Georgia Terry Bets On Small MBA Program In Tougher Market

With cohorts capped at 80-100 students, Terry College of Business focuses on tightening advising, employer ties, and student-alumni feedback loops.

Published on Mar. 2, 2026

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As many business schools chase scale or visibility, the full-time MBA program at the University of Georgia's Terry College of Business is making a quieter bet: small works better. With intentionally capped cohorts between 80 and 100 students, Terry isn't trying to grow, but rather tighten advising, employer ties, and the feedback loop between students, alumni, and recruiters. In a tougher MBA recruiting environment, this disciplined approach is proving valuable, as students leverage strong career support and a tight-knit community to secure internships and full-time offers.

Why it matters

In a moment when many business schools are chasing scale or visibility, Terry College's focus on a smaller, more intimate MBA program stands out. By capping cohorts and prioritizing advising, employer relationships, and student-alumni connections, Terry is positioning its graduates for success in a tougher recruiting landscape marked by shrinking internships, more selective hiring, and the rise of AI-powered applications.

The details

Terry's full-time MBA program has intentionally capped cohorts between 80 and 100 students, eschewing growth in favor of tightening advising, employer ties, and the feedback loop between students, alumni, and recruiters. This approach is proving valuable as MBA internships shrink, consulting firms hire fewer summer associates, and AI floods recruiting pipelines. At Terry, the internship is treated as a proving ground, with second-year MBAs describing recruiting prep as woven into the curriculum. The small cohort size also fosters a tight-knit community where professors know students' names and classmates notice absences. This intimacy was a key draw for many students, who say the support from the Career Management Center and the focus afforded by Athens' college-town environment have been crucial.

  • In 2026, Terry's disciplined approach to a smaller MBA program is looking like a strategic risk management move in a tougher recruiting landscape.

The players

Jason Matthews

Director of the full-time MBA and MSBA programs at Terry College of Business.

Jiwon Park

Leads the Career Management Center for the MBA and MSBA programs at Terry College of Business.

Calder LaBriola

MBA 2026 student who interned with JPMorgan Chase and is returning full-time.

Anthony 'Oge' Okolo

MBA 2026 student who interned with Ecolab after coming from startups.

Samuel Ogbonna

MBA 2026 student who interned with Bain & Company and will return full-time.

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What they’re saying

“We still have a similar number of companies visiting us. But their recruiting class size has shrunk.”

— Jiwon Park, Leads the Career Management Center for the MBA and MSBA programs (Poets&Quants)

“I don't think any other MBA program has as close a community as we do here in Terry. People form real bonds that feel like they'll be lifelong bonds.”

— Samuel Ogbonna, MBA 2026 student (Poets&Quants)

“You can't fight that force. It's inevitable.”

— Anthony 'Oge' Okolo, MBA 2026 student (Poets&Quants)

What’s next

The Terry College of Business will continue to monitor the evolving MBA recruiting landscape and make adjustments to its program as needed to ensure its graduates remain competitive.

The takeaway

By intentionally capping its full-time MBA program at 80-100 students and focusing on tightening advising, employer relationships, and student-alumni connections, the Terry College of Business is positioning its graduates for success in a tougher MBA recruiting environment marked by shrinking internships, more selective hiring, and the rise of AI-powered applications.