Saint Leo University Fast-Tracks MBA Degrees for Career-Minded Professionals

Saint Leo University’s Tapia College of Business is setting a new pace for career advancement with its revamped master’s degree in business administration (MBA) programs. The college now offers three MBA pathways streamlined from 36 credits, making it possible to complete a graduate degree more quickly, affordably, and with greater specialization. 

“As a distinguished, accredited academic institution, we continually evaluate and evolve our programs to ensure they stay on the cutting edge of industry trends,” said Dr. Pamela Lee, MBA program director and professor of management. 

A leader in responsive, values-driven business education, the Tapia College of Business is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP) and serves students and alumni in more than 50 countries. Now, the college is taking MBA education to the next level with three pathways built for today’s workforce:

• 30-Credit MBA in Management: Through a highly focused curriculum, this pathway teaches critical analytical and strategic skills for business management, helping students build on their professional experience to accelerate career growth. “This program offers a convenient and affordable way for working professionals to advance in their careers without putting them on hold,” Lee said.
• 30-Credit Flexible MBA: Combining flexibility, relevant content, and an emphasis on real-world skills, this pathway allows students to customize their degree with electives from varied fields, including human resources, project management, health care management, marketing, and supply chain management. With this approach, students gain broader exposure to multiple business fields, helping them become more well-rounded and acquire skills beyond what a traditional MBA offers.
• 33-Credit Specialized MBA: Students can choose from specializations that align with the demand from fast-growing industries, including accounting, cybersecurity, data analytics, finance, marketing, and health care management, in this market-driven MBA pathway. “While we offered a specialized MBA in the past, this year we’ve updated it with new specializations that meet workforce demand in fewer credit hours,” Lee said.

Paige Holt is an example of a graduate who has put her specialized MBA to work. "Saint Leo's online MBA program in supply chain management provided me with the opportunity for flexible learning alongside other supply chain professionals in my industry,” said Holt who earned her master’s in 2024. “With this MBA, I expanded upon educational and professional abilities within the field of supply chain operations.” 

Kristofer Menez, an infrastructure administrator for the Markel Corp. in Las Vegas, NV, credits his career success to his Saint Leo MBA, which he earned in 2014. “One of the great things about being in the IT department is how I am able to work cross functionally with all other departments,” Menez said. “Thanks to my [MBA] coursework, I had an in-depth knowledge of how and why departments are dependent on one another.” 

Saint Leo MBA students can choose from online, in-person, and hybrid formats, making it easier to balance their studies with their lifestyles. Online and on-ground courses at the university’s main campus and education centers also are enriched with experiential learning opportunities, including internships that allow students to earn credit for hands-on experience and create purposeful pathways to employment. 

“Our distinguished faculty bring real-world experience to the curriculum and provide personalized mentorship for students, as we prepare them for career success,” said Dr. Passard Dean, dean of the Tapia College of Business. “Our degree programs are designed to be both values-driven and affordable, providing students with meaningful ways to apply the university’s core principles in their careers and daily lives.”

To make advanced degrees more affordable and accessible, Saint Leo University offers scholarship awards, preferred partnership agreements with local businesses and organizations, military discounts, and financial aid to eligible students. The Graduate Program Scholarship (Next Level Grad Award) is available to students who are newly enrolled in the MBA program and covers the tuition costs for the final nine credit hours of the program.

Enrollment for Saint Leo’s MBA programs is open now. To learn more or apply, visit saintleo.edu.