Academics
Just thirty miles from Walmart headquarters, the 鈥渢op-ranked public business college鈥 at the University of Arkansas鈥擣ayetteville gets more than just its name from the world-famous retailer. 鈥淲almart鈥檚 extensive involvement鈥 in the school pays off in a thousand different ways, from fantastic internship opportunities to the 鈥渃utting edge鈥 supply chain and retail management program鈥攏ot to mention, the world-class business environment in Fayetteville. Thanks to the school鈥檚 famous benefactor, 鈥淣orthwest Arkansas is a business epicenter,鈥 with 鈥渙ver 1,500 suppliers based locally.鈥 Without jetting off to New York or Tokyo, 鈥渟tudents are given opportunities to interact with Fortune 500 CEOs on a regular basis鈥濃攐ften without leaving campus. Here, 鈥淵ou鈥檒l rarely find a day when there is not a CEO or other successful alumni coming back to contribute.鈥
Walton operates two MBAs: a traditional full-time program and a part-time Executive MBA. With classes held 鈥渙nce a month on Saturdays,鈥 the part-time program 鈥渙ffers a lot of flexibility for working professionals.鈥 Students praise the 鈥渂lended delivery,鈥 which 鈥渋ncorporates both in-class and distance learning.鈥 On top of that, 鈥渢he administration ensures that the students lives are easy when it comes to enrollment and degree requirements鈥濃攖hey even provide all the materials (and meals!) on class day. For full-timers, the experience is likewise fast-paced, packing a full academic program鈥攊ncluding an internship or overseas trip, independent projects, and case competitions鈥攊nto just sixteen months of study.
Students in both full-time and part-time programs are bowled over by the quality of the academic experience. With a name like Walton, it鈥檚 hardly a surprise that 鈥渢he retail and supply chain management is highly recognized,鈥 drawing many students already working in the field. Yet professors across departments are 鈥渆xperienced professionals with real-world knowledge,鈥 who are 鈥渋ncredibly gifted in their field of research鈥 and 鈥渢ruly excited about the material they teach.鈥 Professors are also willing to provide 鈥渁dditional instruction beyond class time,鈥 both to help with class material and to 鈥渁nswer any questions we have related to application of learned material in the workplace.鈥
The MBA is 鈥渧ery, very well run,鈥 overseen by an administration that is 鈥渟econd to none.鈥 A boon to busy students, 鈥渢he administration ensures that the students lives are easy when it comes to enrollment and degree requirements.鈥 They also 鈥渢ake steps to 鈥渋mprove the MBA program every year according to students鈥 feedback.鈥 Icing on the cake, 鈥渢he cost of the program is relatively inexpensive compared to their national rankings,鈥 making a Walton education a rather savvy venture.