As the beating heart of business in the Southeast United States, Atlanta has firmly established itself as one of the country‘s foremost hubs for MBA education. This guide provides an extensive overview of the thriving landscape of Master of Business Administration programs available in the metro area.
Covering everything from high-ranking established players to up-and-coming alternatives, we detail the academics, specializations, admissions processes and career outcomes across Atlanta‘s 20+ MBA degree options to help you discover the best choice to achieve your goals.
The Atlanta Advantage: Why Earn an MBA Here?
Before profiling the specifics of top-ranked options, let‘s examine key factors that make Atlanta a strategic destination for investing in an MBA.
A Robust Business Community – As headquarters to 27 Fortune 500 firms including The Coca-Cola Company, The Home Depot and UPS plus dozens of other global brands, the metro area provides fertile ground for networking, mentoring and work opportunities.
Industry Diversity – Atlanta economy‘s breadth exposes students to varied specialties from fintech and supply chain to marketing and healthcare across corporations small and large.
Wealth of Options – Prospective students can choose from full-time, part-time, executive and online MBA formats offered by over 20 accredited institutions.
Strong Career Prospects – With so many corporate decision centers, the region offers abundant post-graduation management roles spanning functions and sectors.
Now let‘s spotlight the MBA programs in Atlanta that leverage these regional strengths to deliver outstanding business education.
Emory University – Goizueta Business School
U.S. News & World Report Ranking: #15
Location: In Atlanta suburb of NE Emory University campus
Latest Enrollment Stats: 280 Full-Time MBA Students, 480 Part-Time/Online
Acceptance Rate: 23%
Signature Programs: One-Year Accelerated MBA, Modular Executive MBA
Goizueta Business School, founded in 1919, enjoys prestige as one of the nation‘s best for an MBA experience grounded in analytical decision making. Unique aspects include:
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#15 nationwide ranking with high graduate salaries landing roles at Amazon, Bain, Microsoft and more
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Flexible format options like one-year accelerated and weekend programs catering to professionals
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Standout faculties like Vice Dean of Innovation/Entrepreneurship Dr. Andrea Hershatter, an expert on empowering women leaders.
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Specialized degree available in areas like business analytics and real estate
Goizueta‘s industry-savvy graduates thrive in roles involving complex data analysis translated into actionable strategic plans. The highly selective school grooms future executives through an emphasis on ethical leadership coupled with decisive critical thinking.
"My Emory MBA experience stretched my strategic competencies through analyzing complex scenarios across industries. The outstanding faculty and peer network were instrumental in charting my path to executive leadership." – Sarah D., Global Brand Management Director & Goizueta Alum
Notable Goizueta MBA Career Outcomes:
- 92% employed within 3 months with 75% receiving job offers before graduation
- 65% of 2020 graduates landed positions in consulting or technology
- Average salary of $138,747 with 93% seeing pay increase after earning MBA
Goizueta Business School Website
Georgia Tech – Scheller College of Business
U.S. Ranking: #25 Part-Time
Location: In the heart of Georgia Tech‘s urban Midtown Atlanta campus
Enrollment Stats: 285 Full-Time MBAs, 45 Part-Time
Acceptance Rate: 28%
Signature Programs: Quantative & Computational Finance Courses
As home of the foremost engineering and technology institute in Georgia, it‘s no surprise Scheller College of Business embraces innovation. Highlights of the MBA experience include:
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#6 Public University MBA, #3 Atlanta Metro Ranking with specialized STEM tracks
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Real-world projects partnering corporations like Delta, AT&T and Microsoft
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93% employment within 3 months, 52% in consulting/tech roles
Blending technology, entrepreneurship and leadership, Scheller MBA talent tackles global challenges by translating \"outside-the-box\" ideas into business returns. Students gain renown for leveraging design thinking to elevate performance across all facets of organization.
""The MBA program expanded my thinking to consider things from customer needs first, then working back to technical requirements. This focus on real user impact has been game changing." – Lisa T., Sr Product Manager & Scheller Alum
Notable Scheller MBA Career Success:
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50% of 2020 graduates placed in strategy consulting at Deloitte, EY, KPMG and McKinsey
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25% secured roles in tech with Amazon, Microsoft, BitPay and other industry disruptors
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Average salary $116,000 with 93% experiencing compensation increases
Georgia Tech Scheller College Website
Georgia State University – J. Mack Robinson College of Business
U.S. Ranking: #16 Southern Region
Location: Downtown Atlanta‘s vibrant business district
Enrollment Stats: 165 Full-Time MBAs, 750+ Part-Time
Acceptance Rate: 73%
Signature Programs: Robinson Career Accelerator Course
With AACSB accreditation, Georgia State‘s MBA program uses Atlanta’s thriving financial hub as a living classroom for strategic business training:
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3 formats offered: flexible weekday MBA, weekend executive and online
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500+ regional corporate partners providing hands-on learning
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90% full-time and 80% part-time students employed at graduation
"Earning an MBA from Robinson gave me the confidence and strategic mindset to launch my own marketing consultancy serving global SaaS companies." – Ravi T., Founder/CEO and GSU Alum
Regarded as one of the South’s top values for business education, Robinson College leverages Atlanta’s vibrant business networks to connect students to executive mentors, alumni and more. Designed for mid-career professionals, the curriculum develops strategic leaders ready to elevate their organizations.
