Enrollment: 20
Average GMAT: 483.00
Average Undergrad GPA: 3.16
Rolling Admission: Yes
School Type: Private
Average Age: 26.00
Student Faculty Ratio: 2:1

Part Time Program: Yes
Evening Program: Yes
Executive MBA Program Offered: No
Total Faculty: 14

In-State Tuition: $32,016.00
Financial Aid Deadline: 03/15
Students Receiving Some Aid: 70%
Average Annual Total Financial Aid: $16,000.00

Students Say - Academics
If you're looking for an "intimate environment" for your MBA experience, Alfred University is well worth a look. This program serves a population of 17 graduate students. The result is a program with a "family atmosphere" where everyone is "really friendly and willing to help." As one student told us, "The greatest strength of Alfred University is its size. The classes are between 10 and 20 people, and the interaction is incredible. One really feels a part of the class discussions." The school is especially strong in entrepreneurial studies, an area abetted by the university's Center for Family Business and Entrepreneurial Leadership, a research center.
Professors at Alfred have the time to go the extra mile for students, and they "work hard to make sure you understand what they are teaching, but they also expect you to do your share of the work." Students also appreciate that "professors here are very diverse and have experiences [in other countries] ranging from Japan to Tunisia." With no crowd to fight, Alfred students have a better chance to shine (though keep in mind this also means there's no anonymity for anyone-"Show up to class prepared and hand your work in on time," advises one student). Another writes, "One professor liked a paper I wrote for his class. He offered to coauthor another paper with me and pursue getting it published. These opportunities are so valuable to me and something I would never have expected." And this sense of support and enterprise doesn't end in the classroom. As one student explains, "MBA students at Alfred receive great amounts of attention not only from faculty but also from business school staff. The Assistant Dean keeps a close eye on all of us to make sure we're getting everything we need: from bindings for term papers to a listening ear [for our] concerns."
Of course, a small school can only offer students so much. Some students find that there are "few academic options within the program," "too few courses," and "limited electives." Even so, they regard their MBA experience as extremely "positive." They approve of the school's "active learning" strategies, which emphasize teamwork, case studies, simulations, and field experience (usually gained through an internship). "As a result, I have found the program challenging, rewarding, and enriching," explains one student.

Students Say - Admissions
Applicants must provide the school with official copies of undergraduate transcripts, GMAT scores, TOEFL scores (for international students whose first language is not English), a personal statement, and letters of recommendation (preferably from former employers or professors). Previous work experience is not required, and an interview, while always recommended, is optional.

Students Say - Campus Life
Alfred, New York, is a quiet, rural town with few distractions, and accordingly, student life centers on campus. The university is a community of about 2,000 students, including 210 business undergrads and 20 MBAs, making it large enough to support all manner of activity. The "wide variety of clubs and organizations offer great opportunity for individual growth" and if you want a club "All you have to do is ask." One student explains, "Alfred's clubs and activities are astounding. Diverse clubs and organizations regularly attend student senate to discuss concerns that are circulating the student population."
Alfred's infrastructure includes "plenty of computers and good Internet bandwidth"; however, "The recreational facilities aren't the best, and the library needs help." Fortunately, a "large renovation and expansion project" is underway, which could be "the largest project for the university within the last few decades." The renovations are expected to "address shortcomings of the university, greatly enhance the campus, and benefit students." Also, while the "huge" dorms get glowing reviews, "Housing is really poor off campus."
Alfred's 16 Division III intercollegiate teams provide entertainment, as does the popular intramural sports program. The school's divisions of music, theater, and dance frequently hold performances. Alfred also has an active visual-arts community; it houses one of the best ceramic arts programs in the country. The "peaceful and safe" village of Alfred has a year-round population of 1,000 and surrounding towns are not much larger. These "secluded" surroundings lessen "the chances of distractions from studies," though when students need a break from the books, Rochester is only 80 miles away, with Buffalo only a little farther down the road-provided you have four-wheel drive in the winter.

Students Say - Careers
All Alfred students receive career services through the Robert R. McComsey Career Development Center. The office provides one-on-one counseling sessions; workshops in interviewing, resume writing, and networking; a career library with online and conventional print resources; and annual job fairs. The school also boasts a 100 percent placement rate for its MBAs. Students point out, however, that Alfred's remote location complicates their search for jobs and internships. Many agree that "Alfred is a small community" and that "outside internships and projects are more difficult to obtain due to the university's rural location." However, over the past few years the administration had worked "to expand local, as well as international, opportunities with particular focus on MBA students," and as such, many find that the school currently "does very well in providing big city opportunities."
Prominent employers of Alfred MBAs include Alstom, AOL Communications, Avantt Consulting, Met Life/New England Financial, General Electric Company, Eli Lilly and Company, Citynet, Corning, Dresser Rand, NestlŽ, NYSEG, Toro Energy, and Wal-Mart.

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