The Best Undergraduate Business Schools 2021

EXCLUSIVE RANKINGS OF THE TOP 93 PROGRAMS Updated Profiles Of The Top 93 Programs Employment rates, total costs and acceptance rates Full methodology and data explained

THE BEST UNDERGRADUATE

Volume 04 Issue 01 March 2021

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THE BEST UNDERGRADUATE BUSINESS SCHOOLS 2021 Edition

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C-Change Media, Inc. C-Change Media, Inc. Petaluma, CA 94952 E-mail: heather@poetsandquants.com © 2021 C-Change Media, Inc. All rankings, ratings, and listings are intellectual property of C-Change Media, Inc. No rankings, ratings, listings, or other proprietary information in this book may be repurposed, abridged, excerpted, combined with other data, or altered for reproduction in any way without express permission of C-Change Media, Inc.

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Editorial John A. Byrne, Editor-In-Chief Nathan Allen, Rankings Editor Marc Ethier, Managing Editor Greg Yang, Contributing Writer

Operations Team Tori Leonhardt, Visual Designer Heather Soderquist, Chief Operating Officer Sat Sharma, Chief Revenue Officer Jason DePoy, Vice President of Sales Georgina Hannah, Ad Operations Manager Dia Gutierrez, Ad Operations Associate Hannah Hermansen, Client Success Coordinator

Letter From The Editor Greetings, Welcome to the print guide for our fifth annual Best Undergraduate Business School rankings of 2021. In this guide, you’ll find our full rankings, individual profiles for the 93 ranked schools, and the full methodology, which explains how we gathered the data used to create the ranking.

No ranking of universities or business schools is perfect. Be very skeptical of any ranking that claims it is. So while we don’t pretend to have the perfect methodology for measuring the undergraduate business school experience, we do create and gather this ranking with the sole purpose to produce a thoughtful, meaningful evaluation of the top business schools in the country in a way that makes sense for our reader.

Now, perhaps more than ever, an informed decision is crucial when picking a college. Student loan debt has been an issue for years. And now, future college students and their families are dealing with a global pandemic that has moved many campuses to online only and has disrupted a previously stable job market.

That’s why we strongly recommend going beyond the actual ranking and digging into the school profiles and data. Use this guide as a starting point. Read our main rankings article at the beginning to learn how these rankings were created and what to pay specific attention to. Then check out the profiles to learn what makes each school different. And then go to our website — www. poetsandquantsforundergrads.com — for more in-depth features and data-focused articles about these programs.

Rankings should be a brief intro to the college search.

Once you’ve picked a group of schools, do your homework. Reach out to professors, current students, and recently alumni. Learn what makes each school unique and what its strengths and weaknesses are and consider fit with your personality and what you want to do early in your life and career.

This is an exciting time to study business. Technology, big data, and pressing issues like climate change, pandemics, and social and racials injustices and inequalities are all a part of business.

Increasingly, business does not exist in a silo. Corporations have a role and impact to play. And future leaders are being trained to consider those issues while successfully contributing to businesses.

You’ve made a smart decision by picking up this guide. Good luck to you as you embark on this exciting chapter in your life. If I can ever be of assistance or answer any questions, don’t hesitate to reach out.

Nathan Allen Poets&Quants Rankings Editor Poets&Quants

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Contents UP FRONT Wharton Tops Poets&Quants’ Best Undergraduate Business School Rankings For the fourth straight year, Wharton finishes atop our data-focused ranking........................................9 2021 P&Q Rankings: How We Crunched The Numbers A complete look at our methodology................................................................................................................................17

THE TOP UNDERGRADUATE BUSINESS SCHOOLS #1 University of Pennsylvania The Wharton School..........................................................................................19 #2 University of Virginia McIntire School of Commerce................................................................................... 21 #3 New York University Stern School of Business.............................................................................................. 23 #4 University of Michigan Ross School of Business.........................................................................................25 #5 Georgetown University McDonough School of Business.........................................................................27 #6 University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Kenan-Flagler Business School..............................29 #7 University of Notre Dame Mendoza College of Business..........................................................................31 #8 Carnegie Mellon University Tepper School of Business...........................................................................33 #9 Cornell University Charles H. Dyson School of Applied Economics & Management.................... 35 #10 Georgia Institute of Technology Scheller College of Business..........................................................37 #11 University of Texas At Austin McCombs School of Business................................................................ 39 #12 Washington University at St. Louis Olin Business School...................................................................41 #13 Villanova University School of Business.......................................................................................................... 43 #13 Wake Forest University School of Business..................................................................................................45 #14 University of Minnesota Carlson School of Management.......................................................................47 #15 The College of William & Mary Raymond A. Mason School of Business..........................................49 #16 Emory University Goizueta Business School..................................................................................................51 #17 University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Gies College of Business.........................................53 #18 Northeastern University D’Amore-McKim School of Business.............................................................55 #19 Indiana University Kelley School of Business...............................................................................................57 #20 Worcester Polytechnic Institute Foisie Business School....................................................................59 #21 University of Wisconsin at Madison School of Business.....................................................................61 #22 University of Washington Foster School of Business............................................................................63 #23 University of Richmond Robins School of Business................................................................................65

contents #24 Lehigh University College of Business and Economics...........................................................................67 #25 Fordham University Gabelli School of Business.........................................................................................69 #26 Southern Methodist University Cox School of Business.....................................................................71 #27 Boston University Questrom School of Business.......................................................................................73 #28 Binghamton University School of Management........................................................................................ 75 #29 University of Georgia Terry College of Business.......................................................................................77 #30 University of Pittsburgh College of Business Administration............................................................ 79 #31 Brigham Young University Marriott School of Business........................................................................81 #32 Hult International Business School..................................................................................................................83 #33 University of Houston C.T. Bauer College of Business............................................................................85 #34 University of Massachusetts at Amherst Isenberg School of Management...........................87 #35 Bucknell University Freeman College of Management...........................................................................89 #36 University of Miami School of Business Administration........................................................................ 91 #38 Texas Christian University Neeley School of Business.........................................................................93 #39 Miami University Richard T. Farmer School of Business........................................................................ 95 #40 Michigan State University Eli Broad College of Business....................................................................97 #41 Rutgers Business School at New Brunswick.......................................................................................... 99 #42 Purdue University Krannert School of Management................................................................................101 #43 University of San Diego School of Business................................................................................................103 #44 Tulane University A.B. Freeman School of Business................................................................................ 105 #45 Elon University Love School of Business....................................................................................................... 107 #46 Marian University Byrum School of Business..............................................................................................109 #47 Providence College School of Business........................................................................................................... 111 #48 Syracuse University Martin J. Whitman School of Management........................................................113 #49 University of Arizona Eller College of Management................................................................................. 115 #50 University of Denver Daniels College of Business....................................................................................117 #51 Drexel University LeBow College of Business...............................................................................................119 #52 Florida Southern College School of Business............................................................................................. 121 #53 University of Delaware Lerner College of Business & Economics................................................... 123 #54 St. John’s University Peter J. Tobin College of Business........................................................................125 #55 University of New Hampshire Peter T. Paul College of Business & Economics.......................127 #56 Lipscomb University College of Business.....................................................................................................129 #57 University of South Carolina Darla Moore School of Business..........................................................131 #58 Rochester Institute of Technology Saunders College of Business...............................................133 #59 American University Kogod School of Business.........................................................................................135 #60 University of Oklahoma Michael F. Price College of Business............................................................137 #61 The College of New Jersey School of Business...........................................................................................139 #62 Seattle University Albers School of Business & Economics.................................................................141 #63 Christopher Newport University Luter School of Business...............................................................143 #64 University of Tennessee at Knoxville Haslam College of Business..............................................145 #65 University of Evansville Schroeder School of Business....................................................................... 147 THE BEST UNDERGRADUATE BUSINESS SCHOOLS

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#66 University of Utah David Eccles School of Business...........................................................................149 #67 University of Michigan at Dearborn School of Business................................................................151 #68 Bowling Green State University College of Business.......................................................................153 #69 Duquesne University Palumbo Donahue School of Business.........................................................155 #70 University of the Pacific Eberhardt School of Business...................................................................157 #71 The University of Texas at Dallas Naveen Jindal School of Management................................159 #72 St. Louis University Richard A. Chaifetz School of Business............................................................161 #73 Texas Tech University Rawls College of Business................................................................................163 #74 Ohio University College of Business..............................................................................................................165 #75 Rutgers Business School at Newark........................................................................................................ 167 #76 University of Akron College of Business Administration................................................................... 169 #77 Northern Illinois University College of Business................................................................................. 171 #78 Sacred Heart University Jack Welch College of Business................................................................ 173 #79 Hofstra University Zarb School of Business............................................................................................ 175 #80 Ohio State University Fisher College of Business................................................................................177 #81 University of Kentucky Gatton College of Business & Economics...............................................179 #82 University of North Carolina at Wilmington Cameron School of Business.........................181 #83 Oregon State University College of Business.........................................................................................183 #84 North Carolina State University Poole College of Management..................................................185 #85 George Washington University School of Business..........................................................................187 #86 Florida International University College of Business......................................................................189 #87 Santa Clara University Leavey School of Business..............................................................................191 #88 University of St. Thomas Opus College of Business...........................................................................193 #89 Iowa State University Ivy College of Business...................................................................................... 195 #90 Auburn University Harbert College of Business.................................................................................... 197 #91 University of Texas at Arlington College of Business....................................................................... 199 #92 University of New Mexico Anderson School of Management........................................................ 201 #93 Ithaca College School of Business.................................................................................................................203

THE BEST UNDERGRADUATE BUSINESS SCHOOLS

National University #88 among the nation’s most prestigious comprehensive universities #1

Elon University is the only university recognized for excellence in all eight high-impact learning experiences:

Study Abroad #1 Learning Communities #2 Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching #2 First Year Experiences #2 Senior Capstone #2 Service Learning #7 Internships #10 Undergraduate Research/Creative Projects

98%

of 2019 Elon business grads seeking a job were employed within nine months of graduation.

To learn more, visit

Academic programs included: Accounting, Business, Finance, Financial Management, Management and Marketing

Wharton Tops Poets&Quants’ Best Undergraduate Business School Rankings FOR THE FOURTH-STRAIGHT YEAR, WHARTON FINISHES ATOP OUR DATAFOCUSED RANKING

BY NATHAN ALLEN

W

hat makes for a truly magical college experience?

Some say it’s not unlike a perfect meal. You find the best ingredients, pour passion into the preparation and cooking of them, and then you plate all of your work in a way that makes the dish incredibly inviting.

That formula pretty much sums up what the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School does year after year in its undergraduate business program. It recruits and enrolls the best students on the market, delivers a worldclass academic experience that transforms those young minds, and then puts into the market smart, highly desirable graduates that are eagerly scooped up by many of the world’s prestigious employers.

WHARTON TOPS ALL SCHOOLS FOR ADMISSION STANDARDS & EMPLOYMENT OUTCOMES And that is why Wharton has once again topped Poets&Quants’ 2021 ranking of the best undergraduate business experiences for the fourth straight year.

Wharton claimed first honors by acing two of those three essential elements of excellence: admission standards and employment outcomes and placing seventh in academic experience.

Of course, Wharton which annually enrolls just under 400 undergraduates wasn’t the only business school to get the recipe for excellence right. Rounding out the top five are the University of No. 2 Virginia’s McIntire School of Commerce, No. 3 New York University’s Stern School of Business, No. 4 University of Michigan’s Ross School of Business, and No. 5 Georgetown University’s McDonough School of Business.

Not far behind are UNC at Chapel Hill’s No. 6 KenanFlagler Business School, the No. 7 University of Notre Dame’s Mendoza College of Business, No. 8 Carnegie Mellon’s Tepper School of Business, No. 9 Cornell University’s Dyson School, and a newcomer to the top ten, Georgia Institute of Technology’s Scheller College of Business.

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DELIVERING A LEARNING EXPERIENCE THAT TRANSFORMS STUDENTS These ten undergraduate business programs lead an exceptional group of some 93 schools ranked by Poets&Quants this year. All of them are at the leading edge of business education, delivering a learning experience that transforms students’ sense of who they are and what they can do in the world. In fact, the ranked schools in this report reflect the top 12% of the more than 840 business schools accredited by AACSB International, the main accrediting body for business education.

This year, Wharton boasted the stingiest acceptance rate of all ranked schools at 7.6%, making the school’s undergraduate program harder to get into than Harvard Business School’s MBA. Even so, Wharton’s admit rate is a percentage point higher than the 6.7% reported for students entering in 2019. The newest incoming class boasts an average SAT score of 1,504 out of a possible 1,600, putting the class in the top 2% of the world’s test-takers. An impressive 90% of the graduating Class of 2018, moreover, acknowledged that they finished in the top-10% of their high school class, according to our survey of the school’s latest graduates.

While Wharton’s admissions standards are certainly rigorous, the career outcomes reported by the school continue to be incredibly strong despite the coronavirus pandemic. Some 98.0% of the Class of 2020 had businessspecific internships before graduation, and 97.9% of 2020 graduates seeking employment secured full-time positions within three months of graduation — a slight uptick from 97.7% reported by the year-earlier class in 2019.

“Our students are loved by recruiters,” says Diana Robertson, a Wharton vice dean who runs the undergraduate program. “They hit the ground running and they have all the technical skills but we are also told that they also have these softer communication skills.”

And while some 50% of Wharton undergrads land jobs in finance, a typical graduating class goes into 35 different

job functions in 18 industries with eye-popping starting salaries that average more than $86,000 a year.

In fact, average salaries to start hit a new record last year: $86,217, not accounting for the $11,585 average sign-on bonuses received by 82.6% of the graduates. Put it all together and Wharton undergrads, in the middle of a pandemic-caused economic collapse, walked off with total compensation of $95,786 to begin their new jobs. No wonder so many parents are nudging their children to major in business.

VIRGINIA MCINTIRE, NEW YORK STERN FOLLOW WHARTON The graduates of many other business schools are doing just fine, too, thank you. Consider Virginia’s McIntire School of Commerce which moved into second place, ahead of last year’s number two school, Michigan Ross.

One of the few remaining two-year programs, McIntire has placed either second or third for the past four years.

McIntire was the only other winner of an individual category, taking first in academic experience, which is based solely on our student satisfaction survey of recent alumni. The school placed highly in our other two core metrics, earning third in admissions standards and sixth in employment outcomes. With an admit rate of just 13.4%, McIntire students overcame some of the toughest admissions standards in the world. Those entering the school last fall had an average SAT of 1,429. Of those seeking employment, 92.5% of the Class of 2020 secured full-time positions within three months of graduating.

Those graduates reported record-setting average starting salaries of $81,930, second only to Wharton.

Ranking third this year, NYU Stern has consistently moved up our rankings over the past few years, placing sixth in 2019 and fourth last year. NYU finished eighth in admissions standards, fifth in academic experience, and third in employment outcomes. Like other schools towards the top of this year’s rankings, Stern had tough admissions standards, admitting just 12.7% of applicants.

Students in the latest fall cohort posted the second-highest average SAT scores at 1,507. Of course, the school also boasted some frothy career outcomes with 96.3% of the Class of 2020 having at least one business-specific internship before graduation and 95.2% with full-time employment within three months of commencement.

Average starting salaries hit $80,064, making Stern grads one of just four schools to report annual paychecks of at least $80,000 along with Wharton, Virginia McIntire, and Carnegie Mellon’s Tepper School of Business.

GEORGIA TECH SCHELLER BREAKS INTO TOP-10 FOR FIRST TIME EVER

Michigan’s Ross School of Business slipped two spots to finish fourth this year, a position it claimed in 2019.

Ross maintained its highly selective admissions standards and a stellar record in career outcomes, placing fourth in both of those categories, but fell to 14th in academic experience. Following Ross is Georgetown’s McDonough School which is in fifth place for the second straight year.

For the first time, all top five schools remained in the top five for two consecutive years, even if the second, third, and fourth schools were jumbled a bit compared to last year.

The only school to slip out of the top ten this year is Washington University’s Olin Business School in St. Louis. Olin, whose superb undergraduate program landed it at the top of our debut ranking, is the only other school other than Wharton to place first. But in the past few years, the school has slid from third in 2019 to seventh last year to 12th this year. While WashU remained in the top-10 in both admissions standards and employment outcomes, it plunged to 52nd place in academic experience this year.

The Top 10 newcomer, Georgia Tech’s Scheller College of Business has been slowly climbing the rankings, moving from 18th in 2019 to 14th last year and finally to 10th for 2021. Georgia Tech made up most of that ground by getting higher and higher accolades from its students.

Scheller placed 12th in admit standards, 16th in career outcomes but earned the fourth-highest scores from recent graduates for the quality of its academic experience. That was enough to lift the school into the Top 10 for the first time ever in our ranking.

Two other schools also moved steadily up the ranks: UNC’s Kenan-Flagler and Carnegie Mellon’s Tepper School. Kenan-Flagler has risen from 14th in 2019 to ninth last year and sixth for 2021. The school’s best finish ever was buoyed by placing fifth in the academics. Carnegie Mellon, meantime, has gone from 22nd to 10th to eighth this year. And while Kenan-Flagler was anchored by a strong showing in academics, Tepper came in second in admissions standards and seventh in employment outcomes.

SOME STRONG EMPLOYMENT OUTCOMES DESPITE PANDEMIC More than a ranking, this project results in the largest trove of undergraduate business education-specific data available anywhere. In the forthcoming days, we’ll be publishing all the underlying data upon which the ranking is based. Readers are encouraged to parse those supporting metrics to gain a better understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of the schools ranked this year.

It’s one way to discover some of the hidden gems on the THE BEST UNDERGRADUATE BUSINESS SCHOOLS

9

list. An example: Only three schools reported that 100% of the students in the Class of 2020 had at least one businessspecific internship before graduation. Those were Marian University in Indianapolis, the Rochester Institute of Technology, and Syracuse University.

This year, three schools had an employment rate of at least 98%. Hult International Business School led the way with 98.5% of 2020 graduates seeking employment accepting full-time jobs within three months of graduation. The University of Minnesota’s Carlson School of Management and UNC Kenan-Flagler followed with 98.1% and 98.0% finding jobs, respectively.

Despite the global pandemic’s toll on the economy, business students were still able to land jobs at a high rate. Of course, it’s likely many 2020 graduates already had their employment locked-in before the COVID really wreaked havoc. This spring’s graduating class will likely be a better indicator of how the pandemic is impacting the market’s valuation of the business degree. This year saw a record four schools with average starting salaries above $80,000. Another dozen schools placed their graduates into positions where the average starting salaries were at least $70,000 a year.

1,507, Wharton had 1,504, and Notre Dame’s Mendoza College reported an average of 1,500 for students entering last fall. Schools recruiting the highest percentage of top 10% high school grads were the Worcester Polytechnic Institute’s Foisie School, with 100%. Carnegie Mellon and Georgetown followed with 95.5% and 90.9%, respectively.

Unlike other rankings, including U.S. News, which uses university-wide data, all of the metrics collected by Poets&Quants is business-school specific, making it far more valuable to applicants and their parents.

In measuring the quality of a student’s academic experience, questions range from how likely the alums would be to recommend their business schools to close friends and family to how accessible faculty and alumni were to students. how helpful advising and career services staff were. Alumni also were asked to rate their satisfaction with career services and advising and if they were able to land not just any job, but the job, industry, and company they targeted for employment. Schools must meet a minimum 10% alumni response rate to have their alumni scores count towards the final ranking. This year, some 6,183 alumni responded to the survey sent to 52,662, for an overall response rate of 11.7%.

SAME METHODOLOGY BALANCED ACROSS THREE CATEGORIES

ALUMNI SURVEY REVEALS WHERE CERTAIN SCHOOLS EXCEL

This year, as in the four previous years, a school’s ranking is based on a balanced methodology that gives equal weight to three primary criteria: admissions standards, the academic and co-curricular experience as measured by student satisfaction, and employment outcomes. All of the data used to calculate the rankings is self-reported by the schools or from alumni through extensive surveys. Every February and March, participating schools are invited to comment and make suggestions for improvements in a ranking that was originally created in collaboration with several leading business schools. Those proposals are then carefully considered before any updates are made. Recent graduates of the programs are surveyed for their opinions between June and November.

Schools have a chance to earn 100 points in each category. A weighted scale is used to award schools points based on how they compare with each other. In the admissions category, for example, the acceptance rate is given a 30% weight, the average SAT gets a 35% weight, and the percentage of students from the Class of 2018 who were in the top-10% of their high school class is also given a 35% weight.

Some 15 schools had acceptance rates lower than 20% last fall. For average SAT scores, WashU Olin had the highest average SAT score at 1,510. NYU Stern averaged

The highest weighted data point of the entire ranking’s methodology, given a weight of 80% within the Academic Experience category, is the average of the 16 alumni questions on a one-to-10 scale. This year the Class of 2018 alumni from Georgia Tech’s Scheller College gave their experience the highest overall approval, averaging 9.35 out of a possible 10.0. Following Georgia Tech was Virginia’s McIntire School (9.28) and Wharton (also 9.28).

Rounding out the top five were Southern Methodist Cox (9.20) and Indiana Kelley (9.19).

Once again, our surveys showed that business education alumni are very satisfied with their undergraduate experiences. The first question we ask alumni is how likely they are to recommend their undergraduate business program to a close friend or colleague. Alumni at Virginia McIntire had the highest score at 9.79, followed by Wharton (9.70) and Indiana Kelley (9.69). We also ask the alumni to evaluate how well their individual schools prepared them for the world of work. Virginia McIntire and Wharton tied for the highest score at 9.57. Once again, Indiana Kelley followed in third with 9.47. Alumni are also asked to evaluate if their degrees were worth their cost in tuition and time and resources. For tuition, Brigham Young’s Marriott School earned the highest marks at 9.70. BYU was followed by Georgia Tech (9.59) and the University of Texas-Austin

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McCombs School (9.28). For time and resources, Wharton, Virginia McIntire, and Georgia Tech topped the list, respectively, scoring 9.77, 9.61, and 9.51. For the results of all 16 questions, see the Report Card.

In assessing student satisfaction with a program’s academics, we also asked alumni if they had a “signature experience” or an international immersion through the business school. NYU’s Stern School was awarded the highest marks, with an average of 86.3% of graduates answering in the affirmative. Minnesota’s Carlson School followed with 84.3% and Hult International Business School rounded out the top-three with 79.0%. Lastly, we asked alumni if their first jobs after graduation were at a desired company and industry. Leading the way was Bucknell where an average of 96.2% of the Class of 2018 reported their first jobs being in a desired industry, desired company, or both. Rounding out the top three were Georgia Tech (91.8%) and Cornell Dyson (91.7%).

BUSINESS REMAINS MOST POPULAR MAJOR Business continues to be the most popular major, according to National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) data. The most recent data available from NCES shows nearly 400,000 undergraduate business degrees were awarded in the 2017-2018 academic year — much higher than the next most popular category, health professions and related programs, which was just under 250,000 degrees awarded. No doubt, schools must continue to innovate and improve to stay competitive not just among themselves but also with students increasingly interested in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics degrees.

Innovating in curricular and extra-curricular offerings is one way in which schools stay competitive. This spring, Wharton will graduate its first class to go through a revamped curriculum. Fundamental to Wharton’s new program is a series of courses called the Leadership Journey. It starts in freshmen year with Business & You which invites students to be introspective about their values and direction. “What we are trying to do is develop effective, ethical leaders who are making responsible decisions for business and society,” says Vice Dean Robertson. “It starts in their first year when students take Wharton 101 which is where students think about their values and their goals.”

In year two, students take an intimate business communication course in classes that number fewer than ten students. During junior year, Wharton dives deep into teamwork and collaboration. In the final year, students are thrown into an integrative capstone to apply the knowledge they’ve learned throughout the program.

Wharton’s vast faculty keeps the school on top of

the latest business trends. There’s a new course for undergrads on artificial intelligence along with a new data science finance. The school’s business analytics concentration, one of 20 options, has become one of the most popular at the school.

Robertson says the new curriculum was “designed to increase flexibility for students to explore and pursue areas of individual interest, double leadership content, and increase emphasis on innovation and technology, ethics and social values, and the global economy.” Part of the focus includes the development of leadership skills, self-awareness, business communication, and team performance, she says.

When we asked alumni to elaborate on their signature experiences, the senior capstone at Wharton which takes place over three days clearly resonated as one of the most popular aspects of the program. “There were about 80 students participating, divided into eight teams, each representing a company,” one 2018 alum told us in the alumni survey. In addition to negotiating and forming alliances with other companies, the simulation included interaction with simulated governments, as well as environmental impacts. We also had alumni present who constituted the board of directors for each company and served as advisors after a presentation made to them, as well as a leadership facilitator who sat in all the team discussions and helped us reflect on the experience and our communication and teamwork skills at the end of the program. It was quite superbly executed.”

VIRGINIA MCINTIRE’S CLASSIC ‘ICE’ CURRICULUM STILL A HIT AMONG ALUMNI While Wharton is touting its new programming, Virginia’s McIntire School boasts a classic curriculum that remains highly popular. The Integrated Core Experience (ICE) is always one of the most popular aspects of the program singled out by alums. ICE goes beyond the classroom curriculum and places students with companies to solve real problems they are facing. “The ICE program at UVA is unparalleled,” one 2018 alumni told us. “It is challenging, but immediately immerses you into the world of business in a way that allows you to apply macroeconomic trends to immediate business needs. It is essential for the success of McIntire graduates.”

Said another: “McIntire’s ICE curriculum includes a semester-long project in which you work with a sponsor company — think large corporations such as Hilton and Altria — that helped us apply what we had learned in the classroom to a real-life problem and get feedback from both professionals and faculty.”

A BRIEF LOOK AT THE NEWEST TOP-10 SCHOOL THE BEST UNDERGRADUATE BUSINESS SCHOOLS

11

Georgia Tech’s undergraduate program allows students to complete all degree requirements, one semester abroad, and two internship semesters in four years. Additionally, like Wharton, students are admitted directly to Scheller in their first year so they can kick-start their business education immediately. “Our undergraduate students benefit from an innovation and technology focus in the classroom that translates to robust and stellar careers,” Craig Womack, the director of undergraduate programs at Scheller told us. “We excel at weaving technology into all aspects of the business classroom.”

One of the cornerstone offerings and unique experiences at Scheller is the Denning Technology & Management (T&M) Program. Through it, students can earn a 22-credithour minor with tracks in such areas as Computing & Business, Engineering & Business, and Technology & Business. T&M students study managing emerging technologies and new product and services development.

The program is topped off with an integrated capstone project course, where they work in teams to focus on a specific problem posed by one of the program’s Corporate Affiliates.

“This project allowed me to connect to my first employer, who then connected me to my current job,” one 2018 alumni told us. “I worked in a cross-functional team to research and develop an innovative solution to an actual problem at the company chosen for my capstone project.”

RANKINGS AND KEY DATA ON THE FOLLOWING PAGES No ranking that measures puts numerical rankings on business schools is perfect, of course. We’ve created this ranking as a starting point for those interested in pursuing business education. Be sure to take the time to read the individual school profiles and data-driven stories that are based on our proprietary metrics. Take a look at the previous three rankings as well and look at how schools have changed over time. A college decision is an increasingly important one. It’s one of the biggest investments of a person’s life and should not be taken lightly. So take a look at the full rankings on the next page and some key data points that helped create it. Consult our ranking as a launching point for a process that should be intentional, well-researched, and thoughtful.

POETSANDQUANTSFORUNDERGRADS.COM

P&Q Rank

School

Final Score

Admissions Academic Employment Standards Expierence Outcomes Rank Rank Rank

1

UPenn (Wharton)

100.00

1

7

1

2

Virginia (McIntire)

97.58

3

1

6

3 4

New York University (Stern) Michigan (Ross)

96.23 95.87

8 4

5 14

3 4

5

Georgetown (McDonough)

95.73

6

15

2

6

UNC Chapel Hill (Kenan-Flagler)

94.84

7

17

5

7 8 9

Notre Dame (Mendoza) Carnegie Mellon (Tepper) Cornell (Charles H. Dyson)

94.80 94.61 94.23

5 2 9

11 54 18

11 7 8

10

Georgia Tech (Scheller)

93.44

12

4

16

11

UT Austin (McCombs)

92.14

11

8

29

12

Wash U St. Louis (Olin)

91.94

10

52

9

13

Wake Forest

91.81

14

10

13

13

Villanova University

90.79

16

12

17

14

Minnesota (Carlson)

89.61

17

20

22

15

William & Mary (Raymond A. Mason) 89.59

18

46

10

16

Emory (Goizueta)

89.20

14

31

24

17

Illinois (Gies)

88.85

25

6

18

18

Northeastern (D’Amore McKim)

88.82

18

28

12

19

Indiana (Kelley)

88.41

27

3

20

20

WPI (Foisie)

88.21

13

35

31

21

Wisconsin (Madison)

87.93

15

19

35

22

Washington (Foster)

87.10

22

56

15

23

Richmond (Robins)

86.50

26

40

14

24

Lehigh University

84.65

34

26

19

25

Fordham (Gabelli)

84.25

39

23

21

26

Southern Methodist (Cox)

83.18

44

13

27

27

Boston (Questrom)

83.14

22

29

59

28

Binghamtom University

82.94

20

51

57

29

University of Georgia (Terry)

82.74

30

37

34

30

University of Pittsburgh

82.31

32

39

33

31

Brigham Young (Marriott)

82.02

35

27

37

32

Hult International

81.95

41

16

46

33

University of Houston (C.T. Bauer)

81.90

28

45

48

34

UMass Amherst (Isenberg)

81.52

31

33

42

THE BEST UNDERGRADUATE BUSINESS SCHOOLS

13

P&Q Rank

School

Final Score

Admissions Academic Employment Standards Expierence Outcomes Rank Rank Rank

35

Bucknell University (Freeman)

81.51

29

2

71

36

University of Miami (Herbert)

81.48

23

74

45

38

Texas Christian (Neeley)

79.89

42

9

67

39

Miami University (Farmer)

79.56

62

22

28

40

Michigan State (Eli Broad)

78.75

55

43

32

41 42 43

Rutgers at New Brunswick Purdue (Krannert) University of San Diego

78.57 78.48 78.28

38 56 49

66 62 48

53 25 40

44

Tulane (A.B. Freeman)

78.25

24

58

77

45

Elon University (Love)

78.05

70

21

30

46

Marian University (Byrum)

77.99

66

44

23

47

Providence College

77.98

54

47

36

48

Syracuse (Martin J. Whitman)

77.02

48

65

41

49

University of Arizona (Eller)

76.87

63

41

38

50

University of Denver (Daniels)

76.86

50

49

55

51

Drexel University (LeBow)

76.07

58

61

43

52

Florida Southern

75.91

47

69

50

53

University of Delaware (Lerner)

74.76

52

72

54

54

St. John’s (Peter J. Tobin)

74.62

45

68

61

55

New Hampshire (Peter T. Paul)

74.16

84

34

49

56

Lipscomb University

74.16

64

63

56

57

South Carolina (Darla Moore)

74.11

60

64

58

58

RIT Saunders

74.02

71

80

26

59

American University (Kogod)

73.97

40

79

69

60

Oklahoma (Michael F. Price)

73.97

61

71

52

61

The College of New Jersey

73.57

51

67

68

62

Seattle University (Albers)

73.36

80

59

51

63

Christopher Newport (Luter)

73.13

89

36

39

64

Tennessee at Knoxville (Haslam)

72.65

76

38

65

65

Evansville (Schroeder)

72.52

68

78

65

66

University of Utah (Eccles)

72.10

65

70

62

67

Michigan (Dearborn)

71.92

59

73

66

68

Bowling Green (Schmidthorst)

71.54

82

24

72

69

Duquesne (Palumbo)

70.70

72

25

79

70

U of the Pacific (Eberhardt)

70.64

67

60

74

POETSANDQUANTSFORUNDERGRADS.COM

P&Q Rank

School

Final Score

Admissions Academic Employment Standards Expierence Outcomes Rank Rank Rank

71

UT Dallas (Jindal)

70.55

57

57

82

72

St. Louis University (Chaifetz)

69.98

79

75

60

73 74

Texas Tech (Rawls) Ohio University

69.74 68.58

78 91

50 32

76 70

75

Rutgers at Newark

68.46

88

77

63

76

University of Akron

67.92

87

81

64

77 78 79

Northern Illinois University Sacred Heart (Jack Welch) Hofstra University (Zarb)

65.93 65.56 65.51

81 86 85

30 76 83

87 83 73

80

Ohio State University (Fisher)

65.26

36

85

44

81

University of Kentucky (Gatton)

64.97

73

82

85

82

NC at Wilmongton (Cameron)

64.02

69

53

88

83

Oregon State University

61.40

90

84

81

84

NC State (Poole)

59.74

43

89

74

85

George Washington

59.54

37

88

80

86

Florida International University

56.08

46

90

84

87

Santa Clara (Leavey)

53.99

33

42

93

88

University of St. Thomas (Opus)

53.31

77

55

91

89

Iowa State (Ivy)

51.23

83

87

86

90

Auburn University (Harbert)

48.57

75

86

89

91

UT Arlington

48.51

93

91

78

92

U of New Mexico (Anderson)

43.82

53

92

90

93

Ithaca College

31.90

92

93

92

THE BEST UNDERGRADUATE BUSINESS SCHOOLS

15

2021 P&Q Rankings: How We Crunched The Numbers A LOOK INTO OUR FULL METHODOLOGY

BY NATHAN ALLEN

T

here’s no way around it. Rankings can be a controversial thing. And to be sure, there’s no perfect way of measuring the quality of a business school.

