by Doug Schmitt
BusinessSchools.com Staff Writer
September 27, 2006
Nestled at the foot of the Sandia Mountains, Albuquerque's economy was once based solely on the city's role as the commercial & transportation hub for the Southwestern U.S. Today it is a focal point for high-technology manufacturing and research. Coupled with that is a booming professional business services industry that consumes around 16% of all employment sectors right behind government, the largest industry in the region. With a population of approximately 800,000 in the metropolitan area, Albuquerque is responsible for nearly 50% of New Mexico's economic activity; it does not appear that it will change anytime soon.
Employment and Internships
Albuquerque is host to many business oriented companies that employ just below 20% of the workforce. Combine that with the public sectors relation to business and that workforce jumps to almost 40%. Private employers including T-Mobile and Citicards in addition to public institutions such as the City of Albuquerque http://www.cabq.gov/jobs/ and Bernalillo County are just a few examples of the numerous employers in the region that offer internships and employment opportunities to business students.
Business and financial operations professionals in Albuquerque have a bright job outlook through 2012, according to the New Mexico Department of Labor. Business, management, and financial occupations will see an overall 26.3% additional job opportunities through 2012. In a comprehensive breakdown, business operations specialists will experience 24.8% new jobs. Operations specialties managers will see 27.3% additional job opportunities. Financial managers will have 25.5% more opportunities and human resources managers' opportunities will grow by 34.6%.
Education
Albuquerque provides a wealth of educational opportunities for business students. The University of New Mexico's Robert O. Anderson School of Management offers bachelors and master's degrees in addition to certificate programs and MBA's for working professionals. Specialties include Business Administration & Management, Human Resource Management, and Management Science along with several others.
Additional opportunities wait for students at the University of Sante Fe – Albuquerque, offering degrees in Business Administration, Entertainment Management, and Managing Sustainable Enterprise. Another option is Webster University, offering students bachelors and master's degrees in Information Management, Health Care Administration, and Human Resources Management. Additionally, the University of Phoenix – New Mexico Campus offers programs in Business Management, E-Commerce, and Marketing just to name a few.
Financial Aid
There are plenty of options for obtaining financial aid in Albuquerque. Traditional options include scholarships and loans. The Los Alamos National Laboratory Scholarship (LANL) provides scholarships based on financial need and diversity to students from northern New Mexico. The University of New Mexico (UNM) has several scholarships including the UNM Scholars scholarship which awards funds to students based on academic success. In addition to scholarships, UNM offers loans to students, such as the UNM Emergency Short-Term Loan, which assists students with emergency financial needs.
Other loans that can be applied for are standard state and federal loans, including Federal Stafford Loans, Federal Plus Loans, and Perkins Loans. Students can apply for these by obtaining a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) from their school counselor or by visiting FAFSA on the web.
Summary
Albuquerque presents students with numerous educational opportunities as well as fun and exciting recreational activities. The regions business economy is booming and the occupational outlook is one that will provide many employment opportunities for graduates. When these factors are combined, it becomes easy to see why Albuquerque is an excellent place to study Business.
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