Stackable Online MBA at Kent State University
Do you want to increase your business knowledge, but are not sure you are ready to take on a full master’s program? Our stackable certificate pathway to the MBA degree may be right for you: build your degree one step at a time.
Start by completing one certificate program at a pace that works for you. If you are motivated to continue, you can start another certificate program. As you progress, your certificates accumulate, helping you work toward your stackable MBA from Kent State University.
Earn Your Stackable MBA
If you are working through our stackable business certificates and decide that you want to earn your MBA degree, you can apply for the MBA program and work with your advisor to ensure that you complete the full set of MBA program requirements. Upon graduation, your transcript will indicate certificate completion as well as the MBA degree.
The bottom line: Upon graduation, your transcript will indicate certificate completion as well as the MBA degree.
Who Should Choose the Stackable MBA Pathway?
The stackable certificate MBA program is ideal for professionals who are dedicated to expanding their knowledge and advancing their careers, but who may not be able to commit to the ongoing schedule of a full master’s program.
Students who should consider a stackable MBA include:
✅ Individuals seeking flexibility – Courses in the certificate to MBA pathway are offered 100% online. This lets students incorporate classwork into their current professional and personal schedules, work from anywhere they like, and avoid the logistics of commuting.
✅ Applicants desiring simplified admissions – The stackable MBA certificates at Kent State allow students to bypass several aspects required for traditional MBA admission. GMAT/GRE scores, letters of recommendation, and a statement of goals and objectives are not required. Full admission requirements are listed below.
STEP 1
Obtain the Quantitative Business Management and the Leadership and Management Certificate.
STEP 2
Complete the capstone requirements.
Certificate to MBA Pathway – Start Stacking Your Business Certificates
Our two stackable certificates contain 20 of the 28 required credits to complete the MBA. In addition to the remaining 8 credits of required courses, there are a required 9 credits of electives. The courses in these two certificates are offered 2–3 times during the calendar year. The courses may be taken online.
Online education makes it possible for you to work from wherever you choose, allowing you to incorporate learning into any environment and easily earn an MBA with a certificate structure. Below, we outline the curriculum and layout for our stackable business certificate, giving you an overview of your MBA path.
CURRICULUM
All courses are 100% online, allowing you to achieve your stackable MBA from wherever you choose.
All courses in our MBA stackable program in Ohio are Quality Matters Certified; the QM review process has assured that each course meets QM rigorous standards of quality.
Other than the elective courses, the Capstone Requirements courses are also QM certified.
Certificates vs. MBA Degree: Which Is Right for You?
Ultimately, the choice between pursuing individual certificates, stackable certificates that culminate in an MBA degree, or a traditional MBA program depends on your timeline, budget, and career goals. To assist you, we’ve created a breakdown on pursuing an MBA vs. certificates.
Your choice will likely be determined based on the time you can currently devote to a program and how quickly you want to finish.
The certificate-to-MBA pathway lets you complete major portions of the coursework as part of the Quantitative Business Management and Leadership Management certificates.
In this structure, you will only need an additional 16–17 credit hours of capstone requirements and electives to complete the MBA.
For instance, accounting, leadership, business analytics, and financial management are among the certification options we offer to help you advance your skills.
ROI Potential When You Earn an MBA with Certificates
The Graduate Management Admissions Council (GMAC) has reported that MBA graduates are projected to earn a median starting salary of $120,000, while those with only a bachelor’s degree are projected to earn approximately $69,000.
Along with benefiting from this major financial incentive across all relevant disciplines, MBA graduates can also enjoy very lucrative careers in specific sectors, applying their skills and expertise. Examples include:
| Role | Approximate Median Annual Pay |
|---|---|
| Computer and Information Systems Managers | $171,000 |
| Marketing Managers | $156,000 |
| Financial Managers | $156,000 |
| Compensation and Benefits Managers | $140,000 |
| Human Resources Managers | $140,000 |
| Operations Managers | $101,000 |
Admission Requirements
Using your stackable business certificates to achieve your stackable MBA is designed to be less complicated than the standards for the normal MBA program. Note that the admissions requirements for both certificate programs are simplified: As noted above, they DO NOT include several requirements that are standard for MBA program applications, such as a GMAT/GRE score, letters of recommendation, and the statement of goals and objectives.
Requirements for our stackable certificate MBA include:
- Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university for admission
- Minimum 3.000 undergraduate GPA on a 4.000-point scale for admission
- Official transcript(s)
- English language proficiency – all international students must provide proof of English language proficiency (unless they meet specific exceptions) by earning one of the following:
- Minimum 550 TOEFL PBT score (paper-based version)
- Minimum 79 TOEFL IBT score (Internet-based version)
- Minimum 77 MELAB score
- Minimum 6.5 IELTS score
- Minimum 58 PTE score
Apply and Start Earning Your Stackable MBA Today!
When you are looking to learn from home at your own pace, consider pursuing your stackable MBA at Kent State.
Apply today or contact us to learn more about our master's degrees and graduate offerings.
Contact Us
Adam Cooke
Graduate Programs Admissions Coordinator
acooke5@kent.edu
330-672-1280
Justin McHenry
Senior Advisor 1 for Graduate Programs
jwmchenr@kent.edu
330-672-1232