Business schools are very complicated. While many share some commonalities, the truth is, many of the schools ranked in our fifth annual Poets&Quants’ Best Undergraduate Business Schools are very different.

Still, we believe generally, the quality of business education comes down to three core issues: the quality of the raw talent coming through the door, what a school does with that talent over four years, and finally how the marketplace responds to the graduates coming off-campus. In other words, what’s the quality of the incoming students, what is their view of the academic experience, and what career outcomes are achieved by the graduating class.

And that is exactly the approach we take in what we sincerely believe is the best ranking of undergraduate programs currently available. This year, we ranked 93 different business schools in the U.S., which is down from 97 schools ranked last year. But it’s still our second-largest ranking in the five-year history of the rankings.

In the world of undergraduate business education, there is only one other ranking that matters: U.S. News & World Report. The U.S. News list, however, is merely a subset of data from its overall university rankings.

Largely a popularity contest, it is solely based on a poll of deans and senior faculty members, most of whom have little to no knowledge of the programs at rival schools.

Asking deans to rate other schools is less a measure of a school’s reputation than it is a collection of prejudices partly based on the self-fulfilling prophecy of U.S. News’ own rankings.

SEVERAL DEANS ASKED US TO CREATE THE RANKING Like other years, in creating our 2021 ranking of undergraduate business schools, we invested considerable time and effort into putting together a well-balanced POETSANDQUANTSFORUNDERGRADS.COM

approach that was both fair and thorough. We equally weigh admission standards, the full academic experience, and employment outcomes from data that is specific to each business program — not the overall university to which it is attached. That is an important distinction because gathering such information as average SAT scores and starting salaries and bonuses, among other things, is not readily available anywhere else. Admission standards, an assessment of the academic experience, and employment outcomes of a business program are critical factors of the quality of the educational experience. Excluding any one of them would result in a disingenuous effort to rank the very best schools.

Like last year, we included all schools that submitted school surveys. In previous year’s we’ve not included schools that failed to meet a minimum 10% alumni response rate. Of the 93 schools ranked this year, 84 met the minimum 10% response rate, which is one more than last year and our highest ever. This year, because of the Coronavirus pandemic, we included scores of schools that did not meet the minimum alumni response rate, but cut those schools’ scores in half. As a result, those nine schools finished lower in the rankings.

Overall, Of the 93 schools, 52,662 alums had the opportunity to provide responses to the survey about the academic and co-curricular experience of their higher education. Of those, 6,183 responded for an overall response rate of 11.74%.

ADMISSIONS STANDARDS (33.3%) A vital factor in judging any higher education effort is the quality of the incoming students. After all, a tremendous amount of learning — both academic and social — occurs as a result of the quality of your classmates. We agree with that old cliche about playing a sport with people who are equal or better than you. If you play with someone you can always beat, you’ll never reach a level of personal excellence.

We relied on three metrics to measure admissions: The

average SAT scores for the latest entering class, given a 35% weight in the admissions category; the percentage of the graduating class of 2018 who finished in the top 10% of their high school class, accounting for another 35% of the category; and finally the acceptance rate for the business school program, weighted at 30%.

In several instances, prospective students must pass two hurdles to get into a business school program: First, the university admissions standards and then the business school’s own admissions criteria. We used both acceptance rates to calculate the actual odds of admission for students entering a two-year business program in their junior year. This data was gathered through a survey that was completed by all 93 schools.

ACADEMIC EXPERIENCE (33.3%) No study of undergraduate business programs would be complete without an assessment of the academic and extracurricular elements of the educational experience.

So we sent surveys to alumni of each school to determine how satisfied they were on every level of that experience.

When we first designed the ranking’s methodology, deans from various business schools suggested that we choose alumni who had been away from their schools for two years. That would give them ample time to road-test their education, to give an accurate assessment of how well prepared they were for the world of work.

Our survey asked 16 core questions of graduates, each rated on a one-to-ten scale of satisfaction (weighted 80%).

For the full list of questions and the graded results, see “Report Card Article.” We also asked alumni whether they had a “significant experience,” defined as a major consulting project, thesis, or other program feature instrumental to their professional development, or a meaningful global immersion (weighted 10%). Lastly, we asked if their first jobs after graduation were in their desired industries and companies (weighted 10%).

THE FINAL RANKING The results of all three categories measured were then combined equally to determine an overall ranking. In each category, index scores were created to give credit to one school’s lead over others. We publish the numerical ranking with underlying index scores so that readers can determine how useful an actual ranking could be in relation to the other schools on the list. It’s important to note that there are nearly 700 undergraduate business programs accredited by the AACSB. The business schools singled out in our debut ranking are all extraordinary, each in the top tenth percentile of accredited schools.

Ultimately, this ranking and the mountains of data we are publishing is an effort to more fully inform prospective students and their parents to make the best educational decisions possible.

EMPLOYMENT OUTCOMES (33.3%) Students who go to business school expect to get a job not long after graduating. Summer internships are a key way to open the door to a full-time job opportunity. So our employment outcomes category is based on three metrics: the percentage of the latest graduating class (the Class of 2020) to gain jobs within 90 days of graduating, weighted 50%; the average salary and bonus for the latest graduating class, adjusted by the percentage of graduates awarded a bonus, weighted 30%, and finally, the percentage of the Class of 2020 that had internships before their senior year, weighted at 20%.

THE BEST UNDERGRADUATE BUSINESS SCHOOLS

17

ONE COLLEGE HALL, PHILADELPHIA, PA 19104 ADMISSIONS OFFICE: 251-898-7608

University Of Pennsylvania

F $318,540 In-State Total Cost

Freshman

Year When Students Declare Their Majors

7.6%

Acceptance Rate

1504

Average SAT

N/A

International Students

N/A

Underrepresented Minorities

97.9%

Class of 2020 accepting jobs 90 days after graduation

POETSANDQUANTSFORUNDERGRADS.COM

or four straight years, The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania has topped our ranking of Best Undergraduate Business Schools. The reason? Wharton has tough admissions standards, enrolling top students, gives them a top-notch undergraduate business education, and places them into coveted jobs.

This year, Wharton led in our admissions standards and employment outcomes category and placed seventh in the alumni experience category. At 7.62%, Wharton’s acceptance rate was the toughest of all schools for students entering during the fall of 2020. Students entering this past fall (2020) averaged an SAT score of 1504 and 90% finished in the top-10% of their graduating high school classes.

In terms of outcomes, 98% of the graduating Class of 2020 had at least one business-focused internship before graduation. Despite the Coronavirus pandemic wreaking havoc on the economy, Wharton placed its 2020 graduates in full-time positions at a clip of 97.01% — more than all but four other schools participating in this year’s ranking.

Wharton graduates reported the highest average salaries in their jobs immediately after graduating, earning a whopping $86,217.

SENIOR CAPSTONE PROJECT MOST POPULAR ‘SIGNATURE EXPERIENCE’ AMONG RECENT GRADS Among the respondents to our survey of the Class of 2018 Wharton graduates, two-thirds (66.67%) reported having at least one “signature experience.” Alumni mentioned launching startups and working on research projects as some of those signature experiences. But the most popular experience mentioned was the senior capstone.

“I also participated in Wharton’s Senior Capstone, which took place over three days,” one 2018 alum told us in the alumni survey. “There were about 80 students participating, divided into eight teams, each representing a company. In addition to negotiating and forming alliances with other companies, the simulation included interaction with simulated governments, as well environmental impacts. We also had alumni present who constituted the board of directors for each company, and served as advisors after a presentation made to them, as well as a leadership facilitator who sat in all the team discussions and helped us reflect on the experience and our communication and teamwork skills at the end of the program. It was quite superbly executed.”

As part of the survey, we ask alumni to rate various experiences of their program on a one-to-10 scale. Of the 16 scaled questions we asked, Wharton graduates gave their overall experience an average score of 9.28, which was higher than all other schools besides the Universitiy of Virginia’s McIntire School of Commerce and Georgia Tech’s Scheller College of Business.

Wharton graduates rated their school higher than alumni from all

university of Pennsylvania other ranked schools when asked if they thought their degree was worth its cost in time and resources. It also earned the highest score when asked how much the alumni network could help alumni throughout their careers and if the business school experience was “life-changing.”

While the alumni network earned high ratings, the school’s career advising department earned the lowest rating among all 16 scaled questions. It’s an ironic result considering Wharton won the employment outcomes category and had some of the best employment results. On the other hand, while more than 93% of 2018 alumni said their first jobs after graduation were in their desired industry, just over 63% said it was at a desired company, which was low compared to other schools. It should be noted, however, that was based on 2020 employment data and it was 2018 graduates that completed the alumni survey.

NEARLY TWO-DOZEN CONCENTRATIONS AND 50 STUDENT-RUN ORGANIZATIONS AND CLUBS Wharton boasts a flexible curriculum. Business students are required to complete 22 business courses, 10 electives based in liberal arts and sciences, and five more unrestricted electives anywhere in the Penn community. Wharton offers nearly two dozen concentrations for students looking to specialize. Those concentrations include traditional business fundamentals like accounting, finance, and marketing as well as relatively new areas like social impact and responsibility, managing electronic commerce, and business analytics.

For out of the classroom experience, Wharton also has nearly 50 student-run organizations and clubs including the Black Wharton Undergraduate Association, Social Impact Consulting, and Wharton Women.

Wharton made a statement earlier this year, becoming the first top-ranked business school to appoint a Black woman as dean when it announced the hiring of Erika James. A former dean of Emory’s Goizueta Business School, James boosted faculty diversity while increasing programs and fundraising during her time at Emory. She has already made national headlines for the potential she has to put diversity and inclusion at the forefront of the Wharton experience.

CONTINUING DOMINANCE IN THE RANKINGS Wharton continues to dominate in our annual rankings, thanks to its stringent admissions standards and impressive employment outcomes. This year, Wharton didn’t have the alumni scores to top the category. Students looking for similar top-ranked schools that scored better in the academic experience category should look at the University of Virginia, Indiana University, Georgia Tech, and New York University, all of which finished ahead of Wharton in the alumni survey portion of the rankings.

Still, according to our rankings, Wharton continues to be the creme of the business school crop for undergraduate business education.

WHAT ALUMNI SAY “I had a unique privilege to be in the first class of Penn-Wharton Public Policy Research Scholars for which I completed a policy capstone my senior year. This was a certificate program allowing accepted students from the four different undergraduate schools at UPenn to delve into public policy and research during our sophomore through senior years through lectures, skill training, travel opportunities, and special industry guests. Finally, although not directly connected to Wharton, I had the opportunity to work at Perry World House as a Student Fellow ultimately due to the generosity of Wharton and other UPenn alumni.”

“I got to learn Data Science + Statistics at an MBA level, and completed a project as a Volunteer Data Scientist Consultant with Planned Parenthood. I now do a lot of work with data + tech, so having the experience of working with a real client to solve a real data challenge for them gave me a lot more to talk about in interviews, and enabled me to share real world examples of how I could contribute to the organization I was applying to.”

“I participated in a Global Modular Course that had both MBAs and undergrads - it was a Tech and Entrepreneurship program in Bangalore, India, and it was hosted in the campus of the Indian Institute of Management, Bangalore (IIM-B), which is the second most prestigious business school in India. We had exposure to several different Indian startups and VCs, as well as the opportunity to work on a project for them.

It was also really cool to interact with some IIM-B MBA students who were part of the course as well - it helped build connections in different countries and helped me understand the Indian startup ecosystem better.”

THE BEST UNDERGRADUATE BUSINESS SCHOOLS

19

PO BOX 400173, CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA 22904 ADMISSIONS OFFICE: 434-924-1195

University of Virginia

T $153,302 In-State Total Cost

Junior

Year When Students Declare Their Majors

13.4%

Acceptance Rate

1429

Average SAT

6.5%

International Students

23%

Underrepresent Minorities

92.5%

Class of 2020 accepting jobs 90 days after graduation

POETSANDQUANTSFORUNDERGRADS.COM

he University of Virginia McIntire School of Commerce is the best undergraduate business school in the country not named Wharton — and has been, or close to it, for some time. Virginia McIntire, third in Poets&Quants’ annual ranking last year, rises to return to second place this year, displacing the University of Michigan, which falls to fourth.

Virginia McIntire was our second-place school in 2019.

One of only a handful of elite two-year programs, students at Virginia begin with two years of liberal arts before applying to McIntire School for entry their junior year. Only about half of applicants to McIntire are accepted, meaning even if you get into the University of Virginia — which only about a quarter of applicants do — you’re not guaranteed a spot in the School of Commerce. This past application cycle, 767 applied and 396 were admitted. The average SAT score of that class was 1429 and average high school GPA was 4.25 — among the highest marks of any of our ranked schools.

McIntire is in the middle of the ranking in one key way: cost. Four years of tuition and fees for an in-state UVA student is $90,302, with additional expenses adding another estimated $63,000 over four years.

Out-of-state students should expect to pay more than double in tuition and fees at $217,418, and slightly higher living expenses totaling $66,000.

Paying for school is a less painful prospect with the salaries McIntire grads pull down after graduation. According to information submitted by the school, students in the Class of 2019 received an average starting pay of $78,315, with average signing bonuses of $10,859. The Class of 2020 had a starting pay of $81,930 — an increase of 4.6% — with nearly identical average signing bonuses of $10,896.

ICE SETS McINTIRE EXPERIENCE ABOVE THE REST In surveying the McIntire Class of 2018, we get a clear reflection of the program’s impact on its graduates. Eighty-seven percent say that they would recommend their business program to a friend or colleague, and 81% said the degree was worth its cost in time and resources. Some 94% reported that their first job out of college was in a desired industry, and 75% said their degree prepared them for the work entailed in that first job.

What makes Virginia McIntire a cut above most of its peers? A significant differentiator is in its curriculum, which is integrated across both traditional academic areas — accounting, IT, finance, management, and marketing — and supporting areas like global business, communication, analytics, and quantitative analysis. “This integration is operationalized in two key ways,” the school tells P&Q. “First, all students enroll in our unique Integrated Core Experience (ICE) during their first year in the program. ICE involves 12 credit hours in the fall and 9 credit hours in the spring. Throughout both semesters, a team of

university of Virginia seven faculty members teach business fundamentals and students gain hands-on experience as they tackle real-world problems with our corporate partners.

“Second, in addition to the traditional concentrations (i.e., accounting, IT, finance, management, and marketing) each student has the opportunity in their second year in the program to enroll in a variety of interdisciplinary tracks, ranging from business analytics to real estate to global commerce.

“In sum, our students not only learn critical technical skills required for their first job, they also learn interdisciplinary skills that will be crucial as they advance in their respective organizations.”

Of ICE, one respondent from McIntire’s Class of 2018 writes: “The first semester ICE project (and final exam) does an exceptional job of unifying various aspects of an undergraduate degree that simulate a real-world business/project environment. It also emphasizes the level of independent, critical thinking that is crucial to career development and on-the-job learning.”

INNOVATION AS GUIDING PRINCIPLE Virginia McIntire is constantly assessing and adapting. The school conducted an end-to-end assessment of curriculum and student experience in 2017-18 with a focus on “ensuring a coherent and consistent flow of content from end-to-end,” and subsequently, during the 2018-19 and 2019-20 academic years, carried out a number of important curricular revisions; more are planned for next academic year as well. Among its biggest recent innovations: The school “significantly enhanced” its focus on business analytics throughout the curriculum and through the creation of an interdisciplinary Business Analytics Track, and last year it relaunched its leadership minor, repositioning it to focus on strategic leadership within a student’s chosen field of study. The school also launched an Innovation in Business concentration in the entrepreneurship minor.

The McIntire School continues to place a premium on digital innovation and globalization; in the former, it has recently introduced a number of new courses focused on contemporary topics, such as Big Data, Cloud Computing, Machine Learning, Cybersecurity, Digital Innovation, and a Digital Safari to Silicon Valley. In the latter, McIntire “places a strong emphasis on global learning and offers students curricular options both on campus and abroad to pursue global business studies, including an interdisciplinary Global Commerce Track, a research-driven Global Commerce Scholars Program, a full range of semester abroad options, and a host of faculty-led study abroad courses.” In the last four years, the number of students completing a McIntire semester abroad program doubled to 20-25% of the third-year class. McIntire sends nearly 200 students abroad per year on nine to 10 different project-based (consulting) courses, industry-specific courses, and regionally-focused “Doing Business In” survey courses. Overall nearly 60% of McIntire students complete a for-credit study abroad experience before graduation.

WHAT ALUMNI SAY “I wrote my Global Commerce Scholars thesis in my fourth year on using machine learning methods to investigate segmentation between equity and bond markets. I would not have been able to tackle this topic without the mentorship and guidance of the faculty at McIntire.”

“They’ve done a great job in creating an academic environment that closely mimics the professional work environment. Since I’ve begun my career there is no task/ situation I’ve felt unprepared for because I always have an experience from McIntire I can call back on.”

“Worked with a McIntire professor to develop a case study on several Charlottesville area craft breweries. The study applied the Material Flow Cost Accounting (MFCA) method onto their beer development processes to identify areas for cost and environmental savings; currently under review for publication by Darden Business School. This experience prepared me incredibly well for my current Product Manager role — research, influencing without authority, developing a concept/ models from scratch, etc.”

THE BEST UNDERGRADUATE BUSINESS SCHOOLS

21

383 LAFAYETTE STREET, NEW YORK, NY 10003 ADMISSIONS OFFICE: 212-998-4500

New York UNIVERSITy

N $302,192 In-State Total Cost

Freshman

Year When Students Declare Their Majors

12.7%

Acceptance Rate

1507

Average SAT

16%

International Students

23%

Underrepresent Minorities

95.2%

Class of 2020 accepting jobs 90 days after graduation

POETSANDQUANTSFORUNDERGRADS.COM

ew York University’s Stern School of Business took a balanced approach in climbing the rankings one position compared to last year. Like the University of Virginia’s McIntire School of Commerce, Stern moved one position past the University of Michigan’s Ross School of Business to third place, it’s highest finish in the past few years. Stern has gained one position in each of the past three years, moving from fifth in 2019’s rankings to fourth last year, and third this year.

While Stern has always placed well in the admissions standards and employment outcomes portions of this ranking, it was boosted this year thanks to a fifth-place finish in the academic experience category, which only includes data from a survey of the Class of 2018. That finish was buoyed by the fact that 99% of 2018 alumni that responded to the survey said they had at least one truly international experience, which was more than 11 percentage points higher than the next-highest school — the University of Michigan’s Carlson School of Management with about 87%.

“NYU Stern truly is exceptionally international,” one 2018 alumni told us. “In addition to making it a seamless experience to study abroad in Italy, Stern enables each and every student to travel overseas during their Junior Spring semester during a course called International Studies Program. During this course, we students studied in-depth the economy and industries of a certain nation (I chose Asia — Hong Kong). We then traveled as a class to Hong Kong during our Spring Break to meet with the company we were studying in particular and get hands-on experience in the country to supplement our learning in the classroom back in New York. My class studied Las Vegas Sands and even visited Macao while in Hong Kong to explore the company’s properties and meet with executives to discuss their business and strategies.”

INTERNATIONAL STUDIES PROGRAM A HIGHLIGHT AMONG RECENT GRADUATES As the alum stated, the International Studies Program (ISP) is a highlight among recent graduates. Launched in 2001 as the Barr Family International Studies Program, the ISP gives every single student to take what is essentially an international business trip before they even graduate. The course is an entire semester in length but students spend Spring Break in one of three cities in Asia, Europe, or South America. “(The) International Studies Program was very unique in that the duration of the class focused on studying one country — its history and drivers of the current economic environment it finds itself in,” another 2018 alum. “We were able to more broadly consider some of the local nuances or legacy political barriers that can explain why some business succeeded or failed despite having widespread success domestically.

New York University Though our program led to presentations on paths to pursue for a local business in X country we focused on, the extended visit to immerse yourself in the market and experience the culture first hand was one that I would highly recommend for all NYU Stern students.”

STERN’S FIVE PILLARS Stern’s undergraduate experiences are based on the five broad pillars of academics, global, social impact, professional, and community. For academics, Stern has tried to make its undergraduate program liberal arts-focused, allowing up to 50% of coursework to be in the liberal arts. Combining that with Stern’s New York City location, and it provides a unique academic experience for business students.

In terms of social impact, Stern has actually created a four-course social impact focus that is required of all undergraduate business majors. “No other school does Social Impact like Stern,” the school said in its submitted school survey. Highlighting the professional pillar is SternTalks, which are “TED-style” alumni presentations given to first-year students during the fall semester.

As for community, Stern says, “We support each other and foster an inclusive community where everyone can grow and excel.”

Starting in 2004, NYU began putting first-year students into cohorts that include orientation programming before school starts and a cohort-focused seminar course.

“Starting in 2019, all incoming Stern first-year students take the Intercultural Development Inventory (IDI) assessment, which measures their capability to shift cultural perspective and appropriately adapt behavior to cultural differences,” the school also said in the school survey. “Students meet individually with a trained Stern administrator to understand their results and develop a personalized plan for growth.”

A TRULY INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE, WITH HIGH EMPLOYMENT OUTCOMES All of this translates into what is probably the most international undergraduate business school experience currently offered in the U.S. That has also translated into very salty employment outcomes.

The graduating Class of 2020 that had full-time positions started with an average salary of $80,064, which was only less than three other schools. It’s employment rate of 95.22% was strong, as was its 96.30% internship rate for 2020 graduates.

Students looking for a truly international experience in an urban setting with strong job outcomes should put New York’s Stern at the top of their list. Georgetown University’s McDonough School is probably the only other top program that compares.

WHAT ALUMNI SAY “I was a Business and Political Economy major, which was uniquely structured to require three semesters abroad in London and Shanghai, followed by a senior capstone project on a subject of our choice. This program allowed me to receive a truly global education while fully immersing myself in some of the major financial hubs of the world.

I never would have had this opportunity in another program or at another school, and I am exceedingly grateful to Stern for the priceless learning experiences I gained inside and outside the classroom.”

“Our global studies program taught us business culture in Asia and took the entire class to Hong Kong for a week to immerse in the local culture. I additionally took a semester abroad in Madrid and was an International student, to begin with. All of that together truly gave me a perspective on different cultures and countries and how they think and do business. This significantly increased by business empathy and the ability to work with others.”

“For junior year Spring Break, our class traveled across the world visiting three locations to meet with professionals from different businesses as well as experience different cultures. My group visited Sands China, going to both Hong Kong and Macau, where we were able to meet with professionals to discuss the business and its go forward initiatives. We later created presentations in class to discuss new potential initiatives or operational changes that could benefit the business. Also, being part of the larger NYU community, Stern students have ample opportunities to study abroad and experience different parts of the world and we maintain one of the highest percentages of students studied abroad of any school.”

THE BEST UNDERGRADUATE BUSINESS SCHOOLS

23

701 TAPPAN STREET, ANN ARBOR, MI 48109 ADMISSIONS OFFICE: 734-763-5796

UNIVERSITY Of Michigan

T $131,594 In-State Total Cost

freshman

(Or Sophomore) Year When Students Declare Their Majors

15.2%

Acceptance Rate

1460

Average SAT

2%

International Students

10%

Underrepresent Minorities

97%

Class of 2020 accepting jobs 90 days after graduation

POETSANDQUANTSFORUNDERGRADS.COM

he Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan consistently ranks highly for its undergraduate business program.

Coming in fourth this year, Ross boasts high internship and employment outcomes for its students.

This year, 99% of Ross students had a business-focused internship before graduation (a 1% increase from last year) with a 97.03% employment rate, outscoring other Midwestern schools like the University of Illinois and University of Wisconsin. Only seven schools had a higher employment rate this year.

But what makes Ross a standout business school year after year is perhaps the community of collaboration and an abundance of opportunities to learn by doing.

“The ability to work with hardworking and driven peers in a collaborative environment, made the experience very rewarding and allowed me to learn about myself and my peers, which I believe to be the most useful skill I have gained from the business school,” one 2018 alum told us in the alumni survey for the rankings.

SIGNATURE EXPERIENCES INCLUDE CAPSTONE PROJECT AND GLOBAL IMMERSION From starting businesses to investing in student-led investment funds, Ross students engage in a variety of action-based learning experiences.

According to Ross officials, more than 75% of Ross students in the Class of 2020 consulted and advised a live business and 100% of students were engaged in at least one form of action-based learning.

In our survey of 2018 Ross graduates, roughly 84% of respondents reported taking part in at least one “signature experience” during their time at B-school. Among those experiences, the senior capstone project is by far one of the most popular.

“My capstone was an action-based learning experience that realistically simulated a consulting engagement,” one 2018 alum told us.

“The course provided me with the knowledge, skills, and experience I needed to become a proficient consultant.”

Respondents also talked highly about their experience in global immersion programs. From programs in China to Croatia, Ross students can gain an in-depth understanding of international businesses while actively engaging in unique cultural experiences.

“I took an immersion class in Chile in which we worked closely with several Chilean wineries to help expand their presence in the MidWest. Not only did this provide me with the opportunity to learn and appreciate a very new culture, it taught me what it looks like to conduct business on a global level,” one 2018 alum told us. “Through this experience, I had the opportunity to develop client relationships in a new cultural context. At the end of the course, we were able to actually

university of Michigan connect our Chilean winery with an American distributor to help expand their presence.”

Ross officials attribute much of the success of its action-based learning approach to its student community as well. According to Paul Kirsch, managing director of the Michigan Ross BBA Program, there are more than 65 Ross undergraduate clubs that educate their membership, run their own annual conferences, and host events.

“The student community has a prominent role in shaping cocurricular experiences that enhance classroom learning,” Kirsch told us. “The newest additions to the club roster include additional consulting clubs that give members the opportunity to lead engagements with real clients. This enhances the action-based learning experiences offered through our curriculum.”

GENERAL MANAGEMENT DEGREE The Michigan Ross BBA is a general management degree, meaning there are no majors.

Ross students are required to complete 16 core courses, a 3-credit capstone course, and 15 credits of elective courses.

However, with its core and elective programming and a range of clubs and co-curricular opportunities, Ross offers its students a variety of ways to touch on nearly every aspect of business. The Ross curriculum is designed to give students a holistic view of business, but about half of the classes Ross students take come from other schools on campus. So while Ross students don’t choose a major, they do have flexibility when it comes to specializing in what they want to study. Roughly 40% of Ross BBAs pursue minors and dual degrees.

Additionally, Ross allows its students to take more focused tracks to hone in on certain topics or fields. For instance, the Cappo Sales Track offers a series of specialized courses in sales. The Carson Scholars Track allows students to dive into the intersection of business and government through a three-credit course offered in conjunction with The Washington Campus, a consortium of business schools at 17 top universities.

When asked how they would rate the quality of teaching in business courses, Class of 2018 Ross graduates gave an average rating of 9.1 — a rating that tops competing schools such as the University of Minnesota and the University of Wisconsin.

For students looking for a quality general management degree with flexibility in specialization, a collaboration-focused community, and opportunities to learn by doing, the Ross education is the perfect choice.

WHAT ALUMNI SAY “I had a chance to work on developing a business plan for a local entrepreneur. It was an especially rewarding experience because we were able to see the application of our recommendations and see them succeed in their business.”

“My study abroad in Hong Kong & Singapore translated well in my career working for a globally operated brand. It set me up for success by staying nimble in my role and pushing myself to understand global trends that could potentially impact our business and our partners, especially during this pandemic when everything could be changing by the minute.”

“During my senior year at Ross, I worked on a consulting engagement with one of the Big 3 auto OEMs. With a team of ~4 other students, we worked closely with leaders in their Marketing department to address a problem in the EV space. This project gave me a head start in learning how to manage clients and solve real ambiguous problems in a safe environment.”

THE BEST UNDERGRADUATE BUSINESS SCHOOLS

25

37th & O Streets, NW, Washington, D.C. 20057 ADMISSIONS OFFICE: 202-687-3851

Georgetown UNIVERSITY

T $293,410 In-State Total Cost

freshman

Year When Students Declare Their Majors

20%

Acceptance Rate

1419

Average SAT

7.5%

International Students

16.8%

Underrepresent Minorities

97%

Class of 2020 accepting jobs 90 days after graduation

POETSANDQUANTSFORUNDERGRADS.COM

he McDonough School of Business at Georgetown University secured fifth place in our rankings for a second year in a row.

Georgetown’s placement this year was anchored by a second-place finish in the career outcomes category.

The acceptance rate at McDonough this year stood at 19.95% with students having an average SAT score of 1419 — a slightly higher acceptance rate and lower average SAT score compared to last year.

In terms of employment outcomes, 96.95% of the Class of 2020 were employed with full-time positions giving McDonough one of the highest employment rates this year. Only eight schools had higher employment rates.

What makes McDonough stand out, however, is the fact that it offers a truly international experience for its students. Nearly 66% of Class of 2018 McDonough graduates surveyed through our alumni survey as part of the rankings reported engaging in at least one global immersion, trip, or project while in B-school.

A GLOBAL PERSPECTIVE One of the most popular global programs at McDonough is the Global Business Experience. Offered as a three-credit course, the Global Business Experience offers students the opportunity to work in teams and conduct a substantive consulting project for a private, public, or nonprofit organization abroad. To cap the experience, student teams travel to the client organization’s country during the week of spring break to present their recommendations to senior management.

“The Global Business Experience program was unique in the way that not only did it provide valuable lectures from very knowledgeable faculty and speaker series with industry experts, it also implements a real time consulting project with relevant companies in a different part of the world,” one 2018 alumni told us.

Another 2018 alumni who took part in the Global Business Experience program recalls traveling to Argentina to work directly with wineries in the region.

“We learned not only a great deal about the business, sale and trade of wind, but also how to work on a consulting team and develop a marketing plan and business strategy for a consulting client,” the alumni said.

While McDonough offers programs for students to travel internationally, its curriculum is also integrated with courses that teach business from a global perspective. One 2018 alumni surveyed by us highlights a first year seminar course called “Learning to Think Globally” as one of the signature experiences at McDonough.

“The class gave me the tools and frameworks for looking at the world differently, especially in terms of politics, economics and business

georgetown university strategy,” the alumni told us.

Another 2018 alumni references a course titled “Marketing Across Borders,” where students learned about marketing from a global perspective and applied their learnings through a consulting project.

“I learned about global marketing, was able to apply my knowledge to a real problem, and travel to Lille & Brussels over Spring Break to present our work to KIABI,” the alumni said. “Great real-world experience.”

COMPREHENSIVE CURRICULUM The McDonough curriculum offers a strong foundation in critical thinking and reasoning with a blend of business and liberal arts courses. McDonough students are required to complete 120 semester hours of courses in the liberal arts core, business core, a chosen major(s), and electives.

One of the more hands-on learning opportunities is the First Year Seminar, a collection of courses designed for first-year McDonough students on unique business topics ranging from global leadership to the anthropology of business.

What makes the McDonough curriculum truly comprehensive, however, is the variety of subjects and fields that courses dive into.

One of those unique courses is “Signal Class,” where students learn entrepreneurship first-hand by creating a book that would demonstrate their purpose. Students in the course use startup methodologies, from ideation to marketing, to create a book manuscript throughout the semester.

