The Albers Advantage: Career Momentum for Working Professionals

For many working professionals, pursuing a graduate business degree is about creating momentum in their careers. As industries evolve and leadership expectations expand, business professionals are looking for graduate programs that offer experiences that directly translate into the workplace.

At the Albers School of Business and Economics at Seattle University, long-term return on investment shows up in many forms. Through applied coursework, mentorship opportunities, and connections to Seattle’s business community, students gain practical experience that supports career growth.

So what does that actually look like in practice?

How Albers Graduate Business Programs Support Career ROI

At Albers, career growth is shaped by the materials students learn, who they learn alongside, and the experiences they gain along the way.

The graduate program offerings are intentionally designed to connect academic study with professional development in ways from the start.

Experiential Learning That Strengthens Leadership Skills

One of the defining advantages of an Albers School of Business education is the emphasis on experiential learning. Students can engage in a wide range of business-focused extracurricular activities and student organizations designed to develop professional skills and career readiness, while supporting personal growth along the way. Examples include:

• Redhawk Fund: Students manage the student-run investment portfolio established in 2009, developing expertise in equity analysis, portfolio management, and investment strategy. Participants also gain access to a growing alumni network that provides valuable professional connections.
• Low Income Tax Prep: Accounting students can gain practical experience and prepare tax returns for low-income community members through a partnership with United Way of King County and the Internal Revenue Service. This direct service helps students refine technical skills and understand the role accounting plays in community and business contexts.
• Study Abroad: Short-term international courses expose students to global business practices and diverse cultural environments. These programs give our students the career-ready skills and professional networks that set them up for success after graduation. The Albers graduate community includes more than 10,000 alumni, and many are working across Washington and major business hubs around the country.

In practice, those connections often show up in small but meaningful ways—an informational interview that leads to an internship or a professional introduction that helps someone step into a new industry. Over time, those relationships become part of a broader professional community that continues long after graduation.

What Career Outcomes Can Business Students Expect?

A business degree is an investment in both time and finances. Albers graduate students benefit from the long-term value of an education backed by career mobility and leadership opportunities.

Albers alumni pursue roles across a wide range of industries, from technology and finance to consulting, healthcare, and retail. Top employers that regularly hire Albers graduates include organizations such as Amazon, Deloitte, DocuSign, Goldman Sachs, JPMorgan Chase, and Starbucks, reflecting the school’s strong connections within Seattle’s business ecosystem and beyond.

Support from the Albers Career Center helps students tap into these opportunities early. Through career coaching and networking events, the center provides resources that help students navigate career decisions both during their programs and after graduation.

Business Education That Employers Trust

Employers look for graduates from programs they know and respect. Albers is AACSB-accredited, a distinction held by only 6% of business schools worldwide.

This accreditation assures students and employers that Albers delivers rigorous, high-quality education with a focus on leadership and professional readiness. Graduates leave prepared to meet employer expectations and excel in a competitive global marketplace.

Personalized Career Development From Day One

At Albers, students receive personalized career development from day one. The Albers Career Center offers coaching to help students develop their career readiness skills, including resumes and interview preparation. They provide job search preparation assistance, guidance on career exploration, opportunities to connect with employers/alumni, and professional development programs.

Business students can also access The Albers Wardrobe—a program that provides free professional clothing—so students have access to all resources needed to move forward in their careers, regardless of income.

The Albers Mentorship program pairs students with industry professionals to explore careers, industries, and networking opportunities.

Accounting students can join the Accounting Mentor program to gain personalized accounting mentors actively working in environments such as The Big Four and local powerhouse firms.

MBA students in the Sport and Entertainment program have access to the MBA SEM Mentor Program to connect with sport industry mentors. These mentorship opportunities expand professional networks and career-ready experience.

Together, these programs ensure Albers students gain hands-on experience, professional connections, and the skills needed to succeed in the classroom and the workplace.

Explore the Long-Term Value of a Graduate Business Degree

For professionals considering graduate education, one question often comes up: Is a graduate business degree still worth it?

Albers provides a clear answer: When learning is paired with mentorship and opportunities, a graduate degree remains a powerful investment.

Professionals at different stages of their careers choose Albers because they want a program that leads to real, long-term growth. Over time, these experiences can help graduates move into new roles, take on greater leadership responsibilities, or pursue opportunities they may not have considered before.

Discover how Albers graduate programs can help you gain real-world experience, build meaningful professional relationships, and position yourself for long-term success in the business world.