Professional MBA
Voted Best MBA in Des Moines
-
6 years
in a row!
The 50 Best No-GMAT Online MBA Programs for 2024. This comes from College Consensus, which has been an online resource since 2015, growing to over nearly 4 million visitors in 2023, and featured in Business Insider, Time, PC Mag, and Entrepreneur.
The professional MBA (PMBA) is a part-time program where you will learn from top-ranked, internationally-known faculty while honing real-world business skills like strategic thinking and problem-solving. This dynamic program is offered fully online or as a hybrid, with one class each week that meets in person in downtown Des Moines. This part-time MBA program gives you the full Ivy experience.
There are two pathways available for completing this program.
- Online program: Designed for working professionals who prefer to take courses online. This program will give you the skills to advance your career and the flexibility to take courses from anywhere.
- Hybrid program: The hybrid option is designed for working professionals who prefer in-person collaboration with faculty and classmates once a week at our Capital Square location in Des Moines, Iowa.
Degree requirements
Sample program hybrid and online programs
Course offerings
FAQ
PMBA program features
- Affordable and flexible.
- Enter the program year-round and take as few as one course a semester or up to three courses a semester.
- Specializations in accounting, business analytics, finance, information systems, marketing, leadership, supply chain management, real estate development, accounting analytics, entrepreneurship, and healthcare analytics and operations.
- International study abroad options.
- Networking opportunities and team-based learning.
- Access to excellent career coaching.
- Year-round classes, so you can finish faster.
- The flexibility of taking courses online or hybrid.
The faculty have been great, they have an abundance of information and real world examples on how the industry is changing.
Makayla Kim, PMBA program, Ivy College of Business
PMBA program details
Admission and fees
Admission and fees
Apply to the PMBA program
Professional MBA students can begin any semester and are admitted year-round. Successful applicants have a minimum of two years professional experience.
Online application
Application requirements
- Resume.
- College transcripts.
- Two letters of recommendation.
- MBA personal essay.
- TOEFL, IELTS, or Duolingo English Score for non-native English-speaking applicants.
This program is not approved in SEVIS to issue Forms I-20 or DS-2019 for F-1 or J-1 status. However, an international student who has an F-1/J-1 status for another full-time, residential program can add this online program as a second major
Application deadlines
Admission materials submitted by:
Fall semester: June 15
Spring semester: November 15
Summer semester: March 15
GMAT/GRE
Not required
Format
Hybrid or online
Length
42 credits, two years
Location
Online or Des Moines, Iowa
PMBA program tuition and fees
$782/credit hour plus fees
Tuition and fee rates are subject to change
Cost of attendance
Curriculum
Curriculum
Get a full-time education on a part-time schedule with the Ivy professional MBA. Our courses are taught by some of the same internationally known faculty as our full-time MBA program and offer a strong foundation in management principles in:
- Accounting.
- Quantitative business analysis.
- Managerial economics.
- Financial valuation.
- Organizational behavior.
- Management and leadership.
- Marketing.
- Supply chain management.
The Ivy MBA focuses on team-based learning and collaboration. You can begin in the spring, summer, or fall and take classes year-round to suit your schedule.
As a professional MBA student, a course focused on professional skills, resume best practices, and how to nail an interview are part of the curriculum. In addition, the team at Graduate Business Career Services provides guest speakers and workshops focused on soft-skill development.
Core courses are delivered in two formats, online or hybrid, in six-week and 12-week blocks, with hybrid meeting in person one evening per week in downtown Des Moines. Additional instruction is delivered online. Elective courses are available in Des Moines, Ames, and online.
PMBA Core classes are offered in an online or hybrid model, with classes meeting in person in Des Moines on Monday or Tuesday evenings, 5:50 p.m. – 9:10 p.m., and elective offerings in Ames and Des Moines in the evening and online.
For more information about curriculum, contact an advisor at busgrad@iastate.edu.
Specializations
Specializations
You may pursue an optional area of specialization in the MBA program. Each specialization requires nine hours of focused, approved MBA elective coursework. You may also pursue a double specialization; however, no more than one approved elective (three credits) may be applied to both specializations. Check out the specialization course options.
Specializations are available in the following areas:
Accounting
The accounting specialization provides accounting professionals with the necessary knowledge and skills to work effectively within today’s technology-driven, global economy.
Accounting Analytics
Accounting analytics is a growing area within the accounting discipline, with industry experts frequently seeking specialized talent in analytics applied to accounting. The program is STEM-designated*.
Business Analytics
The business analytics specialization is STEM-designated* and gives you an understanding of the skills, technologies, and best business practices for data-driven decision-making.
Entrepreneurship
Entrepreneurship aids in the adventure of starting and managing new business ventures. The entrepreneurship specialization will give you the ability to explore innovative, flexible, and hands-on opportunities with direct access to experts, resources, and networks to advance your level of engagement.
