Shorelight Universities Offer World-Class Graduate Business Programs

While 2020 was a challenging year, graduate school admissions continued to climb, especially for business graduate degrees. The Graduate Management Admission Council surveyed 1,000 global business institutions and found that 75% of US MBA programs saw a 23% rise in applications in the past year, compared to the previous admission cycle. 

Graduate business programs play an important role in preparing students for advanced careers and helps them qualify for better opportunities at top global companies. With a graduate degree in business, students can expect to earn entry-level salaries that are nearly 38% higher than employees with only an undergraduate degree.

For example, here are average salaries for a General Manager role at top employers in the US, China, India, and Brazil: 

*PayScale data, May 2021. Salaries reflect mid-career professional employees in each highlighted region. While some data may cover graduate degrees in business, reflected salaries are not exclusive to these types of degree holders. 

Graduate Programs in Business at Shorelight Universities

If your students are interested in going to graduate school for business, Shorelight partners with top-ranked US universities offering world-class graduate programs that prepare future business leaders. 

University of the Pacific 

The University of the Pacific’s Eberhardt School of Business gives students the chance to pursue accelerated business graduate programs in three fields:

Master of Accounting (MAcc)

The program prepares students for careers as Certified Public Accountants, building core skills such as financial management, business communications, financial accounting, and more.

Master of Science in Business Analytics (MSBA, STEM-designated)

Curriculum covers statistics, programming, and translating and analyzing data. To ensure multiple points of real-world work experience, students are required to participate in an internship (length may vary) to gain experience and expand their professional network, as well as a two-semester capstone project.

Master of Science in Finance (MSF)

Students gain hands-on experience with financial management through Pacific’s $3.2 million student-run investment fund. Candidates in the STEM-designated MSF program learn how to employ quantitative methods in financial analysis and understand the importance of ethics and communication in the industry.

With a graduate degree in accounting, business analytics, or finance, students can qualify for specialized careers such as:

• Accounting manager

• Data analyst

• Finance manager

• Financial advisor

• Market research analyst

• Statistician

• Stockbroker

• Tax accountant

With several campuses in California, Pacific offers easy access to opportunities at innovative Silicon Valley companies like Google, Apple, Facebook, Netflix, and more. 

Graduation from a US university would create a lot of opportunities for our future and careers. In the Bay Area, there are a lot of giant companies that you can work at, so I selected University of the Pacific.” — Ali, Data Science, Iran

Adelphi University

Adelphi University, ranked among the top-100 best value schools in the US,* offers unique specializations to help students work toward their career goals.

These programs include:

Global Master’s in Business Administration

Adelphi’s Global MBA program – available at Adelphi’s Manhattan campus – prepares students to meet the needs of organizations on a global scale. Students study global management, finance, marketing, accounting, and global economics as they focus on solving international problems in business. 

Master’s in Supply Chain Management (STEM-designated)

Students learn how to manage complex international logistical operations across  different industries and organizations, and develop highly marketable skills and knowledge in global sourcing, logistics optimization, pricing strategies, risk analysis, product innovation, and more.

With just a quick ride from Adelphi’s Garden City campus, students can get to internships at Manhattan’s global employers. Adelphi’s Manhattan campus is even closer to New York’s 70+ Fortune 500 companies including Verizon, JP Morgan Chase, Apple, Pfizer, and Microsoft.

With a graduate business degree from Adelphi, alumni can pursue careers as:

• Global management consultants

• Global supply chain managers

• International sales managers

• International trade policy advisors

• Multinational marketing managers

• Procurement managers

• Transportation managers

• Warehouse operations managers

Adelphi creates a supportive environment for international students and it is easy to find ways to engage with the local community. This is a great chance to encounter new cultures and make a lot of new friends. This is the greatest educational experience that I have ever had!” — Steven, Sport Management, Vietnam

American University

American University, ranked #76 among the top 100 US universities,* is located in Washington, DC, the capital of the US, and a hub for business and innovation. 

American University’s Kogod School of Business offers diverse graduate business programs like:

Master’s in Accounting (MSA)

Students in this program learn from real-world accounting practitioners and prepare for all types of accounting fields, including nonprofit and forensic accounting, Regularly scheduled speaker sessions feature professionals from large-scale accounting firms such as Deloitte and Ernst & Young.

Master’s in Finance (MSF)

MSF students experience a real trading floor environment at the university’s Financial Services and IT lab and learn about investment banking, financial intermediation in emerging markets, investment analysis, and more. They can also manage more than $500,000 in assets through the MSF program’s Student Managed Investment Fund. 

Master’s in Real Estate (MSRE)

Students can specialize investment banking, mortgage financing, or international development. Site visits and networking opportunities enable MSRE candidates to connect with professional real estate associations and alumni. 

