Guide to Pursue 1 Year MBA in USA

Are you looking to pursue 1-year MBA programs in the USA? Continue reading to learn about the top universities offering 1 year MBA courses in the USA, tuition fees, eligibility requirements, application process, and more.

The majority of universities around the world offer MBA degrees lasting for two to three years, however, to adapt to today's fast-paced society, many universities offer a 1 year MBA in USA. The admission requirements for a one-year MBA in the USA are less stringent as compared to a traditional MBA, and the tuition fee is substantially lower (starting at 21,000 USD).

The one-year MBA program has gained popularity among candidates who want to finish their MBA in the shortest time. Learn about the top universities offering 1 year MBA in USA, their admission requirements, costs, and much more.

Table of Contents

Top Universities for 1 Year MBA in USA
How to Get into One-Year MBA in USA?
Admission Requirements for One-Year MBA in USA
What is the Difference Between 1 year and 2 year MBA Programs?
Why Pursue 1 year MBA Program in the USA?
Disadvantages of Pursuing a One-year MBA in the USA
Cost of Pursuing 1 year MBA in the USA
1 Year Executive MBA In USA
1 Year MBA Programs without GMAT in USA

Top Universities for 1 Year MBA in USA

The following table shows the top universities in the United States that offer 1 year MBA programs:

University	Course
Goizueta Business School, Atlanta	One-Year MBA
Bryant University, Smithfield	Master of Business Administration; One-Year Program
University of Vermont, Burlington	Sustainable Innovation MBA
Babson College, Wellesley	Babson Full-time MBA
University of Findlay, Findlay	Master of Business Administration(MBA)
Trine University, Angola	Master of Business Administration(MBA)
University of the People, Pasadena	One Year MBA program in Management
Clarkson University Graduate School, Potsdam	One -year(Residential) MBA

How to Get into One-Year MBA in USA?

In the United States, the admission process for a one-year MBA is mostly similar to the process for a two-year MBA. A brief description of some of the most common requirements is given below:

To apply for the program, students must complete an application form and submit it with the required fee.
Students applying for MBA programs must be in possession of a bachelor's degree in a relevant field with a minimum GPA of 2.5.
Another common requirement is a valid GMAT score. However, due to the recent pandemic, many universities now allow students to opt out of this requirement.
A valid TOEFL/IELTS score is also required for international applicants.
One-year MBA courses are an accelerated version of their two-year counterparts. This is why universities prefer to accept applicants with minimum 2 years of relevant work experience into one-year MBA courses.
Applicants to the MBA program must also submit a statement of purpose, reference letters, transcripts, certificates of financial ability, etc.

Admission Requirements for One-Year MBA in USA

The university-specific admission criteria for a one-year MBA in USA are presented in the table below:

University	Average Work Experience	Average GMAT Score	Average TOEFL/ IELTS Score	Average GPA
Johnson College of Business	6 years	695	TOEFL-iBT: 100 IELTS: 7.0	3.52
Kellogs School of Business	5 years	727	TOEFL-iBT: 104	3.6
Marshall School of Business	10 years (minimum 6 years required)	630	TOEFL-iBT: 100	3.0
Goizueta Business School	3-6 years (minimum 2 years required)	570-740	TOEFL-iBT: 100 IELTS: 7.0	-
Mendoza College of Business	5.3 years	540-710	TOEFL-iBT: 100 IELTS: 7.5	3.4
Hult International Business School	3+ years required	610	TOEFL-iBT: 74 IELTS: 5.5	3.15
University of Findlay	Optional	Optional	TOEFL-iBT: 79 IELTS: 6.5	2.5-3.0

What is the Difference Between 1 year and 2 year MBA Programs?

