University of Arkansas--Fayetteville - Sam M. Walton College of Business

Just thirty miles from Walmart headquarters, the “top-ranked public business college” at the University of Arkansas—Fayetteville gets more than just its name from the world-famous retailer. “Walmart’s extensive involvement” in the school pays off in a thousand different ways, from fantastic internship opportunities to the “cutting edge” supply chain and retail management program—not to mention, the world-class business environment in Fayetteville. Thanks to the school’s famous benefactor, “Northwest Arkansas is a business epicenter,” with “over 1,500 suppliers based locally.” Without jetting off to New York or Tokyo, “students are given opportunities to interact with Fortune 500 CEOs on a regular basis”—often without leaving campus. Here, “You’ll rarely find a day when there is not a CEO or other successful alumni coming back to contribute.”

Walton operates two MBAs: a traditional full-time program and a part-time Executive MBA. With classes held “once a month on Saturdays,” the part-time program “offers a lot of flexibility for working professionals.” Students praise the “blended delivery,” which “incorporates both in-class and distance learning.” On top of that, “the administration ensures that the students lives are easy when it comes to enrollment and degree requirements”—they even provide all the materials (and meals!) on class day. For full-timers, the experience is likewise fast-paced, packing a full academic program—including an internship or overseas trip, independent projects, and case competitions—into 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’s hardly a surprise that “the retail and supply chain management is highly recognized,” drawing many students already working in the field. Yet professors across departments are “experienced professionals with real-world knowledge,” who are “incredibly gifted in their field of research” and “truly excited about the material they teach.” Professors are also willing to provide “additional instruction beyond class time,” both to help with class material and to “answer any questions we have related to application of learned material in the workplace.”

The MBA is “very, very well run,” overseen by an administration that is “second to none.” A boon to busy students, “the administration ensures that the students lives are easy when it comes to enrollment and degree requirements.” They also “take steps to “improve the MBA program every year according to students’ feedback.” Icing on the cake, “the cost of the program is relatively inexpensive compared to their national rankings,” making a Walton education a rather savvy venture.

The future looks bright for Walton graduates. Not only are there “a huge amount of new jobs in this area per capita,” students say they “have a leg-up” with local employers through the school’s corporate partnerships. Walton offers a host of “great resources, like the career center, the writing center, and professional development classes,” which all contribute to the school’s excellent placement rate. One student raves, “The career services office has to be one of the best in the nation.” Not only do they provide career advice but they “will happily make calls on your behalf and are constantly engaging you in the process of finding a job.” For full-timers, “the Walton school does a great job of setting students up with internships,” and better yet, it’s “extremely easy to get a job after graduation at a great company.”

In recent years, over 141 companies recruited on the Walton campus, with students taking jobs at companies including Axion Corporation, Deloitte & Touche, General Mills, IBM, KPMG, J.B. Hunt Transport Services, NBC Universal, Newell Rubbermaid, Tyson Foods, Shell Oil, Spectrum Brands, USA Truck, and, of course, Walmart. The 2014 graduating class had an average starting salary of $65,406, with a range between $50,000 and $92,500.

University of Arkansas—Fayetteville provides a “rich cultural and academic atmo- sphere” in which to study, including “excellent facilities for MBA students.” Full-timers usually “spend a significant amount of time on campus,” studying, hanging out with friends, or, on game day, cheering on the Razorbacks; “As a part of the SEC, sports are a major event on campus.” Students in the EMBA program admit that they are “not that involved in school activities,” but they do make some time for networking: “A majority of the first and second year executive MBA students will all gather together at a local bar for food and drinks after our Saturday classes.”

The school draws students from “very diverse backgrounds,” though “the majority of us work with or for Walmart in some fashion.” Walton does an excellent job fostering friendships and networking between MBA candidates. A student shares, “By the end of orientation, I knew my way around the town, fun places to go, and the names and backgrounds of my entire class as well as my faculty/administration.” Of the warm atmosphere, another student adds, “As a woman, I feel incredibly welcomed into this business environment. Our class is fifty-fifty—a huge reason I chose U of A.”

Overall, “Northwest Arkansas is a very nice area to live and work.” With a population of around 75,000, “Fayetteville is the perfect size for a college town. It offers everything a student needs with reasonable costs.”