Lake Forest Graduate School of Management

Program Information

Degree Offered

Part-time Leadership MBA

Format: Campus, Online

Program Description:

The Lake Forest Leadership MBA is the perfect choice for experienced professionals who seek career advancement beyond their area of functional expertise and who value a practical business education taught not by theory-based professors or teaching assistants, but by business leaders at the area's top corporations. Courses are offered on campuses in Schaumburg and Lake Forest, as well as 100% online.

Since 1946, more than 8,000 experienced professionals have chosen the Lake Forest MBA program because they were looking for more than just a graduate business credential. They were looking for an experience that was practical, relevant, exciting and collaborative, and that would give them the knowledge, attitudes, habits, skills, and network to take them to new heights in their business careers.

LFGSM is an independent, accredited, not-for-profit business management school that puts your educational interests first. A pioneer of the practical business education model, LFGSM was founded through a partnership of leading Chicago-area businesses. Here, students get the solid business theory they need, along with a “practice field” for sharpening their skills. To this day, providing graduate business education is all we do.

Who Chooses the Leadership MBA?
Unlike many MBA programs, the LeadershipMBA isn’t for people trying to “get into the game,” nor is it for career changers who are looking to pick up deep knowledge in just one new field. The LMBA was created for experienced professionals in fields such as IT, finance, marketing, engineering, sales, science or operations who already have many career achievements to their credit. Leadership MBA candidates are serious about their careers and education, and are interested in an MBA experience that’s strictly business.

If you’re like most people who consider a Leadership MBA, you’ve already experienced a great deal of career success. Now, you need to broaden your knowledge in other areas so you can increase your managerial flexibility, enhance the value you bring to your organization, and ultimately take on new leadership roles.

At LFGSM, we’re committed to helping you broaden your perspective and rise higher.

The Program
The Leadership MBA is designed so you can progress at your own pace — typically completing the program in two to four years (with an option to graduate as quickly as 18 months or to stretch the program out to up to six years), and attending classes on weeknights, Saturdays, online or a combination of formats.

The MBA curriculum at LFGSM was built to advance your career. It’s grounded in extensive research with more than 600 business professionals and executives regarding what they look for in high-potential managers today. With the new skills and knowledge you gain in the Lake Forest MBA program, you’ll become a more effective business leader and the kind of manager who gets noticed.

Our research has established three core traits of high-potential leaders and managers: Know the Business, Relate to People, and Deliver Results. Each of the program's 16 courses is designed to help you achieve in these areas. MBA students complete 13 core courses and 3 electives.

Specialization Options
While many prospective MBA students choose not to declare a program specialization in favor of truly broadening their thinking, all Lake Forest Leadership MBA students choose three electives during the course of their study. If the combination of the three electives you choose qualifies you for a degree specialization, this can be a great, focused learning opportunity and an added academic credential that can give you an edge in your career.

Current specializations offered include Global Business, Finance, Marketing, Healthcare Management, and Organizational Behavior. Our Global Business specialization includes opportunities to conduct consulting engagements with companies in Latin America, Asia and Europe.

Our Students
Leadership MBA students average 14 years of professional work experience, with an average age of 38. Our students come from many professions (like IT, sales, marketing, finance, accounting, engineering, operations/supply chain, science, law, general management, and medicine), as well as from a variety of industries. We also attract a great number of entrepreneurs, and 11% of LMBA students already hold a graduate degree.

Admissions Requirements
1. Four or more years of professional work experience
2. A United States bachelor’s degree or equivalent
3. Currently employed full-time (not required for students in career transition)
Candidates must submit a current resume or LinkedIn profile, two letters of recommendation, application with personal statement, and official academic transcripts, and must participate in an interview. GMAT scores typically not required.

Lake Forest Graduate School of Management: Broad Thinkers. Strong Leaders

Accreditation:

Lake Forest Graduate School of Management is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission (HLC), North Central Association.

Eligibility Requirements:

1. Four or more years of professional work experience
2. A United States bachelor’s degree or equivalent
3. Currently employed full-time (not required for students in career transition)

# of Credits Required:

64

Tuition & Financial Aid

Cost Per Credit Hour:

$759 USD

Tuition In-State Full Time:

$50,976 Total cost of degree USD

Financial Aid Offered: No

Classification: Schools of Business and Management

Institution Sector: Private not-for-profit

Locale: Large Suburb

Size & Settings: Under 1,000