Master’s in Taxation (MST)

Ranked #9 among the best master’s in taxation programs,** this program helps students gain technical competency across the many types of federal and state taxation in the US. Students also have access to the Kogod School of Business Tax Policy Center and multiple opportunities for internships in the city.

American University helps students secure unique internships at businesses including Apple, AT&T, BMW, CNN, Google, and more. More than 90% of master’s degree students at American University have engaged in further education or secured employment, with alumni now employed at Amazon, Boeing, Ernst & Young, Harvard Medical School, and Oracle, among other top organizations.

With multiple specializations available, American University graduate business degree holders can find work as:

• Auditors

• Certified public accountants

• Financial analysts

• Forensic accountants

• Information and technology accountants

• Judicial clerks

• Mortgage brokerage managers

• Real estate appraisal managers

Washington D.C. is a great city. There are a lot of opportunities for finding internships." — Kevin, Accounting, China

University of Dayton

University of Dayton is ranked #45 among the best value schools in the country.* The MBA program, through the School of Business Administration, is among just 5% of business programs in the world accredited by the AACSB.

The program is structured to allow students with a recent undergraduate business degree to immediately start their graduate studies. (For students without a business-related undergraduate degree, they may register for program-recommended pre-requisite courses to expedite the graduate degree enrollment process.)

Students learn from in-residence executives and have the option to specialize in one of three concentrations: cybersecurity, finance, or marketing. Students also can earn certifications in business intelligence, cybersecurity management, business system analysis and design, and project management. 

With an MBA from the University of Dayton, students can pursue lucrative careers as:  

• Business consultants

• Business development managers

• Financial managers

• General managers

• Management analysts

• Marketing managers

• Operations managers

• Sales managers

For students seeking to launch their own businesses, the University of Dayton’s entrepreneurship program is ranked among the top 25 programs in the US.*** 

The MBA program has helped me be more prepared for success and I feel that I’m already achieving some of that success. [For the Capstone class], we are working with a local company — we have done a financial analysis, an industry analysis, and also started to build a strategic plan around what that company is currently doing and where they can be in the future. It is busy at times but certainly is very, very achievable and very rewarding as well.” — Keith, Master of Business Administration

University of Massachusetts, Boston

With its campus located just minutes away from downtown Boston and Cambridge, UMass Boston students can access top US companies such as Biogen, Boston Scientific, General Electric, Staples, American Tower, and more. Alumni have found careers in:

• Accounting

• Business analytics

• Digital marketing

• Environmental management

• Finance

• Information systems

• International management

• Leadership and organizational change

• Marketing

• Nonprofit management

• Supply chain and service management

Students can choose to specialize in more than one field or create interdisciplinary studies based on their personal career goals. 

For students more interested in analytics, UMass Boston’s College of Management offers a Master’s in Business Analytics (MSBA) covering modern analytical techniques, methods, and applications needed to succeed in organizations with data-driven practices. 

The program offers students two specializations to choose from:

Big data analytics: Students focus on data mining and analytical techniques, in addition to big data management, storage, and modeling, in order to learn how to interpret big data and build predictive models to answer business questions.

Supply chain analytics: Students study how to use data to improve decision making and activity efficiency in supply chains to maximize a business’s competitive advantage.

UMass Boston’s College of Management also has five business centers:

1. The Center for Collaborative Leadership

2. Digital Media Lab

3. Entrepreneurship Center

4. Sustainable Enterprise and Regional Competitiveness

5. Financial Forum

Through these centers, students can further their expertise in chosen specializations and create competitive advantages as they build their careers.

With an MBA or MSBA, students can become professional:

• Business intelligence analysts

• Data scientists

• Database administrators

• Management consultants

• Marketing managers

• Operations managers

• Project managers

• Supply chain analysts

I have recommended UMass Boston’s MBA to multiple colleagues and acquaintances. The College of Management is excellent, and the staff are knowledgeable and approachable. I tell everyone to connect with a professor, they will help you meet amazing real-world companies and business leaders. That experience was enriching beyond belief.” — Gavin, Master of Business Administration

In addition to the MBA and MSBA programs, UMass Boston also offers:

• Master’s in Accounting (MS)

• Master’s in Finance (MS), STEM approved

• Master’s in Business Analytics (MS), STEM approved

• Master’s in Information Technology (MS), STEM approved

Next Steps for Counselors

Graduate business programs developed at Shorelight universities are designed to help international students explore their potential as global business leaders and work toward their dream job. Speak to your Shorelight representative to find business programs that fit your students best.

Reach out to your Shorelight advisor >>

*U.S. News & World Report, 2021

**TaxTalent

***The Princeton Review