Executive MBA

Our Executive MBA (EMBA) is a rigorous program that builds on the base of your managerial experience to help you advance to the highest levels of leadership. With an emphasis on networking with senior leaders, personalized career coaching, and action learning, our program empowers you to navigate complex business challenges and drive meaningful impact at the highest levels.

The program is built around your career and life responsibilities. In-person classes are held at NIU Naperville. There are in-person sessions every other Saturday (8 a.m.-5 p.m.) with online synchronous sessions on the corresponding Fridays (3-6 p.m.), and in-person residencies twice a semester on Friday evenings. With this schedule, your work and travel schedules won't be interrupted. View the EMBA calendar.

The NIU College of Business is accredited by AACSB International.

Schedule an Appointment

Apply

Now Accepting Applications for One-Year MBA

At a Glance

44 credit hours

Hybrid – in-person and online synchronous sessions

Full time (every other Friday afternoon and Saturday)

Start in the fall

As a physician deeply rooted in science, the EMBA program gave me the business acumen I needed to thrive in the biotech industry. It bridged the gap between clinical expertise and strategic leadership, equipping me with the tools to make data-driven decisions, influence cross-functional teams, and drive real impact in a corporate setting.

Rea Castro, MD, MPH, EMBA ’25

Break Barriers to the C-Suite

Ralph de la Vega did. From Cuba to the NIU EMBA to CEO of AT&T Mobility.

Career Outlook for Executive MBA Program

Average mid-career salary for Executive MBA graduates:

$243,770 Average mid-career salary.

Insights gathered from the NIU EMBA Class of 2025 exit survey show how the program impacts graduates’ careers and personal growth:

85% of recent graduates say the program helped advance their career
100% say the program helped them achieve personal goals
92% say the program helped them achieve career goals
92% report increased ability to be promoted
83% report improved effectiveness in their current job
58% were promoted or changed jobs before graduating

Source: 2024 EMBAC Student Exit Survey

How to Apply

Admission is competitive and limited to candidates who demonstrate high promise of success in the program.

Admission Requirements

You’ll apply through the Graduate School.

Fall application deadline: Aug. 1

Application Materials

You’ll need to submit the following materials:

One professional or academic letter of recommendation (you may submit two letters, if desired)
Statement of interest (two to three paragraphs describing future aspirations and why you’re interested in the program)
Professional resume (Five years of post-graduate experience is preferred for this program)

The GMAT is not required.

Costs and Funding

We offer the best value in the Chicagoland area: The total cost of $60,000 is less than most Executive MBA programs in the area. It includes course materials, workshops, individualized and personalized career coaching, nine-day international immersion residency experience, special events including Executive in Residence series and leadership panels. We also provide hotel accommodations for residency weekends, laptop with required software, and meals prepared by our executive chef.

Curriculum and Requirements

You’ll benefit from:

Small class sizes and a cohort program to promote meaningful participation.
Faculty experts who use a combination of case studies, class discussions, engagement with business leaders and real-world projects.
A curriculum that encourages you to think cross-functionally and strategically.

EMBA Mindsets

Our innovative curriculum is structured around four distinct mindsets, seamlessly integrating and unifying our educational approach across all four semesters.

Each semester begins with a launch-day panel featuring senior executives and practitioners who draw on their expertise to illustrate how these mindsets shape their leadership and decision-making in real-world scenarios.

You'll receive high-quality instruction from faculty members and C-suite executives selected for their ability to prepare seasoned professionals for executive leadership opportunities. Taught in four innovative mindsets (entrepreneurial, strategic, global and transformational) our program will help you gain the leadership skills top companies look for in executives.

Entrepreneurial Mindset – Equipping leaders with the skills to leverage data and insights for testing innovative ideas and implementing innovation. Executives learn how to incorporate market trends and disruptions and create a culture of creativity and experimentation to drive competitive advantage.
Strategic Mindset – Cultivating strong business acumen, enabling leaders to deeply understand organizational dynamics and external factors. Executives learn to anticipate trends and make strategic decisions that drive team and organizational success. The program equips executives to identify complex interconnections, anticipate downstream effects, and excel in ambiguous contexts.
Global Mindset – Building the skillset required to leverage the cultural diversity of the global workforce and manage beyond national boundaries. Executives learn to integrate international trends and events with cultural insights to make strategic and sustainable business decisions in the changing global economy.
Transformational Mindset – Focus on inspiring change, creating a clear and compelling case for change, collaborating to create a shared vision, and motivating others through this vision. Executives learn to systematically identify and manage factors that facilitate or impede change, collaborate to implement change, and continuously improve tasks and processes to achieve the shared vision.

Career Coaching

Executive MBA students benefit from personalized assessments which drive executive coaching with a certified coach. Through one-on-one meetings with experienced and certified executive coaches, students gain clarity, confidence, and actionable strategies for career growth. This individualized support helps students maximize their potential and make informed career decisions.

International Immersion Trip

Broaden your horizons with our nine-day international immersion trip.

Executive in Residence

Our Executive in Residence series provides an interactive forum for Executive MBA students to engage with distinguished executives while fostering meaningful connections with Executive MBA alumni, faculty and staff.

Learn more about the Executive in Residence series.

Capstone Presentations

Executive MBA students complete their final semester by presenting their capstone projects. The capstone project experience provides students with direct access to senior leadership. They collaborate on cutting-edge, groundbreaking business projects that are often implemented in real-world businesses. Many of these are startup companies.

Students develop a comprehensive business plan to help the client company CEOs create their future with a structured roadmap for success.

Faculty

You will learn from world-renowned faculty and engage with senior leaders from global organizations. This interactive program includes active learning, personalized developmental opportunities, and an engaged community of learners focused on transforming their careers.

EMBA Fellows

A unique aspect of the EMBA program is the inclusion of two experienced professors in program-design, innovation and implementation. Professor Sarah Marsh and Professor Mahesh Subramony – both of whom have played an integral role, for a combined 40 years, to the success of the College of Business, are our EMBA Fellows. They facilitate more integration to the program, more opportunities for development for the student and mentoring opportunities.