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Due to strong job growth for business professionals in the state, Vermont offers an excellent environment to earn an MBA. According to Vermont's Department of Labor, the fastest-growing occupations in the state include marketing specialists, financial advisors, management analysts, marketing managers, and operations research analysts. Additionally, the Department of Labor projects that, over the next several years, job openings in Vermont will grow faster in occupations that require a professional degree, as opposed to a bachelor's degree or lower.
Online education has also become more popular in Vermont in recent years. Nearly a quarter of Vermont's undergraduate and graduate students took some online classes in 2015, up from 19% in 2012.
Below you can learn about selected MBA programs in Vermont. This page also provides useful information on the state's largest employers, its most important industries, and some potential careers for graduates of Vermont online MBA programs.
Careers and Salaries for MBA Graduates in Vermont
Vermont is a popular tourism destination, especially for skiing, camping, and hiking, among other outdoor activities. Two of the state's top five employers are lodges and resorts. These offer skiing in the winter and other activities and amenities during the fall, spring, and summer months. In addition to tourism, Vermont offers several other key industries such as healthcare, finance, and education.
Vermont's healthcare landscape includes several nonprofit hospitals, community healthcare centers, medical manufacturing and software development companies, and university research medical centers. In fact, the University of Vermont Medical Center is the state's largest employer.
All of the industries below employ managers or executives to supervise staff and coordinate operational activities. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), 16,170 individuals in the Vermont workforce worked in management occupations in 2018, and this number has likely increased. The BLS projects healthcare administration positions to grow at a particularly fast rate of 20% -- much higher than the national average growth rate for all positions.
Students pursuing an online MBA in Vermont can take advantage of this expansion by tailoring their degree to the state's economic landscape.
| Company | Location | Main Industry | Number of Employees |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Vermont Medical Center | Burlington | Healthcare | 6,405 |
| University of Vermont | Burlington | Higher Education | 3,000 |
| Jay Peak Resort | Jay Peak | Tourism and Hospitality | 2,000 |
Source: Career One Stop
Graduates with online MBAs can qualify to work at one of Vermont's top employers (shown above) in management or administrative capacities. As students, these learners may benefit from choosing concentrations in healthcare administration, supply chain management, operations management, finance, or human resource management -- all of which can apply to the above companies and industries. In MBA programs that do not offer specializations, students can curate a selection of electives with potential jobs and industries in mind.
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Careers for MBA Grads in Vermont
Healthcare Administrator
Healthcare administrators oversee a variety of activities in facilities such as hospitals, doctors' offices, outpatient care facilities, and nursing homes. Sometimes called healthcare executives or health services managers, these professionals may oversee an entire organization or a specific department. They keep records, manage budgets, hire personnel, attend board meetings, and train employees. Aspiring healthcare administrators should consider earning their online MBA in Vermont, since healthcare ranks among the state's top industries.
According to the BLS, Vermont's health services managers earn a mean annual income of $103,030. Projections Central expects a 15.5% increase in employment of healthcare administrators in Vermont from 2016-2026.
Financial Manager
Financial managers work to ensure the financial stability and success of their business. They keep track of market trends, analyze company financial information, and forecast future financial needs. Enjoying titles such as controller, risk manager, and finance officer, these managers advise top management on financial decisions and look for ways to cut costs while boosting profits. Many employers prefer to hire financial managers who hold an MBA.
Projections Central expects a 13.8% increase in job growth for Vermont's financial managers from 2016-2026. Financial managers in the state take home a mean salary of $113,610 per year.
Strategic Sourcing Manager
Strategic sourcing managers need strong communication skills and typically hold at least a bachelor's degree in economics, logistics, finance, or a similar field. Many employers prefer candidates with master's degrees in business. They oversee the purchases a business makes to increase its profits and competitiveness. Strategic sourcing managers work with suppliers and vendors, collaborate with their procurement department, and develop new purchasing strategies.
Vermont's purchasing managers earn a mean salary of $102,190 annually, and no job growth is projected for the near future.
Operations Manager
Operations managers have different responsibilities depending on the organization and department they work for, but they generally need excellent communication, leadership, and organizational skills. They benefit from an MBA and need at least a bachelor's degree in a field such as management, business, or finance. Operations managers may oversee activities such as purchasing, manufacturing, and budgeting. They also supervise employees and often direct operations deemed too general for another area of management.
