General MBA Program

The sun nearly always shines in Tampa, Florida, making it a glorious location to complete an MBA. The Sykes College of Business is an elite private school accredited by AACSB International. It is nestled in the heart of the University of Tampa, an 80-year-old institution known for the academic excellence, personal attention and real-world experience of its programs. It’s a unique place to study, with the university’s 110-acre campus boasting some ornate and historic buildings (such as the one in which Babe Ruth signed his first baseball contract), as well as cutting-edge modern facilities.

The University of Tampa’s MBA program helps students develop the sophisticated strategic mind-set demonstrated by successful executives, and is one of the largest, most established and most exclusive in Florida. It’s a small and therefore competitive program, with class sizes of around 20 students and a 43% acceptance rate onto the program. The application process follows the standard pattern, with candidates required to submit official transcripts and undergraduate degree records, as well as a resume, a personal statement, references and GMAT/GRE results. Work experience is recommended, and applications are evaluated for fall, spring and summer terms on a rolling basis. Tuition fees are around US$50,000.

The academic syllabus provides solid strategic-level capabilities in global business knowledge, business leadership, innovation and technology, critical thinking and ethics/social responsibility. There are mandatory courses in business essentials and leadership, as well as personalized components that equip graduates for long-term professional success, including professional development and the opportunity to obtain a concentration in an area of specific interest.

Graduate business students and alumni have free, lifetime access to a variety of tools and networks to help advance their careers, though the transition from academia to the world of work tends to go smoothly for Tampa MBA graduates, 98% of whom receive job offers within three months of completing their degrees. The average starting salary for a Tampa MBA graduate is US$63,000, with some of the major graduate employers including PwC, Disney, and Ernst & Young.