One 2018 alumni surveyed by P&Q cites the course as the sole reason behind why he was able to land his dream job in book publishing post-graduation.

“No other university, no other business school, has a book writing class that helps students both create and publish a book in an academic year, and then empowers their students to use it as a tool to land their dream jobs, start their own business or create their own path,” the alumni told us.

McDonough’s geographical placement in Washington D.C., and being part of the greater Georgetown university gives business students unique access to government and policy perspectives. For students looking to gain a very solid business education combined with access to public policy issues, there is no school better than Georgetown. And among the top-10 or so schools, only New York University’s Stern School of Business offers a similar internationalfocused business school curriculum. So, for high school students looking to gain a business degree with international or policy experience, Georgetown should be at the very top of the list.

WHAT ALUMNI SAY “The Global Business Experience program has left a long lasting impact on my aspirations to work with global companies, seek international experience on a professional and personal level, and build a professional network of global connections.”

“Many schools have first year seminars, but almost no business programs (or schools at all) offer a course that empowers you to have experience and cultivate skills in consulting like the Global Business Experience Program at Georgetown.”

“I did countless projects for real companies to help solve their business problems during business school, and those real world experiences prepared me for my job today.”

THE BEST UNDERGRADUATE BUSINESS SCHOOLS

27

CAMPUS BOX 3490, MCCOLL BUILDING, CHAPEL HILL, NC 27599 ADMISSIONS OFFICE: 919-962-3235

University OF North Carolina At Chapel Hill

T N/A

In-State Total Cost

Junior

Year When Students Declare Their Majors

21.9%

Acceptance Rate

1451

Average SAT

14.1%

International Students

17.9%

Underrepresent Minorities

98%

Class of 2020 accepting jobs 90 days after graduation

POETSANDQUANTSFORUNDERGRADS.COM

he Kenan-Flagler Business School at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill moved three places higher this year in our rankings coming in at number six. Kenan-Flagler is one of the hottest schools in the rankings, having consistently moved up from 14th two years ago to ninth last year to sixth this year.

A contributing reason? Kenan-Flagler saw improvements in both internship and employment outcomes this year with 96% of its Class of 2020 securing a business-focused internship before graduation and 98.03% landing a full-time job by the time of graduation with an average salary of $72,357. With an acceptance rate of 11.51%, admission into Kenan-Flagler was more competitive this year than similar schools such as Emory University’s Goizueta, which had a 17.79% acceptance rate.

The average SAT score for accepted students at Kenan-Flagler was 1451 with a whopping 77.10% being in the top 10% of their high school class at graduation.

Kenan-Flagler advertises its undergraduate business degree program as a “rigorous undergraduate business education with broad career applications.” And its impressive program offerings prove that. Undergraduate business majors at Kenan-Flagler are required to complete 10 core courses, six business electives, and five electives outside of business. Additionally, the Kenan-Flagler degree offers customization based on students’ interests and desired career trajectory. Business students can choose to complete up to two “Areas of Emphasis” (AOE) as part of their major ranging from fields such as consulting, entrepreneurship, investment banking, and more.

STUDENT TEAMS ACHIEVING RESULTS (STAR) One of the cornerstone programs at Kenan-Flagler is STAR, a program that matches teams of MBA and undergraduate business students with corporate partners to solve complex business challenges. Through the experiential program, students work on diverse teams on a real-life consulting project with a company or organization to solve a business problem and improve their performance. For many students, STAR offers an opportunity to experience collaborative teamwork in coming up with a business solution.

“My team was assigned the only non-profit in that particular year’s suite of organizations, and this was a transformative way for me to understand how to work with people of different experience levels and address the unique challenges of mission-driven organizations,” one 2018 alum told us in the survey. “This helped inform my decision to join consulting, and to do so in a large company’s government practice so that I had the best of the private sector and public sector at my fingertips.”

Another unique program to Kenan-Flagler is the GLOBE® program,

university of north Carolina At Chapel Hill an integrated and immersive 18-month curriculum where students gain first-hand exposure to foreign business operations and culture.

The GLOBE® program is essentially a full-year study abroad program at a partner university. Current GLOBE® institutions include the likes of the Chinese University of Hong Kong and the Copenhagen Business School. Past locations have included Brussels, Shanghai, Washington, D.C., and Research Triangle Park in North Carolina.

Students travel in cohorts of 54 students to an international destination where they study business with expertise from their chosen GLOBE® institution. For instance, at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, GLOBE®courses focus on case studies, international management issues, and the understanding of business climates around the world. One 2018 alum who studied at both the Copenhagen Business School and the Chinese University of Hong Kong says that through the GLOBE® program they “made lifelong friends, traveled the world, and received top-notch business education.”

71% OF RESPONDENTS SAY THEY ENGAGED IN A GLOBAL IMMERSION EXPERIENCE In addition to the GLOBE® program, Kenan-Flagler offers other opportunities for undergraduate business students to travel the world and learn about business and culture firsthand. Roughly 71% of 2018 alums surveyed report engaging in some form of global immersion whether through a trip or project. For many, this experience is through a Global Immersion Elective, where students can partake in an immersion program and complete an internship in the same summer.

The Global Immersion Elective program offers students a series of courses in Chapel Hill and intense, all-day in-country programming where students learn about the forces and factors that shape business in the region. Students visit companies and meet with business and government leaders as well as local students to learn about the region’s culture, social and political characteristics and economic development factors.

“Global Immersion Electives were unique study abroad experiences as we had the opportunity to both learn about the local economy and then visit and interact with companies while there for a total immersive experience, rather than just taking classes,” one 2018 told us. “Traveling broadened my worldview and taught me skills that transferred over to my job.”

Overall, the Kenan-Flagler program is right for students looking to get a solid and rigorous business education with opportunities to explore a variety of career applications and interests through programs such as STAR and GLOBE®. The school enrolls mainly North Carolina residents, but there is room for out-of-state students looking to gain a solid undergraduate business education from a renowned public university.

WHAT ALUMNI SAY “I held an internship with the Undergraduate Business School Office and worked with the career team, the study abroad office, admissions and the academic team my senior year of college. It gave me irreplaceable connections with the staff that I still keep up with post graduation and let me start applying my ‘real world’ skills while still in school.”

“One key experiential learning experience I engaged with was the STAR Program, which created opportunities for undergraduates and MBA students to work together on a real-life consulting project with companies and organizations over the course of the semester.”

“I participated in the global immersion trip to Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Through this experience, I got to know many of my classmates better and learn about business outside the U.S.”

THE BEST UNDERGRADUATE BUSINESS SCHOOLS

29

204 MENDOZA COLLEGE OF BUSINESS, NOTRE DAME, IN 46556 ADMISSIONS OFFICE: 574- 631-7505

University Of Notre Dame

D $285,122 In-State Total Cost

freshman

Year When Students Declare Their Majors

19.8%

Acceptance Rate

1500

Average SAT

4%

International Students

13.8%

Underrepresent Minorities

96.1%

Class of 2020 accepting jobs 90 days after graduation

POETSANDQUANTSFORUNDERGRADS.COM

espite sliding from fifth in 2019 to sixth last year to seventh this year, the Mendoza College of Business at the University of Notre Dame has very much solidified itself as one of the premier undergraduate business education offerings currently available. In five years of our ranking, Mendoza has never finished outside of the top-10.

Playing a role in this year’s ranking was slightly weaker internship and employment outcomes compared to the Class of 2019. However, this is relative. Class of 2020 graduates still saw strong outcomes with 91.4% securing a business-focused internship before graduation and 97.96% landing a full-time job by graduation.

The acceptance rate this year at Mendoza was capped at 19.78%, making it far more competitive than B-schools fellow in-state rival programs like Indiana University’s Kelley School and Purdue’s Krannert School, which both accepted more than 50% of applicants. Additionally, the average SAT score at Mendoza was 1441 with 84.30% of students entering this fall being in the top 10% of their high school class.

Being a B-school within a Jesuit university, the Mendoza education is best described as one that teaches students the importance of growing the “good in business” — a practice that the school prides itself on.

As it advertises on its website, Mendoza states, “This is not an era for business as usual. Too much is at stake—in our world, in our workplaces, in our communities. This is an era for virtuous individuals, with diverse interests and uncommon potential, to lead human enterprises forward. And this is an era for a business degree that gives those purpose-driven leaders the tools to connect their gifts to a better future for all.”

FORESIGHT IN BUSINESS AND SOCIETY Mendoza’s signature undergraduate course is called “Foresight in Business and Society,” a required course for all junior-level students at Mendoza. The capstone course is designed to give students a view into the real-world and features guest lecturers, use of alternative class space and activities, a mentorship program, class discussions, and teaching by a diverse team of instructors. Throughout the semester, students take part in the Foresight Project where they test research and analytical skills and techniques by working in student teams to address complex problems.

“Your group selects a specific part of an industry and spends an entire semester researching everything about it (current trends, future projections, situational impacts) to produce a forward-looking report and presentation on it,” one 2018 alum explained in our alumni survey.

These types of experiential capstone courses are common at nearly every B-school, however, at Mendoza, there’s an increased emphasis on helping students “develop an awareness of important issues and trends

University Of Notre Dame affecting society, including issues related to sustainability” — further reinforcing Medoza’s slogan of “grow the good in business.”

“My group focused on projecting and forecasting income inequality in New York City looking at various factors (social, economic, political, technological, etc.),” one 2018 alum said about their experience in the Foresight course. “I predominately researched political influences and learned a lot about New York City and its current political representatives.”

A RICH ETHICS-BASED CURRICULUM The Mendoza undergraduate program offers a holistic education with a rich variety of classes in liberal arts, science, theology and other programs, and a foundation in ethical ideals. Mendoza students can choose from six majors including: accountancy, business analytics, business technology, finance, management consulting, and marketing.

“Embedded in course content is that underpinning of the ideals of community, human development and integrity that go back to the founding of the college in 1921 and the university in 1842,” Jean Meade, Rankings & Projects Manager at Mendoza, told us.

Additionally, Mendoza alumni rated the quality of teaching in business courses highly with a 9.2 average rating. When asked to give a score for the business school faculty’s availability for informal discussions and mentoring outside of class, Mendoza alumni gave a whopping 9.6 average rating.

“The career preparation and mentorship combined with strong relevant coursework created a great environment conducive to propelling a student into their career,” one 2018 alumni told us.

STRONG NETWORK OF SUPPORT The Mendoza alumni network is very supportive. Surveyed 2018 alumni gave the B-school’s alumni network and connections a solid 9.5 average rating in terms of helping them throughout their career as well as helping them connect with potential employers.

Moreover, when asked how much they believe their business degree assisted them in climbing to a new socioeconomic status, Mendoza alumni gave a strong 9.2 average rating. Salary-wise, the Class of 2020 at Mendoza earned an average overall salary of $72,000, which is higher than starting salaries for grads at both Indiana’s Kelley and Purdue’s Krannert.

For students seeking a well-rounded, hands-on business education with an emphasis on “doing good” coupled with a strong network of support both during and after college, Mendoza is the perfect choice.

WHAT ALUMNI SAY “I did undergraduate research with the Well-being at Work team at Notre Dame’s innovation park. With this Lily-endowed research team, I studied - what augments the work satisfaction and wellbeing of professionals. Our findings and insight into the corporate world gave me unparalleled soft skills, while at the same time the position gave me very practical skills in project management, SQL, protecting PII, and creating externally-facing reports.”

“I participated in the Applied Investment Management course in which we manage a small portfolio of stocks within the University’s endowment. This provided hands-on, intensive training in analysis and understanding of finance concepts with real consequences and impact.”

“The Student International Business Council offered a wide variety of real-world case studies in various industries that helped me learn what type of work I was interested in pursuing post-graduation. Being able to present our findings and receive in-depth feedback from real world professionals was instrumental in building public speaking confidence as well as professional etiquette.”

THE BEST UNDERGRADUATE BUSINESS SCHOOLS

31

5000 FORBES AVENUE, PITTSBURGH, PA 15213 ADMISSIONS OFFICE: 412-268-2268

Carnegie Mellon University

T $306,860 In-State Total Cost

freshman

Year When Students Declare Their Majors

14.3%

Acceptance Rate

1491

Average SAT

N/A

International Students

N/A

Underrepresent Minorities

90.2%

Class of 2020 accepting jobs 90 days after graduation

POETSANDQUANTSFORUNDERGRADS.COM

he Tepper School of Business at Carnegie Mellon University jumped up two spots this year landing at number eight in our rankings. It continues an upward directory in our rankings as Tepper placed 22nd just two years ago.

This year, the Tepper School saw a slightly higher acceptance rate of 14.26%, up roughly two percentage points from last year. The average SAT score this year stood at 1491 with 76.90% of incoming freshmen being in the top 10 percentile of their high school class.

With a strong emphasis on STEM, the Tepper undergraduate business education brings together business, technology, and analytics through a variety of core courses and experiential learning opportunities.

“Our entire goal is to educate business students whom I would call bilingual in the following sense: they know technology. They can do computing. They understand data. And they understand the business side,” Sevin Yeltekin, Senior Associate Dean of Education at Tepper, told P&Q For Undergrads in 2019. “They can sit down and write a simple use case. They can do a proof of concept. They can code a little bit.

They might not be the ones who are going to spend all of their time optimizing a piece of code but they understand what it can and can’t do. They can talk to the technologist. They can talk to the data scientist and they can understand the business side of things and make strategic decisions based on that data and technology.”

CURRICULUM STRUCTURE The Tepper curriculum is designed around a central core of courses in business, economics, mathematics, and computing courses. Students can choose from 11 concentrations including accounting, business analytics and technology, entrepreneurship, finance, global economics and business, marketing management, operations management, and strategic management.

The first year at the Tepper School is dedicated to giving students a foundation of skills in analysis, communication, and context through courses in economics, quantitative skills development, and the liberal arts. Beginning in Fall 2019, all first-year Tepper students are also required to take a new course, Business Science, that sets the foundation for their Tepper business education.

Surveyed Class of 2018 alumni rated the quality of teaching at Tepper at an 8.8 average score. When asked to rate the opportunities to nurture and improve soft skills in business such as verbal and written communication skills, adaptability, and time management, surveyed alumni gave the Tepper School an 8.3 average score.

MANAGEMENT GAME

Carnegie Mellon University One of the cornerstone courses at the Tepper School is called the “Management Game,” a 12-credit capstone course that features an applied strategic management and general management exercise.

Through the course, students work in teams to operate computersimulated companies for three years acting as the executive committee of a multinational manufacturing company. Student teams compete against one another to try to add value to their companies.

“The experience was unique due to the depth of the simulation and broad spectrum of skills used, particularly through coordination amongst team members,” one 2018 alumni told us.

In addition to the teamwork aspect of the course, Management Game is also unique in that students are evaluated primarily by external professionals.

“Each team reports to an external board of directors and must defend their plans and their outcomes to these people who then provide feedback and evaluate the teams’ performance,” according to Tepper’s website. “Each team is asked to engage in externally focused exercises that are relevant to their career choices.”

Examples of exercises in the course include negotiating labor agreements to real union representatives and presenting marketing plans to practicing marketing executives.

“The external feedback and evaluation structure of the course makes the exercise sharply realistic,” according to Tepper’s website.

“The highly unstructured nature of the class makes it invaluable for students preparing to enter the job market as skilled leaders.”

WHAT ALUMNI SAY “Incredible diversity of students and staff.

Lots of unique backgrounds and experiences that enable a great learning experience.”

“We had the opportunity to run our own company in a class wide business simulation that was something I had never before experienced.”

“The Management Game Simulation showcased real problems faced by executives.”

STRONG EMPLOYMENT OUTCOMES The Tepper School prides itself on giving its students a strong foundation in business, technology, and analytics. And that education has proven fruitful for many Tepper grads. Among the Class of 2020, 95% had secured a business-focused internship before graduation and 90.22% were employed full-time by graduation with an average salary of $81,526.

Additionally, 90.91% of surveyed Tepper alumni told us their first job after graduating was in their desired industry. Some 72.73% said their first job after Tepper was also at their desired company.

Truly a STEM-focused institution, Carnegie Mellon’s Tepper School of Business is designed for students who want a business education that covers the in-demand fields of technology and analytics. Among the top-10 programs in this year’s ranking, there is no other option that matches analytics, technology, and engineering like Tepper. For students looking to combine STEM with business, the Tepper School is the place to be.

THE BEST UNDERGRADUATE BUSINESS SCHOOLS

33

B60B WARREN HALL CORNELL UNIVERSITY, ITHACA, NY 14853 ADMISSIONS OFFICE: 607-255-8472

Cornell University

C $214,952 In-State Total Cost

Freshman

Year When Students Declare Their Majors

8%

Acceptance Rate

1489

Average SAT

N/A

International Students

19%

Underrepresent Minorities

93.1%

Class of 2020 accepting jobs 90 days after graduation

POETSANDQUANTSFORUNDERGRADS.COM

ornell University’s SC Johnson College of Business, which houses the Dyson School of Applied Economics and Management, has proven to firmly be a top-10 school as it has placed in the top-10 each year it’s participated in the Poets&Quants rankings. This year, Cornell’s ninth-place finish was due to finishing eighth overall in career outcomes and ninth in the admissions standards. Cornell is one of just two Ivy League schools that offers an undergraduate business degree.

According to responses in the alumni survey as a portion of the rankings methodology, Cornell’s most popular aspects of an undergraduate business education include its experiential and international components.

“I worked on a consulting project in South Africa with a group of my business school peers,” one 2018 graduate told us in the alumni survey. “We helped a minority-owned winery in scaling her business.

The experience was unique because it allowed me to work on a business project in a new continent for me, and understand the obstacles a minority business owner faces.”

The school says its unique aspect is a focus on soft skills to go along with more traditional business skills.

“Dyson students gain excellent analytical business skills but also develop the self-insight, flexibility, and empathy to enable them to chart a productive course in a rapidly changing world,” the school said in the school survey portion of the ranking. “This is fundamental to Dyson’s mission for undergraduate education. Not content with providing a strong pathway to a student’s coveted first job, we strive to educate for the long haul: our graduates can only make a better world if they are confident and creative about their own place in that world.”

UNIQUE CONVERGENCE WITH COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURAL AND LIFE SCIENCES All Cornell business students must complete a group of core courses, a set of liberal arts courses, and pick at least one of 13 concentrations. An aspect that sets Dyson’s curriculum apart from others is it is technically a part of both the College of Business and the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences.

“Because of the Dyson School’s location in both Cornell’s SC Johnson College of Business and College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, students can easily combine their major with a concentration or double major in the life sciences, environmental sciences, agricultural sciences, or applied social sciences,” the school said in this year’s rankings survey.

“Dyson students also commonly major or minor in a biological science, information science, communication, environmental and sustainability sciences, biometry and statistics, animal science, or food science. Such unbounded exposure keeps Dyson School students one-step ahead of

Cornell univeRsity the competition by preparing them to lead in a future where the sciences, social sciences, and the arts will increasingly converge.”

An example of this unique convergence is the Food Marketing Fellows honors program.

“Dyson has so many opportunities for experiential learning. I participated in the Food Marketing Fellows program that entailed visits to different businesses to learn from the owners/managers how their business works,” one 2018 alum said in the alumni survey.

“The program concludes with an international trip to learn about the food industry in a foreign country. From this program, one broadens their perspective by analyzing the food industries of two different countries.”

STRONG ALUMNI RESPONSES AND EMPLOYMENT OUTCOMES Cornell graduates enjoy very strong employment outcomes and seem to be generally pleased with their experience. Of the more than dozen scaled one-to-10 questions we ask alumni each year, Cornell was one of just 10 schools that had an overall average of above 9.

What’s more, nearly 92% of 2018 graduates responding to the survey said their first job after graduation was in a desired industry and at a desired company. Only two other schools of the 93 ranked had a higher percentage.

Some 96.9% of 2020 Cornell business graduates had a businessfocused internship before graduating. And just over 93% had secured full-time employment within three months of graduation.

Of those with full-time employment, the average starting salary was $76,827. Only six of the 93 ranked schools had alumni earning a higher average starting salary. JPMorgan Chase and Citi were the top-two hiring firms for 2020 graduates.

Cornell’s undergraduate business education is truly a unique experience. For students able to gain admission — this year’s acceptance rate was 7.96%, the lowest rate besides the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School at 7.62% — Cornell’s stature with Wharton as the two Ivy League undergraduate business programs is obviously an incredible opportunity. Combine that with the focus on environmental sciences, food, and agriculture, the degree at Dyson is truly one-of-a-kind.

WHAT ALUMNI SAY “My senior spring, I did a senior project for a professor that specialized in the study of sports teams as organizations. The project I did focused on creating a model that would predict the NCAA tournament using metrics you deemed most important to prediction.

Getting into the data has helped me in my career in sports management to date and I would say most people did not have a chance like this to combine their passion with important hard skills.”

“As part of my Master of Professional Studies in Behavioral Finance after attaining my undergraduate degree, I completed a research study about how Millennials use passive vs. active investing. It was very fulfilling to choose my own research, send out a survey, and perform analysis on the results for my final paper.”

“Importantly, the program put me in a position where I had mastery over the fundamentals. The emphasis on key principles of accounting and finance really set me up to seek and expand additional and more vocational knowledge myself through MBA classes offered in the ecosystem and through a multitude of internships. The student organizations - namely cornell venture capital club and Delta Sigma Pi were selective and prepared me very well for the rigors of the real world.”

THE BEST UNDERGRADUATE BUSINESS SCHOOLS

35

800 WEST PEACHTREE NW, ATLANTA, GA 30308 ADMISSIONS OFFICE: 404-894-2600

Georgia Institute Of Technology

T $179,000 In-State Total Cost

freshman

Year When Students Declare Their Majors

23.3%

Acceptance Rate

1330

Average SAT

4.8%

International Students

15.9%

Underrepresent Minorities

91%

Class of 2020 accepting jobs 90 days after graduation

POETSANDQUANTSFORUNDERGRADS.COM

he Scheller College of Business at the Georgia Institute of Technology continued it’s three-year climb in our rankings of Best Undergraduate Business Schools moving into the top-10 for the first time in the five years of this ranking. Georgia Tech placed 18th in 2019 and 14th last year. Scheller had an acceptance rate of 23.29% this year, aligning closely with last year’s acceptance rate of 24%. This fall’s class saw 83% coming from the top 10% of their high school class with an average GPA of 3.96, a large increase from last year, when 65% came from the top 10 percentile.

Scheller is best known for its multi-faceted approach to business education. As a part of Georgia Tech, the B-school intrinsically combines aspects of STEM into the curriculum with key capstone courses that exemplify Scheller’s multi-dimensional approach to business education.

SCHELLER CURRICULUM The Scheller curriculum allows students to complete all degree requirements, one semester abroad and two internship semesters in four years. Additionally, students are admitted directly to the Scheller College of Business in their first year so they can kick-start their business education immediately. Students begin their educational journey taking core courses within Georgia Tech in English, Mathematics, Humanities, Social Science, Computer Science, Health, and Laboratory Science giving them a holistic foundation to their business education. Scheller students can choose from eight concentrations.

“Our undergraduate students benefit from an innovation and technology focus in the classroom that translates to robust and stellar careers,” Craig Womack, the director of undergraduate programs at Scheller told us. “We excel at weaving technology into all aspects of the business classroom.”

One of the cornerstone offerings at Scheller is the Denning Technology & Management (T&M) Program. Through the program, students can earn a 22-credit-hour minor with tracks including: Computing & Business Minor, Engineering & Business Minor, and Technology & Business Minor. T&M students study managing emerging technologies and new product and services development. The program is topped off with an integrated capstone project course, where students work in teams to focus on a specific problem posed by one of the program’s Corporate Affiliates.

“This project allowed me to connect to my first employer, who then connected me to my current job,” one 2018 alumni told us. “I worked in a cross-functional team to research and develop an innovative solution to an actual problem at the company chosen for my capstone project.”

Another key benefit of the Scheller education is the very location of Georgia Tech — located in the heart of midtown Atlanta’s Technology

Georgia Institute of Technology Square, an area with a high density of startups, corporate innovators, and academic researchers.

“Scheller College takes advantage of its proximity to Tech Square by building relationships and fostering opportunities within this leading innovation hub,” Womack said. “Our students are provided the chance to explore both the business and technological aspects offered in their surroundings.”

This prime location offers Scheller students opportunities to work with some big name organizations. “I worked directly with the Home Depot to help evaluate a new loyalty program and got to travel to various cities to interview store associates,” one 2018 alumni told us. “At the end of the project, my team presented to executives at THD headquarters.’’

HANDS-ON LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES In addition to the T&M Program, there are a number of other experiential learning opportunities available to Scheller students to dive deeper into their field of study and apply their knowledge in real-world settings. One 2018 alumni said the Sustainable Business Practicum course was a highlight during their time at Scheller.

Through the course, students focus on real-world sustainability projects (those with an environmental or social dimension that impacts business risk or opportunity) with student teams working together to develop practical recommendations and solutions for participating company sponsors.

“I also participated in the Carbon Reduction Challenge and won with team SunTrust in 2017 while interning there and then coached a 2nd-place team in 2019 from SunTrust as an alumnus,” the 2018 alumni told us. “I had the opportunity to present lessons of the 2017 victory at Georgia Tech TEDx twice and across multiple blog posts.”

Another 2018 alumni recalled working with a student team of consultants to fix an internal issue for Georgia Tech faculty. “We focused on creating a new timesheet, equipment, and resources planning site on service now,” the alumni told us. “We were tasked with gathering requirements, configuring our system to match these requirements, then demoing it to our clients. This was a unique experience because it was essentially what I’m doing in my professional life nowadays.”

Scheller’s Class of 2020 saw strong employment outcomes on both internship and job numbers. Some 95% of the Class of 2020 had a business-focused internship before graduation with 91.01% securing a full-time position within three months of graduation. An overwhelming 95.92% of 2018 Scheller alumni surveyed reported that their first job was in their desired industry with 87.76% saying that job was at their desired company.

With a multi-faceted education, hands-on learning opportunities, and a prime location for technological innovation, Scheller is perfect for students interested in exploring the worlds of both business and technology.

WHAT ALUMNI SAY “We did a capstone project that incorporated all facets of business into culminating deliverables. I also believe that the college significantly stresses the importance of work experience.”

“We consulted for a real-life company and helped them kick start their social media campaign! Very cool to see us working in the real world while still in school. Invaluable experience.”

“It was the breadth of experience I received that strengthened my career and academic aspirations. I was involved in project work partnering with Atlanta businesses in every single upper level class I took, and I benefited from that work in more ways than I can count.”

THE BEST UNDERGRADUATE BUSINESS SCHOOLS

37

2110 SPEEDWAY, STOP B6000, AUSTIN, TX 78712 ADMISSIONS OFFICE: 512-475-7399

university of texas at austin

C $122,960 In-State Total Cost

freshman

Year When Students Declare Their Majors

19.1%

Acceptance Rate

1378

Average SAT

3.7%

International Students

29.7%

Underrepresent Minorities

88.3%

Class of 2020 accepting jobs 90 days after graduation

POETSANDQUANTSFORUNDERGRADS.COM

onsistency has been key for the McCombs School of Business at the University of Texas-Austin, which has placed 11th in our rankings of Best Undergraduate Business Schools for three straight years. McCombs got slightly more selective with admissions this year at an acceptance rate of 19.08% for students entering Fall 2020, down almost 4% for students entering in 2019. The average SAT score stayed relatively the same at 1378 this year. And 89.79% came from the top 10 percentile of their high school class, almost a 10% increase from last year.

Best known for its undergraduate accounting program, McCombs offers a comprehensive business education with a variety of experiential learning opportunities and strong faculty support and mentorship.

And with a public school price tag, the McCombs education is certainly a strong contender for both value and quality, especially for Texas residents.

McCombs undergraduates can choose from 10 different majors including: Accounting, Canfield Business Honors Program (BHP), Finance, Integrated Masters in Professional Accounting (IMPA), International Business, Management, Management Information Systems (MIS), Marketing, Science and Technology Management (STM), and Supply Chain Management.

Students can also customize their degree with a McCombs certificate in Business & Public Policy, Energy Management, Undergraduate Real Estate, Global Management, Business of Healthcare, or Risk Management.

Accounting is one of McCombs’ strongest programs. Students who choose to pursue a BBA in Accounting will start their first year in general education courses then begin taking more accounting-focused courses in their second year. For more ambitious students, the Integrated Masters in Professional Accounting (IMPA) program is a five year undergraduate/graduate program that allows McCombs students to graduate with both a Bachelor in Business Administration and a Master in Professional Accounting. Students interested in this track can apply at the end of their sophomore year.

75% SAY THEY ENGAGED IN SIGNATURE EXPERIENCE The McCombs education offers a hands-on learning experience where students can apply their studies in real-world situations. Roughly 75% of 2018 alumni surveyed by Poets&Quants report participating in at least one “signature experience” that was a key part of their business education. “My coursework was heavy on case studies that helped me do well on project management tasks at my job,” one 2018 alumni told us.

Many alumni pointed to the capstone courses as an integral component of their McCombs education. Through these capstone

university of texas at austin courses, students can take on real-world applications and gain valuable experience that is relevant to their career.

“Our capstone connects us with a local business to complete a semester-long consulting project from start to finish,” one 2018 alumni told us. “We conduct interviews, gather requirements, create a project timeline and plan, code a product, and launch it with the client. Our client was highly satisfied and it made a major impact on their business.”

“Capstone project involving financial analysis of a company (financial statements, company, industry, and macro outlook, stock performance and analyst consensus estimates, financing needs, etc.) is key to what I do everyday in my career as a financial analyst focused on M&A,” another 2018 alumni told us. “I haven’t heard yet of any one of my peers getting the type of in-depth experience and guidance that I got in my Financial Analysis and Financial Statement Analysis classes at McCombs.”

Alumni also highlight the style of teaching at McCombs as one that gives them the right amount of both mentorship and freedom.

“For my Marketing capstone, we were given the freedom to choose any company we wanted and ‘consult’ them on their marketing strategy,” one 2018 alumni explained. “Though this prompt was extremely broad, our professor made time to sit down with our teams every month to strategize and mentor us on direction. We were given complete freedom, but also helpful support to succeed, which allowed us to learn through a bit of floundering (the best way to learn), as well as freely offered professional expertise.”

When asked how they would rate the quality of teaching in business courses, McCombs alumni gave a strong 9.2 average rating. Alumni also gave high remarks — a 9.3 average rating — for the availability of McCombs faculty or informal discussions and mentorship.

WHAT ALUMNI SAY “Business Capstone class allowed us to develop our own product, research how to promote the product, find our target audience, and where to place it by creating a marketing plan to kick start the business.”

“We had a capstone group project where we partnered with Texas Parks and wildlife to create a tool that visualized the water flows for the rivers/streams etc in the state.

Was a fascinating preview of how agile development worked.”

“Our capstone course was in-depth in finance and provided us with real-world case studies to employ everything we had learned up to that point previously in a real-world business-like setting. My professor had industry experience, was a great teacher and mentor, and was always available to help with the class, or with anything in life.”

EMPLOYMENT OUTCOMES Internship and employment outcomes were slightly lower this year when compared to 2019, though this can likely be attributed to the COVID-19 economic downturn. Some 85% of the Class of 2020 landed a business-focused internship before graduation with 88.27% being employed full-time by the time of graduation. The Class of 2020 saw a slightly higher average starting salary at $70,455 compared to last year’s average of $67,918.

Overall, McCombs is the ideal fit for students interested in pursuing a career in accounting with plentiful opportunities to engage in real-world learning and a faculty that goes above and beyond in mentorship and support. But besides marketing, McCombs sits minutes from downtown Austin, which is rapidly becoming one of the most exciting American cities for young professionals. A vibrant music and food scene combined with many tech and other established firms, Austin boasts a great opportunity for a solid work-life balance.

THE BEST UNDERGRADUATE BUSINESS SCHOOLS

39

ONE BROOKINGS DRIVE, ST. LOUIS, MO 63130 ADMISSIONS OFFICE: 314-935-6000

Washington University In St. Louis

A $293,001 In-State Total Cost

freshman

Year When Students Declare Their Majors

14.3%

Acceptance Rate

1511

Average SAT

3%

International Students

19%

Underrepresent Minorities

91.4%

Class of 2020 accepting jobs 90 days after graduation

POETSANDQUANTSFORUNDERGRADS.COM

fter debuting at No. 1 in our first ranking of undergraduate business programs five years ago, the Olin Business School at Washington University in St. Louis has slowly been sliding down the rankings. That trend continued this year as the school feel out of the top-10 for the first time in the short history of these rankings, landing at 12th this year.

