Our Story

Connection, Leadership, Innovation, and Community…four values that define the Wisconsin School of Business at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Since 1900 we have created knowledge and alumni with significant impact on business. At the graduate level, we have been a leader in the development of focused, applied offerings connecting students and industry.

The first program in applied security analysis in the nation, providing students the opportunity to manage a substantial investment portfolio, had its start here. Today, Wisconsin students manage a portfolio of $62 million. Wisconsin was the first program to offer students in entrepreneurship the opportunity to invest in business start-ups. Today, scores of businesses trace their launch to the program. And the list goes on. First applied real estate investment program…Wisconsin. First business program in arts administration…Wisconsin. First center to focus exclusively on training MBAs in product management….Wisconsin.

The biggest innovation in the school’s history came in 2004, with the creation of the modern Wisconsin MBA. Based on highly focused career specializations built to meet the real needs of the real world of business, the “Wisconsin model” produces graduates with a depth of expertise that no general management MBA program can hope to match.

The results?

Very high student satisfaction, excellent career placement and starting salaries, and ringing endorsements from alumni as well as the broader corporate community.

We designed the Wisconsin MBA for focused individuals seeking a professional edge. Alumni and corporate partners have consistently expressed a preference for leaders with superior, specialized expertise. Plus, we know from years of experience that students who lack a clear career objective from the outset are at a higher risk of falling short of their goals. Based on input from top industry leaders, we have shaped an experience that allows you to be out in front in your career right from the start.

To begin, you don’t just enter our MBA program—you are admitted to one of our
12 highly focused career specializations. In addition, as part of an entering class of approximately 130 students, you will benefit from a small, close-knit program that offers access to all the resources of a world-class public research university. And you’ll experience a unique, team-focused approach. The intense personalized attention our students receive and the strong relationships that form are hard to describe. In fact, we won’t even try. We’ll let you get an idea by reading the stories of some of our students, alumni, faculty, and staff.

Our learning environment is a strong element of the Wisconsin MBA model. Each of our career specializations combines the breadth of a general management core curriculum with in-depth expertise developed in courses across your chosen field. But our unique curriculum is only the start of the story. The career specialization you select will offer you the opportunity to connect with and learn from real-world leaders. Career specializations are led by committed faculty members and supported by professional staff knowledgeable about that career path. Advisory boards, consisting of leaders in related industries, share their insights and experiences and offer extensive coaching. They form the core of a powerful network that supports you during and after your time in the program.

And when you graduate?

The Wisconsin MBA model produces real results when it comes to placement. Our graduates are highly sought after by top employers. Several career specializations have placed 100% of their students year after year. The reason why is no mystery. Often employers have already met and worked with students before they enter the job market, as part of the connections made at the career specialization level. More generally, top-tier firms look for strong candidates with significant expertise. As a graduate of the Wisconsin MBA, you will get your career off to a fast start because employers will know you have the skills to succeed in general management and the specialized expertise needed to deliver value from the start in your chosen field.