Notable Robinson MBA Career Outcomes:
- 53% of 2020 grads secured roles in finance or accounting with Deloitte, KPMG, Bank of America and more
- 65% of online MBA students received promotions while completing their degrees
- Average salary just under six figures at $97,000
Robinson College of Business Website
Alternatives to Full-Time Programs
Beyond the major university flagships detailed above, working professionals in Atlanta have alternatives that provide schedule flexibility and areas of specialty, including:
Part-Time and Online MBA Programs
Emory (Goizueta)
- Weekend Executive MBA
- Modular Executive MBA
- Online Hybrid MBA
Georgia State (Robinson)
- Professional MBA
- Online MBA
Georgia Tech (Scheller)
- Evening Master‘s of Business Administration
- Distance Learning Option
Specialized Master‘s Degrees
Finance and Fintech
- MS in Quantitative and Computational Finance (Georgia Tech)
- MS in Business Analytics (Emory/Robinson)
- MS Fintech (Goizueta)
Marketing and Media
- MS Business Analytics (Scheller)
- MS Sports Marketing (Goizueta)
Accounting
- Masters of Accounting Programs (Robinson/Goizueta)
Cybersecurity
- MS Information Systems Assurance (Kennesaw State)
Executive MBA Programs
Emory Executive MBA
GSU Executive MBA
Scheller Executive MBA
When researching alternatives to full-time MBAs, be sure to dive into specifics on curriculum, format, admissions criteria and costs to find the best match.
Why Leading Organizations Recruit from Atlanta MBA Programs
Beyond the high academic rigor and real-world applicability of the curriculums, Atlanta MBA talent offers built-in access to the city‘s ecosystem of industry leaders. This section showcases prominent corporations tapping this rich talent pipeline yearly:
The Boston Consulting Group
Hires 10-20 Atlanta MBAs Annually for Associate Roles
"We highly value the business fundamentals mastery and maturity Atlanta MBA graduates possess. Year over year we‘ve witnessed their ability to rapidly adapt strategic thinking to new environments." – Partner & Atlanta Lead
The Coca-Cola Company
Recruits 15+ Atlanta MBAs Yearly for Global Rotational Programs
"Between the MBA‘s leadership development and Atlanta‘s beverage industry connections, graduates consistently demonstrate valuable insights into evolving consumer preferences we leverage across brands." – Chief Growth Officer
Accenture Atlanta
Brings on 30+ Atlanta MBAs Yearly as Strategy Consultants
"Our clients benefit tremendously from the fresh perspectives Atlanta MBA students offer, combining strategic capability with genuine empathy gained from engagement in this dynamic city." – Office Managing Director
Beyond major players like these, Atlanta MBA students access thousands of other employers through school-sponsored career fairs, recruiter events and extensive alumni networks.
Current MBA Student & Alumni Perspectives
Hear first-hand experiences from recent graduates and current candidates on pursuing an Atlanta MBA:
"I chose Goizueta given Atlanta‘s status as a marketing and consumer insights hub. My goal was to transition from finance into brand management, and the deep corporate relationships facilitated that move." – Sarah L., Goizueta ‘21 Grad, L‘Oreal Marketing Manager
"Between Atlanta‘s logistics advantage and Georgia Tech‘s analytics specialty, I knew Scheller was the ideal fit to shift my capabilities towards operations. The peer network‘s procurement insights accelerated my learning curve tremendously." – Sanjay P., Scheller ‘20 Grad, Global Sourcing Director at UPS
"Pursuing Robinson‘s online MBA while working gave me vital strategic skills to immediately implement in my hospitality roles. My employer sponsored me which amplified networking with other sponsored peers." – Becca A., Robinson ‘22 Candidate, Hotel Asset Manager
These first-hand experiences illustrate the wealth of specialized advantages available through Atlanta MBA programs suiting unique career goals.
Navigating the MBA Application Process
Now that you‘ve explored Atlanta‘s offerings for advanced business education, let‘s detail key steps for applying to these selective programs:
Thoroughly Research Programs Matching Your Goals
- What specializations or formats suit your needs?
- Do school values and culture align to your leadership style?
- Does the curriculum cover topics advancing your aspirations?
Prepare Diligently For GMAT or GRE Success
- Gain familiarity with test format and timing through practice exams
- Identify weaker areas to focus skill sharpening on
- Leverage instructor led tutoring matching your learning style
Craft A Compelling Application Theme And Essays
- Reflect deeply on your motivations, values and growth potential
- Distill insights into a central theme conveying your candidacy
- Use essays to illustrate key attributes through narrative examples
Secure Recommendations Reinforcing Qualifications
- Provide clear guidance to references on your goals
- Select endorsements highlighting important capabilities
- Express genuine gratitude for time/effort provided
Complete Applications Carefully Meeting Deadlines
- Follow all instructions thoroughly demonstrating attention to detail
- Confirm materials such as test scores and transcripts are submitted
- Recheck entire applications before submission to prevent errors
While winning admission to elite programs takes dedication, you now have the insights needed to position your candidacy favorably if Atlanta is your MBA destination of choice.
The Bottom Line
Through a powerful blend of academic excellence, practical learning and deep business connections, Atlanta MBA programs represented by Emory Goizueta, Georgia Tech Scheller and Georgia State Robinson prepare graduates to tackle complex challenges enterprises face and craft innovative solutions generating results.
Other alternatives covered also offer strategic value on unique fronts like specialized curriculum, schedule flexibility or accelerated timelines suitable for entreprenurs or subject matter experts looking to amplify impact.
With an MBA degree from one of Atlanta‘s esteemed business schools under your belt, a realm of possibility stands open to leave your mark on the corporate world through values-based leadership. We hope this guide has helped equip you with the knowledge needed to position yourself for success.
Good luck with your career journey ahead!