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 Utah Valley State, Dixie State, Salt Lake Community College, and Brigham Young.
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 Uintah Basin Applied Technology College, University of Utah, Utah State, and Southern Utah University.
- Diverse: For a diverse student body, consider Westminster College.
School Setting
- Out of State: For geographic diversity, take note of Brigham Young, Latter-day Saints Business College, Westminster College, and College of Eastern Utah.
- Dorms: For a residential campus environment, take note of College of Eastern Utah, Westminster College, Utah State, and University of Utah.
Excellence
- SAT: For students with high SAT scores, look at Brigham Young, Westminster College, and University of Utah.
- Class Size: For small class sizes, look at Uintah Basin Applied Technology College, Utah State, Westminster College, and College of Eastern Utah.
Student/Alumnus Reviews of Schools for This Career and State
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Brigham Young University • Provo, UT
Studying Psychology (completion in 2009)
• 5/7/2011
"This school provided me with everything I could hope for from a school. It was quite prestigious while still not being very expensive. After speaking with other graduates from other universities, I believe that I made the best choice in my university selection."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | This university provides a good mix of academic knowledge and moral instruction. I believe that any sales manager needs this combination in order to be a balanced manager in this difficult career. |
| Program Reputation | 8 | Psychology is currently the largest major at the university. This is one of the reasons I believe it is considered very reputable even though the general public still does not give much merit to a psychology degree. |
| Program Quality | 8 | Psychology was a great degree because I was able to learn how people think. This allows me to better understand the consumer. |
| Instruction | 6 | The instruction was good, but there were definitely some fluff classes. A lot of what I did was simply to obtain a degree. I did not always take classes based on the information I would learn. |
| How Difficult | 5 | |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | I rarely read a text book that was assigned in a class. I believe I read less than other students, but I would still rate it as more hands-on than book oriented. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 8 | Because there were so many psychology students, there were many options for class times. I never took a class before 9:00 AM. |
| Academic Facilities | 7 | There were many resources available to those in the psychology program. Not all resources were up to date, however. |
| Social Life | 9 | I really enjoyed the environment that surrounds the university. We had some great athletic teams fueled by a great rivalry with another local university. |
| Placement Services | 5 | I believe that overall the school does a good job of this, but the psychology department itself did not do a very good job of trying to place students. Not many students get jobs in psychology after getting their Bachelor's degree, so that is why I rated it as average. |
| Alumni Network | 5 | I believe the alumni network can be very useful, but I have not taken advantage of it. I rarely reach out to people that also graduated from my college. |
Dixie State College • St. George, UT
Studying Business (completion in 2012)
• 7/9/2011
"I choose to come to this school because of the low tuition rates, but I've grown to actually like it. If given a choice I would likely stay here rather than move."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | maybe | Like I mentioned earlier, my school is nothing exceptional for people in my field. It's certainly adequate though, so you can get what you need here. |
| Program Reputation | 5 | I don't think it's anything exceptional. It is certainly adequate in teaching the subject material, though. |
| Program Quality | 5 | Neither better nor worse for what I'm doing. I was trained outside of school. |
| Instruction | 10 | The training I received was top notch. I learned much more that I ever expected. I feel I am very qualified in my area. |
| How Difficult | 8 | Business is not an easy major to go into. There's a lot of math, accounting, and law aspects that can be quite demanding. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | My experiences have been almost entirely book learning, with very few exceptions. Whether that is good or bad depends on your learning style. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 5 | It's generally doable to create a schedule you feel comfortable with. However, I have had some issues when a class I wanted was not available for the time I needed, causing problems with my work. |
| Academic Facilities | 9 | There are many resources available for the students to use. We even offer free tutoring to students. |
| Social Life | 8 | The school tries very hard to promote its social events. You really have to put in an effort of your own to get involved, though; it won't just come without work. |
| Placement Services | 8 | The career counselors are very helpful. There is much support for students trying to find work. |
