You want the professional advantage an MBA can give you, but you’re not just looking for a piece of paper with an empty credential. You want to do this right — to be more confident, better-connected in Columbus, and fluent in business operations and strategy end to end. You want the pride of earning your master’s from one of Ohio’s most respected private universities. You want the Capital MBA.
Capital’s MBA program is highly respected in Central Ohio and beyond, and it’s designed specifically for working professionals. Our professors are dynamic, connected and interested in your goals. Classes meet in a mix of online and in-person on an accessible campus at our Law School in downtown Columbus, or at our main campus in Bexley. At Capital, you’ll be a person, not a user ID and screen name.
Our program is flexible and customizable. Finish in as few as two years, or work at a pace that fits your life, family and career. Our courses are designed to help you apply your learning real-time at work. And most classes are offered each term so you can progress quickly or, when life and work happen, take a break and pick right back up where you left off. At Capital, there is always a path to reach your education and career goals.
Build Relationships with Professors Who Care
At Capital, individuals and relationships matter. Our professors teach best when they know you, your career and your goals. Capital’s MBA faculty is a strategic mix of full-time professors with Ph.D.s, executive professors, and part-time adjunct faculty who are actively leading in the area they teach. This gives you access to the ideal blend of scholarship, theory, teaching expertise, industry specialization, emerging trends in current practice and, especially, connections to a strong professional network.
Faculty will introduce broad concepts and then translate them to fit the mix of professions and industries in your class, from manufacturing, retail or small-business management to healthcare, human resources, tech, finance, startups and more.
You’ll be engaged in classes through the material you’re learning, and through applied projects and simulations professors design with industry contacts and local businesses. Some of the best learning takes place when students work with each other in and out of class to solve problems, tackle case studies, and create and present business plans to actual clients. These meaningful exchanges are an essential part of our experience.
"When you’re a true leader of a company, you need to understand your company from end-to-end. Those projects really help you understand it as a whole — marketing, finance, operations, inventory, running the income statements and balance sheet. Everything translates from the classroom to a professional setting."
Earn Your MBA, Work and Have a Life
As the longest-running evening MBA program in Columbus, the Capital MBA is flexible and experienced at meeting the needs of working professionals who care about work/life balance. If you have the ability, interest and drive to earn your MBA, we will be a trusted partner in getting you to the finish line.
Required courses total 36 hours, including MBA Foundations, our signature MBA primer that will prepare you for success in your future MBA courses. You also can customize your MBA to fit your professional interests with two Advanced Topics courses in Finance, Leadership, Marketing and Entrepreneurship.
Most courses are offered each trimester, year-round, so you rarely have to wait for a course to fit your schedule.. During the fall and spring trimester each course meets once a week for 14 weeks. During the summer trimester, each course meets twice a week for only seven weeks.
When you’re ready, you can progress quickly and finish in as few as two years. When a life situation, job change or work project limit your availability, you can take a quick break for a trimester, and then pick right back up where you left off.
Along with all the benefits of being part of a top-ranked university like Capital, you’ll tap into a strong and active network of MBA alumni, many of whom lead and work in the companies that make Columbus thrive. We even have an MBA Ambassador Council — a group of current students and MBA alumni who build community in the program through networking events and advocate on students’ behalf. Just ask them; Capital relationships last. We’re CapFam forever.
Go as Far as Confidence and Connections Can Take You
Capital’s roots run deep in Columbus, and especially in the companies and nonprofits that make it thrive. We draw MBA students from top employers, and our alumni go on to advance in those companies and others after they earn their Capital MBA. Let us introduce you to some people you should know.
Top employers of Capital MBA students and alumni:
Nationwide
Huntington Bancshares
American Electric Power
NiSource
Fifth Third Bank
OhioHealth
Cardinal Health
JP Morgan Chase
Abbott
L Brands
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Where are classes for the Capital MBA held?
Classes are a mixture of online and in-person. In-person classes take place in the ivy-covered walls of Capital University's Bexley campus. A couple times a year the Capital MBA will offer classes at Capital University’s Law School downtown Columbus campus. Ample parking is just steps away.”
Q: How do I apply to the Capital MBA?
The application form is available online.
Q: What does the admission committee consider?
The admission committee considers the entire portfolio that a candidate brings to the table. Each component is important. We consider your work experience, your undergraduate experience, your references, and your essay. All of these factors are weighed in our decision. Active, outcomes-based learning depends upon having the right mix of people in the classroom.
Q: Do I have to take the GMAT?
Candidates are no longer required to take the GMAT.
Q: My undergraduate performance doesn’t illustrate my potential. How much will it hurt me?
Not everyone does well as an undergraduate. Perhaps you were focused on a sport. Perhaps the independence of college life was exhilarating. Whatever the reason, do not worry. Your undergraduate experience is only one piece of the puzzle.
Q: Do I have to have an interview?
We believe the applicant to Capital’s MBA program is more than just a number resulting from transcripts and standardized exams. Consequently, the MBA Director or a member of the admission committee strives to conduct a personal interview with each candidate to gather a full picture of their capabilities and to explain MBA degree requirements, as well as how the applicant can best optimize their learning experience at Capital. Of course, the applicant can always request an interview to better explore their “fit” with Capital’s MBA program by contacting the Assistant Director of Graduate Admissions (614-236-7184) or admission@capital.edu) to arrange an interview.
Q: When will I know your admission decision?
One of the advantages of a small university is that the admissions process is quick. Once we have all the components of your application we can usually make a decision in less than a week.
Q: How long will it take for me to finish the degree?
The answer to this question depends upon you! However, most Capital MBA students complete their coursework in approximately two calendar years. In order to accomplish this goal, you must take two courses or 6 credit hours every trimester. You may take up to five years to complete the program.
Q: I'm confused by the summer trimester, can you explain that?
In response to many students' desire to continue their education over the summer, but still have time for a vacation, we have implemented a "split" summer trimester. Classes meet twice a week (rather than once a week) for seven weeks (rather than 14 or 15 weeks). This allows you to take off half the summer, if you want. If you prefer to "power through", you can take two courses during the summer (just like fall and spring trimester). We encourage you to apply for the Fall 2023 semester.
Q: What courses will be offered next term?
Most courses are offered every term. In the fall and the spring trimesters, courses are typically offered the same evening. For example, MBA 710 is offered on Thursday night during the fall and spring trimesters. It is also offered most summers for seven weeks on Monday and Thursday evenings.
Q: If I already have a CPA, is there any educational benefit or credit waiver for having this credential?
CPAs are waived from taking the foundation class in Accounting (MBA 614). In its place you are able to take an additional 3 credit hour Advanced Topics course in an area that interests you most. This could also reduce the total number of credit hours required to obtain a dual specialization within the Capital MBA program.
Q: Is Capital's MBA program accredited?
The School of Management and Leadership's degree programs are accredited by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP). ACBSP is the leading accreditation association for business education that supports and rewards teaching excellence. The ACBSP's rigorous accreditation standards are aligned with the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award and require demonstrated commitment to continuous improvement. The School of Management is also a member of the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business.