Marist College has offered working professionals the opportunity to pursue an MBA degree on a part-time basis. Today, the school continues to operate a part-time, campus-based program, while also distinguishing itself as "one of the few AACSB-accredited graduate schools that offered an MBA program fully online, while being affordable." While part-time students in other MBA programs complain about the difficulties of balancing home life, work, and school, the Marist "program [is] tailored to those working long hours and still offer[s] a strong reputation with a decent curriculum." The flexibility of the program is perhaps its most attractive feature, allowing students to take traditional or online courses, or a blend of the two. Indeed, students tell us that "being able to mix online courses as well as traditional in-class courses is very beneficial for students who also work full time."
The curriculum at Marist is divided into foundation courses, core courses, and electives; however, foundation courses may be waived for students who have an undergraduate degree in business. Taking two courses per semester and one course in the summer, many students are able to earn their MBA in just 2 years. To accommodate the schedule of working professionals, traditional classroom courses are scheduled one evening per week, Monday through Thursday, on the Marist College campus, as well as in off-site classrooms. Online classes are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and have no on-campus requirement whatsoever. "The high quality of the program and professors" draws many students to the school, and online students are welcome to meet with faculty in person while taking the course. Students say Marist professors are, on the whole, "accessible and very helpful."
The school is technologically and organizationally equipped to help online students plan and execute a quality educational program. A student shares, "Enrollment is a breeze, and the Assistant Dean who works with online students is very helpful." Another adds, "The administration was very helpful in getting [me] access to courses to meet my academic plan." Online classes are very similar to classroom courses in that students must be prepared to turn in assignments, take exams, participate in class, and meet deadlines. Course work is fully multimedia and includes group projects, case studies, computer simulations, and presentations. Students insist that they build a sense of community via the Internet, and "Group projects illuminate personalities pretty well even over the web." A current student enthuses, "I completed my program completely online. I have found many students to be actively engaged and willing to collaborate via online chat, e-mail, and over the phone."
Whether online or in the classroom, students say the program is high quality and challenging. One shares, "I started here after moving away from Chicago, where I attended a top-10 MBA program (Kellogg). I find the classes to be rigorous and academically competitive. I was worried that the courses would seem much easier than Kellogg['s], but my fears were misplaced." Even so, the program is fairly structured, and some students say they'd like to have the option of "more concentrations within the program"that are "structured to specific disciplines" while "removing some courses that aren't as beneficial to one's future goals."

Students Say - Admissions
To apply to the graduate program at the Marist School of Management, students must possess an undergraduate degree in any discipline. Whether applying to the online or on-campus program, all applicants must submit a completed graduate school application, an application fee, two letters of recommendation, responses to the essay questions, official GMAT scores, and official transcripts from undergraduate study.

Students Say - Campus Life
Because a large percentage of Marist courses are taught via the Internet, the student community is largely virtual. Even so, Marist students have the opportunity to get to know their classmates through the phone and Internet, describing them as "hardworking, intelligent [people], with work and family obligations." Those who attend classes on campus tell us the school promotes a "good sense of community" and "attracts people who are just plain nice and helpful both to work and teach and as students." While the business school is located on Marist's lively undergraduate campus, there aren't many social or recreational activities targeted at business students. Indeed, some would like to see "more opportunities for socializing, networking, out-of-classroom learning (speakers, etc.)."
Marist is located in Poughkeepsie, New York, a small city about 90 minutes from both New York City and Albany. A picturesque campus environment, the school is located near the Catskill Mountains, and the surrounding area is a paradise for hiking, cross-country skiing, mountain biking, and other outdoor activities. There are also a number of attractions in the town of Poughkeepsie, including the historic Barbadon Theater and Mid-Hudson Civic Center, which show opera, ballet, Broadway shows, and popular performers.

Students Say - Careers
Ninety-five percent of Marist students work full-time while completing their MBA. Ranging from relatively young professionals to senior managers, most students plan to stay with their current company upon termination of the program. For those who are looking for a new position, MBA students have access to the Marist College Career Services Office, which hosts career-building workshops, career conferences, career fairs, and a host of online resources. The Spring Career Conference at Marist included a number of regional employers, including: Affinity Group/Mass Mutual, Aldi, CVS Pharmacy, First Investors Corporation, Gap, Gunn Allen Financial Corporation, Household Finance, IBM, MetLife, Morgan Stanley, Northwestern Mutual Financial Network, Ryder Transportation, Target, United Parcel Service, Wells Fargo, and Worldwide Express.

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