Here are some tips for selecting schools, based on an analysis comparing each school to all others across dozens of factors:
Schools Concentrating On Sales Managers
- Focus: For schools with a focus on this career area, look at Truman College, Malcolm X College, Lake Forest Graduate School of Management, and Daley College.
Fastest Response From Schools
- Request Info: For the fastest information for prospective students, look at the Spotlight schools on this page.
Student Body
- Part-Time: For schools emphasizing part-time studies, consider Midstate College, National-Louis University, Lincoln College, and Chicago State.
- Female: For schools particularly welcoming to female students, consider MacCormac and Midstate College.
- Diverse: For a diverse student body, consider Saint Augustine College, Olive-Harvey College, Kennedy-King College, and Malcolm X College.
- Adult Learners: For lots of adult learners, consider John A Logan College, National-Louis University, University of St Francis, and Governors State.
School Setting
- Out of State: For geographic diversity, take note of University of Chicago, Northwestern University, Trinity International University, and North Park University.
- Dorms: For a residential campus environment, take note of Monmouth College, Augustana, Trinity International University, and Lincoln College.
Excellence
- SAT: For students with high SAT scores, look at University of Chicago, Northwestern University, University of Illinois, and Illinois Institute of Technology.
- % Accepted: For selective institutions, look at Saint Xavier University, Northwestern University, University of Chicago, and National-Louis University.
- Class Size: For small class sizes, look at Augustana, University of Chicago, Northwestern University, and Illinois Institute of Technology.
Student/Alumnus Reviews of Schools for This Career and State
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Monmouth College • Monmouth, IL
Studying Elementary Education (completion in 1999)
• 7/11/2011
"Monmouth set me up with a good paying job, and educated me to be successful as a teacher and as a sales manager. I came out very well rounded and I had the opportunity to participate in extra curriculars as well as things related to my major."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | Monmouth prepared me for a career, and also helped me learn to be a well rounded citizen of the world. Requiring students to volunteer in the community added excellent experience to my resume and also helped me consider how I can give back. |
| Program Reputation | 9 | My college has an excellent reputation for both education and business. Despite the fact that it is small, my college has a solid reputation in the midwest and in the business community. It is small but stellar. |
| Program Quality | 9 | I really enjoyed my elementary education classes. However, I wish I had taken more technology courses. I had to learn Excel on the fly at my job. My education classes did not prepare me for any sort of second job that I might need to take on, but that was not really the point of my education courses. |
| Instruction | 8 | My professors were excellent and they challenged me. The curriculum was difficult and extremely applicable to my career as a teacher. However, what I learned was not relevant to any other career. So unfortunately, what I learned in college was not applicable to my second career as a sales manager. |
| How Difficult | 7 | The classes were not hard or easy. They were challenging and took a lot of work, but I learned a lot for it. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | There are many opportunities for book learning, though Monmouth excels at hands-on learning. In all academic programs, students are required to intern or student teach. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 7 | Their class offerings are excellent during the standard school year. I wish there were better offerings in the summer and online. |
| Academic Facilities | 9 | Monmouth recently renovated all of their libraries and facilities. However, they do not have a lot of tutoring or study group options. |
| Social Life | 9 | The Greek system is excellent and for a small school, Monmouth has brought in a wide variety of comics, band, comedians, and hypnotists. There are many activities to participate in and many do not have cut policies. School spirit is strong though the athletic teams are not great. |
| Placement Services | 10 | Every time I needed a job, I was able to get advice from the Wackerle Center for Career support and with the placement service. They have connections throughout the country, and they provide excellent advice, particularly concerning resumes. |
| Alumni Network | 10 | Despite the fact that I am not a business major, the alumni have been exceptional at connecting me with business opportunities. When I needed a second job, I contacted my school and they connected me with multiple contacts who were able to set me up with interviews. |
Northeastern Illinois University • Chicago, IL
Studying Marketing (completion in 1993)
• 8/10/2011
"It served my purposes. It was a good value."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | maybe | If they want fraternity/sorority life, it's not a good option. If you want decent academics with reasonable tuition, it might work out well. |