Dropping five places from last year’s spot at number seven, Olin had a slightly higher acceptance rate this year of 14.26% — roughly three percentage points higher than 2019. The average SAT score stayed relatively the same at 1511 and the percentage of students coming from the top 10th percentile of their high school class dropped from 91% to 88%.

But don’t let that fool you. Despite falling in our rankings this year, the Olin school still offers a quality business education that is characterized by strong global study programs and a values-based approach to business. Olin has placed first in our entrepreneurship ranking the past two years. And it rests in an interesting spot in a revitalized Midwestern city with a lot of startup, tech, and entrepreneurial momentum.

OVER 60% OF STUDENTS HAVE AN OVERSEAS EXPERIENCE While the Olin Business School itself is located in St. Louis, Missouri, the education itself is truly global. With over 60% of students having an overseas experience, Olin is dedicated to offering a business education with a global perspective.

To ensure that global perspective, all Olin undergraduates starting in the fall of 2021 will need to fulfill the new “Global Mindset” degree requirement, a framework designed to ensure every undergraduate can gain international business experience — whether or not they travel abroad.

The Olin curriculum already features 11 courses that offer a significant global business component, which we define as at least a third of the coursework. Additionally, students have access to 175 semester abroad opportunities with 19 of them being business-specific. One 2018 alumni told us they spent one semester in Madrid and another in Copenhagen.

“The approach to learning and the role of higher education was so drastically different in each country that I feel like I gained a greater appreciation for both inside and outside of the classroom learning opportunities,” the alum said.

Another 2018 alumni studied in both Tel Aviv and Paris.

“My Tel Aviv experience was a six week summer program with a small group of students that focused on entrepreneurship and startup culture,” the alum told us. “There was no better place to have hands-on experience working towards building your own idea. My semester in Paris was focused on International Business and the French language.”

Washington University In St. Louis VALUES-BASED EDUCATION The Olin curriculum is designed to give students a holistic, values-based education. One that gives them a strong foundation in business, but also an understanding of aspects outside of their world of business too. Olin students are required to complete at least 40% of their classes in areas other than business.

Some 70% of surveyed 2018 alumni reported engaging in a “signature experience” like project work, simulations, a global immersion, experiential learning, senior thesis, or capstone project.

What makes these experiences unique to Olin is that many are rooted in the idea of using business to create social change in real communities.

One of the most popular experiences is the Taylor Community Consulting Program, which matches Olin students with nonprofits in need of fresh perspectives and actionable recommendations.

Teams of two to four students are assigned to a six-week project and each student must contribute at least 75 hours of work. The students conclude the project with a final presentation. Through these projects, students gain experience in a variety of management functions including market research, brand auditing, strategic planning, and financial and operational assessment — all while making a real social impact.

“Taylor Community Consulting provided me insight on how business practices are crucial for social impact and led me to join Teach for America after graduation instead of consulting,” one 2018 alumni told us.

These experiences also help students build important soft skills such as verbal and written communication skills, adaptability, delegation, and time management. 2018 alumni rated Olin’s ability to nurture and improve their soft skills in business relatively strong at an 8.8 average rating.

WHAT ALUMNI SAY “My final econ & strategy class was a great experience working with real world clients in groups of 5 where we would meet a client, get a data dump, ask questions and then work towards a recommendation and final presentation to the client.”

“Did a summer abroad with the Dean of the undergraduate business school immersed in the startup nation of Tel Aviv. I not only learned about the country but experienced it firsthand. Learned about Madagascar and economic development in class then traveled to the community to put our knowledge to the test. We had to adapt to new cultures based on information we couldn’t have predicted from our outsider perspective.”

“I participated in two abroad programs one of which was an entrepreneurial summer program in Israel and one was a semester abroad taking classes and interning in London. Israel allowed me to learn more about starting a business and how Israel is a hub for innovation. London was a great opportunity to work in another country and broaden my work experience while still taking meaningful courses.”

EMPLOYMENT OUTCOMES Both internship and employment outcomes for Olin graduates are strong. Some 97.4% of the Class of 2020 secured an internship before graduation and 91.43% landed a full-time position within three months after graduation. Those starting full-time positions reported an average starting salary of $76,183, one of the highest this year. Additionally, alumni gave a positive response to Olin’s ability to get them into their intended career with 88% of surveyed 2018 alumni saying their first job after graduating was in their desired industry and 75.51% reporting that their first job was at their desired company.

With a curriculum that’s grounded in teaching values and offering a global perspective, the Olin Business School truly delivers a strong, modern-day business education. Olin students get the opportunity to earn a strong business education in an urban Midwestern setting.

THE BEST UNDERGRADUATE BUSINESS SCHOOLS

41

800 E. LANCASTER AVE, VILLANOVA, PA 19085 ADMISSIONS OFFICE: 610-519-3013

Villanova University

T $289,740 In-State Total Cost

freshman

Year When Students Declare Their Majors

25%

Acceptance Rate

1410

Average SAT

2.1%

International Students

30.4%

Underrepresent Minorities

92.2%

Class of 2020 accepting jobs 90 days after graduation

POETSANDQUANTSFORUNDERGRADS.COM

he Villanova School of Business (VSB) earned No. 13 in this year’s rankings. Villanova’s acceptance rate was capped at 24.95% this year with students entering in Fall 2020 reporting an average SAT score of 1410. Some 70.73% of that incoming class came from the top 10th percentile of their high school class.

As a Catholic university, Villanova is founded in Augustinian values of community and leading with service. The Villanova business education is one that embraces these values while preparing students with the skills needed to become future business leaders.

CURRICULUM Almost half of the required courses VSB students take come from the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. By requiring students to take courses outside business, VSB ensures that its students are gaining the fundamental values that the university as a whole embraces. VSB students begin taking business courses in their freshman year and continue through core requirements during sophomore year. In their junior and senior years, VSB students focus on their major and minor coursework. Much of the core curriculum is designed to give students an understanding of not only business skills, but the societal values that help drive business.

One such course is “Business Dynamics,” a required first-year course that emphasizes the purpose of business within society. Through the course, VSB students gain an understanding of the global, political, ethical, and technological dimensions of business.

VSB alumni rate the quality of teaching in business courses strongly with a 9.0 average rating. With small class sizes, VSB also ensures its students are getting the support they need. When asked how they would rate VSB faculty availability for informal discussions and mentorship outside of class, 2018 alumni gave a strong 9.4 average rating.

BACKPACK TO BRIEFCASE VSB offers a number of experiential learning opportunities for students to gain necessary business skills. One example is the “Backpack to Briefcase” (B2B) initiative, a program that integrates career development into the core business curriculum throughout the students’ four-year education. B2B is designed to give students opportunities to not only learn about business skills, but apply those skills in simulated real-world situations.

“Backpack to Briefcase during the 4 years helped with transition to the workplace,” one 2018 alumni told us. “It had case studies and prepared you for business writing and interviewing.”

Another 2018 alumni highlighted the practical experience they gained

Villanova University through B2B. “You were assigned random groups on a Wednesday/Thursday night and given a case which you had to prepare & present a pitch on Saturday morning to judges,” the alumni said. “There was a Q&A session and everyone in the group was required to speak during the presentation.”

More than 50% of VSB students study abroad at least once. VSB’s international opportunities enable its students to gain a deeper appreciation for different cultures and societies — a prime example of just another way that VSB delivers a business education that is founded on values.

A VSB student can choose to co-major/minor in International Business, where he or she learns how to manage and communicate across cultures or even take part in the Global Citizens Program, a 16-week overseas study experience that combines academic coursework with a practical internship located in either London or Singapore. All of these types of programs are designed to give students a different perspective to the world of business.

“At the business school, we were encouraged to take up minors/ more majors to diversify our resume and broaden our learning,” one 2018 alumni told us. “As early as my freshman year, I studied abroad in Spain to take up a Spanish minor. I was placed in a home stay with a family from Spain, and only spoke Spanish throughout the duration of the trip. It challenged me mentally, emotionally, and intellectually, but it broadened me culturally and helped me get out of my comfort zone to take risks.”

Another 2018 alumni highlighted their study abroad experience in Cambridge, England, where he studied at the University of Cambridge in an interdisciplinary program focused on politics, philosophy, and economics. “It was an invaluable experience to apply my business education from Villanova to a more seminar style/socratic method of teaching at Cambridge,” he told us.

EMPLOYMENT OUTCOMES VSB students are well-prepared for their careers with 97.96% of the graduating Class of 2020 securing a business-focused internship before graduation and 92.16% landing a full-time position within three months of graduation. And alumni view their VSB education as playing an integral role in helping them achieve their career goals. When asked to rate how instrumental their VSB degree was in helping them reach their dream career, 2018 alumni gave a strong 9.1 average rating. Alumni also attributed their ability to climb to a new socioeconomic status to their VSB education giving the degree a strong 9.0 average rating.

Overall, the VSB education is one that embraces Villanova’s Augustinian values and develops business leaders who not only know the skills of running and leading business, but the ethics that drive society as well. No doubt, Villanova is in a crowded undergraduate business education market in Philadelphia. But the school holds its own against its fellow Philly-based Ivy League business school, Wharton.

WHAT ALUMNI SAY “In my sophomore year, I studied abroad in Urbino, Italy and had the opportunity to take a required business course aboard.

The course is a 6 credit course that focuses on management and marketing. As part of the course, our class had the opportunity to work with a local Italian small business and help the company come up with a 60 page marketing plan which includes customer segmentation, competitive analysis of various regions in the U.S., among others.

This experience provided me a lot of exposure as I not only had a chance to work directly with an external client and present our findings to the client, but I also found it a valuable experience being able to learn about an Italian business and work in a different cultural setting with my team members. It was fun, exciting, new and a worthwhile experience.”

“Worked with IKEA to develop a marketing plan tied to an assignment they shared with the class at the start of the semester. Presented to IKEA executives at the end of the semester. Content learned throughout the course greatly added value to our deliverable at the end of the semester.”

“The business school had a required class in which students would compete in teams of 10 to solve real-world business issues, with frequent contact from actual members of the company. Students would have the opportunity to present solutions at the end of the semester. The course gave me invaluable real-world experience while still in school and established my base network in the business world.”

THE BEST UNDERGRADUATE BUSINESS SCHOOLS

43

1834 WAKE FOREST RD, WINSTON-SALEM, NC 27109 ADMISSIONS OFFICE: 336-758-7019

Wake Forest University

W $292,430 In-State Total Cost

Junior

Year When Students Declare Their Majors

29%

Acceptance Rate

N/A

Average SAT

10.5%

International Students

8.8%

Underrepresent Minorities

94.7%

Class of 2020 accepting jobs 90 days after graduation

POETSANDQUANTSFORUNDERGRADS.COM

ake Forest University’s School of Business placed at number 37 in this year’s rankings, which was a 15 place drop from last year’s 22nd rank. Wake Forest had an acceptance rate of 29% this year, in line with 2019. While Wake Forest reported an average SAT score range between 1330-1460 for this year’s incoming class, the school did not provide an actual average SAT score so did not receive points for that category, which is why the school fell in the rankings.

Despite that, Wake Forest definitely still offers a quality business education that is characterized by cross-functional learning and strong career advising support.

CROSS-FUNCTIONAL, REAL-WORLD EDUCATION Wake Forest business students can choose from four majors including Accountancy, Business Enterprise Management, Finance, and Mathematical Business. Roughly 71% of alumni surveyed reported engaging in at least one “signature experience” whether through project work, simulations, or a capstone. At Wake Forest, many of these learning experiences tie in an element of cross-functional collaboration and learning.

For instance, the senior project consists of a hands-on simulation where students “run” a company from initial R&D to sales, operations, marketing, and finance.

“It was a true culmination of our entire undergraduate curriculum and required team collaboration of ‘SMEs’ as we had teams comprised of finance, business management, accounting, and mathematical business [students] similar to executive team makeups,” one 2018 alumni told us.

“The experience was unique in the fact that it truly simulated a business in that each group member was from each business program major,” another 2018 alumni said in regards to the senior project.

“Everyone offered their expert opinions like departments in a company.”

This type of cross-functional collaboration is key to the business education at Wake Forest. By working across different disciplines, Wake Forest students get a taste of what the real business world is like — giving them a leg up in experience by the time they graduate.

And alumni rate their business education highly. When asked to evaluate how well Wake Forest’s business program prepared them for the world of work, 2018 alumni gave a strong 9.3 average rating. Alumni also rated the Wake Forest degree’s value in terms of cost in time and resources at a strong 9.4 average rating. Overall, Wake Forest placed 10th in the Academic Experience category.

“I believe the accounting and finance program at my school was instrumental in my preparation for my current role and I always see resemblances in the learning curriculum with the actual work,” one 2018 alumni told us.

Wake Forest University STRONG CAREER ADVISING SUPPORT Wake Forest invests heavily in resources to ensure its students are supported in achieving their career goals and interests. One of the newest additions to the business program is the Pre-Wall Street Career Track. The program is essentially a comprehensive education for careers in investment banking, asset management, sales and trading, and private equity. Independent of their major study, the Pre-Wall Street Career Track includes targeted coursework, mentoring and coaching, experiential learning, and networking opportunities.

In addition to career track programs, the Wake Forest faculty is dedicated to mentoring and supporting each student in discovering their career interests.

One 2018 alumni highlighted her experience as a teaching assistant for an MBA Global Immersion Course, where she, the professor, and class traveled to Nicaragua to teach local business owners about marketing, operations, and finance — a rare opportunity she credits in large part to her adviser.

“My School of Business adviser suggested me to the professor who taught the course due to my high GPA in my Spanish and business school classes,” the 2018 alumni told us. “Without that referral, I would not have experienced such an amazing opportunity.”

Overall, 2018 alumni rated the effectiveness of Wake Forest’s career advising highly, giving it an 8.8 average rating. When asked to rate Wake Forest faculty availability for informal discussions and mentoring outside of class, 2018 alumni gave a strong 9.6 average rating.

Any B-school can offer career advising or specialized career training and support. But the testimonials and ratings from alumni speak volumes about Wake Forest’s dedication to ensuring each and every student receives the proper resources and support they need to achieve their career goals.

EMPLOYMENT OUTCOMES In terms of employment outcomes, Wake Forest students are wellprepared for the world of work. Some 91% of the Class of 2020 had a business-focused internship before graduating and 94.74% secured a full-time position within three months of graduation. Additionally, an overwhelming 94.29% of surveyed 2018 alumni reported that their first job after graduating was in their desired industry with 82.86% saying that job was at their desired company.

With its cross-functional education and supportive career advising resources, Wake Forest University’s School of Business ensures each and every student not only discovers his or her true calling, but succeeds in it as well.

WHAT ALUMNI SAY “We had multiple different types of simulation or case studies available to us, either via the capstone project, case competitions setup by other companies and other types of case studies in classes.”

“I went on a global immersion business course in Barcelona at the Autonomous University of Barcelona. There, I got firsthand insight on the cultural distinctions of doing business in other countries, and achieved a heightened international perspective of finance outside the confines of the United States. Learning about how corporations in Europe can survive, even succeed in the context of corporate social responsibility beyond anything executed back home, and getting to work alongside professors of practice from Wake Forest and abroad gave me a litany of perspectives that have helped me succeed in my career to this day.”

“Wake Forest University opened my eyes to what it meant to learn wholeheartedly through different facets. My experience taught me how to be an adult, how to see the world for what it is and question what it should be, how to give back to the world of business. I am thankful for my experience and the professors that invested in me intentionally throughout my 2 years there.”

THE BEST UNDERGRADUATE BUSINESS SCHOOLS

45

321 19TH AVENUE SOUTH, MINNEAPOLIS, MN 55455 ADMISSIONS OFFICE: 612-626-1693

University Of Minnesota

T $120,312 In-State Total Cost

freshman

Year When Students Declare Their Majors

29.3%

Acceptance Rate

1369

Average SAT

2.4%

International Students

6.9%

Underrepresent Minorities

98.1%

Class of 2020 accepting jobs 90 days after graduation

POETSANDQUANTSFORUNDERGRADS.COM

he Carlson School of Management at the University of Minnesota was one of our biggest positive movers in this year’s ranking.

Carlson surged nine spots from last year to land at No. 14 this year, thanks to some strong admissions standards. For students entering this fall, Carlson had an acceptance rate of 29.32% and an average SAT score of 1369. Nearly 55% of entering freshmen came from the top 10th percentile of their high school class.

Despite the COVID-19 economic downturn, 98.08% of 2020 Carlson grads still managed to secure a full-time position by graduation — an impressive stat that was second among all 93 ranked schools this year and ahead of many top 10 B-schools like New York University, Georgetown, the University of Michigan, and Wharton. Much of that success likely comes down to the “in-action” learning approach at Carlson, its unique location, and the global business component.

“IN-ACTION” LEARNING Carlson students hit the ground running in their first-year with two management courses. In their second year, students go into the Immersion Core, a set of four courses that teach how business works cross-functionally in the fields of finance, marketing, operations, and strategy. Carlson students can choose from 10 majors including: Accounting, Entrepreneurial Management, Finance, Finance & Risk Management Insurance, Human Resources and Industrial Relations, International Business, Management Information Systems - MIS, Marketing, Public & Nonprofit Management, and Supply Chain and Operations Management.

What makes the Carlson education stand out is the “in-action” approach that many courses offer. Those courses provide students with hands-on, real-world experiential learning experiences to apply their studies and bolster their skills. “I took a marketing analytics class that had a different simulation every week,” one 2018 alumni told us. “It helped me hone in on my problem solving skills and ability to think quickly on my feet.”

Another example of “in-action” learning is the Enterprise Program, which brings together MBA and select undergraduate students to address real-world client challenges. Students can choose from four different Enterprise Programs including Brand Enterprise, Consulting Enterprise, Funds Enterprise, and Ventures Enterprise.

“The Enterprise Program in particular gave unique access to staff, faculty, graduate students, and professionals that enriched my undergraduate experience that I otherwise would not have had,” one 2018 alumni said.

“I participated in the Carlson Funds Enterprise where we managed, alongside a faculty director and fellow students, a small and mid cap

University of Minnesota growth equity portfolio of ~$20 million,” another 2018 alumni told us.

A RICH BUSINESS HUB Carlson leverages its unique location of being in a major metropolitan area to offer its students the signature “in-action” learning experiences. Minneapolis is home to 16 Fortune 500 companies, diverse industries, a robust entrepreneurial and nonprofit community, and a variety of small, medium, and large businesses. And Carlson students have access to this rich hub of business through their courses and initiatives such as the Enterprise Program.

“I worked with a small, start-up company as part of a capstone project,” one 2018 alumni told us. “We got to tackle a real-world issue that management was facing. They even offered us an internship opportunity post graduation.”

“The Consulting Enterprise introduced me to actual Fortune 500 clients and provided me with the opportunity to advise them on key strategy cases (go-to-market strategy, pricing strategy, etc.),” another 2018 alumni said.

Additionally, Carlson ensures every student utilizes its expansive business network through the required “Business Communications” course, where students participate in a consulting project with corporate partners such as Deloitte and Target.

GLOBAL REQUIREMENT Business is a global industry. To ensure all students are prepared for that reality, Carlson requires all undergraduates to complete an international experience. From Brazil to Cambodia, Carlson students have access to a variety of destinations where they can immerse themselves in unique cultures and learn about business from a multi-view perspective.

“I participated in a Behavioral Finance global immersion trip that allowed me to understand the topic from both a local and global market perspective,” one 2018 alumni told us. “The ability to engage with various professionals internationally was a unique and eyeopening experience into the world of behavioral finance and the Efficient-Market Hypothesis.”

“I studied abroad in Brussels, the capital of the EU,” another 2018 alumni told us. “It gave me immeasurable benefits by exposing me to how non-US businesses operate, and specifically for my marketing degree, how to build an international strategy and communicate to very different markets around the globe.”

The “in-action” learning approach at Carlson coupled with the school’s rich local business hub and international experience requirement ensure that its students are set up for success. If you prefer learning by doing and traveling the world to learn about business, then Carlson is the right match for you.

WHAT ALUMNI SAY “I spent a semester abroad in Kenya and the experience was so unique because I spent time both studying in the classroom, and interning with an organization in a more rural area, all while living with host families.

The Carlson School has a requirement for all students to complete a global immersion program, and I credit that with pushing me to seriously consider study abroad programs and find the most engaging experience for myself.”

“Corporate sustainability trip to Costa Rica exposed me to how businesses like Starbucks and dole operate and the resources it takes to grow bananas and coffee while keeping the environment healthy and intact for future generations. It was unique in that not many trips go to Costa Rica and not many students get to experience going to coffee and banana farms of small and large sizes. It makes you realize the work that goes into the simple groceries or your cup of coffee from your local cafe.”

“For our MIS Capstone, we were able to work with a local business in the Minneapolis area to help improve a real process and increase their revenue. This felt very similar to the client projects and engagements I encounter in my job today. It made everything I had learned to that point applicable.”

THE BEST UNDERGRADUATE BUSINESS SCHOOLS

47

101 UKROP WAY, WILLIAMSBURG, VA 23186 ADMISSIONS OFFICE: 757-221-2910

The College Of William & Mary

A $160,560 In-State Total Cost

Junior

Year When Students Declare Their Majors

26%

Acceptance Rate

1386

Average SAT

6.7%

International Students

10%

Underrepresent Minorities

97.5%

Class of 2020 accepting jobs 90 days after graduation

POETSANDQUANTSFORUNDERGRADS.COM

fter a small dip outside of the top-15, the Mason School of Business at The College of William & Mary returned, coming in 15th this year. The Virginia-based business school ranked 12th in 2019 and then improved six spots from last year’s 21st place finish. With a slightly more selective acceptance rate this year of 25.98%, Mason’s incoming 2020 class had an average SAT of 1386 and 75% came from the top 10th percentile of their high school class.

The Mason experience is characterized best by its personalized curriculum design, a strong community of support, and plenty of opportunities for hands-on learning. Mason’s education is highly customizable and designed to cater to individual goals and interests.

The Individual Program of Study (IPS) allows students to either major or minor in business, double major or minor within the Arts & Sciences, or study two different business fields through a concentration. Available majors to Mason undergrads include Accounting, Business Analytics, Finance, Marketing, and Supply Chain Analytics.

All Mason undergrads take the Core Curriculum, which is structured by prerequisites, an Integrated Foundation Semester, and upper-level core courses.

SUPPORTIVE COMMUNITY One of the strengths of the Mason education is its people. When asked how they would appraise Mason’s efforts to connect them with practicing professionals, including the alumni network, in the business community, 2018 alumni gave a strong 9.2 average rating.

While every school has support initiatives in place to connect its students with alumni and resources, however at Mason, students are given a system of support that goes above and beyond.

One key example is The Alan B. Miller Entrepreneurship Center, which offers education and support for students interested in entrepreneurship. Through the center, Mason students can attend events, get one-on-one entrepreneurship mentoring, seed funding for ideas, and even first dibs on internships.

“The William & Mary Entrepreneurship Center was a game-changer,” one 2018 alum told us in the alumni survey. “It provided broad guidance into entrepreneurial thinking and empowered me to have a headstart in the working world compared to my peers. It also enabled me to find the job of my dreams at Oracle and provide the continuing support to co-found my own entrepreneurial venture. I am continually thankful I had the life-changing experience of W&M’s business education broadly and the entrepreneurship center specifically to set me on my current trajectory.”

Advising support is strong at Mason as well, with 2018 alumni giving a 9.0 average rating for the B-school’s effectiveness of both academic and

The College of William & Mary career advising.

HANDS-ON LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES Mason students also have a number of opportunities for hands-on learning. And while these types of opportunities are a given now at most B-schools, Mason graduates, in particular, speak highly of the B-school’s ability to foster a true sense of teamwork and real-world applications.

“The emphasis on teamwork is by far the most important skill I learned at William & Mary,” one 2018 alum told us. “Almost every business school class [at Mason] requires a team project and you learn how to work with others to be able to succeed.”

Another 2018 alumni spoke highly about the “Applied Financial Concepts” course, where students engage in a number of real-world financial case studies.

“We were taught the case studies by true financial professionals, experts in their respective fields, who judged our case findings constructively and in a way that prepared me for the business world in a way no other class did,” the alum told us. “I had the opportunity to produce financial models both from scratch and from templates, and to develop presentation decks that parallel those I create now in my corporate finance role. These types of classes and the engagement of the professional world by our professors are what made the Mason School of Business a differentiated experience.”

WHAT ALUMNI SAY “We had a week-long simulation where we worked in teams to make business decisions.

The teams were used throughout all of our core courses and we were able to learn all aspects of business together and how to fit as a team.”

“We ran a team business simulation in our cohort that mirrored what it was like to start a business and make strategic decisions at an executive level. That has been instrumental in my career so far.”

“I participated in a Special Topics course on Risk Management that opened my eyes to the field and sparked my interest in it. This eventually led to me pursuing a career in risk management consulting.”

EMPLOYMENT OUTCOMES The Mason education proves valuable when looking at the employment outcomes for its graduates. Some 95% of the Class of 2020 had a business-focused internship before graduation and 97.5% secured a full-time position within three months of graduating, beating out top-10 B-schools like in-state competitor, the University of Virginia’s McIntire School of Commerce and the University of Notre Dame’s Mendoza College of Business The school was able to get its graduates jobs they desired as well with 78.95% of surveyed 2018 alumni saying their first job after graduating was in their desired industry and 76.32% saying that job was at their desired company.

The Mason School features a unique B-school education that offers personalized study, a strong community of support, and handson learning opportunities with an emphasis on teamwork. As a public university in Virginia, in-state residents will spend less than $100K on tuition over four years. Combine that with an average starting salary of nearly $70K among recent graduates with fulltime employment, and the Mason School provides one of the better returns on investment among all schools in this year’s ranking.

THE BEST UNDERGRADUATE BUSINESS SCHOOLS

49

1300 CLIFTON RD ATLANTA, GA 30322 ADMISSIONS OFFICE: 404-727-2713

Emory University

T $291,856 In-State Total Cost

Junior

Year When Students Declare Their Majors

17.7%

Acceptance Rate

1440

Average SAT

12%

International Students

20%

Underrepresent Minorities

85%

Class of 2020 accepting jobs 90 days after graduation

he Goizueta Business School at Emory University has been one of the most consistent schools in our ranking over the past five years.

Since then, Goizueta has landed right around 15th each year and has been 16th the past two years now.

The Atlanta-based business school is one of few remaining two-year undergraduate programs in which students have to gain admissions to Emory as freshmen and then apply again to the Goizueta School as sophomores. Combining those two acceptance rates, this year’s incoming class of students overcame an acceptance rate of 17.79% and boasted an average SAT score of 1440 with 70% coming from the top 10th percentile of their high school class.

Goizueta students have access to the rich cultural hub of Atlanta, home to several Fortune 500 companies and dynamic startups. Through a number of experiential learning courses, Goizueta students are given a variety of opportunities to apply their studies to solve real-world issues and leave a positive impact.

A CULTURAL HUB As a two-year program, students spend the first two years of their undergraduate education fulfilling liberal arts requirements before officially starting business courses. Once in the business school, the Goizueta curriculum requires students to complete at least one primary “area of depth.”

Areas of depth include: Accounting, Finance, Information Systems & Operations Management, Marketing, and Strategy & Management Consulting. Each area of depth consists of a set of core courses and four electives. About 27% of Goizueta’s graduating class earns a second major at Emory University and 10% choose to pursue a joint concentration in liberal arts.

Goizueta’s home base of Atlanta offers students unique access to a hub of innovative and dynamic companies from Fortune 500 brands to startups. When asked how they would appraise Goizueta’s efforts to connect them with practicing professionals in the business community, 2018 alumni gave an 8.6 average rating.

Whether through internships or coursework, Goizueta students have a number of opportunities to work with real companies and make meaningful connections. “For my business valuation class, I was given a chance to pitch to a real-world startup to help them with their funding needs from VC,” one 2018 alumni told us.

“I partnered with CocaCola to consult with large, multinational corporations on integrated marketing campaigns,” another 2018 alumni said.

REAL-WORLD IMPACT

POETSANDQUANTSFORUNDERGRADS.COM

Emory university Learning by doing is an important component of business education. Goizueta alumni rated the business program’s ability to prepare them for the world of work positively with an 8.8 average rating. When it comes to nurturing soft skills such as verbal and written communication skills, adaptability, delegation, and time management, 2018 alumni gave a strong 9.3 average rating.

Many B-schools offer hands-on learning experiences for their students, but few can attest to the impact of that experience on both students and the clients or communities they serve. Goizueta alumni highlighted several experiences where they applied their studies in real world situations to make a positive impact.

“I was able to take a management consulting class that helped prepare me for a career in consulting,” one 2018 alumni told us.

“We worked with a nonprofit client to solve one of their business challenges regarding deciding whether or not to launch an app.

The experience was unique because it provided the students with a hands-on learning opportunity, and the client with research and practical recommendations.”

“Our capstone project replicated real world business issues and problems,” another 2018 alumni told us. “We were not viewed as students, but as an integral part of coming up with a real solution.

“I took a social enterprise course where our class traveled to Nicaragua to learn more about how entrepreneurs applied business principles in their efforts to achieve meaningful societal impact in a region with a variety of developmental challenges,” the alumni said. “We visited a coffee farm, garment factory, hammock shop, and after-school coding program, to name a few.”

WHAT ALUMNI SAY “Consulted with local small businesses and nonprofits as class work and extracurricular, solving real problems for real business owners.”

“I conducted an independent study project with one of my business professors (Tom Smith in the Finance department). He taught me in the Sports Finance course. I enjoyed the experience and subject matter so much that I expanded a project from that course into a semester-long research project. He was an incredible mentor and phenomenal resource throughout that process.”

“Putting us in the shoes of strategic managers making difficult decisions allowed me to appreciate the difficulties required in every aspect of a business, and allowed me to learn how to attempt to make certain decisions.”

EMPLOYMENT OUTCOMES Being in Atlanta, it’s not surprising Goizueta students have strong employment outcomes year after year. An overwhelming 95.24% of 2018 alumni report that their first job after graduating was in their desired industry with 84% saying that job was at their desired company. Some 96% of the Class of 2020 secured a business-focused internship before graduation and 85% had a full-time position by the time of graduation.

Although this year saw a near 10% drop in employment from last year, that can likely be attributed to the COVID-19 economic downturn which has had an effect on employment at nearly every school.

Overall, the Goizueta education offers students unique access to the rich cultural hub of Atlanta and a variety of opportunities to apply their business skills and make a real impact on the world around them. Goizueta is in an interestingly competitive B-school market with Georgia Tech’s Scheller College and the University of Georgia’s Terry School also being in the region. But students looking for an established and traditional B-school setting with a flair for entrepreneurship and innovation, should definitely consider Emory’s Goizueta School.

THE BEST UNDERGRADUATE BUSINESS SCHOOLS

51

515 E GREGORY DR., CHAMPAIGN, IL 61820 ADMISSIONS OFFICE: 217-244-2595

University Of Illinois At Urbana-Champaign

T $134,168 In-State Total Cost

Freshman

Year When Students Declare Their Majors

44.1%

Acceptance Rate

1374

Average SAT

8.4%

International Students

14.2%

Underrepresent Minorities

94.4%

Class of 2020 accepting jobs 90 days after graduation

POETSANDQUANTSFORUNDERGRADS.COM

he Gies College of Business of the University of Illinois at Urbana– Champaign ranked at number 17 this year moving up two spots from last year’s 19 and three up from its 20th-place finish in 2019. This year, Gies had an acceptance rate of 44.06%, roughly two percentage points higher than last year. The average SAT score for this past fall’s incoming class was 1374 with an average high school GPA of 3.74.

The Gies College is unique in that it is housed in a major and academically strong university but recently killed its full-time residential MBA program. While the college does have specialized master’s programs, the iMBA and undergraduate programs are the two marquee offerings. Either way, at Gies, undergraduate business students are given opportunities to solve real-world problems by working crossfunctionally and supporting one another along the way.

Gies students have access to eight distinct majors including Information Systems, Finance, Accountancy, Management, Marketing, Operations Management, Strategic Business Development and Entrepreneurship, and Supply Chain Management. Regardless of which major they choose, all Gies undergrads take the Business Core, a select series of courses that offer a foundation in everything from accounting to business policy and strategy.

