Navigate and make headway in a new business environment with a Milligan MBA. Graduates of our Master of Business Administration (MBA) are servant-leaders working for CPA firms, banks, financial service companies, healthcare organizations, non-profit organizations, and a variety of other companies all over the world. Prepare to lead and serve with a Milligan MBA.

  • GMAT not required
  • Online pre-req modules
  • Competitive tuition and financial aid
  • Tuition reimbursement
  • Learn to apply cutting-edge business principles from a Christian perspective
  • Be part of a cohort group led by caring faculty
  • Accredited, nationally recognized university
Executive MBA

Milligan’s Executive MBA is intended for working professionals who have meaningful work experience. The ideal candidate has a firm grasp of business (or non-profit) operations, experience in exercising management discretion and authority, and experience in business planning or budgetary responsibilities.

  • For working professionals with significant experience
  • 14 months
  • One Saturday a month + online

Schedule

Classes meet one Saturday per month over approximately 14 months. Onsite sessions occur on Saturdays, 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. The sessions are complemented by several weeks of on-going discussion, class participation, and other assignments, all facilitated by faculty using Internet-based resources. This provides flexibility in scheduling, while at the same time providing a thorough and in-depth program of study. Students will need to bring a laptop to class. Lunch is provided on Saturday onsite sessions.

Curriculum

Increase and improve your business knowledge while thinking critically about your role as a positive influence in the workplace. In addition to learning theories and practices, you’ll also be challenged to think about the ethical implications of your decisions. You’ll see that the emphasis throughout the MBA is on integrating practical business skills with a concern for Christian ethics, professional responsibility, and leadership development. 

Cohort Strength

Work experience is an important admissions criterion. We assemble cohorts representing a variety of professional and academic backgrounds, ensuring that students are exposed to a wide range of business practices and ideas.

Traditional MBA

Milligan’s Accelerated Traditional MBA is intended for students who have completed a bachelor’s degree but not yet gained significant experience in business.

  • For those just completing a bachelor’s degree with limited work experience
  • 12 months
  • On-campus courses

No better time than now

Add an additional year to undergrad and earn your MBA. Also, student-athletes with remaining eligibility can continue to compete and be involved in the Milligan community and activities.

Schedule

  • 3 semesters total (12 credits, summer; 9 credits, fall; and 11 credits, spring)
  • Summer classes meet online or on-campus.
  • Fall and spring semester classes meet on Milligan’s campus on a regular MWF or TR schedule, with morning classes to accommodate part-time jobs and athletic participation.

New cohorts start each May and finish in 12 months

Curriculum

The Traditional MBA incorporates experiential learning opportunities and guest speakers in the business world, ensuring that students are exposed to a wide range of business practices and ideas. You’ll see that the emphasis throughout the MBA is on integrating practical business skills with a concern for Christian ethics, professional responsibility, and leadership development.

Accelerated Bachelor's/Master's

If you are an exceptional Milligan undergraduate business student with demonstrated leadership potential, outstanding grades, and personal maturity, the accelerated bachelor’s + MBA can give you a fast start on your career.

After completing your undergraduate degree (traditional 4 year or the accelerated 3-year degree), you can complete the Accelerated Traditional MBA in an additional 12 months.

BENEFITS

  • Complete the Milligan Accelerated Traditional MBA in one additional year + May term, saving time and money
  • Get a fast start on your career
  • Continue learning from your Milligan faculty and gain the credentials and strong reputation of the Milligan MBA

Schedule an appointment with the MBA Admissions Recruiter and complete the admission process for the Accelerated Traditional MBA.

Prepare to lead and serve

The Milligan MBA

Accredited
Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs Logo

Milligan University’s business programs are accredited by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs. Contact the ACBSP at 11520 West 119th Street, Overland Park, KS 66213 or call 913.339.9356 for questions about Milligan University’s membership.

