Business Schools in Minnesota

When it comes to business programs, Minnesota has a lot to offer. You’ll find nearly 75 schools offering business degree programs that run the gamut from associate’s and bachelor’s level programs to MBAs and doctorates in business administration.

Marketing Degree Programs in Minnesota

State of Minnesota’s Marketing Industry

The Land of 10,000 Lakes is shaping up to be an excellent place for marketers. Though weakened by housing excesses in the recession, the economy is reviving. The state has a low tax burden, an excellent transportation network, good schools and a healthy population. In 2012, CNBC ranked it #11 in “America’s Top States for Business.

The Twin Cities – Minneapolis and St Paul – are the state’s economic hubs and home to Fortune 500 giants like Target, 3M, U.S. Bancorp, Medtronic and General Mills. Minneapolis has invested in the “Wireless Minneapolis” initiative, which provides wireless broadband access anywhere in the city, according to minneapolismn.gov. That advantage has drawn a number of high-tech companies and start-ups to its doors.

Retail, agriculture, healthcare, financial services – Minnesota doesn’t lack for businesses that support the marketing industry. It may not be growing as fast as western states like Colorado and Utah, but it’s looking solid for the next few years, according to Chase’s 2012 Minnesota Economic Outlook.

Job Prospects for Minnesota Marketing Graduates

Job prospects for Minnesota marketing graduates are on the up. For 2010-2020, the state’s Department of Employment and Economic Development is predicting 9.9% job growth for marketing managers. Minnesota had the second-highest concentration of marketing managers in the country in 2011, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (www.bls.gov).

Even better, the department placed market research analysts (32.7%) and PR specialists (13.4%) on its 2012 list of high-growth and high-pay occupation projections. Educational qualifications are very likely to help in your job submissions. Minnesota had the second-highest percentage of adults (92%) with a high school degree in 2012, according to Forbes.

Ad agencies abound. There are approximately 740 agencies in the state, including the well-known firms Preston Kelly, Campbell Mithun and The Lacek Group.

If up-and-comers are more your style, check out Inc.’s Top 5000 list of America’s fastest-growing private companies in 2012. There you’ll find rising marketing names like aimClear, Olson and AKQURACY.

Minnesota Schools for Marketing

There are 40 accredited marketing schools in Michigan, not including private liberal arts colleges. Here are two to consider:

1. University of Minnesota – Twin Cities (UMN) (https://carlsonschool.umn.edu/departments/marketing-department)

Ranked #30 in “Best Business Schools” and #17 among undergraduate programs by U.S. News & World Report in 2013, UMN’s Carlson School of Management offers a Bachelor of Science in Business with a major or minor in marketing, an MBA in marketing, or a doctorate in business management with a concentration in marketing and logistics management.

Carlson requires all students to take part in an international experience as part of their degree – be it an executive-level global partner program or a full semester abroad. It also provides experiential learning opportunities that allow students to partner with the business community.

2. University of St. Thomas (UST) (http://www.stthomas.edu/business/executivemba/)

Students at UST’s Opus College of Business can pursue a Bachelor of Arts with a concentration in health care as well as a full-time or evening MBA with a marketing specialization. The school is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business and its MBA is the third lowest-priced accredited business program in the nation.

Opus organizes a variety of study-abroad programs for undergraduates, including the popular London Business Semester. Seniors are required to complete a marketing management capstone project, working with clients of the university’s Small Business Institute.

Professional Marketing Organizations in Minnesota

Butter Country is chock full of active marketing organizations. Social events, networking opportunities, job boards, continuing education courses – whatever you need, there’s sure to be a club or chapter that can help.

• AAF Central Minnesota (https://www.adfedcentral.com/): Central Minnesota chapter of the American Advertising Federation
• Ad 2 Minnesota (http://www.adfed.org/ad2/): Minnesota branch of Ad 2 National (for young professionals) and affiliate of the American Advertising Federation
• Ad Fed Minnesota (http://www.adfed.org/): Minnesota chapter of the American Advertising Federation
• BMA Minnesota (http://www.bmaminnesota.org/): Business Marketing Association: Minnesota
• M-MA (https://www.mima.org/): Minnesota Interactive Marketing Association
• MNAMA (http://www.amaminnesota.org/): Minnesota chapter of the American Marketing Association
• SMEI Minnesota (http://www.smei.org/): Sales and Marketing Executives International: Minnesota
• SMPS Twin Cities (http://smps-tc.org/index.php): Society for Marketing Professional Services: Twin Cities

Business Schools in Minnesota

Minnesota business school graduates that hold a bachelor’s degree in business administration or specialized MBA in areas like international business, marketing, finance, HR management and accounting go on to become international business development directors, marketing managers, financial controllers, HR managers and accountants with the state’s most successful corporations.

