Fayetteville State University

Fayetteville State University Online School Site: Fayetteville State University
At a Glance

Fayetteville State University has a long and storied history as the second oldest state-supported school in North Carolina. A historically black college, FSU traces its roots to 1867, shortly after the end of the Civil War and the beginning of Reconstruction. FSU’s School of Business and Economics houses a robust business department and offers various degrees, both at the undergraduate and postgraduate level. FSU’s MBA program was established in 2009. U.S. News and World Report ranked the program #126 in the Best Online Graduate Business Programs category. In 2011, FSU’s business school was ranked in Social Science Research Network’s Top 200 U.S. Business Schools list, at number #183.

FSU’s online MBA program distinguishes itself in that you’ll get the same exact experience as you would be getting in their traditional, brick-and-mortar MBA program. Online students have the option of watching lectures live, or reviewing recorded lectures at their convenience afterward. Another aspect that makes FSU’s online MBA program unique is its small class sizes, as well as its emphasis on diversity and inclusivity. An additional option given to Fayetteville State University juniors is the opportunity to complete graduate-level course work during their final years in college and subsequently complete the MBA program in only one year.
Accreditation

Fayetteville State University – as a wider institution that’s part of the UNC system – is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS). The SACS is a regionally accredited designation. Unlike national accreditation, regional accreditation has stricter standards and is often given to institutions which are strictly non-profit, academically-oriented schools. FSU’s business school is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB), one of the most prestigious accrediting bodies in the nation. Only one third of U.S. business schools are accredited by the AACSB, and only 5% of business schools share the AACSB designation globally.
Academics

FSU’s online MBA program offers several different MBA concentrations, including:

    Entrepreneurship
    Finance
    Healthcare Management
    International Business
    Management
    Marketing
    Project Management

Students alternatively have the option of pursuing a general MBA degree without a specific concentration. If electing to go the general MBA route, students take 27 hours, or 9 courses in the core curriculum, followed by 9 hours, or 3 courses, in electives from any of the concentrations available. If a student wishes to concentrate in a specific field, students must take 12 credit hours, or 4 courses, in a specific concentration, in addition to the same 27-credit hour core curriculum.

Students whose undergraduate degrees are in a non-business related field may also need to take up to 18 hours of what are referred to as “foundational courses.” These include basic courses in accounting, economics, finance, and marketing. If students do have a BA in a business related field, but still feel as though they need a refresher in basic business principles, they may take these foundational courses as well.

The seven concentrations that FSU’s MBA program offers are designed specifically to meet each student’s career goals. Whether you’re interested in understanding the global implications of business through an International Business concentration, or whether you hope to one day start your own business by way of the Entrepreneurship emphasis, this program has you covered. Recently, FSU began offering two new concentrations to meet the needs of students in two quickly growing fields – healthcare and project management.
Admission

To gain admission into FSU’s MBA program, applicants must have a completed bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution. Additionally, applicants can meet the minimum criteria for entrance using two different formulas, as follows:

    (200 X Upper Division GPA) + (GMAT Score) = at least 1050
    (200 X Overall GPA) + (GMAT Score)= at least 950

Other factors, like work experience, are incorporated into the admissions decision, so if applicants fall below the minimum scores cited above, they may still be considered.

The application process requires the following items:

    A completed application form including a $35 application fee
    Official transcripts from undergraduate and any graduate institutions
    Official GMAT scores
    Two filled recommendation forms from employers, professors, etc.
    For students whose native language is not English, official TOEFL scores

For more information on the application process, visit FSU’s MBA application site here.
Tuition and Financial Aid

For graduate students taking distance courses at FSU, tuition varies based on your location. If you apply as an out-of-state student, you will be charged $688.19 per credit hour. If you are a North Carolina resident, tuition is $156.40 per credit hour. Students, whether in- or out-of-state, will be charged an additional $12.50 technology fee per credit hour. In total, out-of-state students can expect to pay about $27,330 in tuition and fees. In-state students would pay $6587 in tuition and fees. Additionally, both in- and out-of-state students are charged $45 per course on book rentals.

Financial aid is available to all graduate students, who may apply for Guaranteed Student Loans (GSL), Perkins Loans, and the State Employees’ Credit Union’s Student Loans. For more information on financial aid, visit FSU’s Office of Financial Aid website.