| Program Reputation | 6 | They are a state school. The standards are pretty high even for a commuter institution. |
| Program Quality | 6 | I learned some things through case studies. Many of the buzzwords that are used in marketing/sales were taught as were basic techniques. |
| Instruction | 7 | The individual instructors did a good job. Many held advanced degrees. |
| How Difficult | 6 | Usually did well if you followed instructions. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Seemed more bookish when I was there. They have more technology to work with now. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 6 | They have a lot of evening courses. The weekends seemed pretty dead when I went there. |
| Academic Facilities | 7 | Pretty good facilities overall. Not every building is new, but the technology is kept up to date. |
| Social Life | 2 | I went mainly in the evening as a commuter since I was working. There's not much socializing unless you're in a group or working on a project. |
| Placement Services | 6 | They have an office and internet information available through websites such as Alumni Central. I never got a position through them as I used other sources mainly. |
| Alumni Network | 5 | They put out a magazine from time to time. Seems geared toward contributions. They have some resources in job placement and library use available. |
Bradley University • Peoria, IL
Studying Marketing (completion in 2005)
• 2/2/2012
"Bradley University had excellent academics, a caring staff, and top notch services and resources. The social life was also a huge part of my memories and experiences."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | I have no reservations about recommending it to a friend. It was the place were I transitioned into the person I am now. I have powerful, positive memories form the time I spent there. |
| Program Reputation | 8 | It's known as an excellent school for business and engineering. Other people I've spoken with feel it has a great reputation. |
| Program Quality | 9 | It was an excellent school with a great classroom environment. It had a challenging learning environment. |
| Instruction | 10 | The curriculum challenged me. Many classes involved real world, hands on projects. |
| How Difficult | 9 | Classes were for the most part very challenging. The work load was heavy. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Most classes tended to lean towards being book oriented, although some classes involved hands on projects with real world businesses. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 9 | They offered winter and summer classes to get additional credits. Online classes were also available. |
| Academic Facilities | 10 | Excellent faculty and resources all around. The library and tutoring resources available to me were critical to my success. |
| Social Life | 10 | I was in a fraternity. The school was close knit and everyone was extremely respectful of each other. There were many "social events" for students to partake in after hours. |
| Placement Services | 8 | They had regular job fairs. Not a ton of assistance for job placement, but I found it easy to get a job out of college. |
| Alumni Network | 7 | I still receive regular alumni updates. I get annoyed by the constant calls for donations. |
American Intercontinental University • Hoffman Estates, IL
Studying Business Administration (completion in 2009)
• 3/4/2012
"I received a well-rounded and excellent education."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | I would recommend this school to others because of the degree of excellence displayed by the professors, and the resources available to assist in the learning process. I would also recommend this school because it was highly organized. |
| Program Reputation | 10 | It is one of the top-rated schools and has a high graduation rate. |
| Program Quality | 10 | I graduated summa cum laude. The school exceeded my expectations as far as teaching and learning were concerned. |
| Instruction | 10 | Instruction was intense and well structured. It was also challenging, informative and well rounded. |
| How Difficult | 10 | It was difficult on only some fronts, such as statistics and forming teams for group projects. Everyone on the team did not act responsibly. Workload was intensive and challenged me every step of the way. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | This is an online university. It was mainly book-centered learning and interactive learning (whiteboard on screen). However, there were assignments where I had to conduct face-to-face interviews for projects I worked on. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 10 | It is an online university; therefore, it was very flexible. Students were responsible for turning in their work on time and attending discussions whenever they were held. |
| Academic Facilities | 10 | Resources were excellent. They offered tutoring sessions for those students who needed it. Professors were only a phone call away and provided their contact information (e-mail or phone) in the syllabus. |
| Social Life | 5 | Because this is an online university, there were only online social activities. Face-to-face activities only took place when students would form them independently of the school. School spirit did exist, however, in the form of various memorabilia. |