Finance
The finance specialization is STEM-designated* and equips you with an understanding of the theoretical and practical elements of corporate financial management and investment strategies.
Healthcare Analytics and Operations
Healthcare analytics and operations is a growing area of interest within business, with demand from both students and, employers and policy makers. Understanding operations, supply chains, and data to develop plans of action is necessary in today’s healthcare industry.
Information Systems
The information systems specialization is STEM-designated* and will help you gain advanced knowledge and skills in business process management, business-oriented programming, data management systems, and communications technology.
Leadership
Leadership and manager roles call for developed critical thinking skills, ethical decision-making abilities, and cultural competency. Are you interested in developing your leadership skills? Consider this specialization.
Marketing
The marketing specialization coursework provides you with an understanding of marketing concepts, models, and tools used to examine how consumers behave and how markets function.
Real Estate
Provides you with an understanding of real estate. This specialization is perfect for anyone looking to pursue a career in real estate, including city planners, architects, finance specialists, real estate agents, commercial realtors, building professionals, and industry investors.
Supply Chain Management
Increased globalization and rapidly advancing information technology tools are prime factors affecting the movement of parts, management of inventory flow, fulfillment of customer orders, and whether dealer requirements and deadlines are met in a timely manner. The supply chain management specialization provides an overview of global information and processes across all business functions including supply management, operations, information technology, and logistics.
Contact an advisor at busgrad@iastate.edu for more information.
*STEM designation is awarded to a program that has a qualified curriculum that meets the criteria. This designation allows you to increase your Optional Practical Training (OPT) from the standard 12 months to 36 months of work authorization in the United States for pre-approved programs.
Double degree options
Double degree options
Learn more about customizing your MBA by adding a double degree. See your advisor for more information, or email busgrad@iastate.edu.
Graduate certificates
Graduate certificates
The Ivy College of Business currently has six graduate certificate programs. Each certificate requires 12-15 credits — many of which may apply to your MBA. See your advisor for more information, or email busgrad@iastate.edu.
Scholarships
Scholarships
Scholarships are available for eligible students who enroll into the Ivy MBA in Des Moines. Preference will be given to students who work for companies and organizations that don’t offer a tuition reimbursement program or have limited support available.
Applications received by July 1 are automatically considered for scholarship dollars. For more information contact us at busgrad@iastate.edu.
Pre-MBA option
Pre-MBA option
If your grades or work experience are holding you back, our pre-MBA program or one of our graduate certificates will help you get ready to apply.
Pre-MBA Program
This option allows you to take up to nine credits of elective MBA courses. Since most of these are three credits per course, the pre-MBA option allows you to take three electives before applying to the MBA program. We recommend that you start with one or two elective courses per session. Please note that pre-MBA students are not eligible to enroll in MBA core courses. Students should consult with the PMBA advisor before registering for classes to ensure the courses apply to the program and to discuss a plan of study.
The pre-MBA option is recommended for candidates that:
- Are unsure of whether or not they want to enroll in the MBA program, and want to take a few classes beforehand to experience graduate business school with Iowa State University.
- Have decided to apply for the professional MBA program, but will not have the application complete in time to be offered admission for the next session.
- Have been asked by the MBA admissions committee to take 6-9 credits as an undeclared student prior to full admission consideration.
- Your undergraduate GPA is less than 2.75, and you wish to strengthen your skills before full entry into the program.
- You are a few months short of the 18 months of professional work experience requirement; consider starting with electives and continuing to gain more professional experience to enhance the insight you bring to the program’s core courses.
Become a pre-MBA student in two easy steps*:
Step 1: Submit a undeclared graduate student application. This will go to the Graduate College, to admit you as a graduate student at Iowa State University.
Step 2: Once your application has been approved by the Graduate College, review the elective course schedule and submit a Petition to Enroll in the course(s) you are interested in. An up-to-date resume and transcripts will be required. This will be submitted to the Ivy College of Business graduate programs office.
Pre-MBA deadlines are as follows:
Spring semester: December 1
Summer semester: April 1
Fall semester: July 1
If you have any questions regarding the pre-MBA program, please contact us at busgrad@iastate.edu or 515-294-8118.
*Enrolling as pre-MBA student does not guarantee admission into the MBA program.
MBA Executive Advisory Council
The MBA Executive Advisory Council members provide a valuable resource for our Ivy MBA and PMBA students.
What should I do next?
Customized career advice
Whether you’re angling for a promotion or you want to polish your resume, the Graduate Career Services team offers each student personalized, custom advice and services for your climb up the corporate ladder.
Connect with us
Graduate Student Services
Ivy College of Business
1420 Gerdin Business Building
2167 Union Drive
Ames, Iowa 50011
busgrad@iastate.edu
515-294-8118