| Alumni Network | 10 | My school has excellent alumni support. School spirit is valued very highly here. |
Western Governors University • Salt Lake City, UT
Studying Marketing Management (completion in 2011)
• 7/18/2011
"This is a great value for those of us with severe financial limitations, and for those who may have non-traditional work schedules or childcare issues. Tuition is flat-rate for any work completed beyond 12 credits per term, which means that I can translate efficiency and program completion into money saved. I feel like I have learned more about sales and marketing over the last year at WGU than I ever retained at my local community college."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | I have recommended and will continue to recommend WGU's Marketing Management program to others. Sales management positions are highly competitive and I think that by pursuing a Marketing Management degree, any business-minded student would be acquiring a competitive edge. The program teaches sales insights that had not previously occurred to me, and also reinforces some of the basic leadership and financial principles that sometimes slip my mind. |
| Program Reputation | 8 | The online university is still relatively new, but I have seen very positive mentions of the WGU learning model and undergraduate programs in general. I believe that as e-learning becomes more and more pervasive, Western Governors University will emerge as a particularly reputable institution. |
| Program Quality | 9 | One of the things I've most appreciated about WGU's competency-based model is the attention to relevant sales, marketing, and economic principles (as opposed to the traditional focus on liberal arts and "core" subjects). My assigned mentor has helped me to overcome self-discipline and time management issues, which I believe will be invaluable in any career, sales and marketing included. |
| Instruction | 8 | The Course of Study is built to accommodate students with a variety of preferred learning styles. For example, one lesson plan might include a simulation, multiple-choice, audio or video segment, or articles from various trade journals and real-world business sources. The only area which I feel has not been fully addressed is the lack of networking or internship opportunities. However, I understand that WGU's distance-learning format makes it extremely difficult to provide these services to such a large number and geographical spread of students. |
| How Difficult | 8 | The coursework presented is challenging, but is completely doable given the variety of learning resources that WGU has made available for students. Probably the most challenging aspects of the Marketing Management program is not so much subject matter, but the need for self-discipline, multi-tasking, and organizational skills. I have also read a number of reviews on student community boards, and the general consensus is that the subject matter itself is not difficult, but that the volume and participation requirements may be challenging at times. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | I feel like there is a great deal of information exchanged as a result of the online orientation of the WGU model. Yes, there is a considerable amount of reading and note-taking involved, but the information is not convoluted or removed from the "real world." Instead, it is presented in a way that, for me, has made it very easy to translate the subject matter in a way that is actually relevant to my job requirements. It definitely plays up the relationship between book-learning and hands-on work. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 10 | The degree of flexibility at WGU is unmatched. Classes are accessed online only, and many courses include access to pre-recorded chats, conference calls, and presentations. Tests can be taken at any number of local approved facilities (I estimate that there were 10-15 eligible sites within a 50-mile radius from my home). At the beginning of last year, the school also issued webcams and software that allows students to take tests in their own homes. This program has allowed me to take total control of my education, even with a full-time job and a young child. |
| Academic Facilities | 10 | As mentioned earlier, WGU offers resources that cater to every learning style, technological ability, and time constraints Each student is paired with a mentor who has extensive education in a similar environment (my mentor has an MBA and 20 years of professional experience). Each individual course is also monitored by 1 to 5 dedicated course mentors who offer blog posts, discussion boards, and live chats. WGU also offers an online library which includes access to hundreds of publications, and a number of the course materials are available online (as opposed to a physical textbook). |
| Social Life | 5 | Again, the WGU online model makes it unlikely that students would maintain close ties to their peers. However, the school does offer some contact in the form of course and degree-specific virtual communities which offer students the chance to create blog posts, ask questions, create online study groups, and exchange tips. |