| Placement Services | 5 | They only provided resume assessments and advice, along with some job-related websites. I felt they could have done more for the students after they graduated. They could have partnered with companies that would be willing to offer internships for their graduates. |
| Alumni Network | 5 | There is an alumni association available for students who have graduated. However, no one ever contacts me. I have to stay in contact with them and check out what's going on. |
Olivet Nazarene University • Bourbonnais, IL
Studying Criminal Justice (completion in 2006)
• 3/5/2012
"The staff was very supportive and genuinely cared for the students. Being a small school, the resources were more limited, but it was an overall good experience. Professors weren't required to have PhDs, so sometimes, the quality of learning could have been better."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | maybe | It is difficult to say, since I pursued a career in sales and have not used my CJ degree. My best sales experience came from sports, which fed the drive and competition that thrive so well in sales. |
| Program Reputation | 5 | I have never heard anyone talk about Olivet as a criminal justice school. To be fair, I don't work in the industry, but from what I understand, it is still a struggling major there. |
| Program Quality | 7 | The criminal justice program was fairly new, so there was a lot to learn. I would have enjoyed more hands-on experience. |
| Instruction | 7 | I enjoyed my professors and found them to be educated, but they did not have much real-life experience. Career preparation was definitely lacking, which could attest to why most students I studied with are not working in that field. |
| How Difficult | 5 | Law classes were challenging and difficult. Overall, the workload was fairly light. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Definitely a lot of book learning. We did have some debates and internships that allowed us to get some hands-on experience, but for the most part, we used books. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 7 | I played college softball, which was pretty grueling, and I was always able to make my class schedule work. I think ONU does a good job of meeting the needs of students who need night classes and other flexibility. |
| Academic Facilities | 7 | We had a good library and plenty of computer resources. I do think it would be a great investment to have a chemistry lab for CJ students to see and learn the forensics side of things. A professor needs to keep students engaged, and I think that was a huge missing piece for us. |
| Social Life | 10 | We had a lot going on and it was a blast. I played softball, so I had a lot of team spirit and faculty support. We had fun events almost weekly, such as Ollies Follies, Homecoming, Powder Puff Football and Intramurals (which also had a lot of staff support). It was a small campus (about 2,500 on campus), so the vibe was very supportive and fun. |
| Placement Services | I never used job placement services at Olivet. | |
| Alumni Network | 6 | I haven't been involved in the alumni network, but I moved far away and I still receive information. Also, I know they have created networks in TX, even though the school is in IL, so it seems they have a good network. |
Argosy University • Schaumburg, IL
Studying MBA (completion in 2011)
• 3/12/2012
"My degree has served me well in my career so far. Argosy is a great school."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | I cannot recommend Argosy U highly enough. It is reasonably priced and easy to attend. |
| Program Reputation | 10 | Not only can I highly recommend Argosy's business program, but many of my colleagues can do the same. The experience and prestige of their faculty are just as good as many other private colleges. |
| Program Quality | 10 | Argosy crafted a program that was personalized and accommodating to working adults. The two-year program was very fast-paced. |
| Instruction | 9 | The instructors are all industry leaders. They provided great feedback and quality insight into the areas of study. |
| How Difficult | 5 | The instruction provided helped to make the program easy. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | My program did incorporate projects, but they were mostly book-based. The discussions, however, were always very stimulating. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 10 | I was a full-time worker and parent, and I found all of the classes available during my free time. The professors were very flexible if something came up. |
| Academic Facilities | 10 | Argosy's online and in person libraries are fantastic. I was able to do all of the research necessary to complete my degree on-line. |
| Social Life | 5 | I didn't spend much time on campus. However, plenty of extra-curricular activities were offered. |
| Placement Services | I did not have to use this. I already had a position to go to. | |
| Alumni Network | 10 | They keep in contact and always have plenty to say about what other alumni are doing. Staff for assisting graduates are very accessible. |
Northwestern University - Kellogg Graduated School Of Business Management • Evanston, IL
Studying Master Of Business Education (completion in 1996)
• 3/28/2012
"It was a great experience that prepared me for senior level responsibility. I received a significant job assignment after completing the program. The school and program met all of my expectations."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | An MBA opens doors. An MBA from Kellogg prepares one for major career opportunities in the business world. |
