Several schools are planning to launch MBA programs for the first time, including St. Mary's University of Minnesota, Augsburg College and Minnesota School of Business and Globe College.

In February, Argosy University/Twin Cities launched its new school of business, which offers an MBA degree.

And the for-profit University of Phoenix, which offers an online MBA degree, is seeking classroom space in the Twin Cities.

Combined, that's a major influx of new MBA programs, considering that only six Twin Cities schools offered such degrees in 2003.

The programs range in size and ambition, but are all part time. St. Mary's will start a program this fall with about 50 students. School officials want that number to grow to between 300 and 600 in seven years. They will start with an evening program, but aspire to develop a full-time day program within a few years.

Karen Gulliver, director of the St. Mary's MBA program, said it will have three tracks: a general manager's degree; a degree with a specialty area, such as marketing, that requires extra classes; and an executive track for students with extensive business experience.

Eagan-based Argosy's new school of business started offering classes in January toward an MBA and a Doctor of Business Administration. The Minnesota School of Business, which has several suburban campuses, is creating an MBA program that would offer classes in the fall, according to a company official. Both schools created the programs in response to growing demand from suburban students.

Augsburg College will start small and keep it small. "We're starting this fall as a response to the marketplace," said Robert Kramarczuk, new director of Augsburg's MBA program.

Many working adults are returning to school to receive graduate degrees in the hopes of advancing their careers. In the business arena, the demand is for the MBA credentials, Kramarczuk said.

Augsburg, which already offers a master's degree in leadership, will focus on a personalized approach starting with 20 to 25 students.