| Placement Services | 2 | Again, the competency-based online learning model is designed to support considerably more students than a traditional brick-and-mortar university. With that said, I have not been able to locate any such services that offer direct placement or internships. On the other hand, I do know that there are weekly online chats in which a WGU representative discusses general job-seeking and interpersonal skills and pointers. I found that the information presented in these chats was too generalized and vague to be of any major help. |
| Alumni Network | 7 | I will graduate in September of 2011, so I am uncertain of the level of connection that I expect to encounter post-graduation. Compared with traditional brick-and-mortar universities, I think that WGU's online format and substantial enrollment will likely make it difficult and/or unattractive to pursue any sort of alumni relationship. |
Brigham Young University • Provo, UT
Studying Spanish Translation And Business Management (completion in 2010)
• 8/2/2011
"I had a great experience during my time at BYU. I feel like I was prepared for the real-world by all of my classes; I met a lot of great friends that I imagine I will keep in touch with for many years to come; I was able to get a good job through the connections I made with professors, fellow students, and alumni."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | The business school is top-notch, but beyond that, the local tech scene and overall business environment is fantastic. More and more, BYU grads are taking care of their own in the form of hiring and helping find jobs. Several new businesses pop up every few months, adding a lot of great opportunities to meet local entrepreneurs and gain valuable work experience. |
| Program Reputation | 10 | As previously stated, BYU is the only school that offers a degree in Spanish Translation -- additionally, 75% of all students at BYU are bilingual, therefore, there is a competitive edge in language programs. The business school is a bit of a sleeping giant in that many do not recognize how high it consistently ranks among the nation's best business schools. The greatest asset of the school is its professors; there is an increasing number of high profile business leaders and academics that currently teach at the Marriott School of Business. |
| Program Quality | 8 | It is the only school in the nation with an undergraduate degree offered specifically in Spanish Translation. Also, the business school is consistently ranked in the top 5 business schools in the nation. |
| Instruction | 8 | Overall, the important business topics (finance, accounting, supply-chain, marketing, etc.) are covered very well; however, with rapidly changing technologies, there is a need to address more recent developments in those respective fields (i.e. a marketing textbook from the mid-90s does not cover SEM/SEO and their importance in modern-day marketing). |
| How Difficult | 7 | The Spanish Translation work was not as difficult as it was tedious. The accounting classes at the business school are notoriously difficult due to the fact that the accounting program is the best in the nation, and those classes serve as entrance into the accounting program. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | This really depends entirely on your major. On the Spanish side of things, I worked a lot from books because much of what I did was based completely on theories, rules, and literature. Therefore, there wasn't a lot of freedom to do "hands-on" work. For my business studies, I would say that the opposite is true: many higher-level classes require learning to be done in the form of "work" or "experiences;" for example, during a marketing project where we were emphasizing SEM techniques, we were divided into groups where we managed the actual online marketing for several small, local businesses. We did this for 6 weeks, which means that we not only learned a lot but we also were able to add something to our resumes. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 5 | While many general classes are offered at several times during the day, the more you get into your major, the more difficult it becomes to find flexibility in the class schedule. Case in point, I was required to take a class that was offered 1 time per year from 5:20-6:40 during Fall semester in order to graduate. Additionally, some majors offer absolutely no flexibility once accepted into the program because you are required to take all classes with those of your same "class" (graduating year), like the accounting program. |
| Academic Facilities | 9 | The library is incredible -- consistently ranked in the top 5 in the nation. It is massive with plenty of open space to study and a lot of computers. Additionally, they have a learning resource center in the library with tons of DVDs, Tapes, CDs, Records, etc. and viewing rooms. There is constant construction being done on campus to improve the facilities and build newer buildings. In the past 10 years, the business building underwent a massive upgrade (adding 40,000+ sq. ft.), a beautiful alumni building (80,000 sq. ft.) that is great for studying was constructed, and several athletic facilities were expanded. |
| Social Life | 6 | BYU is very unique due to its Mormon ties. As there is no drinking at the school, the "party scene" is really limited to large gatherings of sober people that like to have fun (without alcohol), which is great for people like me (who do not drink). Sports are huge at the university (perhaps to make up for the lack of a party scene) and tradition makes up a large part of the sports program. The Marriott Center (basketball arena) is the largest on-campus arena in college sports (22,800 person capacity), and the football stadium is quite large too (64,000 person capacity). Walking around campus during football or basketball season, you will surely hear a lot of talk about sports. |