Overall, Gies alumni have a positive outlook on their education.

When asked to evaluate how well the Gies program prepared them for the world of work, 2018 alumni gave a 9.2 average rating. Alumni also scored the quality of teaching at Gies at a strong 9.0 average rating and the opportunities available to nurture soft skills at a 9.3.

“Every class project was carefully crafted by professors to meet certain objectives — and I appreciate how employers work closely with the professors to design a curriculum that can make every Gies student marketable and well-prepared when they graduate,” one 2018 alumni told us.

CROSS-FUNCTIONAL COLLABORATION The University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign (UIUC) is best known for its prestigious engineering program. And at Gies, business students can tap into that by working alongside their engineering peers through the The Hoeft Technology & Management Program, a joint university minor within Gies College of Business and The Grainger College of Engineering. Interested students apply to the program and are chosen through a selective admissions process that includes an application and three interviews.

Through the program, business and engineering students work crossfunctionally on a capstone project to solve real client issues.

“As a supply chain student, I had the opportunity to collaborate with

University of Illinois At Urbana-Champaign accounting, finance, industrial engineering, aerospace engineering, and chemical engineering students to create a solution for a Fortune 500 company’s problem,” one 2018 alumni told us. “This unique experience effectively taught me how to cross-functionally collaborate with people who attack problems entirely different than I do and examine problems from all perspectives. My team was incredibly stronger because we were bringing together our separate knowledge bases and experiences. I couldn’t have had this experience at any other school; it was a major reason why I chose to attend Gies instead of others I had been admitted into.”

“The signature experience provided me the opportunity to work with corporate sponsors to solve a unique business challenge from both an engineering & business perspective,” another 2018 aluni told us. “This experience allowed me to understand the inner workings of business decision making and the effect that multidisciplinary teams can have on overall business performance.”

The Hoeft Technology & Management Program is a prime example of what makes Gies stand out as a business school. The B-school leverages the talent of the greater UIUC community to enhance the business education and offer students truly unique and collaborative learning experiences.

SUPPORTIVE NETWORK While UIUC is a public university of more than 30,000 undergraduate students, the Gies community is one that is tight-knit and supportive. Whether it’s through mentorship or coursework, students are supported by the Gies community throughout their four-year educational journey.

“The network of professionals are extremely passionate and willing to help guide young students in finding what industry best suits them,” one 2018 alumni told us. “They expend countless time and resources in order to do so. Additionally, the ability to learn from older students through registered student organizations was instrumental to better understand what direction you might want to take your career.”

That sentiment of support and community carries on postgraduation as well. When asked how they would judge the Gies alumni network and connection in helping them throughout their career, 2018 alumni gave a strong 8.8 average rating. Making connections is an integral part of business education. And while networking is not unique to Gies, it seems that the level of support that extends beyond the classroom and even beyond graduation is truly unique to the Gies community.

Gies graduates have strong career outcomes both on the internship and employment front. About 91.5% of the Class of 2020 had a business-focused internship before graduation and 94.44% were employed full-time within three months of graduation.

For those looking for a B-school education that emphasizes crossfunctional collaboration and a tight-knit community of support, the Gies College of Business should definitely be on your list.

Like other major state universities listed on our ranking, the Gies College provides a top-notch business education and true university experience in a college town.

WHAT ALUMNI SAY “Multiple short-term study opportunities, multiple capstone projects for supply chain management and technology management gained so much valuable and tactical work experience.”

“Seniors in the supply chain program must work on a real world consulting project and present our findings to the company, resulting in our final grade. It gave us a great experience that most other students don’t get the opportunity to have.”

“Every student at the Gies College of Business will be given an opportunity to involve themselves in a capstone project.

It was an enjoyable experience backed by tremendous support from alumni and upperclassmen, giving students a real feel of what the business world is like. Having been to several major fintech festivals globally, I feel like the capstone project really exposed me and prepared me well for the business world.”

THE BEST UNDERGRADUATE BUSINESS SCHOOLS

53

360 HUNTINGTON AVE, BOSTON, MA 02115 ADMISSIONS OFFICE: 617-373-2200

Northeastern University

T $289,680 In-State Total Cost

freshman

Year When Students Declare Their Majors

19.5%

Acceptance Rate

1456

Average SAT

27.5%

International Students

18%

Underrepresent Minorities

95.6%

Class of 2020 accepting jobs 90 days after graduation

POETSANDQUANTSFORUNDERGRADS.COM

he D’Amore-McKim School of Business at Northeastern University landed at number 18 in this year’s rankings. While D’Amore-McKim fell three spots from last year, the Boston-based business school still secured a place in the top-20 and is still higher than its 24th finish in 2019. D’Amore-McKim had an acceptance rate this year of 19.53% and average SAT score of 1456, which was relatively on par with admissions last year. Additionally, 55% this year came from the top 10th percentile of their high school class.

The D’Amore-McKim education is best described as one that fuses rigorous academics with experiential and global opportunities that allow students to explore their career interests.

CURRICULUM D’Amore-McKim students have access to 15 total majors including Accounting, Corporate Innovation and Venture, Entrepreneurial Startups, Entrepreneurship and Innovation, Family Business, Finance, Fintech, Global Business and Strategy, Healthcare Management and Consulting, Management, Management Information Systems Marketing, Marketing Analytics, Social Innovation and Entrepreneurship, and Supply Chain Management.

Additionally, students can also choose from a number of combined major offerings such as International Affairs and International Business or Business Administration and Design, to name a few.

As a four-year program, D’Amore-McKim students, regardless of major, all take a set of business core courses that cover the fundamentals of business from financial accounting to marketing.

D’Amore-McKim alumni tend to view their education highly. When asked to evaluate how well D’Amore-McKim prepared them for the world of work, 2018 alumni gave a strong 9.2 average rating.

SIGNATURE CO-OP EXPERIENCE Every D’Amore-McKim student graduates with some form of experiential learning experience. For many, that experience is through the Cooperative Education Program, or Co-op, where students essentially work a paid, full-time job that aligns with their career goals for six-months.

The Co-op program includes a vast number of employer partners located in more than 25 states and around the world. All co-op positions are paid a competitive wage, with many students earning an average salary of $19,000 to $38,000 for their six-months of work.

“This is an extremely unique program whereby students have access to hundreds of companies and available positions or limited terms,” one 2018 alumni told us. “The experience gained in the real work

Northeastern University environments was also always related back to any coursework and experiential learning throughout various business courses; ranging from organizational behavior, entrepreneurship, marketing management, advertising and more.”

Many students take on more than one co-op experience throughout their four years at D’Amore-McKim. “Each of my three co-ops were in a different field, with different levels of responsibility,” one 2018 alumni told us. “During my final co-op at a consulting firm I was treated as a full-fledged employee, with my own client relationships to manage and projects to run on my own.”

While many b-schools offer experiential learning opportunities in the form of project work or simulations, D’Amore-McKim’s Co-op program allows students to get real work experience to bolster their resume before they even graduate.

GLOBAL OPPORTUNITIES D’Amore-McKim students have a number of global opportunities including through a Global Co-op, study abroad programs with partner universities, or one of the many curated programs.

For many college students, studying abroad may not be a feasible option due to the long length of programs, credit requirements, or costs associated with travel. However, at D’Amore-McKim, students have a variety of study abroad options available to them depending on their interests, needs, and goals.

“The business-focused study abroad program in China was a curated experience for me and other Northeastern business students to take required courses in a completely different setting with a relevant and important focus on doing business in China,” one 2018 alumni told us. “I learned so much about how culture and history affects business in only a month and a half.”

“Exceptionally well-developed first semester study abroad opportunities in addition to a huge variety of regular study abroad opportunities at virtually every school,” another 2018 alumni told us. “Top notch advising makes it easy to find matching courses.”

WHAT ALUMNI SAY “The co-op program offered at Northeastern was exceptional and helped me better understand the industry I wanted to work in post-graduation.”

“I had the opportunity to study abroad and work for 6 months full-time in corporate finance at GE and then at a venture capital firm. I also had the opportunity to participate in the on campus accelerator and run the program while I was a student.”

“By applying what I had learned in class during my co-op I was able to to further understand and make connections that not only helped retain that knowledge but also to more deeply understand their importance in the real world. Furthermore, through co-op I was also able to develop business relations that were essential for my career by providing mentorship, other unique experiences such as performing another co-op abroad, and landing a job after graduation.”

EMPLOYMENT OUTCOMES D’Amore-McKim students graduate with strong employment outcomes. Some 98.90% of the Class of 2020 had a business-focused internship before graduation and 95.56% were employed full-time by the time of graduation.

The strong employment outlook for D’Amore-McKim graduates can likely be attributed to the B-school’s comprehensive education of co-op work experience and the variety of global opportunities.

THE BEST UNDERGRADUATE BUSINESS SCHOOLS

55

1309 E. TENTH STREET, HH2030, BLOOMINGTON, IN 47405 ADMISSIONS OFFICE: 812-855-4474

Indiana University

T $104,623 In-State Total Cost

freshman

Year When Students Declare Their Majors

48.8%

Acceptance Rate

1432

Average SAT

9.1%

International Students

8.8%

Underrepresent Minorities

94%

Class of 2020 accepting jobs 90 days after graduation

POETSANDQUANTSFORUNDERGRADS.COM

he Kelley School of Business at Indiana University ranked at No. 19 this year. Falling two places behind from last year’s 17th spot and six spots from 2019’s 13th-place finish, Kelley had an acceptance rate of 50.65% this year with an incoming class that had an average SAT score of 1432 and average high school GPA of 3.92.

Like most year’s Kelley placed well in this ranking based on its stellar performance in the alumni survey, or academic experience, portion of the rankings. Kelley alumni boosted the school to a third-place finish in academic experience, falling only behind Bucknell University and the University of Virginia.

Kelley’s undergraduate business education is best characterized as one that emphasizes professional and leadership development through its comprehensive curriculum and industry-specific workshops.

KELLEY COMPASS Kelley students have access to 18 majors and co-majors including Accounting, Business Analytics, Digital and Social Media Business Applications, Digital Technology Management, Economic Consulting, Entrepreneurship and Corporate Innovation, Finance, Information Systems, International Business, Law, Ethics, and Decision-Making, Management, Marketing, Operations Management, Professional Sales, Public Policy Analysis, Real Estate, Supply Chain Management, and Sustainable Business.

At the core of each of these majors is the Kelley Compass. Often considered the DNA of the Kelley curriculum, Kelley Compass is a set of classes taken once per year during the first three years of the undergraduate education.

The first course is “The Individual,” in which encourages students to better understand themselves by creating a comprehensive and marketready personal-branding deliverable. The second course is “The Team,” in which students collaborate with teammates to construct strategies for real-world problems. Students also develop professional resumes and cover letters through this course.

The third course is “The Business Professional,” in which students learn important skills such as self-awareness, self-management, and leadership. This final course focuses on emotional intelligence and realworld, practical applications.

The Kelley Compass courses are highly characteristic of the type of education and values that Kelley strives to instill in each of its students: One that nurtures both hard and soft skills to develop a nuanced individual, team, and ultimately, business professional.

And many Kelley alumni agree. Surveyed 2018 alumni rated the quality of teaching at Kelley a strong 9.2 average rating. When asked to rate the opportunities offered at Kelley to nurture and develop their soft

Indiana University skills in business such as verbal and written communication skills, adaptability, delegation, and time management, 2018 alumni gave a strong 9.5 average rating.

WORKSHOPS The Kelley education places heavy emphasis on specialized skill development. Students can gain industry-specific knowledge and build in-demand skills by applying to one of Kelley’s 13 workshops that range from investment banking to consulting.

“I was a member of the Investment Banking Workshop during my undergraduate years,” one 2018 alumni told us. “I was facultyselected into an intensive program preparing students to enter the investment banking industry and was trained in fundamental valuation techniques through participation in weekly lectures and Training The Streets seminars.”

Another 2018 alumni highlighted his experience in Kelley’s consulting workshop, where he and a group of 30 students developed the necessary skill sets and network for a career in consulting.

“The experience melded distinctive teaching that provided me a core consulting toolkit, hands-on learning through case studies and case competitions, and access to a network of peers and alumni in the industry I looked to work in,” the alumni told us.

Kelley’s industry-specific workshops are a prime example of how the b-school strategically develops market-ready business professionals for nearly any career. Through these workshops, students can build the necessary skills and knowledge while making meaningful connections in their chosen industry.

“The workshop programs are incredibly unique and valuable at the Kelley School of Business - being part of the Investment Management Workshop not only prepared me for my future career but connected me and put me in front of top employers for internship and full time opportunities,” one 2018 alumni told us.

“The rigorous coursework, seminars and networking opportunities as well as the commitment by faculty and upper class-men members to this program made it invaluable to my undergraduate experience.”

WHAT ALUMNI SAY “Just about every business class held real world work simulations and projects to some extent. These focused on a real world problem, working with a team to find a solution, and communicating that solution through paper or presentation. Some of the key classes included large capstone projects that require in depth research and problem solving skills.”

“Indiana offered me a life-changing experience allowing me to study abroad at ESADE Business School, a prestigious European University. Additionally, Kelley empowered me with the tools and resources to get my dream job in Silicon Valley working as an analyst at venture-backed startups.”

“Investment Management Workshop does a phenomenal job training and connecting you with alumni/professionals in the capital markets industry and gives you signature experience (i.e. Knall-Cohen Fund) practicing the underlying skills of the industry.”

EMPLOYMENT OUTCOMES Kelley students graduate with strong employment outcomes.

Some 91% had a business-focused internship before graduation and 93.98% were employed full-time within three months of graduation.

Additionally, an overwhelming 94.25% of surveyed 2018 alumni reported that their first job after graduating was in their desired industry with 85.06% saying that first job was at their desired company.

At Kelley, business education is founded on professional and leadership development. With a comprehensive curriculum and industry-specific workshops, a Kelley undergraduate quickly grows from a business student to become a true business leader.

THE BEST UNDERGRADUATE BUSINESS SCHOOLS

57

100 INSTITUTE ROAD, WORCESTER, MA 01609 ADMISSIONS OFFICE: 508-831-5286

Worcester Polytechnic Institute

J $265,502 In-State Total Cost

Freshman

Year When Students Declare Their Majors

45%

Acceptance Rate

1336

Average SAT

14%

International Students

19%

Underrepresent Minorities

89.7%

Class of 2020 accepting jobs 90 days after graduation

POETSANDQUANTSFORUNDERGRADS.COM

umping 15 spots, The Foisie Business School at Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) made one of the most significant moves in this year’s ranking. Foisie improved 15 spots from last year’s ranking of 35 to No. 20. This year, Foisie had an acceptance rate of 44.97% and an average SAT score of 1336. Foisie’s best individual category was the Admissions Standards, where it placed 13th of the 93 ranked schools this year.

As a part of Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Foisie offers a business education that emphasizes innovation in the technology sector. Through a rich education of project-based work and global study opportunities, Foisie students are developed into business leaders who not only understand how businesses operate but also how to harness technology to solve complex world issues.

CURRICULUM Foisie students can choose from four majors including Business, Industrial Engineering, Management Engineering, and Management Information Systems. Recent course additions such as “Business Applications of Machine Learning” and “Introduction to Prescriptive Analytics” highlight the business and technology-focused education at Foise. Projects are the core of the Foisie curriculum. Many courses require students to apply their knowledge from classes and labs to realworld situations.

“Project work helps students become better collaborators, critical thinkers, public speakers, and communicators — vital to success at WPI and the skills that distinguish WPI graduates throughout their careers,” Laurie Stokes, associate director of Business Programs at Worcester Polytechnic Institute, told us.

Additionally, surveyed alumni viewed their business courses quite positively. When asked to evaluate how well the Foisie business program prepared them for the world of work, 2018 alumni gave an 8.8 average rating. Alumni also rated Foisie faculty highly, giving them a 9.5 average rating for their availability for informal discussions about grades, class topics, and expectations outside of class.

MAJOR QUALIFYING PROJECT Foisie students all take part in the Major Qualifying Project, a teambased design or research project that culminates their undergraduate education. Student teams, representing all WPI academic departments, present their project results to faculty advisors and external sponsors in the spring.

The goal of the Major Qualifying Project is for students to apply the theories and concepts learned in their business courses to solve a specific

Worcester Polytechnic Institute problem in the real world. And because the project is required by all undergraduates, every Foisie student graduates with experiential learning experience. Many alumni surveyed highlighted the Major Qualifying Project as a “signature experience” during their time at Foisie and credit the experience as beneficial to their careers today.

“Through my Major Qualifying Project, I was able to get handson experience working for MilliporeSigma that gave me invaluable skills,” one 2018 alumni told us. “With these skills I’ve been able to apply them to my current job in a different field.”

“I had the opportunity to work with Pacific Can in Beijing to improve their drying process,” another 2018 alumni said. “I was able to work side by side with their engineers, and present to the company’s leadership team. This real world business experience I believe helped distinguish myself from other candidates in interviews, and helped prepare me for the current analysis work I do at Grubhub.”

70% OF STUDENTS HAVE GLOBAL EXPERIENCE

WHAT ALUMNI SAY “Worked on a group project for our business degree Major Qualifying Project.

Our project was focused on data analytics since all our team members were majoring in information systems.”

“Worked at Millipore Sigma conducting a manufacturing optimization capstone project. Also traveled to Namibia to complete work in reducing crashes and late trains.”

“Senior capstone project allowed me to work on a technical project that had realworld benefits, challenges, and impact.”

While WPI is based in Massachusetts, Foisie students have a variety of opportunities to travel globally and immerse themselves in different cultures. Roughly 70% of Foisie students have a global experience, defined as at least four weeks of international study or at least three credits in an international setting, before they graduate.

Students can choose from more than 50 project centers across six different continents. To ensure every student has equal opportunity to partake in a global experience, WPI offers all first-year students (beginning with the Class of 2022) a Global Scholarship up to $5,000 to study abroad at one of their international project centers.

While many universities have study abroad programs for their students, WPI’s dedication to ensuring equal opportunity for all of its students is certainly something that makes Foisie stand out.

EMPLOYMENT OUTCOMES Foisie students have relatively strong employment outcomes.

Some 77% of the Class of 2020 had a business-focused internship before graduation, down from 85% in 2019, though that may be attributed to the COVID-19 economic downturn. And 89.66% secured a full-time position within three months of graduation, up roughly three percentage points from last year, which was impressive considering many other schools struggled to meet the same rate as last year because of the tougher economy and market.

For those looking for a business education that is centered around business and technology with project-based work and opportunities for global study, look no further than the Foisie Business School.

THE BEST UNDERGRADUATE BUSINESS SCHOOLS

59

975 UNIVERSITY AVE, MADISON, WI 53706 ADMISSIONS OFFICE: 608-262-2550

University Of Wisconsin

T $112,972 In-State Total Cost

Freshman

Year When Students Declare Their Majors

26.6%

Acceptance Rate

1382

Average SAT

7%

International Students

12%

Underrepresent Minorities

84.9%

Class of 2020 accepting jobs 90 days after graduation

POETSANDQUANTSFORUNDERGRADS.COM

he Wisconsin School of Business, of the University of WisconsinMadison, ranked No. 21 this year. Wisconsin’s acceptance rate stood at 26.55% this year with an average SAT of 1382. Some 51% came from the top 10th percentile of their high school class.

The Wisconsin business experience is best characterized as one that emphasizes leadership development and plentiful opportunities to explore career interests both in and out the classroom. Of the individual methodological categories, Wisconsin placed in the top-20 in Admissions Standards and the Alumni Experience.

CURRICULUM Wisconsin business students can choose from 11 business majors including: Accounting, Actuarial Science, Finance, Investment and Banking, Information Systems, International Business, Management and Human Resources, Marketing, Operations and Technology Management, Real Estate, Risk Management and Insurance, and Supply Chain Management.

The curriculum for each major incorporates business studies with a foundation in the liberal arts, with many of the liberal arts courses being taken outside of the School of Business. Business majors also can add a certificate to their studies including a Capstone Certificate in Actuarial Science and Foreign Language Certificates.

Overall, Wisconsin students view their education positively. When asked to evaluate how well the Wisconsin business program prepared them for the world of work, 2018 alumni gave a strong 9.0 average rating. And alumni gave a whopping 9.4 average rating when asked whether they would recommend the Wisconsin business program to a close friend or colleague interested in an undergraduate business degree.

BUSINESS BADGER BADGES The Business Badger Badge program offers workshops, experiences, and opportunities to help undergraduate business students gain a deeper understanding of specific skill sets and competencies.

Students in the program choose badges including “Personal Leadership Style” and “Group Dynamics” and complete the criteria for their chosen track. Once they complete the criteria for a track, they earn a badge that serves as a credential to share on their resume, LinkedIn, or with potential employers.

The program is unique because it specifically addresses the increased demand for soft skill competencies in modern business. Through these badges, Wisconsin students can highlight what types of soft skills they developed during their business education and build a more wellrounded candidacy for the career they choose to pursue professionally.

University of Wisconsin When asked how they would rate the opportunities in the Wisconsin business program to nurture their soft skills, 2018 alumni gave a strong 8.7 average rating.

CAPSTONE PROJECTS The Wisconsin capstone projects are one of the best ways for students to explore their interests in a particular field or career. These capstone projects often include a team component in understanding a real-world issue and coming up with a comprehensive solution.

Many Wisconsin alumni highlighted their experience in capstone projects as key to giving them both a view into potential industries as well as the necessary skills for certain careers.

“My capstone style course in accounting included completing a group research project on a technical accounting issue, guest speakers from various career pather (public accounting, standards setting, CFO of a corporation, WSJ journalist, etc.), and analysis of financial reporting theory,” one 2018 alumni told us. “Unique experience because it required students to consider the purpose and utility of financial reporting on a theoretical level and understand multiple potential career paths that differ from the Big 4 experience that is mainly targeted to new college graduates.”

One 2018 alumni highlighted a capstone consulting project where students worked with PepsiCo. “We were asked to provide guidance on a practical challenge the team was facing,” that 2018 alumni said. “We designed our own project methodology, conducted in-depth interviews, and presented our recommendations live to the team. It was a great hands-on experience that I was able to speak to in future interviews.”

Another alumni highlighted a marketing project where students partnered with a local community business to develop, propose, and implement a new marketing campaign for the business.

“We gained real knowledge of project management and how our jobs could look post graduation,” the 2018 alumni said. “It offered yet another experience to put on my resume versus just the summer internship.”

Across the board, Wisconsin alumni we surveyed spoke highly about the capstone project experience. Whether it’s in accounting, consulting, or marketing, Wisconsin students have a spectrum of opportunities to truly get their feet wet in a field or career that interests them.

WHAT ALUMNI SAY “In my Operations and Technology Management course, I found a niche within the business school that drastically changed my future plans. I ended up with majors in Finance and Real Estate, but focused on a career that focused on Supply Chain and Finance. Without this course, I may have ended up in a different field.”

“Capstone project consisted of developing a product and all aspects of the strategy to bring it to market, including pitching the idea to a panel of investors, venture capitalists, and entrepreneurs.”

“In accounting, we had a 9 week internship built into our integrated masters program. The program itself starts late in our junior year and extends through our graduation from the masters program. It is a simple and straightforward program, led by very knowledgeable and distinguished faculty, that basically guided us to full time jobs at our desired Big Four firms.”

EMPLOYMENT OUTCOMES About 93% of the Class of 2020 at Wisconsin had a businessfocused internship before graduation with 84.87% securing full-time employment by the time of graduation.

For those that are perhaps unsure of what career is right for them, the Wisconsin School of Business offers an education with plenty of career exploration and leadership development no matter what path you choose to follow.

THE BEST UNDERGRADUATE BUSINESS SCHOOLS

61

975 UNIVERSITY AVE, MADISON, WI 53706 ADMISSIONS OFFICE: 206-685-3400

University Of Washington

T $117,276 In-State Total Cost

Freshman

(Or Sophomore) Year When Students Declare Their Majors

34.2%

Acceptance Rate

1412

Average SAT

10%

International Students

14%

Underrepresent Minorities

94.7%

Class of 2020 accepting jobs 90 days after graduation

POETSANDQUANTSFORUNDERGRADS.COM

he Foster School of Business at the University of Washington in Seattle improved this year by two spots to land at number 22 in our rankings. Looking back one more year, Foster has moved up 10 spots since 2019. It’s an impressive increase but the school still has ample room for improvement as the school placed 57th in the Academic Experience portion of the ranking, which is based on the alumni survey.

With an acceptance rate of 34.24% this year, Foster was much more selective in its admissions. Last year, the Seattle-based B-school accepted 52% of applicants who applied. Additionally, this year’s average SAT score was 1412, as compared to last year’s average score of 1394.

In terms of employment outcomes, the Foster School performs very well. About 95% of the Class of 2020 had a business-focused internship before graduation with 94.71% securing a full-time position within three months of graduation — numbers that are on par with the Class of 2019.

Foster students continue to graduate with high employability, a nod to the durability of the brand as well as its location in tech-rich Seattle.

The Foster education is best characterized by a quality curriculum that emphasizes group work and an abundance of resources and opportunities for students to apply their knowledge in the real-world.

A “TWO-YEAR” BUSINESS EDUCATION Foster is technically a two-year undergraduate business program, with standard admission to the B-school taking place at the end of sophomore year once a student has been admitted to UW. Although students have the option to apply as a direct admit as a freshman applicant, which continues to be an increasingly popular path to the school. Admitted students can choose from eight business majors. Additionally, Foster also offers a Certificate of International Studies in Business (CISB), a rigorous and integrative supplement to its business degree. CISB students take part in study abroad, foreign language immersion, and area studies coursework.

For ambitious students, the Fosters Honors Program offers an intensified academic experience with opportunities for research and class-based projects, honors sections, and greater access with researchers and practitioners. Honors students graduate from the Foster School “With Distinction.”

All Foster business students need to complete 72 business credits, of which a minimum of 53 need to be upper division. Additionally, because the B-school requires a large portion of the curriculum come from upper division courses, many of the classes that Foster students take require a group project and presentation — a characteristic that alumni speak highly of. “As I was coming to university mid-career, I thought this was great practice for both public speaking and working in diverse teams,” one 2018 alumni told us.

University of Washington HIGH QUALITY RESOURCES, CASE COMPETITIONS, AND CAPSTONE PROJECTS Where Foster really shines as a B-school is in its opportunities for students to apply their studies to real-world situations. Foster is home to six state of the art centers that drive innovative research and enable students to gain real-world, hands-on experiences. Foster centers include Consulting and Business Development, Buerk Center for Entrepreneurship, Global Business Center, Center for Leadership and Strategic Thinking, Center for Sales and Marketing Strategy, and USTC-UW Institute for Global Business and Finance Innovation.

“The resources and extracurricular opportunities were far more valuable than any in person class I took, in all reality (at least relative to my early professional experience),” one 2018 alumni told us. “The experiential learning opportunities and autonomy to drive my college experience and career path, coupled with the resources to explore so many areas of interest were unparalleled.”

Additionally, Foster hosts a number of case competitions that allow students the opportunity to solve real-world problems, join a team, network with business leaders, and collaborate with peers in an intense team-driven environment. One 2018 alumni, who now works as a consultant at Deloitte, highlighted his experiences in both the Deloitte Case Competition and Environmental Case Competition as key signature experiences during his time at Foster.

“Case competitions allowed me to do research, prep, and present in a timeframe that is very similar to consulting in real life,” the alumni told us.

“Throughout my time at the business school, I participated in multiple school-level, national and international case competitions that provided me the unique opportunity to apply my full business toolkit to a problem, forcing me to fine-tune my technical and soft skills for a neat summary and presentation, respond to critique from real-world professionals., etc.,” another 2018 alumni said. “I’ve leaned significantly on this skill set in my career in presenting to executives.”

Other alumni highlight their experience in quality capstone courses that center primarily around case studies and require students to apply knowledge from their core business curriculum.

“This was much more of a ‘real world’ like simulation of course content, focused on studying real companies and outcomes of business decisions,” one 2018 alumni told us about their capstone experience. “The culmination of our work ended in a case competition across all capstone courses, where we presented to judges from industry and the specific company that was chosen for that year (in my case, Mod Pizza).”

If you’re looking for a B-school education that places heavy emphasis on group work with plenty of resources and opportunities to apply your knowledge outside of the classroom, the Foster School of Business is a great choice.

WHAT ALUMNI SAY “The capstone project allowed us to evaluate a real issue that a company was faced with and encouraged us to think diligently and creatively to resolve it.”

“Learning real world applications vs. theory (i.e consulting with real companies on actual issues).”

“The teachers I had were incredible. They made my experience worth it and taught me how to work with adults. Being a young financial advisor, I have the skills necessary to speak with people much older than me and to have intellectual conversations.”

THE BEST UNDERGRADUATE BUSINESS SCHOOLS

63

1 GATEWAY ROAD, RICHMOND, VA 23173 ADMISSIONS OFFICE: 804-289-8550

University Of Richmond

T $264,700 In-State Total Cost

Sophomore

Year When Students Declare Their Majors

31.2%

Acceptance Rate

1384

Average SAT

9.8%

International Students

8%

Underrepresent Minorities

96%

Class of 2020 accepting jobs 90 days after graduation

POETSANDQUANTSFORUNDERGRADS.COM

he Robins School of Business at the University of Richmond landed the 23rd spot in this year’s rankings. Robins has consistently placed in the mid-20s over the past few years of this ranking. Improving three spots from last year, the Robins School had slightly more selective admissions this year with a 31.2% acceptance rate and average SAT score of 1384. While the average SAT score stayed the same from last year, the acceptance rate got more competitive by nearly seven percentage points and the percentage of admits coming from the top 10th percentile nearly doubled.

Employability for Robins graduates is very high. Richmond’s strongest methodological category in the rankings was Employment Outcomes.

While the Class of 2020’s employment rate dipped four percentage points to 96% from last year’s perfect 100%, internship rates increased this year to 96%, up two percentage points from 2019.

Numbers wise, Robins proves to be a stellar undergraduate business program. And much of that success can be attributed to the B-school’s focus on small class sizes with high professor engagement and experiential learning-focused education.

SMALL CLASS SIZES WITH QUALITY PROFESSOR ENGAGEMENT The University of Richmond is a private liberal arts university. As a part of a liberal arts institution, the Robins School offers a business curriculum that’s rooted in liberal arts. Robins students have access to three business majors including Accounting, Economics, and Business Administration. Students can choose from concentrations such as Finance, Marketing, International Business, Business Analytics, Entrepreneurship and Management Consulting.

One of the main benefits of a Robins education is the attention that each student receives. With an average class size of roughly 20 students, professors can offer greater attention to every student’s needs and goals.

Many alumni responding to our alumni survey highlighted the small class size as a main differentiating factor of their Robins experience. One 2018 alumni, who double majored in both accounting and finance, said the small class sizes are Robin were beneficial for engaged learning.

“I was a double major in those subjects so most of my assessments land at average, though teachers were consistently high quality, available, and cared about their students,” the alumni told us.

On average, 2018 alumni rated the quality of teaching in business courses at Robins at a solid 9 rating. When asked to rate faculty availability for informal discussions and mentoring outside of class, alumni gave a whopping 9.5 average rating.

Many other B-schools can boast the expansive opportunities that are available to their students, but the fact that Robins places heavy

University of Richmond emphasis on its small class size and attentive faculty speaks volumes about the individual care they put into each and every student’s development.

EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING-FOCUSED EDUCATION Much of the coursework and out-of-the-classroom opportunities at Robins emphasizes experiential learning. By having an experiential learning-focused education that emphasizes teamwork and an application of their studies, students can develop important soft skills such as communication skills, adaptability, delegation, and time management. Surveyed 2018 alumni rated the opportunities given to them at Robins to nurture and improve their soft skills at a strong 9 average rating.

“In my capstone marketing class, we did a semester-long consulting engagement with a local business and got to present our recommendations to them personally,” one 2018 alumni told us.

“Great practice in hard and soft skills that I still use today.”

Another 2018 alumni highlighted their experiential learning experiences in both an operations management course and marketing management-focused course.

“Both of these instances were unique as they simulated what occurs in the real world,” the alum said. “There were also strong connections created between concepts to real life application in terms of understanding how to create a lean, agile way of working and working through conflict in our groups.”

