Business Schools in Idaho

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Marketing Degree Programs in Idaho

State of Idaho’s Marketing Industry

Like much of the nation, Idaho is on the rebound. Lifted by the energy boom, the state’s GDP outpaced the national economy in the first decade of the 21st century and is recovering at a higher elevation. Food processing, lumber/wood products, chemicals, mining, healthcare and tourism are also helping it along.

Though it can’t match North Dakota and Texas in oil and gas production, Idaho is known for its vibrant high-tech sector. Boise hosts operations of Hewlett-Packard and ON Semiconductor facilities, and is home to the Fortune 500 manufacturer, Micron. Thanks to hydroelectric power, the state had the lowest energy costs in the country in 2011, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.

The marketing industry that supports these sectors is small but making headway. Three Idaho marketing names appeared on Inc.’s Top 5000 list of fastest growing private companies in 2012: DJM Sales & Marketing, DaviesMoore and The Source. In the years from 2008-2011, DJM added 78 jobs.

Job Prospects for Idaho Marketing Graduates

Employment prospects for Idaho marketing graduates look excellent. From 2008-2018, the state’s Department of Labor is projecting robust growth for market research analysts (35%), PR specialists (25%) and marketing managers (13%).

This means tens, not hundreds, of marketing jobs are likely to become available. Forbes reports that Idaho’s 1.6 million citizens also earned a relatively low per-capita income in 2012 (marketing managers had a median annual income of $84,300 in 2011) – something to bear in mind when looking at openings.

Your best bet is going to be the state capital. Along with cities like Greensboro, North Carolina, Boise is leading the market in the creation of new tech jobs, according to Forbes. Having laid the groundwork for growth, the city is currently grappling with how to attract more educated professionals to the area.

Idaho Schools for Marketing

There are eight accredited marketing schools in the Gem State. If you’re just starting your search, here are two programs to compare:

1. Boise State University (BSU) (http://cobe.boisestate.edu/)

Accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business, BSU’s College of Business and Economics (COBE) offers a Bachelor of Business Administration with a major in marketing, as well as a full-time, part-time or online MBA. The part-time MBA was ranked #108 by U.S. News & World Report in 2013.

The school’s new Micron Business and Economics Building (opened in 2012) houses COBE as well as bringing several existing centers together to advance partnerships with local businesses and communities. Facilities include a financial trading room, technology-driven classrooms and an Imagination Lab.

2. Idaho State University (ISU) (http://www.isu.edu/cob/index.html)

Students at ISU’s College of Business and Economics can pursue a Bachelor of Business Administration with a major in marketing or an MBA. Both degree programs are accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business.

To connect MBA candidates with regional businesses, the college has developed a program called “Bengal Solutions” – graduate students provide short-term, low-cost professional consulting services as part of their degree. Internships are available for undergraduates as well.

Professional Marketing Organizations in Idaho

It’s pretty slim pickings for marketers in the Spud State. If you’re looking for Idaho marketing organizations with networking events and continuing education opportunities, look first to the AAF:

Business Degree Programs in Idaho

As a business school graduate in Idaho, you have excellent opportunities to secure a position in management, marketing, human resources or accounting with small businesses and major enterprises alike. In 2014, Idaho was voted as being the second-friendliest state for small businesses in the nation, according to the eRepublic publication Governing.

The Payette Lumber and Manufacturing Company was just such a small businesses when it first started in 1903. More than 100 years later, it has grown to become Boise Cascade, worth an estimated $1.48 billion and with over 5,600 employees and 2014 revenues totaling $3.57 billion according to the most recent figures from Fortune.

Real estate is also important for the state’s economy, supporting jobs for Idaho’s business school graduates. In 2015, this sector generated $8.85 billion, a significant portion of the $65.5 billion Gross State Product (GSP) that year. As such, Idaho hosts the fourth-highest concentration of property, real estate, and community association managers of all states in the nation according to the US Department of Labor.

There are also plenty of other important business opportunities in Idaho, from the high tech industry to tourism. Preparing for a successful career in any of these fields starts with a bachelor’s degree in business. Depending on your area of specialization, you may also want to major in finance, marketing, human resources, marketing, or another related field. An MBA can also be essential when competing for Idaho’s most lucrative careers, as well as for more advanced positions.

