MBA in Depaul or NIU (Chicago, Naperville: sales, job market, schools)

[vidhu]

Hello Everyone,

I got to know about this forum while searching for schools in chicago for MBA.
I know UIUC, Chicagbooth, Northwestern are exceptional. Im an international student with low GMat score which made me to look for other univesities in the city.

I heard about Depaul, NIU and UIC, but i'm applying to Depaul and NIU since UIC is very costly compared to other two.

Can someone please shed some light about NIU and Depaul academically for pursuing MBA. I want to take up concentration in Finance. Which univ weighs more academically, reputation and placement vice after graduating.

Thanks in advance.

Cheers,
Vidhu

[linicx]

I am going to interject something here that indirectly relates to Chicago and the subject. .

ISU at Normal, IL offers its students an Actuary program that is ranked as one of 13 top Actuary programs in North America. Nine months from now the ISU Business MBA will be available to Chicagons. Unfortunately I don;t know any of the particulars yet as it hasn't been announced.

[chet everett]

If your goal is to use the MBA in finance to secure employment in the region the likely result of attending each school are likely to be different. The types of firms that recruit MBA grads at NIU tend to be those that a few years ago were primarily interested in those earning undergrad degrees in Business -- a mix of sales related and internal administrative slots. This is not very different at DePaul, though there tends to be a slightly more "Chicago centric" mix of recruiters.

The economy has been quite rough on folks earning Masters in any field and MBAs are no different -- many folks would caution that the investment in a MBA is probably riskier than it has been at any time in the past. Firms really are facing a very uncertain regulatory / tax landscape and are unwilling to shell out higher salaries.

Depending on your previous work experience and undergrad degree I would give serious thought to simply working your way inside a firm and perhaps adding an part time MBA, if the firm you are employed with will assist with the cost AND future promotions...

[ToriaT]

I personally think DePaul might be better and would also to allow for a chicago based location that is well connected to the job market. But your comment that UIC is very expensive does not make sense because its a state school. DePaul should be way more expensive than either UIC or NIU.

[chet everett]

I suspect he may be considering the "out of state" tuition option and I believe that the rate for UIC is the same as UIUC and considerably more costly than NIU. DePaul's "list price" is pretty close to the out of state rates at NIU...

NIU does have course locations in Naperville and Hoffman Estates, so it is far from an exclusively "farmer driven" experience but I agree that there are more Chicago centric students at DePaul...

[vidhu]

Thanks all for your advise

[Drover]

Originally Posted by Truthyman

Not even a close call... Go to DePaul. NIU/UIC have no reputation beyond their immediate region. DePaul is a truly national and international university. If you said DePaul or Boston College that would be a more ideal comparison. NIU vs. UIC is more in line for comparison. Comparing DePaul and NIU is like comparing Sears with say, Bloomingdales. Sears and JC Penny that would be a better, more useful comparison.

When your posts start sounding like snippets from an infomercial with similarly outrageous claims, people don't take you seriously. Just thought you'd like to know.