Learn to lead from a Business College of Distinction

Alvernia University’s Master of Business Administration (MBA) program prepares students to embrace leadership roles through its core Franciscan values that foster ethical leaders with moral courage. In addition to helping students develop an understanding of the demanding nature and interrelationship among the key functional areas of business, Alvernia’s program emphasizes management skills, with a curriculum led by faculty with diverse teaching and business experience.


A state-of-the-art business lab, alternative business models and the rise of entrepreneurship helped Alvernia earn the accolade of Business College of Distinction in 2022. Students have the option to take hybrid or online courses.

Getting Started

Where You Can Get A Degree

The Master of Business Administration program is available at the following Alvernia University campuses:

Application Instructions

Along with your completed application accompanied by $50 non-refundable application fee, you’ll need to provide a few supporting materials. Below is a list of what you’ll need:

  • Complete online application
  • Order official transcript(s)
  • Provide two letters of recommendations
  • Provide Personal Statement
  • Upload Professional Resume
  • Provide scores from a graduate entrance exam.
  • Interview with the MBA program coordinator (After all the required application materials have been received, an interview may be required)
  • Additional Evidence of potential for success (Academic or professional awards, special certifications, samples of scholarly or creative work, and completion of specialized examinations are encouraged)
Financing Your Education

There are options to assist in financing your education and making the tuition affordable. Visit our financial aid page for a detailed overview of the process, including a link to complete the FAFSA application, as well as more information about the tuition payment plan and the tuition deferment program we offer. Alvernia’s Title IV code for the FAFSA is 003233. The Office of Student Financial Services is available to help with any questions you may have. Call 610-796-8201 or email sfs@alvernia.edu.

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Business lab
Why Alvernia?
• A nationally ranked comprehensive regional university, Alvernia offers doctoral, master's, and post-baccalaureate programs to advance your career or prepare you for a new one.
• Flexible scheduling with evening classes and in-person, hybrid and online formats meet the needs of the busy adult learner.
• Programs are offered at a growing number of convenient locations in Reading, Pottsville, and Philadelphia.
• Alvernia is the ideal choice for graduate students because of a growing number of affiliation agreements with other local institutions and industry partners and dedicated advisors to help through every step of the educational journey.

Program Overview

The Alvernia Advantage

The Master in Business Administration (MBA) degree curriculum is 30 credits. Students who are not business majors may be required to take up to 9 additional credits depending on your academic background.

Alvernia's business-savvy MBA faculty brings strong academic credentials with real-world expertise. The MBA program offers six accelerated seven-week terms a year allowing students to complete their degree in one year. Students can work at their own pace, with the opportunity to finish within one year. Offered hybrid and online. Hybrid courses meet one night a week.

Curriculum (30 credits)

Required Interdisciplinary Course (3 credits):

  • COR 520: Ethics and Moral Leadership
     

Required Business Courses (21 credits):

  • MBA 510: Managerial Accounting OR MBA 555, MBA 565, MBA 575, MBA 640* (Course selected may not also count as the student's required elective)
  • MBA 518: Corporate Communication
  • MBA 520: Marketing Services
  • MBA 610: Legal Environment
  • MBA 620: Managerial Economics
  • MBA 630: Management Finance  (Prerequisite: MBA 620)
  • MBA 675: Strategic Formulation and Implementation ~ taken in the final 12 credits
     

Select One Elective (3 credits):

  • MBA 540: Labor and Employment Law
  • MBA 555: Forensic Accounting
  • MBA 560: Human Resource Management for Leaders
  • MBA 565: Corporate Partnership and Estate Tax
  • MBA 570: Strategic Marketing Research
  • MBA 575: Investment and Portfolio Management
  • MBA 600: Quantitative Methods
  • MBA 640: Accounting for Government and Not-for-Profit Organizations
  • MBA 650: Entrepreneurship and Economic Development
     

Required Capstone Course (3 credits):

  • MBA 680: Executive Leadership Seminar ~ taken in the final 12 credits


Required Courses for Non-Business Majors (9 credits)

  • MBA 502: Accounting for the Workplace*
  • MBA 504: Management and Marketing*
  • MBA 506: Economics and Finance

*May be waived by MBA Admissions Committee based on graduate program policies.

Experiential Learning Opportunities
  • In the John R. Post Center at Reading CollegeTowne, our business lab and Bloomberg Terminals provide financial real time, historical data, market moving news and analytics.
  • The O'Pake Institute for Economic Development  and Entrepreneurship offers resources to students and businesses to assist with economic development. Students interested in starting a business or securing a patent have access to the O'Pake Institute business incubator. 
  • Customized skills are put into practice with a final project in the capstone course Executive Leadership Seminar.
Accreditation Statements
  • Alvernia University's Business Department is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP) and by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.
  • Alvernia is an accredited institution and a member of the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE). MSCHE is an institutional accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation.
Career Outlook

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment in the range of jobs available with an MBA is projected to grow up to 36 percent from 2021 to 2031, much faster than average for all occupations. The median annual wage in those professions in 2021 ranged from $80,000 to $179,000.

  • Vice President, Clinical Operations
  • Chief Executive Officer
  • Project Manager
  • Compensation Manager
Timothy Bailey | Business | MBA | Rodney Ridley | Student | O'Pake | 2020
Alvernia's own returns to pursue MBA
"The staff and faculty provide you with the tools you need to succeed," said Timothy Bailey, a business management and finance graduate who returned to Alvernia to earn a Master of Business Administration.