Top EMBA Programs for Government Executives

In a recent Gallup survey, 21% of U.S. adults cited government dissatisfaction and poor leadership as a top problem. In terms of trust in their national governments, a study by the Pew Research Center on global attitudes and trends found that people in Latin America, the Middle East, and the southern part of Europe do not trust their governments.

Trust in the government is not the same as it used to be. Numerous studies even show the continued erosion of the public’s trust in their governments. If you’re a government leader looking for a way to bring back that trust and build a workforce that functions exceptionally well, it may be time to adopt leadership strategies that haven’t been adopted yet. And one way to gain insight into which strategies work for which situations is through an MBA education where your classmates also work in the government.

Below, we’ve compiled a list of the EMBA programs best suited for government executives from Ivy Exec’s 2017 Best Executive MBA Programs rankings.

University of Georgia EMBA

University of Georgia’s Executive MBA from the Terry College of Business tops this list. More than a quarter, 27%, of its student population are leaders and executives in various government positions. On average, students have 16 years of work experience, allowing you to take your leadership abilities to the next level not just through breakthrough research, practical applications, and one-on-one executive coaching sessions with professors, but also through your peers’ insights, knowledge, and hands-on leadership and management experience.

Ranked by The Economist as the top MBA institution in Georgia and eighth in the U.S., the program’s faculty members all have doctorates and provide top-level, nimble instruction that changes with the times.

The World Executive MBA with Cyber Security (George Washington University)

Coming in second with 25% of its student population from government agencies is the World EMBA with Cyber Security from the George Washington University School of Business. Students of this 16-month 100% classroom instruction program have an average 13 years of work experience in various government fields.

Classes happen during the weekends, including Friday afternoons, making it an ideal option for those wanting to study while working. So students are exposed to real-world management and leadership scenarios, this course offers two international residencies.

All members of the program’s faculty have doctorates.

Auburn Executive MBA (Auburn University)

Next on the list is Auburn University’s 21-month EMBA program, with 21% of enrolled students from the government sector. This offering from the Raymond J. Harbert College of Business combines distance learning and on-campus residencies, and students visit the campus five times for the duration of the program to personally meet their professors and network with fellow students.

The program offers three concentration options: leadership, operations, and healthcare. The Harbert College of Business currently has 44,000+ alumni, and 87% of faculty members have doctorates.

Rutgers EMBA

At fourth place with 12% of the cohort population holding various government positions is the Rutgers Business School’s EMBA program. It’s a flexible 20-month training program specifically designed for mid-level managers who aspire to obtain an MBA while working. It combines theoretical tools, hands-on skills, and practical insights to transform students into globally competitive government leaders.

Students’ average working experience is 14 years, and with the business school’s strong 36,000+ alumni, you have the perfect backdrop for powerhouse networking.

Villanova EMBA (Villanova University)

Number five on the list is the Villanova School of Business EMBA program from Pennsylvania’s Villanova University, where 10% of the total number of students are from the government and nonprofit group. It’s a 19-month program with a learning environment ratio of 85% classroom and 15% experiential. Classes are conducted every three weeks (Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, with multiple breaks between modules).

Students’ work experience is 14 years, on average, while 90% of the faculty members have doctorates.

TCU Neeley EMBA (Texas Christian University)

At sixth place with 8% of the student population from the government sector is the Executive MBA program at Texas Christian University’s Neeley School of Business. The program, which is 80% classroom and 20% experiential learning, is 18 months long, and classes happen on Fridays and Saturdays, every other weekend, which makes it the ideal EMBA option for government executives who want to attend school but not take time away from work.

On average, students have 17 years of solid work experience, while 100% of the teaching staff hold doctorates.

The EMBA program that suits you best will depend on a lot of factors, including your location and availability. But for government executives who wish to leverage the experience and insights of their colleagues in the government, the above EMBA programs represent some of the best options out there.