Clemson MBA celebrates ten years at Greenville ONE

This year, on Jan. 4, 2024, the Clemson University MBA program celebrates ten years at the Greenville ONE campus. The last decade has held significant growth for the MBA program and downtown Greenville as a whole. Looking to the next ten years, the program reflects on the successes of the past decade.

2010: The Move to Downtown Greenville

In 2010, Clemson University relocated the MBA program 30 miles east of the main campus to downtown Greenville. The program moved into the Clemson at the Falls location, across from the Liberty Bridge at Falls Park on the Reedy. While the location offered proximity to the park’s nature trails and city amenities, the University had a bigger picture for growth alongside the vibrant community.

“Housing a professional graduate program in downtown Greenville is a no-brainer,” said Gregory Pickett, Associate Dean of the Wilbur O. and Ann Powers College of Business and Director of the MBA Program. “This positioning gives our students access to a growing base of world-class companies, including Michelin, GE, 3M and BMW. The location allows learning to expand past the classroom walls and out into the community through networking events, mentoring programs and job recruitment.”

Clemson University’s forward-thinking paid off, as Greenville has grown more than 16% in the last decade, earning it a spot among the top 25 fastest-growing cities and the fourth-best small city in the U.S., and the Clemson MBA program has grown just as quickly.

2014: The Move to Greenville ONE

Clemson MBA enrollment was rapidly expanding, and the program had outgrown its location at the Falls. On Jan. 4, 2014, the MBA program officially moved into the Greenville ONE Center. The state-of-the-art facility was made possible through an in-kind donation from Greenville real estate developer Bob Hughes and others. The building boasts over 70,000 square feet across four floors, allowing the program to grow and expand educational programming and delivery options. The student body has more than doubled since the initial move downtown in 2010, from 240 to more than 600 students today, further enhancing Clemson’s connection to upstate business growth.

Creating a Space for Community

In many ways, the design of Greenville ONE has allowed the program to accomplish its goals and continue to expand. “The Greenville ONE design facilitates conversations and learning,” Pickett said. “It not only houses programming but also provides space to engage with the community, local businesses and fellow students.”

Greenville ONE houses several in-person and virtual MBA classrooms, 15 private meeting spaces students can use anytime, a 180-seat auditorium, event spaces with state-of-the-art audio and video technologies, warming kitchens for catered events, as well as several indoor and outdoor lounge areas for students to connect and recharge.

Since moving to downtown Greenville, Clemson MBA student job placement rates have improved, with the help of being ranked number one in career services by the Princeton Review. The continued growth of business relationships is also partly due to the program’s strategic location and inviting space.

“We’re able to use this space to engage with students and the community in several ways,” Pickett said. “For example, Greenville ONE can effortlessly host the scores of companies that come for student recruitment events every semester while also providing a second home for grad students to study and connect. Students want to come together in this space to network, brainstorm ideas and ultimately launch the next phase of their careers together.”

Designing a Space for Growth

In addition to forging better connections between students, businesses and community leaders, Greenville ONE has provided room for the MBA program to grow its program offerings and expand curriculum delivery. “Through the innovative approach of our team and the facilities of Greenville ONE, we’ve been able to transform the way MBA education is delivered today,” Pickett said.

Since moving downtown, the Clemson MBA has added program options to its original full-time and part-time MBA Corporate tracks, including concentrations in Entrepreneurship & Innovation, Business Analytics and Digital Brand Communications and online and hybrid programs.

“Our MBA concentrations allow students to dive deeper into their career interests, while online and hybrid formats have changed how we deliver that curriculum to students,” Pickett said. “The design and location of Greenville ONE have allowed for that growth and reimagined approach to learning.”

Greenville ONE’s unique design and strategic location accommodate education beyond traditional classroom time. Online MBA students benefit from an enhanced virtual experience thanks to high-tech video and audio equipment and a curriculum designed for the modern age. The convenient downtown site makes it easy for part-time students to attend class in the evenings. At the same time, the vibrant and growing community is equally appealing for full-time students looking to relocate.

“As a part-time student, Greenville ONE is the perfect location for this MBA Program as it is within walking distance of great coffee shops and restaurants downtown,” said Madison Kaiser, MBA Student Association President. “The building itself is a fantastic area to study and attend class, but also is a great place for all the other MBA career events such as employer spotlights and networking nights.”

However, one of the most unique offerings is the Clemson MBA’s hybrid residency weekends. “We host six residency weekends per year for our hybrid students that are looking for the convenience of an online program while also getting the benefit of in-person networking and collaboration,” Pickett said.

With multiple classrooms, breakout spaces, event halls and a state-of-the-art auditorium, Greenville ONE has an ideal design for a weekend of in-person learning and networking.

“Not many traditional MBA programs leverage residency weekends like ours,” Pickett said. “With proximity to hotels, top restaurants, outdoor activities and arts events, hybrid students have the full Greenville package central to the Clemson MBA experience. Even if studying remotely, they can connect to the community, and Greenville ONE makes that possible.”

The Next 10 Years

Since moving into the Greenville ONE location, the Clemson MBA has been able to expand program offerings and delivery.

“Greenville ONE has not only served as an educational hub but also as a dynamic center for collaboration and innovation,” said Dean Wendy York. “As we celebrate a decade of achievements, we anticipate even greater accomplishments in the next ten years, solidifying our position as a leader in MBA education. I take immense pride in the tremendous achievements the program has attained under the leadership of Greg Pickett. I am looking forward to the next ten amazing years to come.”

The stage for another decade of success is set, as the program has earned numerous awards, including:

● #4 Graduate Entrepreneurship Program in the South by The Princeton Review, 2023
● #1 Online MBA in South Carolina by Online MBA Report, 2023
● #17 Hybrid/Online MBA Business Analytics Program by The Princeton Review, 2022
● Top 10 World’s Best MBA Programs for Entrepreneurship by Poets&Quants, 2024
● Top 50 In-Person MBA Nationally by The Princeton Review, 2023

Additionally, it’s earned a reputation as one of the top 25 online MBA programs in the U.S., the top 5 in the South and the number one in South Carolina, with more than 94% of graduates landing employment just three months after graduation.

“Greenville ONE has provided our team with the ability to grow the MBA program exponentially,” Pickett said. “In the next ten years, I continue to see us forging relationships with Fortune 500 companies and local business leaders as our program and students continue to build a powerful reputation and demand in the workforce.”

With access to rapidly growing South Carolina businesses and a vibrant, cultural downtown sector, Greenville ONE provides Clemson’s MBA Program a home for evolving in-demand curriculum, evolving delivery and world-class networking opportunities — creating an unparalleled student experience driving the momentum to continued growth alongside Greenville.

View more information on Clemson University’s MBA programs.