Milligan also holds SACSCOC accreditation, which accredits the entire institution and its programs, including the MBA. SACSCOC accredits degree-seeking institutions in the South, including the University of Tennessee and East Tennessee State University.

Milligan University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges to award baccalaureate, master’s, education specialist, and doctoral degrees. Contact the Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, Georgia 30033-4097 or call 404.679.4500 for questions about the accreditation of Milligan University.

Affordable

Tuition and fees for both 32-credit hour programs are approximately $20,175 ($600/hour + fees), less than half the average cost of an MBA at many universities. We also don’t have any hidden fees. Financial aid is available for graduate students. Ask us how our costs compare to other similar institutions and programs! Learn about available aid and payment options »

Cost of Attendance elements by program »

Careers

Each year, the Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC) conducts a comprehensive, global survey of employers who hire recent MBA graduates and other graduate business students. If you’re considering whether entrance into an MBA program is for you, here are some results of that survey that you’ll find helpful.

  • Almost all employers (99%) report satisfaction with their MBA employees, including 76 percent who are very or extremely satisfied.
  • The majority of employers (75% or more) report that compared with other employees at the same job level employees with an MBA degree demonstrate higher or much higher abilities in:
    • Managing strategy and innovation
    • Strategic and system skills
    • Knowledge of general business functions
    • Managing decision-making processes, and
    • Learning, motivation, and leadership.
  • The vast majority of employers that hire graduating MBA students expect that new MBAs will have some prior work experience and look for candidates with an average of three and half years of experience.
  • Economically-driven factors (e.g., no job openings) and different hiring needs aside, one in four companies that did not hire MBA graduates in 2009 (22%) reported that candidates had unrealistic job expectations, including high salary demands and unrealistic job role or level expectations.
  • Most graduating MBAs feel that the overall value of the MBA degree is high, and most say they are satisfied with the benefits of the degree. MBAs also report that they have more career opportunities and a significant boost in pay as a result of their degree.

MBA SALARIES AND RETURN ON INVESTMENT

Note: Data are 2013 annual averages for persons age 25 and over. Earnings are for full-time wage and salary workers. Source: Current Population Survey, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor

  • Salaries paid to MBA graduates are higher than those paid to people right out of college and people who graduated with other kinds of master’s degrees.
  • Factors that affect your actual post-MBA salary include the following:
    • your post-MBA job function
    • the industry you work in after graduation
    • the geographic region in which you work
    • your pre-MBA professional experience (including whether your experience base is in the field you pursue post-MBA)
    • In general, graduate business alumni report higher salaries than before they earned the degree, high rates of job satisfaction, confidence that they did the right thing by earning a graduate business degree, and satisfaction with the career opportunities that their management skills bring.
    • About one in two alumni received a promotion with their current employer.
    • Three out of four alumni indicated their ROI expectations were met or exceeded.
  • What factored into their school choices? Biggest influences have been:
    • The quality and reputation of the school
    • The financial cost of the school
    • Personal fit (whether the school was right for them as individuals), and
    • Location

In summary, it’s important that you define quality for yourself and that you make sure that the school you choose offers the curriculum, faculty, and services you will need to further your career goals. At Milligan University, we provide all of our students an enriching academic experience within a Christian environment that will empower individuals achieve their dreams and to become change agents within their organizations.

Curriculum

Increase and improve your business knowledge while thinking critically about your role as a positive influence in the workplace. In addition to learning theories and practices, you’ll also be challenged to think about the ethical implications of your decisions. You’ll see that the emphasis throughout the MBA is on integrating practical business skills with a concern for Christian ethics, professional responsibility, and leadership development. Catalog » 

Concentrations: Please note that as of Spring 2020, the Milligan MBA will no longer offer concentrations in Healthcare, Leadership, and Operations Management. This change was made as part of Milligan’s ongoing assessment and curriculum improvement process. Both the Executive MBA and the Accelerated Traditional MBA place an emphasis on business leadership that explores leading-edge business principles and management concepts from a Christian perspective.

