Business Schools in Vermont

Vermont’s business students will find just over 15 schools with business programs offered in both the classroom and through flexible online programs designed to fit the schedules of working students. Associate, bachelor’s, and master’s degree programs are widely available for new business students and those looking to refocus their careers, not to mention executive MBA programs for mid-career professionals looking to position themselves for career advancement.

Marketing Degree Programs in Vermont

State of Vermont’s Marketing Industry

Ah, Vermont. Land of maple syrup, pristine ski fields and – not much in the way of marketing activity. Vermont has a population of approximately 627,200, business costs that are 9% above the national average and the fifth worst job outlook over the next five years (to 2018), according to Forbes in 2012. Its gross state product was only $26 billion, as of late 2012.

On the upside, Vermont has a small but powerful stake in the green-energy sector, a famous local food movement and, of course, Burlington – #8 in Kiplinger’s 2010 list of “Best Cities for the Next Decade.” The University of Vermont and IBM’s microelectronics plant are the area’s largest employers.

The marketing industry is minuscule, but determined marketers can be found throughout the state. Eleven Vermont firms appeared on Inc.’s Top 5000 list of America’s fastest-growing private companies in 2012, including the web-focused Dealer.com and the ad agency Fuse. Dealer.com hauled in $127.5 million in revenue in 2011.

Job Prospects for Vermont Marketing Graduates

Job prospects for Vermont marketing graduates aren’t half bad. From 2008-2018, the state’s Department of Labor is predicting increases in jobs for PR specialists (19%), marketing managers (11%) and market research analysts (27%).

Burlington is the commercial center of Vermont and recent graduates may wish to start their search there. Kelliher Samets Volk (KSV) is the largest ad agency in town (by sales volume), followed by Paul Kaza Associates. Firms are close-knit groups, often with fewer than ten employees.

Other Vermont sectors that may need marketing assistance include tourism, healthcare and durable manufacturing. If you’re struggling to get your foot in the door, you might even consider starting your own company – 1,843 new corporations appeared in Vermont in 2010, according to the Secretary of State.

Vermont Schools for Marketing

There are only three accredited marketing schools in Vermont, along with the University of Vermont. Here’s how UVM compares with Champlain College:

1. University of Vermont (UVM) (http://www.uvm.edu/business/)

UVM’s School of Business Administration offers a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a concentration in marketing, as well as an MBA. There is no doctorate in marketing available.

The school encourages real-world experiences – nearly 85% of all business students participate in at least one internship – and organizes study-abroad programs. It has also developed a series of initiatives involving family businesses.

2. Champlain College (http://www.champlain.edu/)

Students at Champlain’s Robert P. Stiller School of Business can work towards a bachelor’s degree with a major in marketing, or they can opt for an online MBA. Like UVM, Champlain arranges study-abroad programs and marketing internships at local Vermont businesses.

In addition, the school has partnered with the Thunderbird School of Global Management to provide business majors the opportunity to pursue advanced international business studies in Arizona.

Professional Marketing Organizations in Vermont

Its tiny population means that the Green Mountain State only has a few marketing organizations. If you’re eager for more networking events, you may want to look into clubs and chapters in nearby New Hampshire.

• NEMRA (http://newenglandmra.com/): New England Marketing Research Association
• VTNHMG (http://www.vtnhmg.org/): Vermont New Hampshire Marketing Group

Business Degree Programs in Vermont

Vermont’s economy relies on the creative innovation of entrepreneurs fresh out of business school. Vermont is an incubator for cutting-edge small businesses looking to develop and expand.

Vermont’s esteemed business schools have developed highly specialized programs tailored to the state’s growing entrepreneurial workforce. For instance, one of the state’s top business schools developed BBA and MBA programs in Sustainable Entrepreneurship in 2014. This area of study equips aspiring entrepreneurs with the tools necessary to develop innovative and sustainable enterprises, both nationally and internationally.

Business school students who specialize in entrepreneurship are likely to create cutting-edge, innovative business models that create jobs and promote economic growth in the state.

Vermont’s Fastest Growing Companies

Graduates of Vermont’s business schools entering the workforce with an education in areas like finance and marketing compete for positions in Vermont’s largest, most profitable companies.

