The Complete Guide to New Orleans‘ Elite MBA Programs

Why This Education Reformer Says New Orleans Should Be on Your List

As an expert higher education reformer, I follow trends in what schools are providing world-class yet ethical training for tomorrow‘s business leaders. On both fronts, New Orleans stands out as a rising hub of elite yet accessible MBA programs advancing both students and the community.

Between its culture of resilience and innovation, booming economy, and business-friendly policies, New Orleans cultivates strong talent and opportunities. Meanwhile its higher ed institutions are addressing access and inclusion issues through flexible formats and generous funding.

In this comprehensive guide, I‘ll share insider knowledge around what makes New Orleans‘ MBA programs so special, along with tips for applicants based on my reform perspective.

By the Numbers: New Orleans‘ Expanding Appeal for Ambitious Students

New Orleans has transformed enormously since Hurricane Katrina in 2005, with billions invested in infrastructure, tech, and environmental resilience. Business is booming:

• Over $7.5B in new development projects begun in 2021 alone
• Ranked #5 city for economic growth potential over the next 5 years
• Job growth of 5.2% from 2020-2021, exceeding the national average
• Key industries like tech, life sciences, and advanced manufacturing are rapidly expanding

The city‘s appeal is also soaring among young professionals and college grads, with New Orleans gaining the:

• 2nd highest net migration of millennials among major metros
• 18th largest share of young college grads nationwide
• 3rd highest concentration of young college grads relative to other large metros

New Orleans is an undeniably vibrant place for ambitious students and professionals to develop their skills and launch their careers. The numbers speak for themselves – and reinforce why MBA applicants should absolutely consider New Orleans schools.

How New Orleans Business Schools Are Lowering Barriers

As an expert focused on reforming higher education, I‘m pleased by how New Orleans‘ MBA programs are addressing major access and inclusion issues through innovation.

Some examples include:

• Flexible and affordable formats – Most programs now offer part-time, executive, online, and modular MBA options with significantly lower tuition. Some are even test-optional.
• Need-based funding – Tulane alone has devoted over $25M in recent years to scholarships and stipends for part-time & professional MBA candidates.
• Increased DEI – Schools are diversifying their student bodies, faculty, and course content while championing an inclusive culture. Minority enrollment is now 42% at Loyola‘s MBA program and roughly 50% in Tulane‘s Freeman School of Business.

Top New Orleans business schools understand today‘s MBA candidates face major barriers around cost, format, and access. In line with our mission as reformers, it‘s promising to see how they‘re evolving to deliver opportunity to more professionals historically excluded.

The Credentials: Program Profiles of New Orleans‘ Top-Ranked MBA Schools

Let‘s explore some of the depth and specialization offered within these high-caliber MBA programs:

Tulane School of Professional Advancement

Degrees:

• Online MBA
• Executive Hybrid MBA
• Saturday MBA
• Dual Degrees: MBA/JD, MBA/MHA, MBA/MPH

Concentrations: General Management, Finance, Global Business, Marketing, Energy Specialization

Outcomes & Stats:

• 90% completion rate
• 80% job placement with avg starting salary of $108K
• Top employers: Deloitte, Accenture, PwC, JP Morgan Chase

Inside Track: Tulane SoPA‘s online and part-time MBA programs offer unmatched flexibility for working professionals. The distinguished faculty provide high-touch support and guidance tailored to each learner‘s goals. And through consulting projects, students get hands-on experience solving growth challenges for New Orleans companies.

A.B. Freeman School of Business (Tulane University)

Degrees & Credentials:

• Full-time MBA
• Professional Online MBA
• Specialized Master‘s Degrees: MS Finance, Master of Accounting, Master of Management

MBA Concentrations:

• Analytics & Technology
• Energy
• Entrepreneurship
• Finance
• Global Business
• Marketing
• Real Estate
• Supply Chain
• General Management

Outcomes:

• 90% average 3-month post-MBA job placement rate
• Average salary: $115K+
• Prominent companies hiring from Freeman: Deloitte, JP Morgan, Accenture, Amazon, Google, Microsoft

Inside Track: Between the $70M new facilities and 9 different MBA specializations, Freeman offers one of the nation‘s most high-tech, customized MBA experiences. Add small classes (just 45 MBA students admitted each summer) and Tulane‘s powerful alumni network, and you‘ll be set up for success.

Loyola University New Orleans College of Business

Degrees:

• Full-time MBA
• Part-time Flex MBA
• Master of Accounting
• Master of Science in Finance

MBA Concentrations:

• Business Analytics
• Finance
• General Business
• Information Systems
• International Business
• Management
• Marketing
• Sport & Entertainment Mgmt
• Supply Chain Management

Outcomes:

• 90% placement rate within 3 months
• Average starting salary of $61K
• Prominent recent recruiters: Deloitte, JP Morgan, PwC, Ochsner Health, GE, IBM

Inside Track: Loyola New Orleans is well-regarded regionally for offering an accessible, community-connected MBA experience focused on ethics and sustainability. With top specialty programs in accounting and finance plus dedicated career coaching, it‘s a hidden gem.

