Enrollment: 230
Average GMAT: 502.00
GMAT Range (25-75%): 460-558
Average Undergrad GPA: 3.30
Rolling Admission: Yes
School Type: Private
Average Age: 29.00

Part Time Program: Yes
Evening Program: Yes
Executive MBA Program Offered: Yes
Total Faculty: 18

Students Say - Academics
If you think "team-based learning is the way to go," check out Bellarmine University's distinctive MBA program, which emphasizes collaboration, networking, and small, discussion-oriented classes. Bellarmine's program is cohort-based, which means students work with the same group of classmates throughout the MBA curriculum. A current student elaborates, "We are organized into groups at the beginning of the program and work together on each project throughout the entire program. We learn to work together as a team and work through our problems. It's an incredible experience." Another student writes, "Bellarmine's program is unique in that you learn and grow from your interaction with the other students. There is so much to learn from their experiences and insight that you aren't focused on solely what the professors are doing [and] saying, but pulling from what the class is sharing."
Given the school's focus on peer-to-peer interaction, Bellarmine professors are "more like facilitators" than lecturers. Small, discussion-based classes are a hallmark of the program, and the "teacher to student ratio is very low." You won't have to clamor to get your voice heard at Bellarmine; "small class sizes lead to more personal attention. Professors know and remember details of students from several years ago and keep up with many of them on a regular basis." A current student raves, "The faculty and staff are some of the best people I've met and should be commended for the job they do each and every day. They are all very dedicated to the success of the program." Bellarmine distinguishes itself further by teaching all material through case study and with a cross-disciplinary focus, rather than relying on traditional lecture, so Bellarmine graduates are trained to think in real-world scenarios. The result is a memorable and surprisingly exciting education. A student details, "Each class was a new experience. If I had to miss a class, I felt I would lose an important topic for discussion."
Another undeniable benefit to this small school is that there is "virtually no red tape" and "the administration is wonderful and could not make the admission and registration process any easier." Rather than getting the run-around, students say their "questions are answered promptly and accurately the first time asked." For working professionals, Bellarmine also offers weekend and weeknight MBA programs. A part-time student reports, "The layout of the program and the balance of classes is exactly what I needed to keep the stress level down and balance my work load. I wouldn't change anything about the experience; the faculty and staff have been amazing."

Students Say - Admissions
To apply to Bellarmine, students must submit undergraduate transcripts, GMAT scores, two letters of recommendation, and two personal essays describing their career goals and experience. As Bellarmine's program is largely interactive, students' qualitative skills are weighed alongside their quantitative abilities. While many MBA students have a professional and academic background in business or accounting, the campus also draws students from a range of areas, including non-profit and government organizations, health care, and humanities.

Students Say - Campus Life
While they may study in the library from time to time, the Bellarmine business program caters to commuters and "no graduate students live on campus." Therefore, campus life is limited to class and study groups. Unfortunately, the school offers "a lot of activities for undergrads, but few for grad students-even fewer (if any) aimed at families." Still, students appreciate the school's convenient and peaceful location in Louisville's Highlands neighborhood, just a few minutes drive from downtown.
A local crowd, the school's student population is a nice mix of students who are "finishing up their undergrad" (the school allows business undergraduates to complete a BS and an MBA over five years though shared credits) as well as older, working students, some with families. While they are all in business school so as to promote their career, the vibe is "laid-back and friendly," as most of Bellarmine's levelheaded students are "very focused on balanced work/life and less about improving promotion chances at work."

Students Say - Careers
As the only AACSB-accredited private school in Kentucky, Bellarmine students have a leg up in the local job market. On campus, the Bellarmine University Career Center serves students and alumni, offering resume preparation services, mock interviews, and an online job database. The Career Center also hosts campus recruiting and several career fairs.
Many of the school's part-time students plan to stay with their current employer after graduation, using the skills from their MBA to help move up the corporate ladder. To that end, the school is very successful. A current student enthuses, "I am easily able to complete tasks that I was incapable of before starting the MBA program. The program has improved my skills at work. I am now a candidate for one of the top positions within my company." For those who are looking to start their career after graduation, recent Bellarmine University graduates have taken jobs at AIG, Abercrombie and Fitch, Deloitte & Touche, Ernst and Young, GE Industrial, Sherwin Williams, U.S. Bank, Wells Fargo, and William M. Mercer Company.

University of Louisville
Indiana University Southeast

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