Napoleon Is Contemplating Four Institutions of Higher Learning as Options

question 81

Essay

Napoleon is contemplating four institutions of higher learning as options for a Masters in Business Administration. Each university has strong and weak points and the demand for MBA graduates is uncertain. The availability of jobs, student loans, and financial support will have a significant impact on Napoleon's ultimate decision. Vanderbilt and Seattle University have comparatively high tuition, which would necessitate Napoleon take out student loans resulting in possibly substantial student loan debt. In a tight market, degrees with that cachet might spell the difference between a hefty paycheck and a piddling unemployment check. Northeastern State University and Texas Tech University hold the advantage of comparatively low tuition but a more regional appeal in a tight job market. Napoleon gathers his advisory council of Kip and Pedro to assist with the decision. Together they forecast three possible scenarios for the job market and institutional success and predict annual cash flows associated with an MBA from each institution. All cash flows in the table are in thousands of dollars.
$$\begin{array} { | l | c | c | c | } \hline \text { School } & \text { Scenario 1 } & \text { Scenario 2 } & \text { Scenario 3 } \\\hline \text { Vanderbilt } & 95 & 20 & - 10 \\\hline \text { Texas Tech } & 55 & 60 & 60 \\\hline \text { Seattle } & 90 & 10 & 80 \\\hline \text { Northeastern State } & 65 & 50 & 60 \\\hline\end{array}$$
-Pedro is extremely pessimistic. Which decision making criterion would he naturally select and what conclusion would he recommend to Napoleon? Why?

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Definitions:

Classified Balance Sheet

A financial statement that groups a company's assets, liabilities, and equity into categories for detailed analysis.

Stockholders' Equity

Stockholders' Equity is the residual interest in the assets of a corporation after deducting its liabilities, representing the ownership interest of the shareholders.

Current Liabilities

Obligations or debts that a company needs to pay within one year.

Bond Carrying Value

The net amount at which a bond is reported on the balance sheet, calculated as the face value of the bond minus any unamortized discounts or plus any unamortized premiums.