Maria Amaya ’26 has never been good at sitting still. After earning her bachelor’s degree from the University of Houston-Downtown in 2022, she pursued a SHRM-CP certification through a Rice University prep course, then an employment law certificate from Cornell University. By 2025, she was weighing her next move, and the answer was clear. “Something in me said: get the MBA,” she recalls. “I already had a strong HR foundation. What I needed now was the business side.”
In August 2025, Maria enrolled in the online MBA program at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi (TAMU-CC). As a senior HR manager, single mother, first-generation college graduate, and the sole provider for her household, she needed a program that could keep up with her life. It checked every box. She is on track to graduate in December 2026.
Before enrolling, Maria compared three programs side by side. Flexibility and practical focus were non-negotiable, but affordability sealed it. “Out of the three programs I compared, this one stood out not only for its flexibility but also for the tuition. That really propelled me to choose it,” she says. From the first inquiry call, which felt collaborative rather than high-pressure, to the ongoing accessibility of her advisor, the experience reinforced that she had made the right decision. “It felt comfortable from the start.”
Just four courses in, the degree is already paying dividends. The organizational behavior and HR for managers courses have translated directly into how Maria leads her team each day. “The organizational behavior course is my absolute favorite. It teaches you about people: how they behave, what brings them to work, and how to motivate them,” she says. The program has also changed how she thinks. “I’m thinking more strategically, communicating more like a leader, and grounding my decisions in data and long-term thinking.” In an environment where everyone around her already holds an MBA, she no longer feels like she’s catching up. “Being able to sit at that same table, with the same foundation and fluency they have, is going to be what gets me there.”
Managing the program alongside a demanding career and single parenthood has required real adjustment. Maria stepped back from her role as VP of her daughter’s school PCA organization and scaled back time with friends and family. But she’s careful about the language she uses to describe those trade-offs. “I like to say ‘compromise’ rather than ‘sacrifice,’ because I’m still present. I’m just managing my time differently.” The program’s 100% online, asynchronous format made that balance achievable. “I’ve been able to balance all of my priorities and still maintain stability in my life.”
The support has gone beyond academics. Student retention specialists check in regularly, asking not just about coursework but about overall well-being. “We have regular check-ins where someone reaches out every few weeks just to ask how we’re doing. Are you okay? Are you stressed? What’s going on and how can we help?” Maria says. “I feel the university does a great job of supporting students not just in their career path, but in their mental well-being too.”
The impact of Maria’s online MBA program extends into her community. In December 2025, she was asked to chair the university liaison committee for her local HR Houston chapter, leading her team in visiting universities to mentor students on networking, resume writing, and breaking into HR. “I genuinely feel that the MBA program has equipped me to lead that committee effectively,” she says. Having completed her bachelor’s just four years ago, she knows what it means to be on the other side of that conversation. “Seeing them light up when they talk to someone who’s actually been there and done it. That’s really special.”
For Maria, the MBA is also something bigger than a credential. As a first-generation college student paying entirely out of pocket, every completed course is an act of intentional legacy-building. “Setting new generational standards, leaving a legacy for your children, inspiring those around you. It really is a beautiful thing to push through.”
Her advice to anyone on the fence is grounded and practical: “Be intentional, stay consistent, and stay disciplined. Those three things will carry you to the end goal.” And to those who feel they have to do it all alone: “It’s okay to ask for help. There are people and resources ready to show up for you, and you should take full advantage of them.”
Build the Business Fluency to Lead at Every Level with an Online MBA from Texas A&M-Corpus Christi
Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi’s (TAMU-CC) online MBA program is designed for working professionals ready to move into leadership. The AACSB-accredited program, offered through the College of Business, can be completed in as few as 12 months through accelerated 7-week courses delivered 100% online. Students develop analytical, communication, and leadership skills through a curriculum built for real-world application, and can choose from several in-demand concentrations, including management, finance, business analytics, and others. Tuition is competitively priced and pay-by-the-course, with no GMAT required for qualifying applicants.
A University Built on Access, Excellence, and Opportunity
Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi (TAMU-CC) is a public research university accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC). Located on an island campus in Corpus Christi, Texas, the university serves a diverse student population across on-campus and online programs. Its College of Business holds AACSB accreditation in both business and accounting; a distinction earned by fewer than 2% of business schools worldwide. U.S. News & World Report has recognized Texas A&M-Corpus Christi among the Best Online MBA Programs and among the Top Performers on Social Mobility, and Value Colleges has ranked it among the Top 50 Best Value Accelerated Online MBA Programs.
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