This article was written for our sponsor, Poole College of Management at North Carolina State University.

The landscape around MBA programs is changing quickly.

Other WRAL Top Stories

As the business world shifts to more specialized digital and global trends, universities are trying to adjust and keep up.

As the rest of society goes online, MBA programs have tried to keep pace with the number of universities offering online courses, increasing by 44 percent between 2011 and 2016. With about six in 10 prospective students indicating they want the opportunity to study abroad during their MBA studies, this is a trend schools must notice.

Trends towards focused, practical programs make concentrations like supply chain important for universities. But balancing that with more humanitarian-focused areas like benefit corporations (often called B Corps) attracts students, as well.

A focused variety

It's up to universities to make sense of all of these trends in the competitive environment of business degrees to design an attractive program.

While having one specialty can get an MBA program noticed by a niche segment of business students, Jen Arthur, director of admissions for North Carolina State University's Jenkins MBA Program, said for a world-class program, a school really needs to excel in many areas.

"The way that the Jenkins MBA has been able to separate itself from the pack is by offering students multiple concentrations within the business world and offering them the opportunity to 'Think and Do' within them," Arthur explained.

"Think and Do"

Some present and former students say N.C. State has done a lot to make that phrase more than just the school's motto.

Janelle Tracy is a recent graduate of the Jenkins MBA Program with a concentration in marketing. She participated in the Consumer Innovation Collaborative, which focuses on real marketing and consumer behavior projects that assist businesses.

Before attending, the program's hands-on approach did a great deal to influence her decision.

"The prospect of helping a Fortune 500 business with a consumer-related challenge bumped N.C. State to the top of my list," Tracy said. Looking back, Tracy said her time in the program didn't disappoint.

"I had the opportunity to work on projects for the North Carolina Department of Transportation, AmerisourceBergen, Burt's Bees and Cotton Incorporated during my time in the MBA Program," Tracy said. "Those experiences were challenging, but I was beyond pleased with what I learned. I was also uniquely positioned for roles upon graduation."

Students in other areas of the program have had similar experiences.

Adam Hardie is a second-year supply chain management student and a military veteran. The Supply Chain Resource Cooperative provides supply chain students similar opportunities for working with major companies, just as the Consumer Innovation Collaborative does for those with a marketing concentration.

"I've worked with Lenovo during my time as an SCRC Scholar," Hardie said. "In this role, I've gained experience in data analytics and procurement, which makes me more valuable to employers. This is a win-win situation for everyone involved. We get to develop valuable skills, and the partner companies get access to early supply chain talent."

The increasing value of an MBA

It is certainly true that companies are eager to have access to talent coming out of MBA programs. The Graduate Management Admissions Council found a quickly rising trend of interest in MBA graduates in hiring decisions. While 68 percent of companies in 2016 said they expected to hire an MBA graduate that year, that number has risen to 79 percent only one year later.

In order to continue attracting this talent, 58 percent of employers in GMAC's 2016 Year-End Poll of Employers Report said they planned on raising the starting salary for MBA graduates newly hired to their companies.

MBA success in the face of modern trends

"We think we've found that perfect recipe for our MBA program to succeed as global business keeps changing," Arthur said. "We focus on providing a wide-array of relevant specialties and then connecting students with businesses doing real work in those areas."

This article was written for our sponsor, Poole College of Management at North Carolina State University.