Remarks such as these were common in many of the Robins alumni that responded to the survey. Whether it was through a course project or a competition, the main theme from every response was an education that placed strong emphasis on learning business in a way that reflected real-world conditions.

“Management consulting simulations that allowed students to form teams and compete for a grade,” one 2018 alumni said.

“The simulation allowed your team to manage a supply chain and maximize revenue/profits over the course of a semester through knowledge gained during lectures. A once in a lifetime experience that essentially allowed me to function as a process improvement and supply chain management consultant before I entered the job market.”

Overall, the combination of small class sizes and opportunities for students to apply their learnings in the real-world makes the Robins education one that will continuously impress both students and employers.

WHAT ALUMNI SAY “I was engaged in several ‘signature experiences’ that included making complete projects and proposals, some of our own making and some for classwork. It was unique because they were entirely student driven. The professors were there to mentor and bounce ideas off of, but they encouraged us to take the projects from beginning to end.”

“For my senior capstone class, we completed case studies on companies like Disney and Ryanair and recommended real-world strategic initiatives based on the company’s current positioning in the market.”

“I received money as part of the spider internship funds for my proposal to build out a smartphone application to help better serve students who are studying abroad. Without this opportunity, I would not have had the money or time to pursue the idea and bring the app to life.”

THE BEST UNDERGRADUATE BUSINESS SCHOOLS

65

621 TAYLOR STREET, BETHLEHEM, PA 18015 ADMISSIONS OFFICE: 610-758-3400

Lehigh University

L $269,330 In-State Total Cost

Freshman

Year When Students Declare Their Majors

51.5%

Acceptance Rate

1369

Average SAT

8.7%

International Students

10.8%

Underrepresent Minorities

91.6%

Class of 2020 accepting jobs 90 days after graduation

POETSANDQUANTSFORUNDERGRADS.COM

ehigh University’s College of Business secured number 24 in our rankings this year. The Pennsylvania-based B-school improved significantly from last year’s spot at 32 and broke into the top-25 for the first time in our rankings. Lehigh’s acceptance rate stood at 51.54% this year with an average SAT score of 1369.

Employability for Lehigh business students is strong. Lehigh’s best individual category was the Employment Outcomes category, where it placed 19th. About 93% of the Class of 2020 had a business-focused internship before graduation and 91.57% secured a full-time position within three months after graduation. Additionally, a whopping 96.23% of 2018 alumni we surveyed said their first job after graduating was in their desired industry.

The Lehigh business education bridges both business and technology giving students an undergraduate experience that ensures they graduate with a solid foundation in communications, leadership, and data analytics.

THREE PILLARS OF LEHIGH’S CURRICULUM Lehigh’s College of Business offers three B.S. degree programs including in Business & Economics, Integrated Business & Engineering, and Computer Science & Business. There are seven majors available to students including Accounting, Business Information Systems, Economics, Finance, Management, Marketing, and Supply Chain Management.

The Lehigh curriculum has distinctive ties to both business and technology. Its core curriculum is structured around three pillars: communications, leadership, and data analytics. All first-year students are grounded in the basics of coding, speaking, and writing in two courses including “Business Communications I” and “Business Analytics I.” In their junior year, Lehigh students apply analytics in more depth and create narratives using data and technology in professional communications.

To further build on the technology focus of its business education, the B-school recently added a new Decision and Technology Analytics (DATA) department last year.

“The alignment of business with technology and data analytics breaks traditional boundaries,” Yenny D. Anderson, Vice Provost for Institutional Research & Strategic Analytics at Lehigh University, told us. “Supply Chain Management and Business Information Systems form the new DATA Department, setting the stage for both research and curricular collaboration.”

While many other B-schools have increased their focus on bridging technology and business in recent years, Lehigh’s curriculum places heavy emphasis on technology from day one to ensure its students are

Lehigh University adept in data analytics by the time they graduate.

75% OF SURVEYED ALUMNI REPORT ENGAGING IN SIGNATURE EXPERIENCE Among 2018 Lehigh alumni that we surveyed, 75.47% said they engaged in some sort of signature experience (defined as project work, simulations, global immersion, experiential learning, senior thesis, or capstone project) that was a key part of their business learning.

For many, that signature experience is the capstone project. One of the key distinctions about the capstone experience at Lehigh versus other B-schools is that students from all majors in Lehigh’s College of Business collaborate to solve a real-world issue.

“The capstone course in the College of Business and Economics at Lehigh University brought together students from all majors to conduct an industry analysis from the POV of a large or small business of your choice,” one 2018 alumni explained. “The groups were formed with a student from each major the college offered (accounting, finance, marketing, supply chain, etc.) which made the relegation of duties for each student very clear. Since each student has presumably taken 2+ years of relevant coursework to answer their section of the assignment - the end result of each group was outstanding.”

“The business capstone course helped us understand the importance of management as well as other business fields and how they all integrate with one another,” another 2018 alumni told us.

Many alumni also spoke to the technological focus when discussing their signature experience at Lehigh.

“I had a year-long senior capstone project which focused on many of the skills I learned at Lehigh,” one 2018 alumni said. “It required a mix of consulting and technical skills for a mid-size business in a nearby city to Lehigh University. The long-term focus of this project and focus on solving real business problems gave us the knowledge necessary for a full-time job.”

“I was given the opportunity to work on an independent study with a professor in the business school,” another 2018 alumni told us. “I was collecting and analyzing family business data to create a database detailing their business post-IPO. This project inspired my interest in small and medium family business as well as expanded my analysis skills while giving me experience researching and gathering data. It was an invaluable experience to help create the first database detailing family business post-IPO, and one that I cited frequently during my initial job hunt.”

No matter what signature experience they partake in, Lehigh students are able to develop a set of practical business and technical skills that prepare them for what the real world has to offer.

“Lehigh’s unique edge is the hands-on learning, and for me that’s the best way to learn,” a 2018 alumni said.

WHAT ALUMNI SAY “I was part of the Lehigh in Silicon Valley program, which was an excellent experience and great opportunity to meet and learn from industry professionals in Silicon Valley.”

“IBE Capstone experience allowed me to work on a project with a real start-up nonprofit to apply the educational theory to real life problems.”

“Lehigh’s project work is directly applicable to job skills and working directly with companies and organizations outside of Lehigh doing an external project as a capstone was a great experience.”

THE BEST UNDERGRADUATE BUSINESS SCHOOLS

67

441 E FORDHAM RD, BRONX, NY 10458 ADMISSIONS OFFICE: 1-800-FORDHAM

Fordham University

T $284,123 In-State Total Cost

Freshman

Year When Students Declare Their Majors

51.2%

Acceptance Rate

1346

Average SAT

5.4%

International Students

39%

Underrepresent Minorities

89.1%

Class of 2020 accepting jobs 90 days after graduation

POETSANDQUANTSFORUNDERGRADS.COM

he Gabelli School of Business at Fordham University placed at number 25 in this year’s rankings. Maintaining the same rank as last year — and two spots higher from No. 27 in 2019 — Gabelli had an acceptance rate of 51.18% with an average SAT score of 1346.

The Gabelli School maintained relatively strong employment and internship outcomes for this year, despite a small dip in employment rate that can likely be attributed to the COVID-19 economic downturn.

Some 98.8% of the Class of 2020 at Gabelli had a business-focused internship before graduating and 89.12% were able to secure a full-time position within three months of graduation, about six percentage points less than last year’s class.

Located in the heart of New York City, Gabelli offers a business education that emphasizes leadership training and problem-solving with opportunities to travel globally and connect with an expansive alumni network. Gabelli finished in the top-25 in the Academic Experience and Employment Outcomes categories, which helped pull the school to its overall top-25 finish.

GABELLI’S CURRICULUM: 4 MAIN FOCUSES The Gabelli School core curriculum is centered around four main pillars, with each year dedicated to one. Gabelli students spend their first year focused on “Innovation and Exploration.” In this year, students explore the idea of social innovation through business models and the role of business in society.

In their second year, coursework is heavily teamwork centric. Students are organized into cohorts and collaborate with the same group of students in all classes. Junior year is spent on data and analytics with classes such as financial modeling, marketing analytics, and business analytics. The senior year ties together the comprehensive leadership skills that students have been developing during their education through an integrated leadership project.

CONSULTING CUP CHALLENGE One of the impactful experiences that many Gabelli alumni highlight is the Consulting Cup challenge, a semester-long integrated project course, when you and student teams are given a real company to investigate.

Students spend four months identifying their selected company’s biggest challenge in the marketplace and collaborate with one another to solve it. The student teams present their proposed solution to a panel of judges and professors where the winning team takes home $3,000 in prize money.

Whereas many other B-schools expose students to this type of real-

fordham university world project in their senior year as a capstone course, Gabelli students are given this opportunity early on in their education as sophomores.

“Some may have it as a senior capstone, while others may have it in their MBA program,” one 2018 alumni told us. “Fordham was different. It gave us an experience that was as close to real-world as possible while still being in school. It also gave us something tangible to talk about in interviews; and I can honestly say every single potential employer I spoke with was very impressed by the project. It really gave me a leg up in the job search process.”

The challenge is a key example of the Gabelli experience, one that gives students a real-world view into business as a whole and features a ton of collaboration.

“It really forced us to learn all aspects of the business, define the problems they faced, create a plan to overcome them, as well as market, finance, and implement our solution,” the alumni said.

“It also required us to really think on our feet, as we were still inexperienced business students, and work well in groups with students we didn’t know previously.”

BEYOND NEW YORK CITY Gabelli students not only have access to the cultural hub that is New York City, but also a wide variety of opportunities to travel internationally. With more than 150 programs in countries internationally, the Gabelli School has strong partnerships with universities around the world - from the Beijing Center of Loyola University Chicago to the Vienna University of Business and Economics.

“I went on a global immersion trip to Galway, Ireland my sophomore year,” one 2018 alumni recalled. “During our ten days there, we visited with numerous companies and had a great opportunity to learn about the business world in another country.

We spoke with executives from all over the business spectrum including IBM, TG4, and Croi. It really allowed us the opportunity to learn the differences and similarities between business in the EU and business in the US.” Gabelli’s global immersion programs are truly immersive, with many allowing students to explore the unique ecosystems and economies of other countries — no matter how big or small.

“I completed a global immersion program that centered around sustainable living and small businesses that led up to a trip to a farm in the Tucson region of Italy,” one 2018 alumni told us. “Leading up to our program’s trip to the farm, we learned about various small businesses in Italy and also how industries are innovating to become more sustainable. This program was unique to my other classes at Fordham, as I wouldn’t normally have an opportunity to explore how small businesses, especially a farm, in other parts of the country function and strive to be sustainable.”

Overall, the Gabelli education is perfect for anyone looking to get an early start on hands-on, real-world learning with an opportunity to not only be in the biggest metropolitan city in the U.S., but truly understand and experience business at a global scale.

WHAT ALUMNI SAY “I studied abroad at Fordham University’s London Centre in spring 2017, where I studied global business law, global business ethics, and had numerous tours and visits including the London Stock Exchange as well as meeting my team at Barclays Investment Bank before joining my junior summer analyst program in the Summer of 2017.”

“I took a visual marketing class which included a two-week trip to Japan to take photographs of different elements of visual marketing. It was a great opportunity to take things off the textbook page and see how they work in the real world.”

“Working in a variety of projects focusing on real-world business problems allowed me and my teammates to gain a better understanding of life outside the classroom.

Being able to gain exposure to real-world problems better prepared me for my career and life post-graduation.”

THE BEST UNDERGRADUATE BUSINESS SCHOOLS

69

6214 BISHOP BLVD, DALLAS, TX 75275 ADMISSIONS OFFICE: 214-768-1110

Southern Methodist University

T $316,504 In-State Total Cost

Freshman

Year When Students Declare Their Majors

62.5%

Acceptance Rate

1465

Average SAT

3%

International Students

29%

Underrepresent Minorities

87.3%

Class of 2020 accepting jobs 90 days after graduation

POETSANDQUANTSFORUNDERGRADS.COM

he Cox School of Business at Southern Methodist University landed at No. 26 in our rankings this year. Falling eight spots from last year’s 18th-place finish, Cox had an acceptance rate of 62.54% this year and an average SAT score of 1399.

2020 is the 100-year anniversary of the Cox School. Located in metropolitan Dallas, the Cox School of Business leverages the city’s extensive network of high-profile companies to offer students a rigorous education with plenty of opportunities to apply their studies in the real world.

A true veteran in the business education market, the Cox School is popular among its recent graduates. Alumni helped the Cox School finish 14th overall in the Academic Experience portion of our rankings thanks to a strong alumni survey.

THE COX CURRICULUM Cox students take 11 core courses that offer a foundation in business theory and skills. After they complete their core coursework, students can choose from seven majors including Accounting, Finance, General Business, Marketing, Management, Business Analytics and Supply Chain Management, and Real Estate. Additionally, students have four concentrations to sharpen their focus including Energy Management, Entrepreneurship, Real Estate, and Risk Management & Insurance.

Cox alumni rate their education strongly when it comes to quality of course materials and faculty giving a solid 9.3 average rating for “quality of teaching” and a 9.5 average rating for business faculty availability for informal discussions and mentoring outside of class.

DALLAS LOCATION One of the biggest benefits of the Cox education is the B-school’s proximity to the thriving business hub of Dallas, Texas. Home to a number of Fortune 500 companies, including AT&T, Energy Transfer Equity, Southwest Airlines, Tenet Healthcare, and Texas Instruments, the city of Dallas offers a number of opportunities for students to secure internships and gain valuable work experience.

One prime example of the B-school leveraging its location is through the Cox Honors Marketing Practicum, a course where students partner with Fox Sports Southwest and the Dallas Mavericks to create a 360-degree marketing campaign.

“It helped prepare me because it taught me the full process of creating a marketing plan start to finish and we were responsible for collecting and analyzing our own consumer data,” one 2018 alumni who now works as a Marketing Analyst at Jamba Juice told us. “ In my current job, I do a lot of analysis on consumer data.”

Southern Methodist University For students potentially interested in a marketing career, the Honors Marketing Practicum at Cox is a perfect opportunity to gain real world experience that is valuable to potential employers.

“This was an exceptional opportunity to deliver a real product to a real customer,” another 2018 alumni told us about their experience in the marketing practicum. “We were given the full responsibility to use what we had learned in our first 3.5 years to complete this project. I still use the skills I learned during this experience in my day-to-day job, interview conversations, and more.”

When asked how they would rate the Cox School’s efforts to bring them into contact with practicing professions in the business community, 2018 alumni gave a whopping 9.4 average rating - a telltale sign that Cox students are well-connected to the wider Dallas community.

SMALL, TIGHT-KNIT COMMUNITY Another big benefit of the Cox education is the community. With average class size in Cox courses between 35 and 40, business students have a small, tight-knit learning environment to truly engage with each other and their professors.

Group team work is an essential part of business education.

And while many b-schools can say they offer opportunities for group collaboration, the Cox School’s small class sizes enable an atmosphere of strong support and collaboration — a key differentiator of the Cox education.

“Above all else, the people around me pushed me to be the best I could be,” one 2018 alumni told us.

Additionally, the small, tight-knit Cox community plays a large role in allowing students to connect to alumni for potential jobs and internships.

When asked how accessible and willing the school’s alumni were in helping them connect with potential employers, 2018 Cox alumni gave a strong 9.1 average rating. Alumni also rated the Cox alumni network and connections a strong 9.2 average rating in terms of helping them throughout their career.

The employment outcomes for Cox students help tell a clearer picture of how important it is for a B-school to have a wellconnected network. About 95% of the Class of 2020 had a businessfocused internship before graduating and 87.32% secured a full-time position within three months of graduation.

Overall, what makes the Cox undergraduate experience unique is the B-school’s prime location in Dallas and its well-connected alumni network giving students plenty of opportunities to not only learn business, but to also apply their education in the real world.

WHAT ALUMNI SAY “I participated in a selective honors program (Alternative Asset Management Center “AAMC”) designed to prepare students for investment banking careers. I interviewed with nearly every bank I wanted to and was a top performer in my intern and subsequent full-time analysts classes because of this program.”

“I had the opportunity to manage $4 million in equities as a part of a facultyselected portfolio practicum class. I had voting authority to research, pitch, and transact on securities -- and interact with fund managers and industry practitioners in Dallas.”

“Developing a 50 page business page and having to create financials from scratch and other existing business models. In accounting they never make you build an income statement from scratch let alone BS and Statement of CF. This was a very integral part of understanding how businesses are constructed, structured and financed.”

THE BEST UNDERGRADUATE BUSINESS SCHOOLS

71

595 COMMONWEALTH AVE, BOSTON, MA 02215 ADMISSIONS OFFICE: 617-353-2300

Boston University

T $310,648 In-State Total Cost

freshman

Year When Students Declare Their Majors

17.9%

Acceptance Rate

1417

Average SAT

N/A

International Students

N/A

Underrepresent Minorities

68.5%

Class of 2020 accepting jobs 90 days after graduation

POETSANDQUANTSFORUNDERGRADS.COM

he Questrom School of Business at Boston University came in at number 27 in this year’s rankings. Maintaining the same rank as last year, Questrom had an acceptance rate of 17.88%, an average SAT score of 1417, and an average high school GPA of 3.71. Those strong admissions standards and solid alumni survey scores buoyed the Questrom School to its top-30 finish for the third time in three years.

Located in Boston’s Back Bay neighborhood, the Questrom School of Business has undergone a number of monumental changes in recent years. The biggest being back in 2015, when retail icons Allen and Kelli Questrom donated $50 million and officially transformed the former School of Management into what is now known as the Questrom School of Business. Today, more than 2,500 undergraduates make up the Questrom School of Business. The Questrom education emphasizes both the hard and soft skills of business to give its students a comprehensive education that starts the day they step foot onto campus.

QUESTROM MEANS BUSINESS ON DAY ONE Questrom offers a single degree, a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration. All Questrom students major in Business Administration and Management. However, the B-school requires students to complete at least one functional concentration including: Accounting, Business Analytics, Finance, Independent Concentration, Information Systems, Innovation & Entrepreneurship, Law, Management & Organizations, Marketing, Operations & Technology Management, Organizational Behavior, and Strategy.

Students start their business education freshman year, taking a mix of courses such as Business Ethics, Finance, Economics, and Calculus.

Starting in Fall 2019, all Questrom freshmen are required to take the year-long foundational program of Business Ethics and Finance with the same cohort of classmates. As Questrom students progress throughout their four years, they are introduced to more focused business courses from Financial Accounting to Marketing Management.

Unlike other B-schools where students don’t take business courses until their junior year, Questrom allows its students to begin taking business courses their very first day. In turn, this allows students to get a head start on their business education and a leg up in interviews for both internships and jobs.

CROSS-FUNCTIONAL CORE PROJECT The signature experience at Questrom is the Cross-Functional Core Project, also known as “Core.” Students take part in Core during their junior year, where they work in student teams across disciplines of finance, marketing, operations management, and business analytics to

boston university develop a product or service and create a full-fledged business plan.

The year-long project is a valuable experience that enables students to understand nearly every aspect of business - from research to presentation. “It gave a complete 360 view of what it takes to start a business and how each part integrates with the next,” one 2018 alumni told us.

On top of giving a comprehensive view of the hard skills required to start a business, Core also emphasizes the importance of soft skills such as the ability to work cross-functionally with team members.

“The amount of emphasis on group work and full involvement in the different areas of business during the Core project was instrumental to my career success in the ‘real’ world,” one 2018 alumni said. “Not only did it prepare me to manage the complex relationships and powers at play in the workplace, it also helped me develop a mindset to proactively understand the different points of view of people from other departments involved in my field of work.”

“You are graded on deliverables and ability to work well on a team,” another 2018 alumni told us. “This semester proved extremely beneficial to my career almost immediately. I interned at P&G the summer following Core and noted the advantage the curriculum at Questrom provided me through cross-functional teamwork.”

This emphasis on soft-skill training is key. In fact, many alumni note that the element of teamwork is ultimately what made the Core experience valuable and applicable to the real world of business.

“Our signature experience [Core] pushed us out of our comfort zone and with individuals we had no choice in selecting,” one 2018 alumni told us. “This created an environment similar to industry where you’re given an assignment with coworkers and are valued on how well you fare. It also forced creativity and entrepreneurship in creating a new business model not previously done by students.”

The Core experience is viewed highly amongst Questrom alumni with many citing the project as one that taught them both the hard and soft skills to succeed post-grad. When asked how they would rate the opportunities given to them at Questrom to nurture and improve their soft skills in business, such as verbal and written communication skills, adaptability, delegation, and time management, 2018 alumni gave a strong 9.1 average rating.

EMPLOYMENT OUTCOMES

WHAT ALUMNI SAY “The Core semester business plan is a unique experience where students work in teams to design a new product/service. You take all classes during the semester with your core team, and work on top of that to write a cross functional (financial, marketing, operations, and business analytics) business plan. Teams that go into the semester with strong wills and an attitude geared toward succeeding can gain an incredible amount of real world applicable business knowledge from the experience. It provides a great school project talking point for interviews.”

“The team experiences and working with a range of students on so many different types of team projects prepared me to be a team player in the real world.”

“Questrom has a semester where all students are required to do CORE. In this, each person is put in a group of about 10 people and are asked to come up with an idea and look at all aspects of the business - finance, marketing, operations, and stats.

Each person has their own role on the team depending on their strength, but each person is able to learn about the other arms of the business through discussions, meetings and presentation preparations. At the end of the semester, we have real-world professionals who come in to understand the idea and the potential long-term feasibility. Students have the option to continue this idea into real-life if they see sufficient scope.”

Questrom students have relatively strong employment outcomes, in large part due to the hands-on experience they gain through Core. About 94.80% of the Class of 2020 landed a business-focused internship before graduation. However, just 68.53% secured fulltime employment within three months of graduation, a large dip from last year’s 91.77%. Of course, this is likely due to the COVID-19 economic downturn, but that drop likely kept Questrom from finishing in the top-25 or 20 this year. On average, starting salaries for Questrom graduates still outperforms salaries at many other B-schools. The Class of 2020 had an average starting salary of $62,379, almost $3,000 more than last year.

THE BEST UNDERGRADUATE BUSINESS SCHOOLS

73

ADMISSIONS OFFICE: UNDERGRADUATE ADMISSIONS OFFICE, P.O. BOX 6001, BINGHAMTON, NY 13902

Binghamton University

B $102,680 In-State Total Cost

freshman

Year When Students Declare Their Majors

32.1%

Acceptance Rate

1417

Average SAT

1.4%

International Students

8.7%

Underrepresent Minorities

75.4%

Class of 2020 accepting jobs 90 days after graduation

POETSANDQUANTSFORUNDERGRADS.COM

inghamton University’s School of Management landed at No. 28 in this year’s rankings. Binghamton was one of the biggest positive movers in this year’s ranking, jumping 19 spots from last year’s 47th-place. Anchored by a strong placement in the Admissions Standards category, Binghamton had an acceptance rate this year of 32.09% with an average SAT score of 1417 for business students entering Fall 2020.

Some 78.30% of the graduating Class of 2020 had a business-focused internship before graduating with 75.43% securing a full-time position by the time of graduation. The average starting salary for the Class of 2020 was $68,700.

The southern New York-based B-school has drastically expanded its undergraduate education over the years to become a competitive program. But Binghamton’s School of Management wasn’t always the B-school it is today. Originally a department within Binghamton University’s Harpur College, the B-school officially established itself into the School of Business in 1970.

Fast forward to now, the School of Management is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. Over the decades, Binghamton’s School of Management has come to be known for a business education that allows students to gain real, valuable insight into their career interests.

TWO MAIN DEGREE PROGRAMS Binghamton students can choose from two undergraduate business programs including a BS in Accounting or a BS in Business Administration. Binghamton’s accounting program offers students a strong foundation in the theory and practice of accounting. Graduates of this program go on into careers of public and corporate accounting.

First year courses cover topics ranging from Differential Calculus to Computer Tools for Management.

For those looking for a general business education, Binghamton’s business administration program offers a solid background in the liberal arts and an extensive foundation in management. Students in this program can also choose to complete a concentration in areas such as Business Analytics, Entrepreneurship, Finance, Leadership and Consulting, Management Information Systems, Marketing, Quantitative Finance, and Supply Chain Management.

Additionally, the B-school also has a program sponsored by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) called The School of Management Scholars Program. An honors program of sorts, the Scholars Program requires participating students to maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.6 each semester along with additional course requirements. Scholars have exclusive access to unique events and programming including an international trip, speaker series, and special honors seminars.

Binghamton University CAREER EXPLORATION Binghamton offers a number of programs that give students an opportunity to explore potential careers. One of the signature programs at Binghamton is the EY Trajectory Program, which allows students to develop a career focused mentorship relation, develop a career-focused mentoring relationship, earn academic credit and network with EY professionals. At the end of the program, students give a final presentation to senior management.

For many students, the EY Trajectory Program offers a unique opportunity to see what the world of consulting is like while also gaining valuable skills and connections.

“It was a real life consulting experience and helped me understand how to deal with other people on teams, at clients, and how to manage my own workload,” one 2018 alumni told us. “[The] EY Trajectory program allowed me to get hands-on exposure to a simulated consulting environment and allowed me to network with influential members of the firm,” another 2018 alumni said.

Many course electives at Binghamton also provide students with opportunities to further explore their field of interest and gain valuable experience.

“I took a class called MKTG 480N with Dean George Bobinski,” one 2018 alumni explained. “I had the opportunity to work with analysts from Publicis Media. I learned different ways of looking at data and how to effectively create a presentation for a client (Lord & Taylor) about reaching new customers. My team won the competition and several of us earned job offers for our hard work.

Very rewarding experience.”

“Worked with a local non-profit company to create a new business plan & provide recommendations on improvements to the company through extensive research / learning process, using cutting edge consulting framework and applying in-class learning to real-life scenarios,” another 2018 alumni told us.

These types of opportunities to explore potential careers are highly valuable to business education. And at Binghamton, the opportunities are often with real professionals at influential companies and organizations, giving students unique insight into the fields of their interest.

Overall, Binghamton alumni view these opportunities positively. When asked how they would rate the opportunities at Binghamton to nurture and improve soft skills such as verbal and written communication skills, adaptability, delegation, and time management, 2018 alumni gave a strong 8.9 average rating.

With its strong corporate partnerships and an integrated learning experience that offers students a view into what potential careers look like, Binghamton’s School of Management is certainly a B-school to look out for.

WHAT ALUMNI SAY “PwC Scholars program - Community service projects, international trips, career prep, case studies, alumni networking events, etc.”

“The senior year capstone management class featured a semester-long simulation in which the class was broken up into groups to be competing companies in the same industry. Each week the groups would enter decisions into the online simulation that related to inventory management, production, marketing budget, and debt management. These decisions would impact profit, in the end each company was evaluated based on these decisions.”

“My time abroad in China during my junior year opened my eyes to the true depth of worldwide markets. I developed a deeper appreciation for the scale and interconnectedness of global markets. I went to China with approximately 30 other honors students to meet with business professionals and visit cultural sites to develop a better understanding of the Chinese market.”

THE BEST UNDERGRADUATE BUSINESS SCHOOLS

75

310 HERTY DRIVE, ATHENS, GA 30602 ADMISSIONS OFFICE: 706-542-8100

University Of Georgia

T $110,632 In-State Total Cost

Junior

Year When Students Declare Their Majors

45.1%

Acceptance Rate

1325

Average SAT

3%

International Students

10.3%

Underrepresent Minorities

91.8%

Class of 2020 accepting jobs 90 days after graduation

POETSANDQUANTSFORUNDERGRADS.COM

he University of Gerogia’s Terry College of Business ranked No. 29 this year. Securing a spot in the top 30 this year, the Terry College improved eight spots from last year’s 37th standing. It also placed 29th in 2019. Georgia’s Terry College ranked consistently across our three methodological categories, placing between 30th and 37th in all three categories.

Terry got significantly more selective this year by accepting 45.09% of applicants with an average SAT score of 1314. Employment wise, Terry students perform relatively well in the job market. About 80% of the Class of 2020 had a business-focused internship before graduating and 91.84% secured a full-time position within three months of graduation.

The Terry program is one that offers students a valuable education for becoming both a successful business leader and well-rounded individual. Through the curriculum’s unique certificate programs and experiential learning courses, Terry students are well-prepared not only for the world of business, but the challenges that come with any career path.

GOING BEYOND THE TRADITIONAL CURRICULUM Terry students can choose from eight business majors and an academic certificate in six areas, including Actuarial Science, Entrepreneurship, Fintech, Leadership, Legal Studies, or Music Business. These additional certificate programs are where the Terry curriculum really shines. Each program features a comprehensive set of courses, activities, and projects for students to explore a field of their choice. For instance, the leadership certificate program allows students to serve in real communities and make an impact while gaining valuable leadership experience.

“I was able to serve a nonprofit in the Athens community called Young Designers, which is a program teaching at-risk youth soft skills, sewing, entrepreneurial skills and more,” one 2018 alumni told us. “I spent my senior year getting to know the students and volunteers, teaching the students about fashions and cultures of other countries (their theme was International Studies that year), putting together open houses, cleaning up and designing spaces in their facility and attending their fashion show fundraiser at the end of the year, which raised ~$20,000 for their program.”

By offering these types of experiences for students, Terry enables a learning environment that goes beyond a traditional curriculum of case studies and lectures. Rather, students at Terry have the opportunity to not only learn valuable business skills, but also better understand who they are as individuals and leaders.

“Beyond developing my leadership style, more importantly I learned what my weaknesses are,” a 2018 alumni who was a Leadership Scholar in the Leadership Advancement certificate program said. “Being

University of Georgia aware of your own weaknesses and being provided the skills and knowledge needed to improve them has been a huge benefit for my career since the very first day of my first job.”

COURSES EMPHASIZE EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING Experiential learning plays a large part in many of the business courses at Terry. Through these courses, students tackle real-world problems by applying concepts learned in class. One example is the marketing capstone course, which includes a capstone project requiring student teams to make simulated marketing decisions for a company.

“This simulation encompassed everything I had learned in the business school and made me use that knowledge to begin making decisions,” one 2018 alumni said. “It was the first time I felt like I knew what I was doing in my field and really felt like I was ready to enter the real world with all the knowledge that I had received throughout my four years at UGA.” Another alumni referenced a capstone Corporate Risk Management project, where student teams were tasked with analyzing and evaluating risk exposures and solutions for a midsized corporation’s business insurance and employee benefits programs.

“Part of this analysis involved analyzing property/casualty claim experience and exposures, gauging subjective risks such as supply chain contingencies, employee benefits plans & funding, and current in-force & proposed insurance products — including complex, losssensitive risk management programs to address primary casualty needs,” the 2018 alumni told us. “Our final product compiled our findings into a 75+ page report & made recommendations based on total cost of risk, opportunity costs, global economic environment, state of insurance markets, and the risk appetite of the corporation.”

At many B-schools, these types of hands-on capstone experiences conclude a business education. But at Terry, hands-on learning is rampant throughout a student’s academic journey. One alumni highlighted the abundance of hands-on learning opportunities she had through her Digital Marketing emphasis.

“On top of acquiring two Google certificates as part of course requirements, I also joined the Digital Marketing Competition,” the 201i8 alumni told us. “While competing, my team and I were mentored by a veteran marketing professional, Teresa Caro. She was incredibly tough, detail-oriented and helpful. We also attended conferences and toured marketing agencies in Atlanta. Finally, we got to meet and pitch our project to Time Warner executives. It was a very challenging but rewarding experience, and showed me the kind of hard work it takes to be a marketing professional.”

At Terry, there isn’t one signature experience that summarizes the entire undergraduate experience because nearly every major, course, or certificate program offers a number of signature experiences. In turn, the Terry experience is one that goes beyond the traditional curriculum to offer a rich education that develops curious business students into successful business professionals.

WHAT ALUMNI SAY “The rich learnings in class, passionate staff and abundance of opportunities around campus truly made my experience one of a kind!”

“I provided business consulting services for a small GA business that actually ended up allowing me to work for them remotely as a first year law student. Fantastic experience; I redesigned the website, helped the company find international distributors, managed product photography, and ran social media accounts.”

“What was unique was the different reallife internship options you can take as an undergraduate. I personally had 5 different internships in my undergraduate career and they each taught me different skills needed in business.”