Seventeen Fortune 500 companies call Minnesota home, including:

• UnitedHealth Group in Minnetonka – $130.4 billion in annual revenue and 170,000 employees
• Target in Minneapolis – $74.5 billion in annual revenue and 347,000 employees
• CHS in Inver Grove Heights – $42.7 billion in annual revenue and 11,842 employees
• Best Buy in Richfield – $41.9 billion in annual revenue and 125,000 employees
• 3M in Saint Paul – $31.8 billion in annual revenue and 89,800 employees
• U.S. Bancorp in Minneapolis – $21.4 billion in annual revenue and 66,750 employees
• Supervalu in Eden Prarie – $18.4 billion in annual revenue and 35,800 employees

According to the U.S. Bureau for Labor Statistics (www.bls.gov), business professionals in Minnesota earned the following as of 2014:

• Marketing managers – $128,240
• Financial managers – $127,150
• Sales managers – $119,040
• Purchasing managers – $110,370
• Advertising and promotion managers – $108,750

Small Businesses Make a Big Impact in Minnesota

While Minnesota’s largest companies undoubtedly play a major role in the state’s economy, small businesses remain a significant source of jobs in the state, accounting for half of the state’s private workforce, according to the Federal Small Business Administration (SBA). These 114,500 small business employers contribute some 1.2 million jobs to the state in a variety of industries, including jobs for executive leaders, accountants, marketing directors and HR managers:

• Construction – 15,782 small employer firms
• Professional, scientific, and technical services – 15,268 small employer firms
• Other services (except public administration), 13,931 small employer firms
• Retail trade, 11,993 small employer firms
• Health care and social assistance – 9,730 small employer firms
• Accommodation and food services – 8,271 small employer firms
• Wholesale trade – 6,398 small employer firms
• Manufacturing – 6,336 small employer firms

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University of Minnesota

The Carlson School of Management at the University of Minnesota is a top-rated, highly-respected school that offers a portfolio of Master of Business Administration (MBA) options to fit your career goals and schedule. These competitive programs allow students to be part of a cohort of diverse and highly-motivated colleagues. The full-time program is an intense two years of theoretical study and practical application. The part-time weekend and evening program allows you to balance work and study, with the added benefit of being able to immediately apply what you learn on the job. The school also offers an Executive MBA program for those with significant work experience; students in this program work as part of a Global Virtual Team with students in Vienna, Austria and Guangzhou, China.

Minnesota State University

The College of Business at Minnesota State University has repeatedly made The Princeton Review’s list of the nation’s top business schools. The MBA offered by Minnesota State Mankato is a rigorous program that prepares students for success in global business with an emphasis on critical strategic thinking. It blends an on-campus experience with online learning. Courses are offered in eight-week sessions, and can be taken one or two at a time; the program generally takes two full years to complete for full-time students. You’ll chose your electives based on your area of concentration: leadership and organizational change, global business or a combination of courses you customize to your own career goals.

Concordia University St. Paul

This Lutheran liberal arts college now offers a flexible, fast-paced MBA program. The degree is offered on campus, online or as a blend of the two. Either way, you will undertake collaborative and interactive studies. Classes meet once a week, either in person or virtually as part of a cohort. Students take one class at a time to earn an MBA in approximately 23 months. In addition, Concordia offers international study opportunities, including regular trips to Shanghai, China which involve meetings with leading executives in the country, as well as a cultural tour. Because this MBA is designed for mid-career executives, you are not required to take the GMAT to enroll.

University of Saint Thomas

The St. Thomas MBA from the Opus College of Business is built on its vision to excel in educating highly principled global business leaders. This MBA is offered as an on-campus full-time degree program or in a blended part-time format with some online courses. The full-time degree program is an intense 21-month course of study with hands-on experiences to complement classroom learning. The Evening MBA is offered via a blend of distance learning and evening classes that provide face-to-face interaction. The scheduling allows you to keep your job while you earn your degree. Another option is the Executive MBA. This program is delivered over 30 months and blends on-campus and distance learning so that you can keep your foot on the career accelerator as you add to your credentials.

Saint Cloud State University

The Herberger Business School at Saint Cloud State University is an AACSB-accredited institution that consistently earns high ratings. The degree can be pursued full- or part-time on the St. Cloud campus or as part of a cohort through the Maple Grove program near Minneapolis. The Maple Grove program takes 26 months, with classes offered once a week in the evenings. The school accepts foundation courses from other state schools, including some community colleges; that means you can cut costs and accelerate the degree completion process. You can also take many foundation courses online through the school’s participation in the University of Wisconsin MBA Consortium or through a number of Minnesota state colleges’ and universities’ online offerings.

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