Xavier University of Louisiana

Degrees:

• MBA
• MBA with concentrations:
  • Finance
  • Management of Technology
  • Supply Chain Management
• Dual degree options: MBA/MHCM, MBA/MPA

Outcomes:

• 100% career outcomes rate for 2021 MBA grads
• Average starting salary of $79K
• Top recent recruiters: BASF, Deloitte, ExxonMobil, Union Pacific Railroad, New Orleans Saints

Inside Track: As an HBCU, Xavier holds elite AACSB accreditation for its business and accounting programs – less than 5% of the world‘s business schools have earned this distinction. Companies actively recruit Xavier MBAs for the program‘s academic rigor and focus on ethical leadership development.

MBA Program Comparison Hub

Programs	Formats	App. Requirements	Enrollment	Avg. GMAT	Top Companies Hiring
Tulane SoPA	Online/Hybrid/PT	3 years WE,GMAT opt.	~250	550	Deloitte, Accenture, JPMC
Tulane Freeman	FT & PT	3 years WE	~180	640	Google, Amazon, Deloitte
Loyola University	FT, PT Flex	2 years WE	~100	570	Ochsner, Deloitte, GE
Xavier University	FT	3 years WE	55	550	ExxonMobil, BASF, NFL Saints

*WE = Work experience requirement

• PT = Part-time

Business schools across New Orleans offer outstanding MBA programs catering to all types of applicants – see what sets each one apart!

Spotlight: New Orleans‘ Soaring Sectors Primed for MBA Talent

I‘m always tracking where job growth and innovation are happening nationwide to steer students toward those markets. New Orleans stands out for its surging knowledge industries thirsty for MBA talent:

Technology

With infrastructure improvements after Katrina enabling expansion plus tax incentives, New Orleans‘ tech scene is booming:

• 13K+ tech jobs added since 2010
• $7.8B+ in state contracts supporting software/IT companies
• 43% job growth expected by 2026 – 5X the projected national rate!

Top firms like Lucid, Geocent, and Forerunner hire droves of local MBA grads into high-paying analytic and strategy roles annually.

Life Sciences

Between its prestigious research institutes and fast-growing hospitals, New Orleans is gaining renown as a health hub:

• Over 18k healthcare jobs added since 2015
• New Orleans East Hospital expanding the city‘s bioinformatics footprint
• Top local employers: Ochsner Health, LSU Health Sciences, Tulane University Medical

Ochsner alone has nearly 500 current job openings, hungry for MBA talent to navigate expansion.

Advanced Manufacturing

With the massive Jefferson Parish Eastbank development breaking ground recently just outside New Orleans, advanced manufacturing is surging:

• Over $9.5B total capital investment expected on this corridor by 2035
• Space for 20k+ new high-paying jobs
• Companies relocating: Lotte Chemical, SNF Polydyne, Waterbridge Ventures

The high-skill manufacturing and chemical plants rising in the region signal a new wave of management roles on the horizon.

An Expert‘s Advice: Finding Your Best MBA Fit in New Orleans

With so many standout programs for obtaining your MBA credential in New Orleans, it‘s vital to self-reflect on your best-fit school aligned with your aspirations.

Career Changers: Where to Start Your Business Pivot

Have you hit a ceiling in your current profession and feel a growing itch to make an impact through business leadership? An MBA presents a structured pathway to reskill and open new doors.

For career changers lacking hard business experience, I‘d recommend starting with one of Loyola New Orleans‘ specialized Masters programs before applying for their MBA. Their Masters in Finance or Accounting builds a strong quantitative foundation plus industry network in under a year.

Meanwhile, Tulane SoPA‘s innovative hybrid MBAs blend online learning with monthly in-person seminars, allowing working professionals to pivot fields gradually.

Entrepreneurs: Programs Where Bold Ideas Flourish

I‘m thrilled by Tulane Freeman‘s recent investments in entrepreneurship resources – their student-run startup accelerator and $25M fundraising record set the bar nationally. Freeman‘s professors and mentor network intimately understand the New Orleans business landscape and how to spur new ventures.

However, don‘t overlook Xavier University‘s solid MBA offerings emphasizing ethical leadership and strategic management. Xavier delivers elite business training steeped in the realities of regional markets. Graduates thrive in corporate roles – and 30% of recent alumni report running their own companies post-MBA!

Underrepresented Candidates: Where DEI Commitments Show

My inside knowledge on these programs shows Tulane University walking the talk on accessibility – just look at Freeman‘s MBA enrollment skewing over 50% students of color. And their innovative Career Advancement Series helps diverse candidates ace interviews and expand professional networks.

Meanwhile, Xavier University and SUNO both carry missions of empowering minority scholars with advanced business training. Over 90% of 2021 MBA candidates at Xavier self-identified as underrepresented minorities in business – that peer community uplifts all toward success.

Every applicant deserves access to the caliber of training that elevates careers. Thankfully New Orleans institutions are tackling historic barriers – apply knowing these programs champion inclusion.

The Bottom Line: New Orleans – An Emerging Capital of Business Education

The proof points clearly stack up showing New Orleans‘ rise as a hub of high-caliber institutions advancing business leadership, from its powerhouse staples Tulane and Loyola to hidden gems like SUNO and Xavier.

Between the surging jobs landscape and increased accessibility of top-ranked programs, my insider view says New Orleans is primed for any ambitious applicant to launch their business career. Its schools deliver both academic rigor and practical agility – traits all industry disruptors need.

If you seek an MBA credential that challenges you grow into positions creating regional impact, let New Orleans serve as your incubator. Our country needs more ethical, creative business talent fueled by programs like these to elevate how our markets operate. Consider this your confirmation that the thriving crescent city delivers on all fronts.