Vassar and SUNY New Paltz Join Forces to Offer New MBA Program
Top officials at Vassar and the State University of New York (SUNY) at New Paltz have announced the creation of a Master of Business Administration program that will enable Vassar students to attain an MBA degree one year after they graduate. The announcement about the new program was made September 16 at The Vassar Institute for the Liberal Arts.
Vassar President Elizabeth H. Bradley and SUNY New Paltz President Darrell P. Wheeler made the joint announcement, then signed a memorandum of understanding officially creating the new program. “This collaboration with SUNY New Paltz expands opportunities for our students by combining the strengths of a liberal arts education with advanced professional preparation in business,” Bradley said. “The program provides a clear and affordable pathway for students who want to integrate creativity, critical thinking, and entrepreneurship with the practical skills of an MBA.”
Bradley said the idea for the program arose out of conversations she had with Wheeler at dinners she hosts periodically with local college presidents. “I met Darrell a few years ago and realized this was a person with a lot of ideas to share, and I thought there have to be ways we can work together,” she said. “Vassar and SUNY New Paltz don’t compete; we add to each other.”
Wheeler said he was eager to launch the new academic collaboration. “For decades, the MBA at New Paltz has helped entrepreneurial students across the academic disciplines unlock the full potential of their education and future career prospects,” he said. “Our dedicated School of Business faculty have worked tirelessly to ensure this program is flexible for busy students and relevant to contemporary market trends. I thank President Bradley and colleagues at Vassar for their vision in helping us forge an accessible new pathway to a high-value graduate degree for young leaders who will shape the future of the Hudson Valley’s economy.”
Wheeler thanked members of the SUNY New Paltz business school staff “who have done the work on our curriculum to make this program happen. Our students will benefit from their interaction with Vassar students to create something of value for the citizens of the region and beyond.”
SUNY New Paltz’s MBA program is a three-semester, in-person program with hybrid and online learning opportunities for flexibility. The program offers concentrations in Healthcare Management and Business Analytics, as well as a general MBA option. The School of Business also supports social entrepreneurship initiatives and connects students to the Hudson Valley Venture Hub, a vibrant community of entrepreneurs and investors. The MBA program is accredited by AACSB International, the leading global standard for business education.
Two Vassar seniors who plan to enroll in the program at SUNY New Paltz next fall said they were grateful for the opportunity to combine the liberal arts education they are receiving at Vassar with the practical skills they will gain at SUNY New Paltz. “This shows what institutions of higher learning can do to fulfill students’ needs,” said Justin White ’26, a six-year Navy veteran. “We veterans understand the importance of critical thinking skills combined with technical expertise, and we are lucky to have the leadership teams to make this happen.”
Cher Mei ’26, who won a top prize at Vassar’s first-ever Entrepreneurship Competition in 2024 for launching an on-campus nail salon business, called the new partnership with SUNY New Paltz “an amazing example of interdisciplinary education that will add to the liberal arts education we get at Vassar. It’s something many of us in Vassar’s entrepreneurship program can benefit from.”
Aaron Hines, Assistant Dean for Graduate Business Programs at SUNY New Paltz, said he and others in his department were excited about launching the program. “Students with degrees in the liberal arts benefit from the MBA experience by learning data-informed decision making, financial analysis, business strategy, and organizational leadership,” Hicks said. “Soft skills they have already attained like communication, empathy, ethical reasoning, and teamwork are in high demand in leadership roles. Our MBA program helps the liberal arts graduate expand and accelerate career opportunities with great organizational impact and high potential earnings. Overall, we aim to prepare our MBA students for purpose-driven leadership in today’s workforce.”
Benefits of the collaboration to Vassar students include:
- Expedited MBA completion in one calendar year (three semesters).
- Waiver of six graduate credits for students who complete required Vassar courses with a B or better.
- Non–New York State residents admitted to the program will receive a scholarship to bring tuition in line with in-state rates for up to one year of study.
- Preferential consideration for teaching-assistant positions at SUNY New Paltz.