Successful Graduates

Our alumni work in executive-level positions for employers such as Ballad Health, Eastman, AFG, Bank of Tennessee, Nuclear Fuel Services, and more. Employers represented among students and graduates include:

  • AFG Industries – Corporate
  • A.O. Smith/American Water Heater
  • Ballad Health
  • Bank of Tennessee
  • Bell Helicopter
  • Borla Performance Industries
  • Carrier – United Technologies
  • ConAgra Foods
  • Cooper-Standard Automotive
  • Computer Sciences Corporation
  • Eastman Chemical Company
  • Eastman Credit Union
  • First Tennessee
  • Holston Valley Medical Center
  • Honeywell International Inc.
  • ICG/Holliston
  • John Deere
  • King Pharmaceuticals
  • Lear Corporation
  • Milligan University
  • Mountain States Health Alliance
  • Nuclear Fuel Services Inc.
  • Pace Carbon Fuels
  • U.S. Postal Service
  • Wellmont Health Systems

Alumni Profile
Chrissy Idlette Milligan MBA student
Chrissy Idlette, '19

I am so grateful for Milligan’s Executive MBA offering. I was able to effectively manage the workload, even while working full-time and parenting young children. I developed relationships with people across the region, many whom I stay in touch with today. The program offered immediate payback, as I was promoted at Eastman within a year of completing the degree. The professors went above and beyond to ensure understanding and promote Christian leadership principles. Thank you, Milligan!

Admission

Application Process

To apply to The Milligan MBA, please complete the following:

  1. APPLICATION: Completed application, resume, and personal statement.
    • ApplicationApply online now!
    • Resume: Provide a copy of your resume to describe your employment history. Include the name of the employer, dates of employment, job title, responsibilities (identify any international business experience, as well as managerial responsibilities, including reporting relationships, budgetary scope and authority). Include professional associations or other organizations you are involved in as a member or a volunteer, as well as any honors or awards received. Submit online with application.
    • Personal Statement: Submit a two page (typed, double spaced) personal statement to serve as a writing sample that demonstrates a strong written command of the English language, organization, creativity, and analytical skills. The writing sample is your opportunity to introduce yourself in a professional manner. You are specifically asked to discuss how the Milligan University MBA will help you achieve your professional goals, as well as address the significant factors in your personal and/or professional development which you believe may distinguish you from other candidates. Your personal statement should highlight any special achievements/ accomplishments, and as applicable, how you have overcome any past academic weaknesses. Submit online with application.
  2. RECOMMENDATIONS: Two professional recommendation requests will be sent from the online application. (References may be waived for applicants to the Traditional MBA who have a 3.5 or above.)
  3. UNDERGRAD DEGREE & TRANSCRIPTS: Official transcripts from every college attended whether or not the applicant graduated from that school.
  4. PREREQUISITESPrerequisite courses or a demonstrated competency in Accounting, Economics, Statistics, Business Law, and Global/International Business are required for admission into the MBA.
    1. Business-related degree holders who did not achieve a satisfactory grade in one or more prerequisite courses may need to complete Individual Proficiency Modules in the course(s) as determined by the admissions committee. The modules are $44 online courses to help you develop the foundational business knowledge you need to be more successful with your Milligan MBA courses. Please refer to your MBA acceptance letter to determine which courses you must complete, or email mba@milligan.edu. Students also have the option to pursue prerequisites at any accredited institution.
    2. Non-business-related degreeholders are required to:
      • Complete Individual Proficiency Module(s) if determined by the committee. The modules are $44 online courses to help you develop the foundational business knowledge you need to be more successful with your Milligan MBA courses. Please refer to your MBA acceptance letter to determine which courses you must complete, or email mba@milligan.edu. Students also have the option to pursue prerequisites at any accredited institution.

An Interview with faculty admissions committee may be required.

DEADLINES

Application deadlines are usually a month prior to the start of the program.

