We know choosing an Executive MBA is a significant decision. Find honest answers to the questions we hear most often, from program fit and admissions to tuition, scheduling, and what the experience is really like.
The St. Thomas Executive MBA is designed for mid-to-senior-level professionals who are balancing full-time work. The program builds on your experience, with a focus on enterprise-level thinking, judgment, and leadership. Classes meet monthly on campus, with online coursework completed over 18 months.
The best fit often comes down to scope. Many students use the Executive MBA to move beyond functional leadership into system-level or cross-functional roles. If you're unsure, our admissions team can help you think through which program aligns best with your experience and goals.
Most of our students are senior managers, directors, or executives. They represent a wide range of industries and functions, large and small companies. Students come in with a minimum of five years of management experience. On average, they are in their late 30s with 15 years of work experience.
To learn more about our most recent cohort, see our Executive MBA Class Profile.
Class sizes are intentionally small to encourage participation, collaboration, and individualized feedback. You start and finish the program with 20-25 students in your cohort.
Because Executive MBA students bring substantial experience into the classroom, learning is highly applied and shaped by the experience of the cohort. The cohort model allows you to test ideas, examine tradeoffs, and see how peers approach similar challenges in different organizational contexts.
The Executive MBA begins with an on-campus weekend in downtown Minneapolis. After that, you return to campus once a month for extended Friday–Saturday (plus two Thursday) sessions.
Between on-campus sessions, coursework continues online through structured assignments. An 8-10-day global residency takes place during the second year. Leadership development and individualized coaching run throughout the program alongside academic coursework.
Most students spend 10-20 hours per week on individual study and collaborative online coursework between on-campus residencies.
Courses are taught by Opus College of Business faculty with industry experience in strategy, finance, ethics, operations, and leadership. Classes emphasize practical application, active discussion, and coaching.
Applicants must have at least five years of full-time work leadership or managerial experience and a U.S. bachelor’s degree or equivalent.
We also consider the scope of responsibility you’ve held, the decisions you’ve owned, and how your role has evolved over time.
No. The GMAT is not required for admission to the St. Thomas Executive MBA program.
The Executive MBA program begins in October of each year. Please refer to the Executive MBA Admissions page for current dates and admissions deadlines.
Once you apply, the admissions team reviews your materials to be sure everything is complete. You may be invited to a virtual interview as part of the review.
If admitted, we’ll reach out with next steps for enrollment, financial aid, and onboarding. Scholarship decisions are made after admission and are shared with you alongside your admissions decision.
Admission decisions are typically made within two weeks after your application is complete and are shared by email.
You’re encouraged to connect with the Executive MBA admissions and program team at any stage. Prospective students often find a 1:1 conversation is the easiest way to talk through questions and next steps.
Most Executive MBA students are balancing full careers, family, and leadership responsibilities when they start the program. We encourage you to plan ahead, and communicate regularly with your employer, family, and friends about the commitment you’re making and the extra demands on your time.
Because many students are balancing similar responsibilities, the cohort model offers built-in support and flexibility during particularly busy periods.
We work with you individually to help manage unexpected changes -- whether it’s job relocation, changes in work role, or personal commitments -- so you can stay on track.
Yes. Leadership development and coaching are built into your Executive MBA experience. Through leadership seminars, assessments, and coaching conversations, you receive guided feedback to better understand how you lead, surface blind spots in a supportive setting, and identify small adjustments that can make a real difference at work.
Many students find the value comes from stepping back to examine how they think, decide, and lead. You won’t spend time on introductory business concepts or learn alongside early-career professionals.
Coursework centers on the decisions senior leaders face in real-time, with peers who bring comparable levels of responsibility to the discussion.
Yes. In the St. Thomas Executive MBA, you work through AI-related decisions senior leaders are facing today. Coursework emphasizes judgment over tools. You learn how to decide when to trust AI output and when to question it, what to ask before using it, and how to account for risk, impact, and responsibility.
The total program cost is $93,000. Tuition includes course materials, executive-style inclusive services, and most international residency costs. Please refer to our Executive MBA Admissions page for financial aid information.
Yes. The St. Thomas Executive MBA offers several scholarship opportunities for incoming students. Scholarships average about $20,000 for the entire program.
Many students also use employer tuition assistance, corporate discounts, or GI Bill benefits to help offset the program cost. Visit the Executive MBA Tuition and Aid page for details.
Yes. The University of St. Thomas is a Yellow Ribbon school and awards benefits at the maximum Chapter 33 Post-9/11 GI Bill rate.
We also understand that service obligations can affect timing. If your plans change due to military service, you may defer your admission and any scholarships for up to one year.
Connect with our team to talk through your goals, your experience, and whether the St. Thomas Executive MBA is the right next step for you.