How the Kellogg One-Year MBA reinvented business education

A pioneering — and customizable — program that builds on six decades of innovation, empowering leaders to accelerate their career and expand their network.
Written by:
Roger Anderson
7 minute read

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Students learn in a classroom in 1965

A Northwestern undergraduate looking for a path forward, an early professional investing in themselves and another looking to grow as a collaborative and empathetic leader. 

Over the course of six decades, nearly 5,000 individuals have completed the One-Year MBA program at Kellogg. Each has a unique story to tell. We spoke with three: a recent graduate, a professional with a decade of leadership experience and a 1967 alumnus who has opened his West Coast home to Northwestern and Kellogg alumni over the years. We learned the reasons they came to Evanston, the long-term benefit of their Kellogg MBA and the journey they’ve taken since graduation. 

With access to the school’s Full-Time MBA curriculum, students enrolled in the One-Year program are not required to repeat core coursework mastered during their undergraduate or industry careers. This modified approach means that One-Year students can choose from among more than 200 electives that are most meaningful to their individual goals, while learning at the same pace as traditional MBA students. 

“The One-Year Program struck me as a Goldilocks solution: short in duration, focused on building marketing and business fundamentals and offering a competitive edge.”
Gerron Vartan ’67
One-Year MBA

“The One-Year program struck me as a Goldilocks solution: short in duration, focused on building marketing and business fundamentals and offering a competitive edge,” says Gerron Vartan ’67 MBA. “Short-term serendipity, for sure. But far more important were the enduring, unanticipated benefits — the lifelong learning and the rich, mutually supportive network that grew from Kellogg: alumni, faculty, clients and over time, longstanding friendships that have continued to shape my future life in ways I could not have imagined then.” 

In 1965, Kellogg expanded its degree portfolio to include one of the nation’s first One-Year MBA degrees. For 12 months — from June to June — students are immersed in the school’s rigorous curriculum, spearheaded by more than 120 world-class faculty who have an average of 18 years of teaching experience. Sixty years after launching, Kellogg continues to be a leader in accelerating careers with its customizable approach. The program offers an ideal balance for leaders looking to build upon existing business fundamentals while providing immersive experiences for a competitive edge. 

A woman standing for a portrait photo
“Within five years of graduating, I reached my goal of running a mid-sized business,” says Laura Walsh ’15 MBA.

Each year’s class cohort of about 120 students creates a supportive network of peers that enhances learning and adds to a prestigious alumni network with global influence.  

“Within five years of graduating, I reached my goal of running a mid-sized business,” says Laura Walsh ’15 MBA. “Kellogg introduced me to Alpine Investors, whose CEO-in-Training program launched my path as a middle-market CEO. None of this happened by accident. The One-Year MBA didn’t just accelerate my career; it gave me the confidence and community to pursue what mattered most to me.”   

For the second consecutive year, Poets&Quants has named Kellogg as the best full-time MBA program in the U.S.  One-Year MBA students can take full advantage of traditional MBA course offerings and experiential learning opportunities like: 

  • Impact Investing and Sustainable Finance (simulation/exercise based) 
  • Private Equity Deep Dive (simulation/exercise based) 
  • New Venture Discovery, Launch or Discovery (self-defined project based) 
  • Global Initiatives in Management (self-defined project based) 
  • Startup Branding (client-project based) 
  • Marketing Research and Analytics (client-project based) 
  • Private Equity (lab based) 
  • Healthcare Entrepreneurship (lab based) 

“One-Year students hit the ground running,” says Greg Hanifee, associate dean of degree operations. “It’s a rigorous 12 months of learning and for many of our One-Year students they are actively recruiting from the summer they arrive through the spring the following year when they reach convocation.” 

One-Year graduate outcomes  

Class of 2025 One-Year graduates landed high impact roles at top employers across industries, with outcomes that underscore continued exceptional demand for the Kellogg MBA. Armed with the school’s hands-on experience, trademark collaborative skills and analytical rigor, these graduates entered the job market ready to drive results from day one. 

Median total compensation for One-Year MBA graduates grew to $187,100 with a median signing bonus of $30,000. Forty percent of graduates were sponsored by their previous employer, exhibiting the immense value that industry sees in the program. 

“When students are interviewing and applying with companies, they’re recognized as Kellogg MBAs. Our reputation as the top business school in the nation — and the rigor required to complete an MBA at Kellogg — positions each graduate to be selective as they re-enter the workforce.”
Greg Hanifee
Associate Dean of Degree Operations

“When students are interviewing and applying with companies, they’re recognized simply as ‘Kellogg MBAs’,” Hanifee says. “The combination of our reputation as the top business school in the nation, the experience students bring and the rigor required to complete an MBA at Kellogg positions each graduate to be highly competitive as they re-enter the workforce.” 

Designed to return students to their careers quickly — 92% of recent graduates received a job offer within six months of graduation — newly acquired skills and knowledge position graduates for future leadership roles. Scholarship by Kellogg faculty has produced several Nobel Prizes in economics, and the school continues to prove that compelling research can address a broad, interconnected scope of issues and bring to the fore new points of view. 

One-Year MBA students also have access to a variety of experiential learning opportunities including the Kellogg Worldwide Exploration Student Trips (KWEST). The program is designed to immerse students in the school’s culture and values. Groups travel abroad with rising second-year student leaders on cultural, community-bonding and adventure excursions across 30-plus destinations. Student leaders spend nearly a year planning and training in conjunction with the Office of Global Experience for the immersion.  

“Kellogg helped me strengthen areas I hadn’t fully developed — finance, leadership and general management — while also expanding how I thought about teams, culture and long-term impact,” says Walsh. “Just as lasting were the relationships. I met peers who challenged me, supported me and continue to inspire how I lead today.” 

A woman stands in front of a building
Standing in front of the Kellogg Global Hub, Isidora Navarro Sudy ’22 MBA credits the One-Year program with developing her skills as an empathetic leader.

Isidora Navarro Sudy ’22 MBA credits the One-Year program with developing her skills as an empathetic leader.  

“How you show up in your career and in life truly matters. I’ve learned that it’s possible to drive meaningful impact while leading with empathy, humility and a collaborative mindset,” she says. “No matter where I am — whether working in the U.S. or back home in Chile — people are always at the center of what I do. We spend a significant portion of our lives working, and Kellogg helped me better understand that creating environments that are both effective and enjoyable is often critical for success.”

Read next: How the One-Year MBA delivers a full experience on a purposeful timeline