| Program Reputation | 10 | The program was rated as tops in the nation for many years. It continues to be ranked in the top 10. |
| Program Quality | 10 | Kellogg has an excellent program in business management. The program is always rated in the top 5 of business schools. |
| Instruction | 10 | The professors used case studies and practical situations to teach their subjects. I was well prepared to become a senior manager, which I did. |
| How Difficult | 10 | In addition to reading, class attendance and assignments, I was required to meet with my study group once per week. During the two year program, I was working full time as a Regional Vice President - Sales managing 19 sales reps. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | The program required lots of reading, study group meetings, assignments and projects. In class, case studies were used as teaching tools. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 1 | The program was set for a two year period. Classes were scheduled on alternating Fridays and Saturdays (for the entire day). |
| Academic Facilities | 10 | Great business library and computer resources. Advisors, study groups, and meeting rooms were established early in the program. |
| Social Life | 10 | Social opportunities were available. As full time students, we were able to participate in all available activities. However, managing a full time job, a family, and a heavy course load left little time for socializing. |
| Placement Services | 10 | Excellent assistance via web site, webinars, and local alumni associations. There are also many opportunities to network with current students, alumni and past classmates. |
| Alumni Network | 10 | Kellogg has a very active alumni association networked by a web site. Networking opportunities are abundant with many major cities having a local alumni association. |
Rock Valley College • Rockford, IL
Studying English/History (completion in 2012)
• 3/25/2012
"I was satisfied with my experience at RVC. I was able to get my degree and pay it off very quickly."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | maybe | I would recommend the school, definitely. I am not sure that I would push it on people that are going for a career in Sales, though. |
| Program Reputation | 5 | My school is neither noted or disparaged for its associates program. However, it is a popular destination based on price. |
| Program Quality | 5 | I fell into being a sales manager through on the job experience. My school had very little to do with my position. |
| Instruction | 7 | My school was adequate in information sent out. It is more on the student to retain and focus. |
| How Difficult | 1 | Getting an associates in English was easy for me. It was something I've been working towards all my life. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | The school, outside of certain courses, focused more on lecturing and note taking. Very book oriented. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 10 | The school had classes at every hour of every day of the week. Scheduling around my work was easy. |
| Academic Facilities | 8 | RVC is a well stocked and supplied school. Students have access to things that they require. |
| Social Life | 7 | Being social was easy at RVC. There are a lot of communal places students can socialize. |
| Placement Services | For my major I was not given the opportunity of being placed. | |
| Alumni Network | I have not attempted any sort of outreach to utilize networking opportunities from my school. |
Harper College • Palatine, IL
Studying Business (completion in 2006)
• 3/22/2012
"It was ok but seemed more like high school than a college. The teachers didn't seem like the best."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | no | I wouldn't recommend this school to anyone. It doesn't help with my career. Experience is the only thing that really matters in retail. |
| Program Reputation | It was just a general associates degree. It didn't really have a great reputation. | |
| Program Quality | 3 | Sales is a totally different ball park from college. It gives you just the knowledge of business. |
| Instruction | 4 | You don't ever know how the workforce is unless you actually experience it. The amount I learned was the bare necessity for completing paperwork. |
| How Difficult | 4 | I attended a junior college and it was very easy. It wasn't very challenging at all. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Most of the classes were in large lecture halls. The only classes that I attended that were hands on were chemistry. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 9 | There were lots options for classes. There were weekends/nights. |
| Academic Facilities | 7 | The campus was very large. There were two computer labs. The buildings are almost brand new. |
| Social Life | I didn't attend any of the activities. I tended more to go to classes and go home. | |
| Placement Services | They didn't have any career placement. It was basically finishing school and that's it. | |
| Alumni Network | 1 | To my knowledge, there is no alumni or support system. I've never been given any access to it. |
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