There are some differences between the one-year MBA program and the two-year conventional program in the USA. Knowing these differences makes it easier for a prospective student to make the right choice. The differences between these two programs are given as follows:

Accelerated MBA programs generally require more work experience than two-year programs. One-year programs are best suited to those with more work experience.
Unlike traditional MBA programs, accelerated MBA programs don't allow students sufficient time or space to explore various fields. They are also more rigid in terms of their coursework without allowing offering the opportunity to experiment in new fields.
The 1 year program is best suited for all those set in their aspirations, while a 2-year MBA program provides more flexibility and can be used to develop a variety of skills.
Since the 1-year program is becoming more popular, students will be able to benefit from the increased employment opportunities in the US for the course.

Why Pursue 1 year MBA Program in the USA?

Under this section, you will understand the reasons of choosing 1 year MBA program in the USA. Some of the major benefits of pursuing 1 year MBA in USA are listed below:

Affordability
Growth in Career Prospects
Increasing Acceptance

Affordability

One-year MBA programs in the USA are typically much cheaper than traditional MBA programs. A typical 1-year MBA program at an expensive business school, such as The Johnson Business School at Cornell, is 20-30 percent less expensive than its 2-year counterpart.

A one-year MBA in the United States could be an appealing option for anyone looking for the benefits of an MBA without burning a hole in their pocket. In addition to the tuition being lower, you will also be spending less on living expenses and other expenses associated with studying in the United States.

Growth in Career Prospects

With a 1 year MBA, you have the opportunity to accelerate your career development in a shorter period of time. In most one-year MBA programs, the curriculum is similar to that of two-year MBA programs.

Professionals seeking to advance their careers without devoting an additional year to school would therefore benefit greatly from this program. This degree program is especially useful for experienced professionals who already know the direction their career will take.

Increasing Acceptance

Since one-year MBA programs in the USA are becoming popular, job opportunities for one-year MBA grads are increasing in the US job market. Top US business schools provide same career services to both 1 and 2 year MBA graduates. Therefore, students pursuing a 1 year MBA program in the USA for 1 year need not worry about losing employment opportunities.

Disadvantages of Pursuing a One-year MBA in the USA

There are a few disadvantages of the one-year MBA program when compared to the traditional two-year program in the US. The following are some of the cons of pursuing one-year MBA in the USA:

Fewer Networking Opportunities
Higher Standards of Admission Requirements
Summer Internships Not Available

Fewer Networking Opportunities

Those who opt for a one-year degree program have limited contact with their seniors and juniors. A key component of attending business school is developing connections with like-minded professionals in your industry. Students who choose the 1-year MBA program miss this opportunity.

Higher Standards of Admission Requirements

One year MBA programs are often accelerated versions of the two-year programs. Many business schools enforce higher standards for academic performance and work experience to make sure that students will be able to cope up with the rigorous curriculum. Therefore, it may be harder to get accepted into a one-year MBA program in the USA than a two-year MBA program.

Summer Internships Not Available

MBA internship programs are often slashed at business schools so that they can deliver a two year MBA curriculum in one year. The elimination of internships severely limits the exposure for students who opt for the 1 year MBA program.

Despite some schools, such as Cornell, offering an abbreviated 2-week internship, the experience does not compare to the 2-month internship available to traditional MBA students.

Cost of Pursuing 1 year MBA in the USA

The following are the tuition costs for top USA universities offering one-year MBA programs:

University	MBA Tuition Fee (USD)
Cornell University	71,940
Northwestern University	103,316
University of Southern California	115,315
Emory University	100,650
University of Notre Dame	81,242
Babson College	89,550
Hult International Business School	76,200- 78,300
Bryant University	44,720
University of Findlay	21, 945
Tennessee State University	21,210

1 Year Executive MBA In USA

Top universities in the USA that that offer 1-year executive MBA courses are listed below:

1 Year MBA Programs without GMAT in USA

Thet table below shows some of the top one year MBA programs in the USA that do not require GMAT scores:

Program	Business School	University
Executive MBA	Sawyer Business School	Suffolk University
One year MBA	Hult International Business School	-
MBA in Financial Management	Lubin School of Business	Pace University
MBA	Alfred Lerner College of Business	University of Delaware
Professional MBA	College of Business	Florida International University
Executive MBA	Kellogg School of Management	Northwestern University
Executive MBA	Marshall School of Business	University of Southern California