From biking to hiking, what is the best MBA program to satisfy your drive for outdoorsy adventures?
Your sneakers are the staple of your wardrobe, your fitness tracker buzzes three times a day, and your idea of leisure is a five-mile hiking trip. From mountain biking to geocaching, your lifestyle is all about the great outdoors. You have a passion for nature and a taste for adventure … and you’re going to business school.
Fortunately, some of the best MBA programs in the country are located in lively, outdoor-friendly cities with various climates and terrains—something to suit every thrill-seeker’s idea of adventure. Why not spend the next two years somewhere that nurtures your need to stay active between case studies and professional conferences? Check out our picks for the best MBA programs to accommodate your love of the outdoors.
Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth in Hanover, New Hampshire
- The MBA program: Consistently placed near the top of most business school rankings, Dartmouth Tuck attracts competitive applicants year after year. Accordingly, the average GMAT score for the class of 2015 is in the 95th percentile. Tuck also boasts one of the highest alumni giving rates among MBA programs, and more than two-thirds of Tuck students gain global business experience by traveling abroad. Students can choose from dozens of clubs and student organizations, including case competitions and even a craft brew appreciation society.
- The great outdoors: The Dartmouth-Sunapee region in New Hampshire is a year-round haven for scenic nature and outdoorsy adventure. Canoe, kayak, or raft in the Connecticut River; go hiking on the Sunapee-Ragged-Kearsarge Greenway’s lakeside trail; and ski the 65 trails at nearby Mount Sunapee. Each year, Tuck hosts a Winter Carnival, attracting more than 600 students from other top business schools to compete in ski races and a pond hockey tournament. Attendees don their brightest ’80s skiwear for a traditional evening celebration.
University of Washington Michael G. Foster School of Business in Seattle, Washington
- The MBA program: Foster MBA students bring more than six years of work experience on average to the degree program, and almost a third are international students. Successful candidates should have quantitative ability that is demonstrated through prior coursework, a great GMAT score, or work experience. The average GMAT score for Foster MBA students hovers around the 90th percentile. With ample opportunities for entrepreneurship and networking in Seattle’s thriving tech industry, the business school gives entrepreneurial-minded MBA students the chance to participate in both high-profile business plan competitions and start-up accelerators.
- The great outdoors: Located between the Olympic Peninsula and the Cascade Range, Seattle is a nature lover’s big city with ample opportunity for adventure. Grab your kayak (or rent one) and head out to Lake Washington, or go hiking or snowshoeing on the incomparable Mount Rainier, Washington’s crown jewel. If you can’t find time to leave the city between case studies, Seattle also offers a large network of bike trails and parks.
University of Arkansas Sam M. Walton College of Business in Fayetteville, Arkansas
- The MBA program: The Walton MBA, named after Walmart founder Sam M. Walton, is highly focused on retail marketing and supply chain management. With Walmart and it suppliers in the business school’s backyard, Walton MBA students go on to become leaders in the retail and consumer packaged goods space. Full-time Walton MBA students enjoy a very small class cohort of fewer than 40 students and have an average GMAT score of 653.
- The great outdoors: Nestled in the hills of the Ozark Mountains, Northwest Arkansas offers spectacular hiking and camping spots at Devil’s Den State Park and Ozark National Forest. You can also “float” the Buffalo River by boating downriver during the spring and summer seasons.
Johns Hopkins University Carey School of Business in Baltimore, Maryland
- The MBA program: Setting itself apart as one of the best MBA programs for experiential learning and entrepreneurship, Carey is home to the Innovation for Humanity Project, which allows students to apply their expertise and problem-solving ability to real-world problems affecting developing nations. The school’s Discovery to Market Project gives MBA students the opportunity to take a scientific discovery from nascence to product stage. The Global MBA two-year program at Carey admits fewer than 100 students, with an average GMAT score of 650 and three years of work experience.
- The great outdoors: The Baltimore area is located along the Patapsco River and Chesapeake Bay. Directly outside the city, Baltimore residents can easily access trails on the Greenbelt Park. Offering hiking, swimming, fishing, and canoeing, Gunpowder Falls State Park is ideal for getting outdoors and into nature.
University of California, San Diego Rady School of Management in San Diego, California
- The MBA program: With an average GMAT score in the high 600s, fulltime MBA students at the Rady School enjoy close ties to the science and technology community in San Diego. The business school has a particularly strong focus on military veterans looking to grow their careers in the armed forces or beyond their service. With several venture funds and accelerators found within the school, Rady MBA students have many opportunities to flex their entrepreneurial muscles. The school was also ranked first for “intellectual capital” by Bloomberg Business in 2014.
- The great outdoors: San Diego’s home on the Pacific coast and permanently sunny weather lends itself well to exploring the many parks and local beaches, such as Balboa Park and Mission Bay Park. Whether you’re an avid skier or surfer, or if you simply want to become one, the full spectrum of outdoor adventures can be enjoyed just a few steps away from campus.
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