Welcome to the Smeal College of Business at Penn State
DEADLINE EXTENDED: Due to increased interest, the final deadline to apply for our Fall 2022 intake has been extended to June 15, 2022. Apply here.
Advance your career and be a leader in business.
RANKED FOR EXCELLENCE
The Penn State Smeal EMBA is the highest-ranked Philadelphia-area program and one of the top programs in the Mid-Atlantic according to the latest assessment from The Economist.
NO. 20
AMONG U.S.-BASED PROGRAMS
NO. 8
AMONG U.S. PUBLICS
NO. 11
QUALITY OF FACULTY
JOIN US
To experience the Smeal community, contact Managing Director Teresa Avery to sign up for a virtual class visit. In the meantime, explore our program virtually.
Why partner with Penn State Smeal?
No other program offers the same combination of flexibility, rigor, and networking opportunities as part of your lifelong learning journey. Find out what makes our EMBA unique:
A FIT FOR YOUR BUSY SCHEDULE
The Penn State Smeal Executive MBA officially begins in late August and can be completed in as little as 17 months.
Attend alternating weekend classes in Philadelphia for the first 13 months
Occasional remote attendance allows flexibility when needed
Complete the last 2-4 courses online to finish the program
Our program is designed to minimize your time away from work and family and maximize your ROI.
TAUGHT BY TOP FACULTY
The same highly ranked professors who teach in our residential MBA at Penn State University Park travel to Philadelphia every other weekend to teach during the 13-month portion of in-person classes. They deliver the same rigorous curriculum, except they don't leave when classes end. Our faculty, ranked among the top 20 in the world for academic excellence, work alongside you long after class is over, giving you the individual focus you need to thrive.
Professors like Donald Hambrick, a recognized expert in leadership, have extensive experience working with executive-level students. Other leading faculty include:
Keith Crocker
Former economist at the Federal Trade Commission and an expert witness in cases involving antitrust and insurance concerns
Albert Vicere
Leadership consultant to numerous firms including BASF, Cisco Systems, McDonald's, Samsung and published author
Aparna Joshi
Arnold Family Professor of Management and published researcher with focus on diversity, gender dynamics, and generational issues
CUSTOMIZE YOUR EXPERIENCE
With the evolving leader in mind, Smeal offers a portfolio of graduate programs that mix and match to serve your needs. Here, you can create a learning plan as unique as your ambitions. Leverage these custom executive options.
GLOBAL IMMERSION
ELECTIVE
Select this option if you want to sharpen your international focus and apply global business skills during a weeklong trip at an overseas location for an additional fee
SPECIALIZED GRADUATE
CERTIFICATES
Each EMBA student can earn one Smeal online graduate certificate as part of the program and may choose to earn a second at a fraction of the cost
SPECIALIZED
BUSINESS
MASTER'S
Earn a second specialty business master's online at reduced costs in areas such as entrepreneurship, marketing analytics, and strategic or supply chain management
#SMEALVOICES
"You're in class with doctors, lawyers, engineers and business people, and all of those things together create the richness that an executive program really should have."
Tinique Peery-Pitts '09, Head of Human Resources,U.S. Sales-Medical Devices, Johnson & Johnson
"This program is transformative. At least 20 percent of us have received promotions or changed jobs since we started, and I anticipate more will do the same."
Dr. Arjun Saxena '17,Orthopaedic Surgeon, Rothman Institute
"I've found that the structure of the Smeal Executive MBA in Philadelphia has been incredibly valuable - having that ability to just come in and completely focus on what I want to get accomplished."
Jo Diaz '20,Director of Professional Services, Harbor Compliance
"I visited every major Philadelphia program. I really found the learning environment at Smeal to be the most engaged, the most robust, and the most rigorous of any of the programs by a longshot."
Dr. Jeremy Souder '20,Patient Safety Officer, Penn Medicine
"The material I've learned, I've been applying it to multi-million-dollar clients, to close deals, to build strategies. The faculty really equip you to go out there and use the data they give you."
Milo Thomas '20,Director of Customer Experience, Avail Technologies, Inc.
"You're in class with doctors, lawyers, engineers and business people, and all of those things together create the richness that an executive program really should have."
Tinique Peery-Pitts '09, Head of Human Resources,U.S. Sales-Medical Devices, Johnson & Johnson
"This program is transformative. At least 20 percent of us have received promotions or changed jobs since we started, and I anticipate more will do the same."
Dr. Arjun Saxena '17,Orthopaedic Surgeon, Rothman Institute
"I've found that the structure of the Smeal Executive MBA in Philadelphia has been incredibly valuable - having that ability to just come in and completely focus on what I want to get accomplished."
Jo Diaz '20,Director of Professional Services, Harbor Compliance
"I visited every major Philadelphia program. I really found the learning environment at Smeal to be the most engaged, the most robust, and the most rigorous of any of the programs by a longshot."
Dr. Jeremy Souder '20,Patient Safety Officer, Penn Medicine
"The material I've learned, I've been applying it to multi-million-dollar clients, to close deals, to build strategies. The faculty really equip you to go out there and use the data they give you."
Milo Thomas '20,Director of Customer Experience, Avail Technologies, Inc.
Master the Business Fundamentals
The Penn State Smeal EMBA prepares you to address substantial business challenges and readily apply class content to issues from your own organization. The foundation of the curriculum focuses on three key areas.
PRINCIPLED LEADERSHIP
Develop and communicate a sound strategic vision to lead teams and entire organizations
STRATEGIC ANALYSIS
Deploy effective strategies within specific functions and across the firm
FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT
Harness resources to fund operations and increase corporate value
OUR HOME IN PHILADELPHIA
Perfectly suited for your Executive MBA experience, Union League Liberty Hill provides everything you need to focus on your personal development. Upscale amenities include modern classrooms and networking spaces, award-winning cuisine, and spacious overnight accommodations to help you recharge.
ACCESSIBLE FROM ACROSS THE MID-ATLANTIC
Our convenient location in the Philadelphia suburb of Lafayette Hill is only 30 minutes from downtown Philadelphia and less than one hour from New York City and Washington D.C., by air.
VISIT OUR HOMESTUDENT SUCCESS FIRST
With concierge, career, and executive coaching services available, we're a business college that cares about well-being and long-term success of every student. From registering your classes to steaming your graduation gown, we've got you covered.
LEARN MORE700K+ Business Partners for Life
The Penn State alumni network is our biggest asset, and with 88,000+ Smeal almuni and counting, we are everywhere in the world and always in your corner - ready to open doors, offer advice, and cheer you on.