ENROLLMENT CONFIRMATION

A $150 deposit (credited to your first semester’s tuition) is required to secure your spot in the cohort.

INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS

This program is approved by SEVIS to accept international applicants.

It is the applicant’s responsibility to complete any additional paperwork after you are admitted. A complete I-20 is not issued until all required documents are on file and payment for the first semester is received. All admission and immigration materials must be received by June 1 for fall enrollment and December 1 for spring enrollment.

English Language Proficiency:

  • International students must present a satisfactory score on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or International English Language Testing System (IELTS).
  • Normally, the TOEFL score must be at least 550 on the paper-based examination or 213 on the computer-based examination or 79 on the internet-based examination. The IELTS score must be at least 6.5.
  • Please have your TOEFL or IELTS score sent directly from the Educational Testing Service to Milligan University.
  • All international applicants must have taken the TOEFL within the last two years.
  • You cannot be exempted from this requirement unless English is your native language, or you are a U.S. citizen, or you have received an undergraduate or graduate degree from an accredited U.S. college or university.

International students MUST complete the application requirements for this program AND the international application and immigration/visa process outlined here » 

Prerequisites

Prerequisite courses or a demonstrated competency in Accounting, Economics, Statistics, Business Law, and Global/International Business are required for admission into the MBA.

  • Business-related degree holders who did not achieve a satisfactory grade in one or more prerequisite courses may need to complete Individual Proficiency Modules in the course(s) as determined by the admissions committee. The modules are $44 online courses to help you develop the foundational business knowledge you need to be more successful with your Milligan MBA courses. Please refer to your MBA acceptance letter to determine which courses you must complete, or email mba@milligan.edu. Students also have the option to pursue prerequisites at any accredited institution.
  • Non-business-related degree holders are required to:
    1. Complete Individual Proficiency Module(s) if determined by the admissions committee. The modules are $44 online courses to help you develop the foundational business knowledge you need to be more successful with your Milligan MBA courses. Please refer to your MBA acceptance letter to determine which courses you must complete, or email mba@milligan.edu. Students also have the option to pursue prerequisites at any accredited institution.
Student Expectations

All students at Milligan are expected to uphold the expectations and responsibilities for student lifestyles at Milligan University. Milligan University adopts specific rules on the basis of the belief that God’s Word, as the final rule of faith and practice, speaks on many matters pertaining to personal conduct. Therefore, behavior that conflicts with Scripture is unacceptable. Historically, communities also have developed guidelines that help put into practice basic moral and social principles. Such standards serve as a guide toward worthwhile goals relevant to one’s academic, spiritual, social, and physical well-being.

Students should consult the Student Handbook for further guidance regarding acceptable personal lifestyle and conduct while enrolled at Milligan University. A student’s matriculation and enrollment at Milligan University is their pledge to abide by the policies and expectations outlined in the Student Handbook and Catalog.

I certify that all information given in this application is true and correct. If I am accepted as a student and choose to enroll, I pledge to abide by the Christian values as reflected in Milligan’s Lifestyle Expectations.


Quick Links

Faculty

The Milligan MBA is taught by qualified business faculty. Teaching you is more than a job to our faculty—it’s a mission. They are dedicated teachers, experienced professionals, and trusted mentors who invest time, energy, and ideas to inspire you and help you reach your highest potential. They bring to the classroom a broad range of business, industry, and consulting experience, as well as outstanding academic credentials. While their primary focus is teaching and mentoring, many are also involved in academic research, publishing articles and books, and serving in professional organizations. This keeps them up-to-date and ready to share the latest and most timely information with our students.

Brad Ward
Associate Professor of Business Administration

Professor of Economics

Kristal Dove
Associate Professor of Business Administration; Area Chair of Business

Mei Han
Assistant Professor of Business Administration

Shannon Hogan
Associate Professor of Business Administration

Bob Mahan
Professor of Accounting

Kimberly Melinsky
Associate Professor of Business Administration; Director of the MBA Program

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