The Laurel Business Institute was founded in 2021 by Laurell K. Smith, with the mission of providing high-quality business training to executives. It has been said to be the only institute of higher learning to focus on the core elements of business, marketing, entrepreneurship and management. It has branches in 14 states across the United States and was ranked highest amongst business colleges and universities in the recent edition of U.S. News and World Report’s Best Business Schools.
- The school offers various programs which are designed to train students to enter various fields. Some of the programs offered are: Associate of Arts – Concentration in Global Business; Bachelor of Arts – Concentration in African American Studies; Master of Arts – Concentration in Hispanic Business; and Master of Science – Concentration in International Business. Apart from these, the school also offers courses for other educational requirements. They have been able to gain international accreditation by the American School of Professional Psychology Association (ASPA). Many of the students are under this association which has helped in improving the reputation of this institution.
- Financial aid is provided by the school to eligible full-time as well as part-time students. In the case of full-time students, they receive assistance in their studies through the following financial aid options: Federal Student Aid, institutional loans, private student loans, and scholarships. There are a number of student loans available from the federal government which includes the Perkins, Direct Plus, Sallie Mae, GE FAFSA loans, Graduate PLUS, and GI bill aid programs. In the case of institutional loans, these include Stafford, Perkins, Direct Plus, Sallie Mae, GE CHAPS, and Federal PLUS. In the case of scholarships, the students who qualify are eligible for individual and family financial aid.
- The undergraduate certificate course at the Laurel business institute is designed with both practical and academics aspects in mind. To cater to the students, all types of degrees such as Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Arts, Master of Science, and Doctorate are available with different levels of courses. Also, the course curriculum includes modules that cover subjects like communication, human resources, management, marketing, statistics, decision making, managerial and organizational skills, and accounting skills. These subjects help to understand the professional aspects of business, management, and economics.
- For students who wish to pursue furthering their education, graduate and doctoral programs are available. Students interested in these programs can apply for admission at the Uniontown business institute. Like the undergraduate certificate program, graduate programs are either fully offered or partially offered depending upon the student preferences. Full-time students have a choice between the Master of Arts (M.A.) and the Doctor of Business Administration (D.B.A. ).
Although there are many academic and extracurricular activities on campus, the student body at the Laurel business institute consists mainly of white students. The racial-ethnic makeup of the student body is also diverse. This enabled the business institute to ensure that its programming and services cater to the needs of each and every student irrespective of his or her background, socioeconomic status, or race. Students enrolled in the institution are given ample assistance in case of any financial emergencies. Students are also given proper guidance in case of problems regarding academic performance, loan repayment, and even issues concerning civil unions.