St. Thomas Aquinas College Expands MBA Program with High-Demand Technology Concentrations
New Fall 2025 programs in AI, Business Analytics, and Cybersecurity address critical skills shortage in technology-driven leadership roles
St. Thomas Aquinas College has unveiled three new MBA concentrations launching Fall 2025, positioning itself at the forefront of technology-focused business education. The New York institution’s partnership with Rize Education brings industry-aligned curriculum in Artificial Intelligence, Business Analytics, and Cybersecurity to meet unprecedented demand for tech-savvy business leaders.
Key Program Highlights
- AI Concentration: 39-credit program addressing the 3.5x faster growth in AI job postings compared to traditional roles
- Business Analytics Focus: Targets the 77% performance advantage of data-driven companies over competitors
- Cybersecurity Leadership: Responds to 33% projected job growth in security analysis through 2033
- Flexible Delivery: Online and on-campus options with 15-18 month completion timeline
- Affordable Access: Special $10,000 scholarships available for early applicants
Why This Matters
Addressing Critical Skills Gap
The new concentrations directly address what AACSB research identifies as pressing challenges: 61% of business school deans report declining enrollments, 53% struggle to differentiate their programs, and 40% need to enhance job-ready skills. St. Thomas Aquinas College’s strategic response demonstrates how institutions can revitalize MBA offerings through industry-specific expertise.
“Innovation fuels career progress, so at St. Thomas Aquinas College we are committed to leading the way in transformative education,” said President Ken Daly. “These programs are designed to place graduates at the forefront of the digital transformation, ensuring they possess the high-demand skills that power today’s dynamic industries.”
Market-Driven Curriculum Development
The programs leverage Rize Education’s consortium model, which collaborated with faculty from Harvard Business School, Cornell, Dartmouth, and the University of Texas at Austin. This approach allows smaller institutions to offer world-class specialized education typically available only at elite universities.
Career Advancement Impact
Each concentration targets specific high-growth sectors:
- AI roles offer 25% wage premiums for professionals with specialized expertise
- Cybersecurity professionals command significantly higher salaries in an industry projected to grow faster than average
- Business analytics specialists are essential as companies struggle to build data-driven cultures
Industry Response
Technology Sector Leaders increasingly seek MBA graduates with technical fluency combined with strategic business acumen. The traditional general MBA no longer meets the specialized knowledge requirements of modern technology-driven organizations.
Education Technology Partners praise the consortium approach. Rize Education’s bundled model allows institutions to offer multiple high-demand specializations cost-effectively, providing flexibility to adapt to changing market needs without extensive faculty hiring or curriculum development costs.
Regional Employers benefit from access to locally-trained talent with specialized skills. The Hudson Valley region’s growing technology sector gains access to MBA graduates specifically trained in AI implementation, cybersecurity strategy, and data analytics leadership.
Program Innovation Features
Accessible Technical Education
Unlike traditional technology programs requiring extensive coding backgrounds, these MBA concentrations emphasize managerial and strategic applications. Students learn to oversee technical teams, assess technology opportunities, and bridge gaps between technical specialists and business leadership.
Practical Application Focus
All programs emphasize real-world case studies and hands-on projects. Students work with actual business challenges, learning to transform data into strategic insights and manage AI-driven initiatives rather than merely understanding theoretical concepts.
Stackable Credentials
The college also offers 15-credit Advanced Certificates in each concentration at 50% tuition discount. These certificates seamlessly integrate into the full MBA program, allowing professionals to test their interest before committing to the complete degree.
Broader Educational Trends
ADVANCE Initiative Expansion
These new concentrations join St. Thomas Aquinas College’s growing ADVANCE: Graduate and Certificate Programs for Lifelong Learners portfolio, which recently added Master’s programs in Exercise Science and expanded MPA specializations. This demonstrates the institution’s commitment to career-focused graduate education.
Competitive Positioning
The programs position STAC competitively against larger institutions by offering specialized expertise previously available only at top-tier schools. The Rize partnership model democratizes access to cutting-edge business education while maintaining the personalized attention of a smaller institution.
Summary
St. Thomas Aquinas College’s launch of technology-focused MBA concentrations represents a strategic response to rapidly evolving business education needs. By partnering with Rize Education’s consortium model, the institution delivers industry-relevant curriculum that addresses critical skills gaps while maintaining affordability and accessibility.
The programs’ emphasis on practical application, flexible delivery, and stackable credentials positions graduates for immediate impact in technology-driven roles. As businesses increasingly require leaders who can navigate AI implementation, cybersecurity strategy, and data-driven decision-making, these concentrations provide essential preparation for the future of business leadership.
The success of these initiatives will likely influence other regional institutions to adopt similar partnership models, potentially reshaping how smaller colleges compete with larger universities in delivering specialized graduate business education.
Bottom Line: STAC’s new MBA concentrations demonstrate how strategic partnerships can enable smaller institutions to offer world-class specialized education, addressing both market demand for tech-savvy business leaders and institutional needs for enrollment growth and program differentiation. The focus on practical application and career readiness positions graduates for immediate success in rapidly evolving technology sectors.
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Jeff Morrow is the Publisher of MBAGuide.org, where he leads content strategy, program evaluation, and data-driven rankings for prospective MBA students. Drawing from over three decades of experience in digital publishing, marketing, and platform development, Jeff helps readers make informed, confident decisions about their graduate business education. His focus on transparency, affordability, and outcomes has positioned MBAGuide.org as a trusted resource for comparing online MBA programs across the U.S. for over 10 years.
Before launching MBAGuide.org, Jeff held senior roles at Microsoft, CareerBuilder, and several venture-backed startups. At Microsoft, he managed the redesign and daily operations of TechNet, the company’s primary support portal for IT professionals. He drove major improvements in user experience, search optimization, and cost efficiency. His career has spanned content strategy, product marketing, and consulting for high-growth digital and SaaS ventures—experience he now channels into helping future business leaders navigate their MBA journey.
Jeff holds a bachelor’s degree in English Literature from UCLA.
