High-quality, Innovative MBA from a Christian Perspective
Earn your MBA at Calvin, where you’ll learn by doing, build community, and develop as a faithful leader.
Calvin University’s MBA combines mostly online coursework with deep opportunities to build community with a cohort, bookending your MBA with an intensive week on campus together at the beginning and end of the program. With experiential learning woven throughout your coursework, you’ll dive into innovation, strategy, leadership, and if desired, an optional area of focus designed around your personal learning goals. If you’re new to the academic study of business, you’ll start with business essentials, while those already well along their way in business can jump into high level coursework. See the difference we can make when business acumen is combined with Christian values and ethics — and let’s make business better together.
Once you complete the online MBA program, you’ll be able to:
- Apply current theories and practices of the major business disciplines in a global context.
- Demonstrate leadership skills and the ability to work effectively in teams.
- Develop skills in leading strategic innovation and change.
- Evaluate the ethical implications of business decision making.
- Discover the ability to integrate Christian faith and business.
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- Total estimated tuition, not including fees: $24,228
- Financial aid is available
- No GMAT required with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher
- 7–8-week terms
- Two 1-week summer residencies on campus
Duration
Cost per credit
Total credit hours
Practical Skills for Real-World Issues
All courses are founded on Christian values and deliver practical skills for real-world business issues. Prepare to impact your industry as you lead, innovate, integrate your faith, and think deeply about business decisions.
Learning in a community is a hallmark of the Calvin MBA:
- You'll be part of a cohort
- Each course includes some synchronous sessions
- Spend two 1-week summer residencies on Calvin’s campus in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
Expertise for Diverse MBA Career Paths
Calvin University’s online MBA program was developed with your career success in mind. Whether you’re a business professional seeking leadership opportunities or you’re striving for a new career, this program will provide you with the professional expertise you need to excel in a wide variety of business or non-profit career paths.
You’ll be equipped with solid skills in analytics, marketing, accounting and finance along with in-depth leadership and innovation skills in managing and building teams.
Additional MBA career paths:
- Marketing manager
- Finance analyst
- Human resources manager
- Executive director
- Content strategist
- Corporate communications manager
- Strategic communication manager
- Investment manager
- Community outreach coordinator
Research published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that the need for management professionals is growing. The median annual wage for this management occupations in 2023 was $116,880, which is more than any other major occupational group.
Median annual salaries in 2023, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics:
Median annual salary for sales managers
Public relations and fundraising managers
Advertising, promotions, and marketing managers
Areas of Focus
Choose the general track or select from four optional areas of focus. These are designed to elevate your professional expertise and give you a competitive edge as you advance your career.
Whether you choose an area of focus or not, fulltime students can complete the online MBA in 13 months.
Applied Communication (hybrid)
Apply your business expertise to careers in advertising, public relations, fundraising, and more. You’ll gain tools for effective communication among diverse audiences and media production platforms.
The Area of Focus in Applied Communication includes on-campus courses that are ideal for students living in West Michigan. Learn from expert instructors and complete your degree at a pace that fits your schedule.
You'll begin with the Basics of Media Production course, which introduces you to audiovisual media design and technology. You will also determine the best ways to analyze and reach target audiences. Then, you will select two additional Applied Communication courses.
Course Spotlight
COMM 510 Storytelling across Media Platforms
What makes for effective multimedia storytelling? In this course, you will learn to become intentional about leveraging the strengths of different media to communicate in ways that single-medium stories cannot.
COMM 521 Advanced Advertising
Advertising is both an institution in society and a communication process. Designed as a comprehensive view of the subject, this course includes topics such as advertising history, regulation, best practices, creative approaches, and more.
Finance
If you’d like to become a top-tier financial leader, Calvin University’s online MBA with an Area of Focus in Finance is a great place to start. You’ll learn the ins and outs of corporate finance, and explore ways to apply those concepts to your career.
Designed for working individuals, the online MBA in Finance can be completed on your schedule through Calvin’s digital learning environment. Discuss course materials with educators when it’s convenient and complete your degree at a pace that fits your schedule.
Calvin’s online Finance MBA teaches you to evaluate financial risks, weigh potential benefits, make strategic decisions, and help contribute to a business’s bottom line. Align two elective courses with your interests and advance in the career path that suits you best.
Course Spotlight
FIN 601 Advanced Corporate Finance
This course covers four topics from the perspective of a corporate or nonprofit chief financial officer: mergers & acquisition, private equity, credit markets, and derivatives. Students gain an understanding of the relevant frameworks, the ability to perform financial analysis on each topic, and learn how to apply them to actual companies.