Projections Central expects job growth for operations managers in Vermont to reach 7.3% from 2016-2026. In Vermont, these professionals take home a mean salary of $96,950 per year.
Information Technology Manager
Often called computer and information systems managers, these professionals plan, implement, and maintain their organization's information systems. They determine their organization's IT needs, install the proper systems, and take measures to secure important data. IT managers benefit from an MBA, since they supervise employees, negotiate contracts, and manage budgets.
Vermont's information technology managers enjoy a mean yearly income of $122,960. Projections Central expects an increase of 5.7% for employment of IT managers in Vermont over the next several years -- around double the job growth rate for the state as a whole.
MBA Concentrations for Vermont Students
Many Vermont MBA programs offer specialized tracks that enable students to focus their studies in a particular business area. These programs typically require several general business courses covering topics such as accounting, economics, and management. Students who choose a concentration area take a few specialized classes in a subject such as finance, leadership, or project management.
Business students should focus on an area that will prepare them for work in one of Vermont's major industries, which include healthcare, tourism, and education. To learn more about MBA concentrations, check out our specializations page.
Top Vermont's Online MBA Programs
The list below details a sampling of Vermont MBA programs. Peruse this list to learn about the different courses, resources, concentrations, and projects each school offers. Compare your favorite programs to decide which business school best fits your learning preferences, interests, and career goals.
All the schools below hold proper accreditation, so they all meet high educational standards. To learn more about MBA program accreditation, take a look at this page.
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Champlain CollegeLocation
Burlington, VT
Tuition$28620
Located in Burlington, Champlain offers a flexible MBA employing a systems thinking framework, making it one of the most unique online MBAs in Vermont. Tailored toward self-motivated working professionals and delivered completely online, the program's structure consists of two eight-week terms per semester and three semesters per year.
Distance learners complete 24-30 credits for the core MBA, and may opt to complete a 12-credit certificate in one of nine specializations, including positive organization development, healthcare administration, and employment law. Most students complete the program in one year by taking six credits per eight-week term. Students can extend the completion time to two years by taking one class per term.
Champlain evaluates applicants' backgrounds holistically and charges no application fee. Students with a bachelor's degree in an area other than business must fulfill prerequisites in management and accounting.
Concentrations
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Green Mountain CollegeLocation
Poultney, VT
Tuition$30525
Founded in 1884 in Poultney, GMC prides itself on its sustainable MBA program, the first completely online program of its kind. In addition to GMC's distinguished online MBA, Vermont also offers a host of benefits for sustainability-minded distance learners, including affordable tuition rates and an environmentally aware culture.
The MBA program operates on a cohort model, with typical class sizes of 10-18 students. Distance learners begin the program with one four-day on-campus residency intensive per year. Students complete 37 credits of six-week courses in sequence and two capstone projects. Coursework includes sustainable operations and systems thinking, triple bottom line measurement and reporting, and accounting for sustainable organization management.
Admission requirements include a 3.0 GPA, two years of work experience, and evidence of quantitative skills through a GMAT score or GMC's quantitative skills analysis. The school grants test score waivers for qualified applicants and accepts up to nine transfer credits.
Concentrations
- Sustainable MBA
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Norwich UniversityLocation
Northfield, VT
Tuition$28512
Located in Northfield and founded in 1819, Norwich boasts 200 years of experience training industry leaders in Vermont. Online MBA program options at Norwich include six concentrations, such as construction management, energy management, and a project management concentration that prepares students to sit for the Project Management Institute exams.
Distance learners complete 36 credits for the MBA through six 11-week classes taken one class at a time, culminating in a final one-week residency. Core coursework includes strategic resource management and managerial finance. Students must conduct a three-semester independent research project with a corporate partner. Most students complete the program within 18-24 months.
Distance learners can access around-the-clock helpdesk support. The school accepts up to 12 transfer credits, and students may choose from four start dates per year. Norwich alums, employees, and members of partner companies receive tuition discounts. Admission requirements for this Vermont online MBA include a minimum GPA of 2.75.
Concentrations
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