| Placement Services | 9 | Plenty of career fairs and career counselors are provided. Additionally, there are weekly e-mails sent out to all students from their respective departments/colleges containing information about different internships, job opportunities, or information sessions with different companies. The only thing that potential students must realize is that no one will find a job for you -- it's a very cut-throat environment where the best jobs and internships go fast; you must be tenacious in your job search at BYU. |
| Alumni Network | 6 | Due to the unique religious ties of the university, a large percentage of the alumni are not from Utah, therefore they move out of state and become more disconnected with the school. |
Brigham Young University • Provo, UT
Studying Finance (completion in 1988)
• 3/10/2012
"I received a great education and continue to use much of what I learned there. I had a great experience there and made lifelong friends."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | If you are LDS, I would definitely recommend it. If you are not religious or are of a different faith, it might be a difficult environment: the student body is 95% Mormon. |
| Program Reputation | 8 | I believe the business school is in the top 40 nationally. In Utah, it is very respected and its graduates are in demand. |
| Program Quality | 8 | I went to a large university that had a great business program. We had great professors and it was a great learning experience. |
| Instruction | 10 | Many of my professors were leaders in their field. Many were published and nationally recognized. |
| How Difficult | 6 | I was a full time student. The classes were challenging, but the workload was not out of hand. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | There was hands on learning in technology and also a fair amount of case study. But it was definitely more oriented towards classroom and book learning. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 8 | There was a condensed spring and summer semester offering in addition to the traditional fall and winter semesters. I don't believe the evening and weekend classes were widely available. |
| Academic Facilities | 10 | All facilities were first class. That is one of the strengths of the school - they have a large budget to continually improve resources and facilities. |
| Social Life | 8 | Again, one of the positives of going to BYU are its tradition of competitive athletics and school spirit. For members of the LDS Church, there is an abundance of social events / activities. |
| Placement Services | 9 | I had many opportunities to interview with local and national employers. These interviews were coordinated through the placement office. |
| Alumni Network | 10 | The BYU alumni group has many tools available for networking. They also have an office dedicated to recruiting and placing alumni. |
Utah Valley University • Orem, UT
Studying Business Management (completion in 2010)
• 3/18/2012
"UVU gave me great experience and knowledge. I love it. It helped me find a career I love."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | Absolutely. The school is one of the best. They know what they are doing. You won't be let down. |
| Program Reputation | 8 | Many people know that UVU is a great school for business management. Not a lot of people outside of Utah know about UVU, though. |
| Program Quality | 8 | Schooling was great for business. As far as sales go, that's not really anything you can be taught. Management, yes, you can be taught, but it's also something that should come naturally. |
| Instruction | 9 | I loved the instruction. They prepped us for real world experience and gave us the know-how. |
| How Difficult | 5 | Sales is easy if you know how to do it. Management skills come with time, but once you know, you know. Not too tough. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | We were constantly doing hands on activities. We would go to different businesses at least 3 times a quarter to learn and gain experience. There was also a lot of book learning, but it was mostly hands-on. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 6 | You needed to be there all the time. It was difficult to catch up if you missed a day. So in that regard, it wasn't the most flexible. However, they did have additional classes you could go to. |
| Academic Facilities | 10 | The campus was huge. They had an extensive library and tons of workshops and labs to go to. The campus and facilities were awesome. |
| Social Life | 8 | UVU is one of the most social schools I know of. Tons of things were constantly going on. They lacked in school spirit, but made up for it in parties and social gatherings. |
| Placement Services | 9 | There were job postings all the time. Instructors even gave us opportunities for internships and things like that. |
| Alumni Network | 8 | Tons of support. Loved the school. Loved the networking they gave us for career ops. |
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