CCT 512 Not-for-Profit Accounting
This course is an examination of accounting and financial reporting for not-for-profit entities. Focus areas will include the recording, reporting, and evaluation of financial information prepared in accordance with accounting standards as promulgated by the Financial Accounting Board Standards (FASB) as applied to not-for-profit entities.
Marketing
Apply your expertise to your business career by choosing an MBA area of focus in Marketing. This unique program helps you target your ideal job by giving you the right combination of marketing and media production skills.
Designed for working individuals, the online MBA in Marketing can be completed on your schedule through Calvin’s digital learning environment. Discuss course materials with educators when it’s convenient and complete your degree at a pace that fits your schedule.
You'll examine topics crucial to marketing campaigns, such as researching, planning, pricing, execution, and more. How you’ll build onto this foundation is up to you. Choose Track 1 to continue gaining marketing-relevant expertise. Track 2 incorporates communication courses that are tailored to media and digital marketing.
Course Spotlight
MKTG 601 Marketing Strategy
Prepare to craft and execute marketing strategies that contribute to organizational success. Explore competitive market analysis, segmentation, branding, distribution channels, pricing, and more.
COMM 500 Basics of Media Production
Acquire basic audiovisual media design skills. Work hands-on with essential technology and software and become a more fluent and engaging multimedia content producer.
Nonprofit Management
Calvin University’s online MBA in Nonprofit Management equips you with the skills to design and sustain a successful nonprofit organization. Courses are taught by a faculty of expert educators with real-world experience in nonprofit management. With their support, you’ll build skills in finance, fundraising, and professional collaboration while exploring the interactions between nonprofit board members and directors.
The online MBA with an Area of Focus in Nonprofit Management can be conveniently completed through Calvin’s virtual classroom. You can choose when and where to access coursework and discuss course materials with classmates and professors. Balance your education with your personal responsibilities and complete your MBA: Nonprofit Management degree at your own pace.
You'll examine effective leadership practices, professional communication, and impactful strategies for nonprofit organizations. You’ll complete nine core MBA courses and three nonprofit management courses that include instruction on executive leadership, financial management, grant proposals, and more.
Course Spotlight
NOPM 607 Nonprofit Boards and Community Leadership
Nonprofit board of directors are integral to the process of governing and achieving effective community collaborations and public/private partnerships. This course incorporates and applies organizational behavior and theory to explore the leadership role, responsibilities, and interaction between board members and the executive director. Areas of examination include a comparison of different governing models, key questions to consider in board selection and composition, the responsibilities of advisory boards, working with committees, and the expectations of the board in the area of fundraising.
NOPM 608 Nonprofit Financial Management
Why are some nonprofit organizations more efficient and stewardly than others? This course establishes a foundation in financial management for those with minimal or no experience in accounting. Areas of emphasis include knowledge and skills needed for distributing and managing resources, and for performing and using analyses and reports to effectively steward the financial health of the organization. Topics include key accounting principles, an overview of financial statements and how they are used in the budget development process and cash flow analysis, understanding the audit report, maximizing investment policy, and the responsibilities regarding government compliance. All of these will be looked at through the lens of ethical standards.
How to Apply
Admissions Requirements
- Degree and Minimum GPA: Bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university.
- Transcripts: Applicants must submit an official transcript from the institution that granted their bachelor’s degree as well as unofficial transcripts from any other credit-granting institution.
- An official transcript is also required for any graduate work an applicant would like considered for transfer credit.
- Transcripts must demonstrate a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale, unless students have a GMAT or GRE score of 600 or higher.
- Official GMAT/GRE: Not required if transcript demonstrates a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale. Otherwise, a minimum GMAT or GRE score of 600 or higher is required.
- Additional Requirements: A personal statement, two letters of recommendation and a CV or resume must be submitted.
- International Students: Calvin’s MBA degree program requires two 1-week on-campus residencies. Until the US government has approved this program to issue documents required for F-1 student visas, we cannot accept students who would need F-1 status.
Your Support Network
Faculty members care deeply for student success and invest time building personal relationships and understanding students’ needs. They are passionate about their fields and are committed to helping every student succeed academically and professionally.
Faculty
Leonard Van Drunen
Jill R Risner
FAQ
Fulltime online MBA students can complete the MBA in as little as thirteen months.
Yes. The online MBA offers both part- and full-time options.
You can start the online MBA program at six different start dates throughout the year, flexible to meet your needs.
You can select a general MBA that consists of 12 required courses and 3 additional master’s courses of your choice (in consultation with your advisor) to complete the program. The four available areas of focus – Applied Communication, Finance, Marketing, and Nonprofit Management – are optional ways to complete the full 30-36 hours for your MBA.