Lexington, Kentucky – The University of Kentucky’s Gatton College of Business and Economics is witnessing a transformative shift in the way students pursue their Master of Business Administration (MBA) degrees. With approximately 4,300 full-time students, the college emphasizes that the primary motivation for obtaining an MBA in 2025 is to enhance a student’s business acumen and profitability in their careers.
Simon Sheather, the college’s dean since 2018, notes that earning an MBA equips students with essential business skills and allows them to build a lifelong network of professional contacts. “You will have learned fundamental business skills and also amassed an online Rolodex of valuable contacts that you keep for the rest of your life to help open doors for you,” he states.
The demand for flexible learning options is reshaping MBA programs nationally. Currently, there are 575 universities across the United States offering MBA programs in various formats, including full-time, part-time, online, and distance learning. Specializations in areas like healthcare management, technology management, finance, and data analytics are increasingly being integrated into the curriculum.
UK ranks 60th among all U.S. MBA programs and 40th among public universities, according to Sheather. Bloomberg Businessweek ranks UK as No. 1 in ROI for MBA students, citing the program’s efficiency—lasting just 11 months—and its effectiveness in securing employment for graduates.
Meanwhile, Midway University, with a total enrollment of around 2,000 students, also stands out in the region. Mark Gill, the director of Midway’s MBA program, articulates the added value of pursuing an MBA, especially for those transitioning into leadership roles. Medway offers six areas of concentration and an affordable tuition rate of approximately $14,000 for a 30 to 33 credit hour MBA.
Eastern Kentucky University (EKU) offers another flexible option; the in-person program allows students to attend classes at night. Program director Weiling Zhuang highlights that they offer 14 areas of concentration. EKU’s structure supports busy professionals, allowing them to take courses over two to three years, while schools across the board adapt their curricula to incorporate relevant modern skills like artificial intelligence.
As the marketplace evolves rapidly, the skills gained through an MBA program—including management and team collaboration—remain crucial. Gill stresses the ongoing demand for qualified managers, while Zhuang points to the necessity of cultivating leaders who can navigate ongoing industry changes. Both agree that today’s MBAs provide the necessary foundation for students to adapt and thrive in a dynamic business environment.
