Master of Business Administration


Business for the Greater Good


Whether you want to run the company, launch a new career, or earn the degree that will get you a promotion, St. Ambrose University's MBA program can prepare you to be an innovative business leader who motivates and inspires others and surpasses all professional goals.

To complement the strong foundation of upper-level business management courses, you get to choose a concentration: Leadership or General Business.

This degree is completed 100% online.

Our graduates work at Deere & Company, Alliant Energy, MCI, Cargill, UPS, and many others. 


Ambrose Advantages

  • Relevant Focus, Valuable Lessons
  • Flexible Program with Two Industry Concentrations
  • GMAT Not Required
  • Online Classes

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MBA Students

MBA Student Closeup

Bring your ambition to St. Ambrose University, and we'll provide a more personal learning experience to help you succeed. Our attentive MBA faculty integrate current trends and real-world best practices. You gain leadership, project, and planning skills to help you leverage your strengths and broaden your horizons.

See our MBA Fact Sheet (pdf)


Accreditation Focused on Quality Teaching

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Accreditation


The St. Ambrose H.L. McLaughlin MBA program is nationally accredited by the Association of Collegiate Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP). St. Ambrose University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

ACBSP.org


More Information on the MBA Program

What can you tell me about the success of the program?

Our Master of Business Administration program was launched in 1977, and it was the first College of Business graduate program offered at St. Ambrose University.

In 1984, the program was officially named the H.L. McLaughlin MBA program after a prominent area businessman. Many business and management practices have changed in the past 40 years, and our program continues to evolve to meet the needs of business professionals.

Do we provide a relevant education? We surveyed our MBA graduates in 2015 and:

  • 100% reported the MBA program met or exceeded their expectations.
  • 9 out of 10 ranked leadership skill development among the program's greatest strengths.
  • 94% would choose the SAU MBA again.
  • 9 out of 10 graduates said classwork was relevant and applicable to their job and career.

We are proud to offer an MBA program taught by PhDs with deep experience in their specialty. They are academics and business professionals.

What Will I Learn?

The St. Ambrose University MBA program requires students to choose a concentration area, which helps you become an expert in your current or future career field. You can choose from Leadership or General Business.

Our MBA professors teach from their decades of experience in the working world and pass their knowledge on to you. Faculty are experts from all sectors of business and management ranging from international and communication to workforce and organizational behavior.

As a university grounded in the liberal arts, discovery and new ways of thinking are encouraged which will help transform you into a capable and competent manager. You'll not only be able to solve current problems but also think nimbly as new problems arise.

Browse the MBA course listing and descriptions

Amber Brackey '17 MBA, '18 MOL, earned two graduate degrees from the St. Ambrose University College of Business and gained a deeper level of professional knowledge that is recognized and appreciated. Read her story.

What have alumni of this program done?
  • Gayle Roberts '91 MBA is President of Stanley Consultants, a Muscatine, Iowa-based firm that provides engineering services across the globe.
  • Joe Bailey '12, '14 MBA, is the Senior Learning Consultant for Cerner Corporation in Kansas City, Mo.
  • Eva Dondanville '11 MBA, is a Realtor with Ruhl&Ruhl Realtors in Dubuque, Iowa.     
  • Joe Conklin '12 MBA is the Athletic Director for Alleman High School, Davenport.
  • Collin Grady '16 MBA is a Field Supervisor for Northwest Mechanical, Davenport.
How much does this program cost?

Your master's degree is an investment in you, your career, and your future.

Tuition for the 2022-23 academic year is $755/credit hour for seated and online classes. There are some fees, too (see below).

While the cost can seem daunting, the MBA program offers research assistantships that can defray some of the expense. Many employers offer tuition reimbursement, and if so, you may qualify for deferred payment.

MBA students may be eligible for federal and state student aid, or low-interest federal loans. Our Financial Aid office can provide more information.

And if you are a veteran, contact Natalie Woodhurst. She is an expert in military benefits, and her job is to make sure veterans get the benefits for which they are eligible.

Graduate Fees

2023-24 Fees

Graduate level students taking 9 or more credit hours $280/yr. ($140/semester)
Graduate level students taking 8 or less credit hours $140/yr. ($70/semester)

Faculty

Dan Ebener, DBA, Professor
Monica Forret, PhD, Professor
Jessica Greenwald, PhD, Assoc. Professor
David O'Connell, DBA, Professor
Jie Peng, PhD, Assoc. Professor
Arun Pillutla, PhD, Professor

Degree Requirements

Master of Business Administration (36 credits)

The basic 36-credit MBA program is comprised of 12 courses. All courses are three credit hours.

Additionally, students earn one specialized MBA concentration (see below) that complements the foundation. Each concentration requires four elective courses.

Program options include a part-time or 14-15 month schedule.

Required:
MBA 600 Data Analysis for Decision Making
MBA 606 Accounting for Managers
MBA 615 Ethical and Social Responsibility of Business
MBA 621 Human Behavior in Organizations
MBA 626 Managerial Economics
MBA 675 Financial Management
MBA 680 Marketing Management
MBA 800 Strategic Management

Click here to read course descriptions in the online course catalog

Required Concentration

Students are required to complete a concentration comprised of four courses. Concentrations provide an even greater focus to your studies and add relevance to your degree.

Concentrations in Leadership and General Business have been developed for students who wish to focus their studies in a specific discipline.

Leadership (choose any four)
MOL 501 Leadership Theory
MOL 529 Conflict Management
MOL 540 Leadership Communication
MOL 625 Leading Organizational Change
MBA 690 Leadership Through People Skills
MBA 691 Dialogical Skills

General Business
Choose a combination of any four courses that are offered as electives.

Click here to read course descriptions in the online course catalog

MSW-MBA

We are the only university in Iowa offering a three-year Master of Social Work-Master of Business Administration program (both programs are accredited). It pairs management together with empowerment so that you are uniquely poised to explore and tackle social issues using ethical business sense.

It's a great degree for students who want to be leaders in the field of social work and non-profits. Graduates are able to move agencies and corporations forward in an ever-changing market.

Click here for MSW-MBA degree requirements

Here is what our first MSW-MBA graduate says about the benefits of her dual degree.

Ready to Apply?

If you apply at the beginning of a Spring or Fall term, you can complete the degree in as few as 14 months by taking two courses per 8-week session.

Then, take the next step toward earning your master's degree and apply to the Master of Business Administration program.


Anthony Ash '15 MBA


Our MBA alumni lead companies and divisions in the region and across the world. We provide a responsive education focused on your needs and those of businesses seeking progress and professionals who can deliver. Anthony elevated his skills through our challenging, ethics-based curriculum and gained a broad business foundation that he continues to build on today.

Read Anthony's story
Anthony Ash mobile cutout Ash Anthony Cutout

Anthony Ash

Master of Business Administration,Product Manager at Allsteel, Muscatine, Iowa,Class of 2015


Our MBA alumni lead companies and divisions in the region and across the world. We provide a responsive education focused on your needs and those of businesses seeking progress and professionals who can deliver. Anthony elevated his skills through our challenging, ethics-based curriculum and gained a broad business foundation that he continues to build on today.

See My Story

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Contact


Tony Ketelaar, Director of Graduate Admissions

Admissions and Welcome Center
518 W. Locust St.
Davenport, IA 52803
563-333-6312
MBA@sau.edu

So, what's next?

Are you ready to take the next step? Become an Ambrosian today!