Busy working professionals shouldn’t have to choose between advancing their education and advancing their careers.
Whether they are looking to make a career pivot or to move from management to leadership in their current industry, professionals will find a hub for career acceleration in Willamette University’s newly redesigned part-time MBA for Professionals (MBA-P) program.
With a new format that builds in flexibility, brings down costs, and doubles down on the hands-on integrated learning experience that has long defined Oregon’s #1 MBA, the redesigned Willamette MBA-P is built to meet the needs of the region’s professionals. The part-time program will roll out its updated hybrid structure starting in Fall 2026.
A new format built for busy lives
The redesigned Willamette MBA-P combines powerful hands-on in-person classroom experience with hybrid learning to create a program that’s designed to fit into even the most hectic of schedules.
Under the redesigned model, Willamette MBA-P students will connect in person one evening per week, with classes available in both Salem and Portland. Regular virtual learning sessions extend the experience throughout the week, and monthly Saturday gatherings, called Leadership Connect, bring the cohort together for leadership development and alumni connections — fostering the kind of relationship-building that pays dividends long after graduation.
Those connections are reinforced by Willamette’s newly-revitalized Career Center, which offers individualized support and networking opportunities throughout the program.
"We're rolling out this updated, flexible hybrid format that is focused on personal connections, while making the program manageable for working professionals," said Romana Autrey, dean of the Atkinson Graduate School of Management at Willamette.
Serious value for working professionals
One of the most significant changes to the program is financial. Tuition for Willamette’s redesigned MBA for Professionals program is $36,000 per year, with scholarships available. For a program accredited by AACSB International, the gold standard for MBA programs, that represents meaningful value and a deliberate effort to remove cost as a barrier for qualified candidates.
In addition, Willamette’s preferred tuition partnerships with some of the region’s top companies and organizations further expands the reach of the Willamette MBA-P. Interested applicants at these companies are encouraged to check with their HR department to explore any tuition reimbursement options that may further reduce out-of-pocket expenses.
The Willamette MBA difference
The redesign is a renewed commitment to what the Willamette MBA has always stood for: integrated learning across management functions, continuous application, and personal connection. MBA-P students benefit from the Atkinson Graduate School of Management’s award-winning faculty — leading scholars, industry leaders, and experienced professionals who combine practical experience with research-backed best practices to give students the tools they need to lead and innovate in their fields.
Willamette MBA-P, students won’t learn concepts in isolation, they will apply them to solve real problems in real time — a connection between theory and practice that accelerates both learning and career growth.
“Professionals need tools they can apply immediately,” said Associate Professor of Marketing Jane Machin. “My students try something in class on a Tuesday night and then they learn it and apply it to work on a Wednesday morning. That kind of immediate application changes careers.”
As students advance through the program, the experience becomes increasingly self-directed, culminating in project-based work that functions much like having access to a private consulting team. It's practical, problem-solving-oriented, and grounded in real business challenges and not hypothetical case studies.
Outstanding outcomes
Graduates from the Willamette MBA-P have leveled-up their careers and expanded their leadership capacity across sectors.
MBA-P graduate Michael Gay MBA’23 used his degree to help launch Community First Solutions, an organization that is at the forefront of solving Oregon’s mental health crisis in partnership with local and state elected officials.
“The Willamette MBA-P has given me a vision for how to add value to my community,” Gay said. “It’s helped me take the skills, experience, and knowledge that I have to meet unmet needs and build things that need to be built.”
“Professionals need tools they can apply immediately. My students try something in class on a Tuesday night and then they learn it and apply it to work on a Wednesday morning. That kind of immediate application changes careers.”
MBA-P graduate Mike Mattson MBA’18 spotted a major talent gap at his employer and turned his MBA capstone into an apprenticeship program to help find a solution. By graduation, his salary doubled. Three years later, it doubled again. Just as important, he found the confidence to show up fully in his work.
“There's so much value you can get from an MBA in ways that you could probably never imagine until you've gone through it,” Mattson said. “You get experience and learn to connect the dots across your classes.”
“If you’re looking for career acceleration, the Willamette MBA is a great option,” Mattson adds.
Who it's for
Willamette’s MBA for Professionals is designed for managers looking to move into leadership, professionals seeking a broader business foundation, those navigating a career pivot, or anyone who is ready to accelerate their career at any stage.
Willamette’s MBA for Professionals is now accepting inquiries. Those interested — or those who know someone who might be — are encouraged to explore the details and connect with the admissions team.