THE BEST UNDERGRADUATE BUSINESS SCHOOLS

77

2100 SENNOTT SQUARE PITTSBURGH, PA 15260 ADMISSIONS OFFICE: 412-383-9600

University Of Pittsburgh

L $83,224

In-State Total Cost

Freshman

Year When Students Declare Their Majors

49%

Acceptance Rate

1338

Average SAT

1%

International Students

13%

Underrepresent Minorities

88.2%

Class of 2020 accepting jobs 90 days after graduation

POETSANDQUANTSFORUNDERGRADS.COM

anding in 30th for the second year in a row is the University of Pittsburgh’s College of Business Administration. Pittsburgh had a balanced finish in this year’s ranking, placing 32nd in Admissions Standards, 33rd in Employment Outcomes, and 39th in Academic Experience.

The University of Pittsburgh’s College of Business Administration had an acceptance rate of 49% for students entering Fall 2020. Those students also reported an average SAT of 1338 and average ACT of 29. The average high school GPA for the incoming class was a solid 4.0.

ANALYTICS CONSULTING PROJECT MOST POPULAR AMONG RECENT GRADUATES Pittsburgh’s curriculum features seven different business majors and six business-focused certificates. All students must take 15 core courses as well as an Arts and Sciences foundation. Among the 2018 alumni that we surveyed through the rankings process, the school’s analytics consulting project was one of the most popular aspects listed.

“I was involved in an analytics consulting project in which I worked with a small group to develop a predictive analytic solution for a real client,” one alumni said. “I also participated in a practicum in which I worked as an analyst for a student managed fund and managed the healthcare sector allocation within the portfolio. Both experiences gave me the opportunity to do practical work with real stakes and build real connections with other driven students and professors.”

Said another: “The Data Analytics project taught by Andy Hannah was my first real experience, in my sophomore year, to work in a consulting fashion to a company and provide valuable insights. This was unique because it was a group of 10 students working closely with business professionals and unlike any of the classes I had in the past.”

ACADEMIC ADVISING, INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCES ARE STRENGTHS Of the 15 scaled one-to-10 we asked Class of 2018 graduates, Pittsburgh alumni gave their experience an overall score of about 8.5, which was 44th out of 85 schools that surveyed their alumni and met the minimum alumni response rate. But when asked to appraise the effectiveness of the business school’s academic advising, Pittsburgh grads gave their school a rating of 8.83, which was the eighth highest in the category among all schools.

In the school survey, Pittsburgh officials mentioned the Tafel Center for Student Success, which houses the business program’s career and academic advising. The school also mentioned that the International Program is integrated within the career and academic services through

university of pittsburgh the Global Business Institute.

Those efforts seem to be paying off and working as Pittsburgh had the eighth-highest place for alumni saying they had at least one significant international experience. Of those responding to the survey, more than half (53.45%) of 2018 graduates said they had an important international experience through the business school.

“Me and a few other students went to Uruguay with engineers to better understand Latin American supply chains,” one alumni said in the alumni survey. “We were able to visit four of Uruguay’s top companies with robust supply chains and understand the unique challenges that a Latin American country faces. We were immersed with the students, and they also helped us understand Latin American culture.”

EMPLOYMENT OUTCOMES Some 94% of the Class of 2020 had at least one business-specific internship before graduation. That was down one percentage point compared to the Class of 2019. About 88% of the graduating Class of 2020 secured full-time employment within three months of graduation. Of those, the average starting salary was $59,234, which was up more than $3,000 compared to the Class of 2019. The average signing bonus was also up compared to last year. This year, 43% of Pittsburgh business graduates reported receiving $7,361 for a signing bonus.

WHAT ALUMNI SAY “I was enrolled in a class that was an analytics consulting project. We got to work with a popular startup (that has since been acquired) to assess their analytical capabilities. We were able to present the findings to the COO, and he praised us saying “this was a project I would have paid hundreds of thousands of dollars for.” All in all, a great experience that sparked my love for consulting.”

“I worked on a senior independent research project focusing on social entrepreneurship and the bottom of the pyramid in different parts of the globe. The research experience included two customized solo study abroad trips for on-site research.”

“I was involved in an analytics consulting project in which I worked with a small group to develop a predictive analytic solution for a real client. I also participated in a practicum in which I worked as an analyst for a student managed fund and managed the healthcare sector allocation within the portfolio. Both experiences gave me the opportunity to do practical work with real stakes and build real connections with other driven students and professors.”

THE BEST UNDERGRADUATE BUSINESS SCHOOLS

79

BRIGHAM YOUNG UNIVERSITY, CAMPUS DR., PROVO, UT 84602 ADMISSIONS OFFICE: 801-422-2507

Brigham Young University

T $61,176

In-State Total Cost

Junior

Year When Students Declare Their Majors

50.7%

Acceptance Rate

1325

Average SAT

5%

International Students

9%

Underrepresent Minorities

94.6%

Class of 2020 accepting jobs 90 days after graduation

POETSANDQUANTSFORUNDERGRADS.COM

he Marriott School of Business at Brigham Young University landed at No. 31 in this year’s rankings. The Utah-based B-school improved by 61 ranks from last year’s 92 spot, however, that placement was because BYU did not meet the minimum alumni response rate and consequently missed the entire academic experience category. In 2019, the Marriott School ranked No. 35, which is closer to where it’s been ranked most years, including this one.

Marriott had a much more selective admissions process this year with an acceptance rate of 50.69% and average SAT score of 1224, compared to last year’s acceptance rate of 81% and average SAT score of 1115. The B-school also received high remarks from surveyed alumni, who gave a 9.7 average rating for their degree’s value. Overall, the school did best in the Academic Experience category, placing No. 27 overall. The school did consistently well across the other two methodological categories, placing No. 35 in Admissions Standards and No. 37 in Career Outcomes.

The Marriott School of Business offers an education that emphasizes ethical decision making and gives students opportunities to gain valuable experience that translates to high employability.

ETHICS-FOCUSED CURRICULUM As an institution owned by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latterday Saints, BYU as a whole emphasizes ethical decision-making in its education. And at Marriott, those values are apparent in the undergraduate business curriculum.

Students can choose from 10 majors including Accounting, Business Management, Entrepreneurial Management, Experience Design and Management, Finance, Global Supply Chain Management, Human Resource Management, Information Systems, Marketing, and Strategic Management.

Like many other B-schools, Marriott’s core business courses feature foundational topics based on a student’s chosen major. However, at Marriott, that core curriculum also includes an “Ethics for Management” course that all Marriott students — regardless of major — must take.

Marriott alumni have a positive outlook on the quality of their education. When asked to rate the quality of teaching in Marriott business courses, 2018 alumni gave a strong 9.2 average rating.

Additionally, alumni rated Marriott faculty availability for informal discussions and mentoring outside of class at a 9.1 average rating.

“I truly gained first-hand experience with these professors and can attest to their quality and sincerity,” one 2018 alumni told us. “They are some of the sharpest in their fields, and chose to be at BYU.” VALUABLE WORK EXPERIENCE

Brigham Young University Roughly 62% of surveyed 2018 alumni say they engaged in some sort of “signature experience” during their time at Marriott that was key to their business learning. At Marriott, students have access to a number of opportunities to gain real work experience from oncampus internships and case competitions to capstone projects.

On-campus internships are student-led 15-week projects that are sponsored by a wide-range of companies. Students receive academic credit for their on-campus internships and also gain valuable real work experience in their chosen fields. One 2018 alumni referenced the significance of her on-campus internship with PwC. “It helped land me my full-time junior summer internship and then ultimately my full-time job after graduation,” she said.

Marriott students also have access to a number of case competitions that give them an opportunity to showcase their knowledge and skills.

“I participated in 8 case competitions on a national scale,” one 2018 alumni said. “They were probably the closest approximation to work life that I experienced in my undergrad. I felt the stress and pressure to perform that you feel so often in the workplace. They were also significant accelerators to my knowledge base, as I had to diligently work to find answers to pressing questions.”

Aside from on-campus internships and case competitions, the courses at Marriott often require students to apply their studies to real-world situations.

“For example in my economics of strategy course, each group identified a local business to analyze and actually provide suggestions based on the concepts we learned in class,” another 2018 grad said. “It cemented the concepts which I now apply in my employment.”

“Our final project was to find an actual product/service and to rebrand it,” one 2018 alumni told us. “So our team picked a shampoo company and rebranded it — from contacting suppliers in China to conduct customer preference tests, it was very exciting and challenging. When we presented our findings, we were not only presenting to our professor, but also his friends who are actually in the CPG industry, who were able to provide down-to-earth feedback.”

Regardless of if a student partakes in an on-campus internship, case competition, or capstone project, Marriott ensures its students are well-prepared for the real world of business by the time they graduate.

WHAT ALUMNI SAY “Our Capstone project involved identifying and bringing a real product to market with a defined supply chain strategy and market fit.

This experience provided real thought processes and consideration to how corporations do business and their processes implementing a new product/strategy.”

“The experiential learning at BYU Marriott which allowed myself and other students to consult and tackle projects for real companies was incredibly eye opening and intellectually stimulating because it offered a perspective of real life business problems and opportunities to creatively solve them.”

“Case competition with a growth equity firm really gave me an opportunity to lead and analyze a company.”

EMPLOYMENT OUTCOMES The Marriott education translates well into employment. A salty 94.64% of the Class of 2020 secured a full-time position within three months of graduation and 71% had a business-focused internship before graduation. Through a curriculum that emphasizes ethical decision making and opportunities for students to gain real work experience, the Marriott School of Business is certainly worthy of its value.

THE BEST UNDERGRADUATE BUSINESS SCHOOLS

81

ADMISSIONS OFFICE: 415-869-2900 (SAN FRANCISCO) 617-746-1990 (BOSTON)

Hult International Business School

H $304,800 In-State Total Cost

Freshman

Year When Students Declare Their Majors

37.8%

Acceptance Rate

1217

Average SAT

92%

International Students

N/A

Underrepresent Minorities

98.1%

Class of 2020 accepting jobs 90 days after graduation

POETSANDQUANTSFORUNDERGRADS.COM

ult International Business School placed at No. 32 in this year’s rankings. Dropping four ranks from last year’s 28th-place finish, the B-school had a slightly less competitive admissions process this year with an acceptance rate of 37.79% and average SAT score of 1217, compared to last year’s acceptance rate of 22% and average SAT score of 1268.

Similar to last year, Hult’s No. 32 is due to its stellar performance in the Academic Experience category. Alumni rated their experience as 16th-best of all 93 schools, placing directly between elite institutions like Georgetown’s McDonough School (15th) and North Carolina’s KenanFlagler Business School (16th). With five different campuses including Boston, London, Dubai, San Francisco, and Shanghai, Hult offers a truly international degree that aims to provide its students with a global business mindset and a repertoire of in-demand skills.

PRACTICAL APPLICATION-FOCUSED CURRICULUM The Hult undergraduate business curriculum is designed to teach students practical application of business theory with an emphasis on building soft and technical skills. The B-school recently launched a set of innovative courses, Nano, that cover different disruptive technologies such as 3D Printing, autonomous vehicles, Internet of things, AI and machine learning, Robotics, and virtual reality. Each course provides an introduction to a different emerging technology, assesses their business significance, considers the range of potential applications and the exposure to critical risks — including legal, regulatory, and ethical.

“As the world continues to change rapidly with the advance of technology, these short oe-credit courses are designed to help students think critically about how that technology could impact the future including how consumer behavior may change and what future opportunities may surface,” Lorena Leston, Director of Strategic Initiatives & Institutional Research at Hult, told us.

Students can choose from five majors including: Entrepreneurship, Finance, Management, Marketing, and Business Analytics. Each year has a dedicated experiential learning component that allows students to apply their studies to real world situations. In their first year, students compete in the Startup Challenge, which gives them an introduction to entrepreneurship and experience in pitching their ideas. Sophomore year features the Social Impact Challenge, a competition that teaches students about corporate responsibility and the power of business in social impact. The third year features the Specialization Challenge, where students complete a challenge in their area of specialization and develop their career-ready skills.

In their senior year, students compete in one of two Capstone Challenges: the Corporate Track or Entrepreneurship Track. The

Hult International Business School Entrepreneurship Track enables students to work on their own startup ideas, from developing the idea into a viable business proposition to pitching it to executives. On the Corporate Track, students work on a strategic challenge set by the management of a major company. Past clients have included McLaren, Amazon Launchpad, Unilever, and UBS. “It was a very unique experience, because we were able to form our teams based on skills and knowledge needed for the challenge,” one 2018 alumni, whose capstone project focused on McLaren, told us. “We were able to immerse ourselves in an industry that we might normally not even consider to be our cup of tea, however it turned out to be fascinating. We were able to face a real life business challenge that helped us grow as professionals, test our interpersonal skills and recognise opportunities as well as realise when we need to ask for guidance. I think we have learned equally as much retrospectively, which helped us recognise traits we could rely on in the future or pay attention to and improve them.”

These types of opportunities are baked into the curriculum at Hult. And unlike many other B-schools, where a capstone project is featured only in the senior year, Hult integrates every year with an opportunity to get real, hands-on learning. In turn, Hult students gain valuable skills throughout their education that prepare them for the real world of business.

FIVE UNIQUE CAMPUSES Hult offers its curriculum across five different campuses. London and Boston are the home campuses, with Dubai, San Francisco, and Shanghai being summer rotation campuses. The benefits of having such an expansive presence is two-fold: On one hand, students can gain a truly global perspective in their education. Hult is home to students from 136 nationalities, with no more than 8% of students from any one nationality.

“The business program was very open and diverse,” one 2018 alumni said. “We had professors and students from many different areas of the world. This opened my eyes to many different perspectives.”

On the other hand, a global presence makes the Hult degree valuable and recognized. Hult students can graduate with both a U.S. and U.K. degree and the B-school is the only U.S. school to be accredited by the three most prestigious accrediting bodies: AACSB, EQIUS, and AMBA. Roughly 61% of Hult alumni that we surveyed reported taking part in a global trip or project during their undergraduate education. “I rotated to China during summer courses,” one 2018 alumni told us. “This experience allowed me to immerse myself in a culture that was unknown to me and to experience life from a different perspective.”

Hult graduates have strong employment outcomes. Some 98.53% of the Class of 2020 secured a full-time position within three months of graduation, which was higher than any other school this year.

The practical application of Hult’s curriculum and its unique global rotational opportunities are the aspects that make a Hult degree one worth pursuing.

WHAT ALUMNI SAY “We had group projects with live clients all the time almost in every class I took. They were extremely beneficial as rather than submitting an assignment to the professors, we were instead proposing a solution/ project to real companies. This really made a difference in the learning curve and the motivation to give in 100% at all times.”

“Going to Hult is a global immersion.

Students are from all around the world which makes classes even more special. Also, I studied in London and San Francisco which enriched my global experience at Hult.”

“HULT offers seamless campus rotation programs across 5 campuses on 3 continents and encourages all students to participate.

I’ve done two rotations (San Francisco - USA and Dubai - UAE) and gained incredible insights on how to do business and understand different cultures in today’s globalized world.”

THE BEST UNDERGRADUATE BUSINESS SCHOOLS

83

334 MELCHER HALL, ROOM 262, HOUSTON, TX 77204 ADMISSIONS OFFICE: 713-743-4900

University Of Houston

T $104,544 In-State Total Cost

Freshman

Year When Students Declare Their Majors

23.8%

Acceptance Rate

1306

Average SAT

7.3%

International Students

27.5%

Underrepresent Minorities

94.7%

Class of 2020 accepting jobs 90 days after graduation

POETSANDQUANTSFORUNDERGRADS.COM

he C.T. Bauer College of Business at the University of Houston placed at 33 in this year’s rankings. Improving 21 spots from last year’s 54th spot, the Bauer College of Business had a slightly more competitive acceptance rate of 23.75%, compared to last year’s 26%. The average SAT score was 1306 this year with 34.60% coming from the top 10th percentile of their high school class.

Bauer was also one of the few B-schools to see an increase in employment outcomes despite the challenges of the COVID-19 economic downturn. Some 94.74% of Bauer’s Class of 2020 secured full-time employment within three months of graduation, up from last year’s 78.76%. Additionally, 60.70% of the Class of 2020 had a businessfocused internship before graduating, up nearly six percent from last year’s 54.20%.

Houston placed 55th in 2019 and 54th in 2020, so the jump is significant. Houston did best in the Admissions Standards category, where it placed 28th of the 93 schools ranked. It also placed 45th in the Academic Experience category and 48th in Employment Outcomes. The B-school’s strong, specialized programs and opportunities to connect with real business professionals are what make the Bauer education unique.

REAL EXPERIENCE IN SPECIALTY PROGRAMS Bauer offers seven majors to undergraduates including: Accounting, Entrepreneurship, Finance, Management, Management Information Systems, Marketing, and Supply Chain Management. But perhaps what makes the Bauer education most attractive is the abundance of specialities that students can choose from. Bauer’s specialty programs allow students to dig deeper into their field of interest and feature opportunities to gain real work experience.

For instance, the B-school’s Program for Excellence in Selling (PES) allows students to engage in live selling. Students are required to achieve a sales quota in each of their classes, much like the real world of business sales.

“The Program for Excellence in Selling (at the Stephen Stagner Sales Excellence Institute) made my college experience,” one 2018 alumni told us. “Without this program, my answers would be vastly different, and not for the better. This sales program gave me the necessary education, training, support, and network to really succeed and excel postgraduation.”

For those interested in Entrepreneurship, Bauer’s Wolff Center For Entrepreneurship enables students to learn how to start and operate their own businesses. Much like other specialty offerings at Bauer, the Wolff Center for Entrepreneurship allows students to gain real-world experience in the field.

University of Houston “Through the entrepreneurship program (Wolff Center for Entrepreneurship), I co-founded a startup with an intellectual property license from NASA, a detailed business plan, investor pitch, and marketing, and was able to travel internationally to pitch at business plan competitions, where my company was awarded $50k and listed on the Forbes 30 Under 30 list in the Energy category,” one 2018 alumni said.

These types of specialty programs are the cornerstone of the Bauer education. At many other B-schools, your major will give you access to courses with experienced professors. But at Bauer, your learning isn’t tied to a textbook. Rather, students can dig deeper into their major and truly explore fields and specializations that interest them.

By the time Bauer students graduate, they have a strong sense of what an industry or role is like.

OPPORTUNITIES TO CONNECT Connections are key to business. And at Bauer, students can gain strong experience through connections with faculty and business professionals. One 2018 alumni we surveyed highlighted her experience in the core business class corporate project, where she was put in front of F&A executives at the Halliburton Company, one of the world’s largest providers of products and services to the energy industry.

“I had the experience to compile a project with peers, solve a business problem and present this information in a formal business setting in front of a panel of directors,” the 2018 alumni said. “When I landed an internship in IT because I already knew all of these sr.

F&A folks, this impressed IT, I used my connections to do really well in my internship projects and by the end of those 3 months I was in front of the CIO and Sr. IT leadership team presenting.”

Another 2018 alumni told us about the connections she made with Professor Michael Ray Newman, Senior Professor of Practice and Director of Accounting Programs at Bauer, which led to a future internship.

“Dr. Newman arranged for me to meet with Michael Bennett, the Houston office managing partner at Grant Thornton to complete a research project related to different tax provisions offered to companies, and how each one would affect their tax basis,” the 2018 graduate said. “I was tasked with recommending a hypothetical plan of action for a company, and what tax provisions they should utilize to aid in reducing their tax basis while also remaining in compliance with various regulations that could affect this hypothetical company. It was a great learning experience, and Michael Bennett actually recommended me for an internship at Grant Thornton while I was completing this project. Both Dr. Newman and Mr. Bennett were amazing mentors to me during my time at Bauer, and really helped shape and prepare me for the working world.”

With strong speciality programs and connections that lead to future internship and employment opportunities, Bauer students are well-prepared for any career they choose to pursue.

WHAT ALUMNI SAY “I was in the Program for Excellence in Selling. What made it unique was the real life sales we were making as students to managers, recruiters, and C-level executives.

While being taught sales strategies and practices, we were also tasked with real quotas to meet and a number of role plays and cold calls to make. Every week, we would have 2 companies partnered with the program to come out and talk to us about their company and OpenDoc interviews for internships and full time opportunities. It was truly a once in a lifetime opportunity to experience as a college student.”

“As part of a few classes we had projects with actual real world companies. It was unique in that we got actual feedback from people who would actually be implementing any solutions we came up with. It was like practice for jobs we actually wanted to hold and taught us a lot about the various industries we were interested in.”

“The program gives you live training and exposes you to real-world projects, from starting an internet business to working with intellectual property to launching new ideas.”

THE BEST UNDERGRADUATE BUSINESS SCHOOLS

85

121 PRESIDENTS DRIVE, AMHERST, MA 01003 ADMISSIONS OFFICE: 413-545-5610

University Of Massachusetts At Amherst

T $122,324 In-State Total Cost

Freshman

Year When Students Declare Their Majors

41.5%

Acceptance Rate

1316

Average SAT

7.8%

International Students

8.2%

Underrepresent Minorities

83.2%

Class of 2020 accepting jobs 90 days after graduation

POETSANDQUANTSFORUNDERGRADS.COM

he Isenberg School of Management at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst landed at No. 34 in this year’s rankings. The B-school progressed two spots from last year’s 36th placement and seven from finishing No. 41 in 2019. Isenberg did best in the Admissions Standards category, placing No. 31 overall, with an acceptance rate this year of 41.54% and an average SAT score of 1316.

Isenberg has a comprehensive business education with resources in STEM and leverages its location in the northeast to offer students unique opportunities to work with companies such as Reebok.

CROSS-FUNCTIONAL CURRICULUM WITH STRONG FACULTY SUPPORT Isenberg students have access to majors including Accounting, Finance, Hospitality & Tourism Management, Management, Marketing, Operations & Information Management, and Sports Management. The B-school recently added a new certificate in Corporate Real Estate that includes certification in Argus software and a new Analytics certificate at the undergraduate level.

Isenberg is a part of UMass Amherst, a major public research university and there are opportunities for Isenberg students to take advantage of resources in Engineering, Computer Science, Public Health, and beyond. Many alumni highlight how cross-functional Isenberg courses are in leveraging knowledge not only in business but also fields such as engineering and computer science.

“I had a financial engineering class where we learned the academic and practical aspects of trading and portfolio management,” one 2018 alumni told us. “We managed an option trading strategy for a semester and actively managed a strategy for the entire semester. This allowed me to apply the academic learnings from class to actual markets. I was also able to use my learnings from computer science classes I took to develop a computer model that allowed me to analyze the market and implement my strategy.”

Overall, alumni tend to view their business education positively — rating the quality of teaching in Isenberg courses at an 8.7 average rating. When asked to rate business school faculty availability for informal discussions and mentoring outside of class, 2018 alumni gave a strong 9.1 average rating.

“Courses taken at Isenberg were rigorous, but the professors really took the time to ensure each student had a strong grasp of their respective subjects,” one 2018 alumni said. “Most unique of all, Isenberg taught us how to leverage our LinkedIn profiles (which they also taught us how to perfect) to network and get interviews for prospective employment opportunities. At one point during my undergraduate career, recruiters, as well as friends who attended other universities,

University of Massachusetts At Amherst were inquiring as to what resources I utilized to set up my profile as they were impressed with what Isenberg had taught me.”

This level of support captures the type of education that Isenberg provides. While many B-schools have resources available for students, Isenberg’s faculty appears to go the extra mile to provide students with the resources and support they need.

UNIQUE HANDS-ON EXPERIENCES A number of courses at Isenberg feature unique opportunities to gain hands-on experience working with neighboring companies such as Reebok and Peter Pan Bus Lines. “Hands on interactive marketing senior thesis working with Peter Pan Bus Lines to conduct real research on current & past customers of the company and present results to company executives (including CEO & marketing director) as well as board members,” one 2018 alumni told us.

“We created a marketing strategy for Reebok that taught skills like research, development, public speaking, presentation making, and time management,” another 2018 alumni said. “I have found all of the skills useful when I entered the workplace after graduation.”

Every B-school has some sort of experiential learning experience, but Isenberg is able to leverage the relationship it has with big companies to give students an even more hands-on experience.

Many alumni also highlighted the unique management opportunities they had as Isenberg students to create, plan, and execute wide-scale events.

“Soccerfest was a class in the Sport Management department where spent two semesters planning, organizing, and marketing the largest grassroots soccer tournament in the Northeast,” one 2018 alumni told us. “It was entirely student run and was a great learning experience for the event management industry as well as for game day aspects for sports. I believe they have since transferred the class to an esports tournament.”

“I was a member of the Women of Isenberg Conference Planning Committee and that was used as project work,” another 2018 graduate said. “The experience of putting together a massive event with a student run team was extremely impactful to my professional growth. From coordinating with industry professionals during the months leading up to the event and managing the conference operations (including day of resources and finances) — I knew I could handle real world business problems after graduation.”

Isenberg students have relatively strong employment and internship prospects. Some 85.80% of the Class of 2020 had a business-focused internship before graduating with 83.21% securing a full-time position within three months of graduation. Those numbers are slightly down from last year’s internship outcome of 87.90% and employment outcome of 88.90%, but that may be attributed to the COVID-19 economic downturn.

Overall, where Isenberg shines is in its cross-functional curriculum with strong faculty support and unique opportunities for students to work with large brand-name companies.

WHAT ALUMNI SAY “Senior Honors Thesis/Internship worked as consultants for Carvel ice cream to create a marketing strategy for millennials.

Was able to meet and work with executives throughout the semester, hold focus groups, research, and create a proposition that was delivered to the president of the company.”

“Senior year there were 2-3 400 level classes with semester long projects that would require you to use the breadth of your business knowledge such as coming up with a business idea and how to get it off the ground and start running. One in particular was to design a compensation structure for an entire company based off a number of factors.”

“Capstone was a simulation of a business and allocating money between R/D, marketing, and then deciding where to place products on a quality/size scale. We had to determine future demand and adjust our supply adequately. There were 4-5 teams in our class competing for the same ‘market.’”

THE BEST UNDERGRADUATE BUSINESS SCHOOLS

87

105 TAYLOR HALL LEWISBURG, PA 17837 ADMISSIONS OFFICE: 570-577-1337

Bucknell University

B $320,640 In-State Total Cost

Freshman

Year When Students Declare Their Majors

30.1%

Acceptance Rate

1338

Average SAT

1%

International Students

9%

Underrepresent Minorities

66%

Class of 2020 accepting jobs 90 days after graduation

POETSANDQUANTSFORUNDERGRADS.COM

ucknell University’s Kenneth W. Freeman College of Management placed at No. 35 in this year’s rankings. Falling a slight six spots from last year’s 29th rank, Freeman had an acceptance rate this year of 30.08% with an average SAT score of 1313.

The B-school saw a significant decline in terms of employability this year with only 65.96% securing a full-time position within three months of graduation, compared to last year’s 91.95%. Additionally, 73% of the Class of 2020 had a business-focused internship before graduating, down from last year’s 84%. While employability saw a dip this year at Freeman, the decline may largely be due to the COVID-19 economic downturn.

However, Bucknell truly has happy and satisfied alumni. Bucknell placed second overall in the Academic Experience category, falling only behind the University of Virginia’s McIntire School of Commerce.

What differentiates the Freeman education are the curriculum’s liberal arts focus, unique experiential learning opportunities that emphasize community service, and strong alumni support.

LIBERAL ARTS-FOCUSED CURRICULUM Bucknell University is a private liberal arts institution and the Freeman College certainly takes influence from that in its curriculum.

Students can choose from majors including: Accounting; Finance; Business Analytics; Management and Organizations; Managing for Sustainability; Global Management; and Markets, Innovation & Design.

Freeman students are required to participate in the liberal arts-core and many of the management majors have elective requirements that require students to take classes outside of the College of Management.

Additionally, all Freeman students graduate well-versed in writing as Bucknell requires students to take at least three writing-intensive classes.

Freeman alumni rate their education very highly across the board.

2018 alumni rated the quality of teaching in Freeman courses a strong 9.4 average rating and rated Freeman faculty availability for informal discussions and mentoring outside of class a whopping 9.8 average rating, one of the highest scores amongst all B-schools. Additionally, alumni also rated opportunities at Freeman to nurture both their soft and technical skills in business at a 9.5 and 9.0, respectively.

COMMUNITY SERVICE AT THE HEART OF LEARNING Many of the experiential learning opportunities at Freeman have an element of community service.

Management 101 is the hallmark of the Freeman education. In the required course, Freeman students learn about basic organizational forms, behaviors and decision making by forming a company in their

Bucknell University first year, raising funds through a self designed product that is sold on campus and using the proceeds for a service project in the local community. Since its inception in 1978, 310 MGMT 101 companies have provided services and donations valued in excess of $500,000 and have worked more than 100,000 person-hours for their service client partners. At the other end, seniors in the Management Consulting class work with local organizations and communities, such as towns from the coal region in Central Pennsylvania, to rebuild the community.

“My sophomore year I took part in an experiential learning class where we had our own company that sold a business product (Bucknell branded patagonias) to fund our service project, where we completely renovated the house of a visually impaired man’s home.

We learned how to run a company while also making a difference in someone’s life,” one 2018 alumni told us. “My senior year capstone/ experiential learning experience allowed me to be a consultant and drive a business solution to Increase profits and streamline a process for a business in an underprivileged community.”

“Every senior project embodied a deeper meaning,” another 2018 alumni saud. “Each of which forced me to think beyond the project at hand but to think globally and how I could impact the world after leaving.”

Oftentimes, business students are taught to prioritize profit and return above all else. But at Freeman, students are taught the value of giving back as well - a powerful lesson that creates compassionate, socially responsible business leaders.

WHAT ALUMNI SAY “My senior year I participated in a small consulting project for Keurig. There were 6 students all from different disciplines working on exciting and real issues for the company. We reported our findings directly to the CEO And other senior employees at the company.”

“MGMT 101 allowed students to ‘build and operate their own company’ which was truly unique.”

“The Bucknell Management 101 experience is unlike any other class I’ve ever heard ofessentially, your class becomes a company, and is responsible for bringing a product to market from start-finish while using all proceeds to fund a service project in the community. It’s an unbelievable way to get some great, on-the-job experience.”

STRONG ALUMNI SUPPORT Freeman has an expansive and strong alumni network. The B-school recently enhanced its alumni connections through an alumni-mentoring program, which partners first-year students with alumni employed at Goldman Sachs, PwC, JPMorgan, Vanguard, Deloitte, or Johnson & Johnson.

Support in the Freeman community starts early too. The B-school implements learning cohorts and pairs each group of eight to 10 first-years with a peer mentor from the junior or senior class. In turn, Freeman’s first year-retention rate has increased to 96%.

When asked how they would judge Freeman’s alumni network and connections ability to help them throughout their career, 2018 alumni gave a 9.1 average rating. Respondents also rated Freeman alumni accessibility and willingness to connect them with potential employers at a strong 9.2 average rating.

The Freeman education is one that goes beyond business. Its curriculum incorporates the liberal arts. The experiential learning opportunities emphasize the value in giving back. And its alumni network is one that is supportive through thick and thin. For those interested in learning more than just the profit of business, the Freeman College of Management is a good place to start.

THE BEST UNDERGRADUATE BUSINESS SCHOOLS

89

5250 UNIVERSITY DRIVE, MIAMI, FL 33146 ADMISSIONS OFFICE: 305-284-4641

University Of Miami

T $268,106 In-State Total Cost

Freshman

Year When Students Declare Their Majors

34.1%

Acceptance Rate

1329

Average SAT

7%

International Students

28%

Underrepresent Minorities

95.7%

Class of 2020 accepting jobs 90 days after graduation

POETSANDQUANTSFORUNDERGRADS.COM

he University of Miami Herbert Business School has moved into its highest-ever finish in our annual rankings of undergraduate business schools. At No. 36, Miami Herbert has moved up 12 spots in the past three years, including a nine-spot jump between last year and this year. However, there is still a lot of room for improvement as Miami Herbert finished 74th overall in the Academic Experience methodological category.

Miami Herbert’s finish was buoyed this year by 23rd-place finish in the Admissions Standards category. For students entering this past fall (2020), they had to overcome a tough 34.09% acceptance rate. The average SAT score was 1329 and average ACT was 30. The average high school GPA for this year’s class was 3.5.

Miami Herbert’s improvement also stemmed from some solid job placement numbers. In a year that saw many schools have early employment rates drop, Miami Herbert actually saw a significant increase between the Classes of 2019 and 2020. Graduates of 2020 reported a full-time employment rate of 95.67% within three months of graduation, a jump of more than 12% compared to the 2019 class.