Idaho’s Business Leaders in Action

Being aware of Idaho’s business environment will help you to be better informed when making important decisions about your business education. The State’s Department of Commerce reports that some of Idaho’s economic powerhouses include:

  • Manufacturing – Responsible for 14.7 percent of GSP; employs 5.5 percent of the state’s private workforce; generated over $8.14 billion in 2014
  • Aerospace – More than 36 aerospace companies call Idaho home, and employ around 1,900 professionals who earn an average annual income of nearly $60,000
  • Recreation technology – The state’s 300-plus recreation establishments support 5,922 employees who earn an average annual income of more than $48,000
  • Travel – Idaho’s tourism industry employs over 26,000, generates approximately $3.6 billion each year, and produces more than half a billion dollars in tax revenues
  • Food production – Idaho produces 29 percent of the nation’s supply of potatoes and 72 percent of its trout, ranking first among all other states in these categories. The state’s food processing and agricultural industries support over 33,700 jobs.

Idaho’s diverse economy supports jobs in a variety of fields. The following are examples of career opportunities for business professionals in Idaho aligned with degree requirements (From a survey of job boards conducted in August 2015 and provided for illustrative purposes only):

  • Marketing Manager with JR Simplot Company – Bachelor’s of Science in Marketing
  • Personnel Manager with WinCo Foods – Bachelor’s of Science in HR
  • Management Staff with New Albertson’s – Bachelor’s of Science in Leadership and Management
  • Business Consultant with Boise Cascade – Master’s in Business Administration (MBA)
  • Hiring Manager with ConAgra – MBA with a concentration in Personnel

Idaho State University

The MBA program at the College of Business at Idaho State University is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) and offers small class sizes, highly-engaged faculty and a strong accounting emphasis. Leadership, analytical skills and ethical decision-making are emphasized throughout, no matter which area of concentration you choose. You can earn a general management MBA or focus on accounting, information systems, finance, marketing, project management or health care management. The school also offers a joint Doctor of Pharmacy and MBA degree.

University of Idaho

The Executive MBA program at the University of Idaho is a small one – approximately 20 students are admitted per year, and it’s intense. Though formatted for working students, it is exhibits both rigor and depth. Most students are working adults (the average age of students in the program is 39) who are balancing demanding leadership-track jobs with their studies. The on-campus degree program involves four semesters, including a one-week summer residence in the first year one and a three-day residence between year one and year two. The coursework emphasizes five themes: leadership, globalization, sustainability, decision-making and relationship management.

Brigham Young University-Idaho

This program is a joint effort between Brigham Young University-Idaho (BYU-Idaho) and Utah State University (USU).The faculty of USU’s Jon M. Huntsman School of Business teach the same MBA curriculum offered at Utah State on the BYU-Idaho campus in Rexburg. Classes are offered Friday evenings and Saturday mornings; this program takes approximately two years to complete. It is AACSB accredited.

Boise State University

Boise State University’s College of Business and Economics offers several MBA programs. If you recently graduated with a bachelor’s degree, consider the Career Start MBA, a full-time traditional program that requires no work experience. If you have a full-time job, you can pursue your MBA in the evening with the Professional MBA program that extends the curriculum across 32 months. Seasoned executives on an upper management career track have the option of the Executive MBA; this program requires at least six years of management experience. Like the Professional MBA, you can pursue this degree part time, attending classes a few days per month. In addition, the school offers an Operational Excellence Executive MBA in conjunction with the Kaizen institute; this program incorporates Lean and Six Sigma and requires a one-week “study mission” to Japan. For those looking for study online, Boise State also offers an online MBA option that can be completed in as little as a year. Each of these programs is fully accredited by the AACSB.

Northwest Nazarene University

This private Christian university offers its MBA program at its Nampa and Boise campuses, as well as online. It is a generalist degree that you can customize in four areas of concentration: healthcare, operations management, finance and global business. The format is designed to accommodate students while they hold down full-time jobs. Both online and on-campus programs use a cohort model so that you can get to know fellow students and learn in an interactive environment. Courses run in eight-week cycles and can be completed in 16 months.

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