In the three-year period preceding 2016, Vermont’s fastest growing companies in terms of revenue were in the travel & hospitality, health, and engineering industries:

• Hermitage Club in Wilmington, $41.7 million revenue, 2,623 percent growth
• Marathon Health in Winooski, $47.9 million in revenue, 218% growth
• SAC in Williston , $9.2 million in revenue, 63% growth

The Vermont Business Magazine published a list of other top companies in Vermont in terms of revenue. Vermont’s top 100 companies in 2015 included:

• Keurig Green Mountain in Waterbury – $4.52 billion
• National Life Group in Montpelier – $1.8 billion
• University of Vermont Medical Center in Burlington – $1.1 billion
• Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Vermont in Montpelier – $875 million
• Green Mountain Power Company in Colchester – $669 million
• University of Vermont in Burlington – $615 million
• Casella Waste Systems Inc in Rutland – $525 million

Vermont’s top companies look to hire business school graduates who have developed specialized expertise in specific areas of business, such as human resources management, project management, marketing, finance, accounting and more.

This type of specialized education comes with some very tangible rewards. For instance, in 2014, the average earnings for chief executives in Vermont was $178,540.

In 2014, the Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics (www.bls.gov) published the following ranges for Vermont’s business professionals (median to 90th percentile):

• Financial Managers – $118,470 – $144,030
• Human Resource Managers – $110,760 – $171,290
• Sales Manager – $108,870 – $132,840
• Operations Managers – $107,570 – $132,660
• Financial Analysts – $97,700 – $114,040

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Marlboro College

Marlboro College’s Master of Business Administration (MBA) in Managing for Sustainability is a unique program that combines a focus on social change with business concepts. Managing for sustainability involves considering the larger environment in which a business operates; therefore, community building and ecologically-sound practices are incorporated into every class. The curriculum is taught through a blended learning model, using in-person and online teaching methods and collaborative learning tools. The program’s Circle of Advisors includes leaders in sustainable business, giving students valuable opportunities to network and learn. The school also maintains a career center that can put you in contact with companies looking for professionals with the very skills you’ll be able to bring to the table as a business school graduate. The program takes two years to complete on a full-time basis, however, you have some flexibility to learn at your own pace.

College of St. Josephs

St. Joe’s MBA program emphasizes leadership and strategic decision making. Originally a convent school, the university has expanded dramatically since its founding in the 1950s. Its MBA program is designed for leaders of non-profits, as well as managers on the fast track in government and business. The standard, fast-paced MBA is offered on campus; it ends with a capstone class in entrepreneurial and strategic thinking. The school has also partnered with the School of Business at Clarkson University to create a 4 + 1 MBA: if you graduate from one of the business programs at the College of St. Joseph, you can earn an MBA from Clarkson University in one year.

Norwich University

Norwich has been around for nearly 200 years, but its programs are cutting edge. This school’s MBA program is offered online, using state-of-the-art technologies. Students can pursue a general MBA or take electives in one of three concentrations: project management, organizational leadership or finance. You can access the program and contribute to discussions on your own schedule and pursue the degree at your own pace. The program culminates with a week-long on-campus residency. It is possible to finish the program in 18 months; however, many students who are balancing career and family obligations take longer.

University of Vermont

The University of Vermont MBA is built on three philosophical pillars: quality, intimacy and flexibility. This nationally-ranked program is noted for its small class sizes and rigorous curriculum; it’s the only such program only in Vermont that’s accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB). You can pursue your degree as a full-time student or continue to work while you learn. Courses are offered in the evenings so that you can balance your obligations as you advance toward your goals. The program is divided into four areas. You will start with core courses in the fundamentals of business; next you will take advanced courses to give you depth and breadth in six aspects of enterprise. You will round out your course of study with electives centered around your area of concentration and end a capstone course which covers strategy and competitive dynamics and puts your skills to the test.

Vermont Law School

Vermont Law School does not offer a stand-alone MBA, but does offer a unique opportunity. You can earn your Juris Doctor at the Vermont Law School and then your MBA at Thunderbird on an intensified schedule. The Juris Doctor program requires 87 credits and three years of study. The Thunderbird MBA usually requires an additional two years of study; however, as a participant in this dual degree program, you can complete it in just three trimesters. By taking classes at both institutions during the summer, you can complete your dual studies relatively quickly and hold two prestigious degree programs in law and business. Prospective students need to apply to each institution separately and be accepted into both programs.

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