However, Miami Herbert still has one of the lowest internship rates for graduates. Just 51.80% of the Class of 2020 reported having at least one business-specific internship before graduation, which was lower than all but six schools that reported 2020 internship data.

‘FRONT-LOADED’ CURRICULUM FEATURES NEW MAJORS AND MINORS Miami boasts 14 majors and 12 minors for business students along with nine minors for non-business students. The school calls its curriculum “front-loaded” and features a case-study-heavy new course called FIRST Step. Students are put into teams and paired with an experienced student mentor.

Other recent innovations the school reports having made include a new Transfer Career Coaching Class and a Dean’s Scholar Program, which allows students to complete the undergraduate degree as well as a specialized master’s degree in areas like business analytics, finance, sustainability, and international business within five years. The school has also recently created majors in organizational leadership and global business as well as minors in Fintech (financial technology) and sustainable business.

GRADUATES REPORT HAVING ENGAGED AND SUPPORTIVE FACULTY According to our alumni survey, recent Miami Herbert graduates were a bit harsher on their experience than alumni from other schools. The

University of Miami 2018 graduates responding to our survey gave their overall average experience at Herbert a rating of 8.095, which was 70th out of 84 schools that surveyed their alumni and met the minimum response rate.

However, the prompt that received the highest score — a 9.2 — from alumni was the availability of professors outside of the classroom. So, while alumni comparatively rated their experience lower, they were very satisfied with the availability of faculty members at Miami Herbert. Alumni of Miami Herbert gave the lowest score to the business school’s alumni network and its ability to help throughout a career.

Just 31.11% of Miami Herbert alumni reported having a “signature experience” through the business school, which was very low compared to other schools, ranking 89th out of the 93 ranked schools this year. As for having a meaningful international experience, the numbers dropped even more to 8.89%, which was the secondlowest, only beating out the University of Akron.

MAJORITY OF RECENT GRADUATES TOOK JOBS IN SOUTH AND NORTHEAST Alumni were, however, fairly satisfied with their early job prospects. About 78% reported having their first job after graduation in a desired industry. And about 71% reported those first jobs being at a desired company. Not surprisingly, about three-quarters of the Class of 2020 took positions either in the U.S. South or Northeast, with the majority of the class (52%) staying in the South.

Overall, Miami is a solid option for students looking to earn a business degree in southern Florida. While the overall international experience was low among alumni, going to school in Miami in itself is a culturally-rich experience, especially with students interested in Latin America.

WHAT ALUMNI SAY “I was involved in our Student Managed Investment Fund - it has been absolutely critical to my career so far. Starting as an analyst, becoming a sector head, and eventually becoming a Co Chief Investment Officer has been a big part of my career trajectory and I will never be able to pay back the University for that experience.”

“The capstone business analytics project with Florida Power and Light gave me the opportunity to collaborate with a team of students to combine our data analysis skills and business acumen to provide insights and suggestions about a special service the company was providing to its customers.

At the end of the 8 month project we drove up to FPL’s Jupiter headquarters to present our work to some of executives who were stakeholders in that special service at FPL. Our work was commended by FPL. I learned how important it is to clarify expectations, maintain constant dialogue with stakeholders throughout a project, and how to combine one’s soft skills with problem solving skills effectively for client satisfaction.”

“I was part of the social consulting club and we worked on a project about fundraising for a non-profit school in Peru, and ultimately visited Peru and the school for 1 week to work and present our project.”

THE BEST UNDERGRADUATE BUSINESS SCHOOLS

91

2900 LUBBOCK AVE # 320, FORT WORTH, TX 76109 ADMISSIONS OFFICE: 817-257-6772

Texas Christian University

T

he Neeley School of Business at Texas Christian University ranked at number 38 this year. Falling seven spots from last year’s 31st place, Neeley had an acceptance rate of 51.06% this year and an average SAT of 1236. While Neeley ranked lower this year, its business program is still one that embraces leadership development with plenty of opportunities to gain the necessary skills of business.

REAL-WORLD EDUCATION

$266,400 In-State Total Cost

Junior

Year When Students Declare Their Majors

51.1%

Acceptance Rate

1325

Average SAT

2.9%

International Students

16.5%

Underrepresent Minorities

97.5%

Class of 2020 accepting jobs 90 days after graduation

POETSANDQUANTSFORUNDERGRADS.COM

Neeley is technically a two-year business program since students apply directly to the B-school during their second year. Once accepted into Neeley, business students can choose from the following majors: Accounting, Business Information Systems, Entrepreneurship and Innovation, Finance, Finance with a Real Estate Concentration, Management, Marketing, and Supply and Value Chain Management.

A key characteristic of the Neeley program is its focus on both the soft and technical skills of business. Surveyed 2018 alumni gave the B-school a strong 9.0 average rating in terms of preparing them for the world of work and a 9.4 average rating in terms of the opportunities given to them to nurture and improve their soft skills in business.

“The program rounded out the business school offerings by focusing on the, sometimes overlooked, soft-skills development that are critical to the business environment, regardless of industry,” one 2018 alumni told us.

Another 2018 alumni told us about her experience as a student coach at Neeley’s Professional Development Center, where she says she gained a strong foundation in business skills.

“I coached peers on professional skills ranging from resume building to professional presentation skills,” the 2018 alumni told us. “I also presented in front of classrooms on many topics. Being held to a high standard and needing to have an in-depth understanding and skill set to provide guidance to others allowed me to firmly develop many relevant skills. These experiences stick with me today.”

Another standout quality of the Neeley program is its strong emphasis on real-world applications. Whether through consulting simulations or class projects, Neeley students are encouraged to apply their business knowledge to make real world impact.

“In our senior year consulting class we had the opportunity to develop and pitch an entertainment technology solution to a high profile Dallas real estate firm,” one 2018 alumni said. “[We] presented in front of their C-Suite and were graded by them, not faculty. We had the opportunity to receive feedback from the executives and they ended up partially adopting our solution.”

“One professor had us do a group project, where he and three other departmental professors acted as executives at a fictitious company

Texas Christian University for whom we did a case study. Instead of presenting in front of the class and our peers, we presented in front of the professors in a conference room to simulate a ‘real-world’ presentation scenario,” another 2018 alumni explained. “After our 15 minute presentation , the professors drilled us with questions in a drill-sergeant manner for the next hour, with intent to poke holes in our recommendations and question our preparedness. Afterward, we had a discussion of how we think we did and he offered suggestions of how we could have improved our presentation. I had never been challenged in such a way prior to that experience.”

LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT The Neeley education is heavily focused on developing business students into leaders. One of the cornerstone leadership programs is Neeley Fellows, the undergraduate business honors program. Each year, 30 first-year students are selected for the rigorous, three-year experience that features enhanced business courses, professional development, networking opportunities, and study abroad trips.

Neeley Fellows have gone on to work for big name companies such as Amazon, IBM, Google, Deloitte, and more.

A number of 2018 alumni we surveyed spoke highly about their experience in the Neeley Fellows leadership program.

“I was a part of the Neeley Leadership Program which has been incredibly life changing,” one 2018 alumni told us. “It has allowed me not only to be a stronger business woman but be able to lead in a business context and work with others in an effective way.”

“As a member of Neeley Fellows, we did study abroad trips that really opened our horizons to the local and International business world,” another 2018 alumni said. “We also did weekly labs that helped with our professional skills. This unique cohort really shaped my experience and has created a network of professionals after graduation.”

Many B-schools have an honors program that features intensive coursework and networking opportunities. And while Neeley’s honors program does include an advanced curriculum, the program itself is heavily focused on leadership development. Alumni we surveyed in Neeley Fellows overwhelmingly spoke to the valuable leadership skills they gained through the experience.

WHAT ALUMNI SAY “I participated in the 3-year Neeley Leadership Program where we visited corporations in London and a leadership institute in Scotland. This experience was a very unique opportunity to gain a global perspective with a group of 32 high achieving students.”

“Had the opportunity to work on a consulting project for a real estate firm in Dallas. Real project experience with a company, while being in school.”

“We had several projects throughout various departments in Neeley where we had real life data. In a Design Thinking class, we were given a topic, had to go do our own research, and find ways to improve the process of the topic and present our findings and why we believed it was the best option.

Great experience for projects I’m involved in for my current role.”

EMPLOYMENT OUTCOMES Despite the impact of COVID-19 on the economy, Neeley students still have strong employment outcomes with 97.50% of the Class of 2020 securing full-time employment at graduation — only 0.12% lower than last year’s class. Much of that success can likely be attributed to Neeley’s quality education. One that gives students the proper skill sets to embark into the real world as business leaders.

THE BEST UNDERGRADUATE BUSINESS SCHOOLS

93

800 EAST HIGH STREET, OXFORD, OH 45056 ADMISSIONS OFFICE: 513-529-3631

Miami University

M $122,936 In-State Total Cost

Freshman

Year When Students Declare Their Majors

86.8%

Acceptance Rate

1325

Average SAT

2.5%

International Students

5.4%

Underrepresent Minorities

88.2%

Class of 2020 accepting jobs 90 days after graduation

POETSANDQUANTSFORUNDERGRADS.COM

iami University’s Farmer School of Business placed at number 39 in this year’s rankings. Improving five spots from last year’s 44th rank, the Farmer School of Business had an acceptance rate this year of 86.81% and average SAT of 1299.

In terms of employment outcomes, the Class of 2020 saw a slightly higher internship rate with 96% landing a business focused-internship before graduating, compared to last year’s 92.30%. Some 88.15% of the Class of 2020 secured a full-time position within three months of graduation, slightly down from last year’s 93.03%.

The Farmer School of Business offers a foundational, goal-oriented business education with a variety of hands-on opportunities for students to explore their potential. Of the three methodological categories comprising this ranking, Miami Farmer did best in the Academic Experience category, where it placed 22nd.

FIRST-YEAR INTEGRATED CORE Farmer students can choose from eight different disciplines including Accountancy, Economics, Entrepreneurship, Finance, Information Systems & Analytics, Human Capital Management and Leadership, Marketing, and Supply Chain & Operations Management.

Every student builds a foundation of business knowledge through the First-Year Integrated Core, which includes courses such as Foundations of Business; Foundations of Business Communication; Creativity, Innovation and Entrepreneurship; and Introduction to Computational Thinking for Business.

The Farmer business education is designed around five key learning goals: Critical & Creative Thinking, Technology, Communication & Collaboration, Globalization and Diversity, and Ethics. These goals help lay the groundwork for every class and opportunity that students engage in during their business education. The objective is for all Farmer students to achieve competency in each goal by graduation.

Alumni rate their Farmer business education relatively well. Surveyed 2018 alumni gave an 8.8 average rating for the quality of teaching in Farmer business courses and a 9.2 average rating in terms of faculty availability for informal discussions and mentoring outside of class.

Alumni also gave a strong 9.2 average rating in recommending the Farmer business program to a close friend or colleague interested in an undergraduate business degree.

NEARLY 80% ENGAGE IN SIGNATURE EXPERIENCE One of the main benefits of the Farmer program is the sheer amount of opportunities for students to explore their potential and apply their knowledge. Some 79.56% of surveyed 2018 alumni reported engaging

Miami University in a “signature experience” that was a key part of their business learning whether through project work, global immersion trip, or capstone.

One 2018 alumni said she had three different capstone experiences during her time at Farmer. In one of the capstone projects, she drove a net-new customer acquisition strategy for a large alcoholic beverage company and had the opportunity to fly out to Napa Valley, California and present to the brand leaders. The company eventually implemented her team’s strategy four months later.

“All [capstones] we’re real, tangible experiences which built my knowledge, experience, and confidence to excel in a business career,” the 2018 alumni told us.

Another 2018 alumni, whose team also traveled to Napa, highlighted the real-world experience of the capstone project.

“The client interaction, high level strategic work, primary customer research, degree of teamwork, and final client presentation all provided a very realistic consulting experience that helped prepare me for the work I now do every day as a consultant,” the 2018 alumni said.

These kinds of real, tangible experiences are widespread in every business discipline at Farmer. For instance, the “Entrepreneurial Consulting” course features a full three-week client project where students use creative problem solving, design thinking and other applied creativity tools to create innovative solutions. The J-term trip includes a week in the Bay Area where students travel to San Francisco to meet with leading creatives and innovative companies and present their solutions to the client.

“The San Francisco Creativity and Innovation J-Term trip was a very real world experience that gave me many opportunities that I am still engaged with today,” one 2018 alumni told us.

The B-school’s Department of Emerging Technology in Business and Design also has a dedicated San Francisco Digital Innovation Center. Through the center, Farmer students can spend four days a week in a co-op role with an established tech firm or innovative startup.

“The San Francisco Digital Innovation program was lifechanging,” another 2018 alumni said. “I spent a semester in SF with a cohort. 80% of the time was spent working for startups through internships, and 20% was a capstone class. I found my love of product management through this program and it launched my career.”

At Farmer, students are given a strong, goal-oriented foundation in business. No matter what path or discipline Farmer students choose to pursue, they are given a variety of experiential opportunities to gain real-world experience and excel in their chosen career.

WHAT ALUMNI SAY “I worked on a financial case competition for Textron and presented to the CFO with my team as well as got to study abroad in China to learn about global finance.”

“My senior capstone was a client project with the Kellogg marketing team. It was so exciting to get that experience with one of the most well known companies in the world and get the opportunity to interact with Kellogg executives on a regular basis as an undergrad.”

“My entrepreneurship capstone was an incredible experience, as we ended up winning our startup competition and almost pursued continuing with the concept after being funded by investors. As a finance major already having a job, I never would’ve expected this to happen during my senior year. Pleasant surprises like this, where Farmer students create their own luck in a sense, are what make Miami such an exceptional school. The tight-knit network helps tremendously, of course, and Farmer sets up its students with both interpersonal and technical skills needed to succeed.”

THE BEST UNDERGRADUATE BUSINESS SCHOOLS

95

632 BOGUE ST, EAST LANSING, MI 48825 ADMISSIONS OFFICE: 517-355-7605

Michigan State University

T

he Eli Broad College of Business at Michigan State University ranked No. 40 this year, falling just one spot behind last year’s 39th place. Broad had a less selective admissions process this year with an acceptance rate of 64.20%, admitting about 18% more applicants than last year. The average SAT score stayed relatively the same at 1225. The Broad College continues to offer a quality undergraduate business education that includes the latest skill sets, strong leadership programming, and end-to-end capstone experiences.

$186,104 In-State Total Cost

Sophomore

Year When Students Declare Their Majors

64.2%

Acceptance Rate

1225

Average SAT

9.1%

International Students

6.4%

Underrepresent Minorities

88.6%

Class of 2020 accepting jobs 90 days after graduation

POETSANDQUANTSFORUNDERGRADS.COM

BROAD’s “T-SHAPED” CURRICULUM The Broad curriculum heavily emphasizes a comprehensive understanding of different disciplines with deep knowledge and skills in one or more disciplines, hence the “T-shaped” concept. Broad students have access to seven different majors including Accounting, Finance, Hospitality Business, Human Resource Management, Management, Marketing, and Supply Chain Management.

“Over the past decade, employers worldwide have emphasized the need for today’s young professionals to possess more than a deep disciplinary knowledge of a single subject or skill. Rather, they want employees with the ability to collaborate and operate across the multiple disciplines of their organizations, with depth of developed skills in more than one area,” Rachel Lee Cherry, Communications Editor at the Broad College of Business, told us. “With Broad’s T-shaped curriculum, students learn to use and apply information in new contexts, not just memorize facts and repeat them for a test.”

Broad’s required core curriculum is quite comprehensive with courses in writing, mathematics, integrative studies, basic disciplines and functional fields in business, and electives. To keep its curriculum up to date, the B-school recently updated the core curriculum to increase the focus on analytics, systems, and statistics.

All students who apply to Broad are now required to take a new course, “Algorithmic Thinking and Programming,” which focuses primarily on Python programming. Additionally, students are required to take a statistics course that teaches basic fundamental statistical techniques and two modified courses on analytics. These updates help keep the Broad curriculum up to date and ensure that its students are being trained in the latest, in-demand skills — a good sign that the B-school is continuously looking for ways to offer an innovative, forward-thinking education.

Broad has a number of programs dedicated to leadership development. One of the cornerstone programs is the Residential Business Community (RBC). RBC provides a combined living and learning experience to promote, enhance, and support students’ academic, personal, and professional growth as business leaders.

Michigan State University The program is designed around three parts: living in a residential community, learning in the classroom, and leadership outside of the classroom. RBC first-year students live in the same residence hall, attend leadership retreats together, have priority enrollment in the prerequisite Broad courses, and attend workshops focusing on professional development and career development. In their second year, RBC students engage with Broad’s corporate mentor partners to begin networking, hone communication and presentation skills, research a real-world business case study, and strengthen relationships with one another and the Broad faculty.

In many ways, the program acts as a mini college within the B-school, creating a small school-like environment by bringing together students in the same classes, residence halls, and extracurricular activities. This is a key differentiating factor for Broad given that the B-school is part of a public, state university with upwards of 50,000 undergraduate students. Small, tight-knit learning communities are often the selling points of pricey private universities, but the very fact that Broad, as a public school, can offer a small learning community at a fraction of the price is definitely a big selling point.

WHAT ALUMNI SAY “My capstone class gave me the exact education I was looking for that was closely related to real world supply chain work.”

“I was able to work on a project for Acura to help the company become more appealing to millennials and the younger generation.”

“Professors were exceptional. There were a lot of opportunities to meet professionals to obtain a job offer. I was also a part of the residential business program/community my freshman year of college and reaped many benefits from the program.”

THOROUGH CAPSTONE EXPERIENCES The capstone courses at Broad are the signature learning experience. Regardless of what major they chose, an overwhelming amount of alumni we surveyed spoke highly about the thoroughness of their capstone experience. “Seems relatively rare for undergraduates to have a true capstone project that culminates their entire curriculum of studies that is required for graduation and degree certification,” one 2018 alumni told us. “Ours required, research of a complicated case study, team collaboration, analytical reasoning, business case writing, and presentation.”

A majority of surveyed alumni credited their capstone experience for giving them the necessary skills to succeed in their career down the road. “The capstone course through MSU helped round out my undergraduate degree in the business school and prepare me for my current career in the investment industry,” another 2018 alumni said. “This was a case study oriented course with open debate and discussion on various topics. To end the class, the final project was centered around developing a company/brand and pitching it to an audience (the class). This was interesting and relative to my current job which involves regularly pitching investments.”

Broad students have relatively strong employment outcomes.

Despite COVID-19’s effect on the economy, 88.56% of Broad’s Class of 2020 was still able to secure full-time employment within three months of graduation, a slight 4% dip from the year before.

Some 89.30% had a business-focused internship before graduating, roughly 1% less than last year. If you’re looking for a continuously adapting business education that offers the latest in-demand skills, strong leadership opportunities, and thorough capstone experiences, then the Broad College of Business is a solid choice.

THE BEST UNDERGRADUATE BUSINESS SCHOOLS

97

100 ROCKAFELLER ROAD SUITE 1008, PISCATAWAY, NJ 08854 ADMISSIONS OFFICE: 848-445-3600

Rutgers Business School At New Brunswick

T $132,443 In-State Total Cost

Freshman

Year When Students Declare Their Majors

47.6%

Acceptance Rate

1371

Average SAT

13%

International Students

9%

Underrepresent Minorities

77.2%

Class of 2020 accepting jobs 90 days after graduation

POETSANDQUANTSFORUNDERGRADS.COM

he Rutgers Business School in New Brunswick placed at No. 41 in our rankings this year. The B-school fell just one spot behind from last year with an acceptance rate of 47.56% and average SAT score of 1371.

While those stats are relatively in line with last year’s, the New Brunswick B-school took a hit in employment outcomes. Some 77.21% of the Class of 2020 had full-time employment within three months of graduation, down nearly 20% from last year, likely caused by the pandemic’s impact on the economy. Internship outcomes held steady with 78.70% having a business-focused internship before graduating, a slight 0.10% increase from last year.

Despite the B-school’s drop in employment outcomes this year, the Rutgers Business School in New Brunswick still offers a solid undergraduate business education that’s characterized by extensive career preparation and strong extracurricular activities.

EXTENSIVE CAREER PREP Undergraduates at Rutgers Business School - New Brunswick can choose from the following majors: Accounting, Business Analytics and Information Technology, Finance, Leadership and Management, Marketing, and Supply Chain Management. One of the key differentiators of the Rutgers education is the programming it offers for students to get the necessary training and resources for their chosen career path.

The Road to Wall Street is a prime example. The program boosts industry knowledge and interview skills for students intent on pursuing a career on Wall Street through intensive training and supportive mentorship. Students get access to comprehensive courses on corporate finance, financial modeling and valuation, and more. Additionally, the program features one-on-one counseling for job selection, networking, and general interview prep as well as a peer and alumni mentor match.

The B-school recently developed more extensive career programs to add to its “Roads” roster including a Road to Silicon Valley program and Road to Consulting program. These types of programs offer undergraduate business students a unique opportunity to essentially take a “fast-track” path to landing a job in their chosen career.

VARIETY OF EXTRACURRICULARS The Rutgers - New Brunswick business education offers a number of opportunities for students to supplement their in-class knowledge and gain real-world experience. For instance, the annual FanTAXtic case competition sponsored by Deloitte Tax gives students a view into the world of accounting and auditing. Competing students engage in a case

Rutgers Business School At New Brunswick study simulation and give a presentation of their solutions to a panel of Deloitte Tax professionals.

“I participated in a tax case competition sponsored by Deloitte Tax, and professor Pochesci was the faculty advisor,” one 2018 alumni told us. “It was such a life-changing experience. I got to lead a group of four people and learn how to compete professionally. I was able to build such strong bonds with my team and professor. As a result, I got a job at my dream company even before graduation. I cannot thank them more for the experience and the professor’s guidance.”

The Hult Prize @ Rutgers is another strong example of an extracurricular that adds to the educational experience at Rutgers.

The program is a partnership with the United Nations that allows students to use their business knowledge in solving a real world issue. This year’s challenge asks students to “transform food into a vehicle for change.” “[The] Hult Prize at Rutgers allowed me to connect with professors and students alike,” one 2018 alumni said. “The program showcased applied concepts students learn in class to real world problems. The ability for Rutgers to support this program - and even make a mention in this year’s incoming class’ acceptance letter - is notable and also an honor.”

The B-school also features more than 20 different student business organizations ranging from entrepreneurship to community service.

One of the latest groups developed a Blockchain hub to teach and create new uses for the in-demand technology.

Alumni view the extracurricular opportunities at Rutgers Business School relatively well, giving the New Brunswick B-school an 8.3 average rating for its ability to nurture and improve their skills in business.

Overall, the Rutgers Business School in New Brunswick makes most sense for someone who is intent on pursuing a career that they are set on. With the B-school’s extensive career prep programming and variety of extracurricular activities, you’ll be on the fast track to getting that dream job of yours.

WHAT ALUMNI SAY “Through various business courses, I was engaged in a few project works which gave me a high level understanding of business and more importantly the exposure of working in a team/project based environment and how to present in front of a large audience.”

“My capstone marketing class with professor Can Uslay utilized real world examples of marketing scenarios that required group level, collaborative, in depth scenarios. It forced individuals to work together on more than a ‘group project’ level and consider nuances and very specific details at a granular level before completion analysis.”

“The Working Capital Case Study was engaging and developing as we provided a real life case study to Citi Bank employees in the Treasury and Trade Solutions. I started off working in Deutsche Bank’s Global Rotational Program as a Trade Finance Analyst and now have taken on a new role with Citibank’s Treasury and Trade Solutions business in the Asset Distribution team working with various investors to distribute Trade Finance and Working Capital programs.”

THE BEST UNDERGRADUATE BUSINESS SCHOOLS

99

403 W. STATE STREET, WEST LAFAYETTE, IN 47907 ADMISSIONS OFFICE: 765-494-4343

Purdue University

P $104,912 In-State Total Cost

Freshman

Year When Students Declare Their Majors

71%

Acceptance Rate

1277

Average SAT

12%

International Students

11%

Underrepresent Minorities

93.9%

Class of 2020 accepting jobs 90 days after graduation

POETSANDQUANTSFORUNDERGRADS.COM

urdue University’s Krannert School of Management landed at the 42nd spot in this year’s rankings, making the leap from last year’s 89th ranking. Last year’s ranking was due to Krannert not meeting the minimum alumni response rate and this year’s rank resembles more where the school should actually. Krannert had an acceptance rate of 71.35%, a significant increase from last year’s 58%. Although the average SAT score stayed relatively steady at 1277, just six points lower than last year.

Employment wise, Krannert performed very well despite the COVID-19 economic downturn.

Some 92% of the Class of 2020 landed a business-focused internship before graduating, a 1% increase from last year. Some 93.86% secured full-time employment within three months of graduation, just 1.05% less than last year.

Much of the success of Krannert can be attributed to the B-school’s integrated degree offerings and strong emphasis on learning through real-world, hands-on experience.

KRANNERT DEGREE OFFERINGS Krannert students can choose from a variety of majors including: General Management, Industrial Management, Accounting, Economics, Marketing, Finance, and Supply Chain, Information, and Analytics.

Krannert recently made a change to Non-STEM degree offerings by reducing the number of calculus requirements and placing greater emphasis on data analytics.

Beginning in Fall 2021, the Industrial Management program will be replaced by the Integrated Business and Engineering (IBE) program.

The new program, which is in partnership with Purdue’s College of Engineering, will give students a truly integrated hybrid degree that incorporates basic engineering, basic management and project courses that emphasize real-world application and teamwork collaboration.

Students will be selected for the program on the basis of their interest in interdisciplinary work. Additionally, IBE students will have access to select seminars that feature the latest in engineering and management practices.

IBE is a program that is unique to Krannert’s offering as a B-school.

By leveraging the prestige of Purdue’s College of Engineering, Krannert offers students interested in both business and engineering a truly integrated degree that is likely to impress future employers.

REAL-WORLD, HANDS-ON LEARNING A majority of the degree offerings at Krannert incorporate opportunities for students to get real-world, hands-on project

Purdue University experience. For instance, the “Mergers & Acquisitions” course gives students an in-depth view of the major aspects of merger and acquisition transactions from deal strategy and deal analysis to deal design. The course is designed around readings and case study analysis with a core final project component that includes a detailed analysis of a merger.

“I believe this project has prepared me for the success in my interviews with brokerages and Investment banks,” one 2018 alumni said in regards to the Mergers & Acquisitions valuation project.

Many B-schools require students to work on projects that emphasize real-world, hands-on learning. But, at Krannert, these experiences go beyond just required course projects. One 2018 alumni recalled the strong support of Krannert faculty in helping the alumni to start a business.

“I was able to engage with different professors, from distinctly different disciplines within business each year at Purdue,” the 2018 alumni told us. “Most notably, a professor offered to walk me through the steps of founding my first business. He patiently spent more time with me than I could ever afford, and in the process, he introduced me to other professors at Krannert who made a dream a reality. His course content directly led not only to the idea, but also to so many wonderful tangents.”

These types of experiences and the variety of opportunities to gain hands-on, real-world experience are what make the Krannert education unique. Many alumni reported unique opportunities to apply their business knowledge and gain real world experience.

“We got to participate in helping small businesses solve real life problems,” another 2018 alumni said. “This has allowed us to observe how improving a small aspect of a business can be essential in ensuring the smoothness of an overall operation.

“Throughout my business school experience, there were countless opportunities to participate in group projects, presentations, case studies, simulations, etc.,” another 2018 alumni said. “I had the opportunity to participate in many of these opportunities and I felt that these experiences were what prepared me best for ‘real world’ work experience.”

Overall, the Krannert School of Management is best characterized by its truly integrated business degree offerings and variety of opportunities for students to engage in hands-on, real-world learning. The program is best suited for students not too keen on studying just “one” field, but rather exploring all facets that the world of business has to offer.

WHAT ALUMNI SAY “Capstone projects were pivotal in the application of knowledge gained throughout my education.”

“Internship study abroad in London.

Allowed me to gain business experience in an international setting and helped me get an International Business concentration.”

“I was involved in case competitions that I believe helped my growth both as an individual and a business student.”

THE BEST UNDERGRADUATE BUSINESS SCHOOLS 101

5998 ALCALA PARK, SAN DIEGO, CA 92110 ADMISSIONS OFFICE: 619-260-4830

University Of San Diego

T $267,333 In-State Total Cost

Freshman

Year When Students Declare Their Majors

59%

Acceptance Rate

1250

Average SAT

3.1%

International Students

27.2%

Underrepresent Minorities

88.4%

Class of 2020 accepting jobs 90 days after graduation

POETSANDQUANTSFORUNDERGRADS.COM

he University of San Diego’s School of Business ranked No. 43 this year. The B-school fell one rank behind from last year with slightly less selective admissions standards this year. The incoming class had an acceptance rate of 58.70% and an average SAT score of 1250, compared to last year’s acceptance rate of 49% and average SAT score of 1274.

Employment wise, San Diego performed relatively well despite the COVID-19 economic downturn with 88.44% of the Class of 2020 securing full-time employment at graduation, down just 0.6% from last year. Additionally, 76% of the Class of 2020 landed a business-focused internship before graduating, in line with last year’s 76.80%. While San Diego’s School of Business had a fairly balanced approach, taking 49th in admissions standards and 48th in academic experience, its best category was the employment standards, where it placed 40th.

San Diego’s undergraduate business program is characterized by its student-centric approach to education. At San Diego, student development is the key focus — from small class sizes to ultimate creative freedom in projects.

SMALL CLASS SIZES WITH STUDENT-CENTRIC APPROACH Students can choose from nine business majors including: Accountancy, Business Administration, Business Economics, Economics, Finance, International Business, Marketing, Real Estate, and Supply Chain Management.

As a private university, the University of San Diego is able to offer small class sizes that offer high-quality teaching and mentorship.

Most classes are capped at 35 or 40 students. Additionally, university policy allows for students to change their major at any time, without restrictions, giving students more flexibility and free-reign in exploring their passions and learning at their own pace.

Overall, San Diego alumni view their business education positively with 2018 alumni rating the quality of teaching in business courses a strong 9.0 average rating. 2018 alumni also gave a strong 9.3 average rating in terms of business school faculty availability for informal discussions and mentoring outside of class.

“I will say the teachers at USD were incredible and overall so supportive and offered a wonderful experience,” one 2018 alumni told us. “They were so wonderful at mentoring beyond the classroom and so supportive of students.”

“The faculty was extremely professional and cared for the individual development of the student,” another 2018 alumni said. “The relationship that I had with each of my professors was instrumental in my understanding of the material and progression as a young professional.”

University of San Diego The level of care and support for each student is something that is unique to the San Diego education. Oftentimes, at larger universities, it can be difficult to get one on one time with professors, but San Diego’s small class sizes and student-centric policies allow each and every student to get the level of support and mentorship they need.

SENIOR THESIS The senior thesis is one of the cornerstone experiences at San Diego. It’s a year-long project where students take their cumulative business knowledge and apply it to a topic of their choice. Many alumni we surveyed highlighted their senior thesis as the key “signature experience” during their time at San Diego.

“My senior thesis provided me a platform to apply realworld knowledge and econometrics to evaluate a topic I deeply care about,” one 2018 alumni said. “Without the experience of constructing my senior thesis, my learning would have been surface level and I would not have been able to apply it in the business world.”

One thing that makes the senior thesis experience unique at San Diego is the free-reign that students get in exploring a topic that they are truly passionate about. Faculty at San Diego actively encourages students to explore novel topics that they are interested in. Additionally, students are given the freedom to execute research and analysis how they want.

“My senior thesis was an economic model designed to determine if there was a correlation between orphan diseases (diseases with fewer than 200,000 patients) and revenue,” another 2018 alumni said. “It took 4 months of research & countless reiterations to arrive at my final model. To me, the uniqueness of the experience came not from the amount of work but from the hands-off approach. I was forced to think of my vision, create a game plan & execute. This is not dissimilar from the business world which is why I valued this experience.”

For many alumni, the senior thesis experience is one that proves valuable and applicable to their careers today.

“I developed an economic research paper on a subject I am incredibly passionate about,” one 2018 alumni said. “It taught me the essential skill of how to tell a story with your data. I use this skill every single day in my job.”

“I thought it was unique because it required way more analytical thinking and responsibility than I experienced in any other class,” said another. “Taking a project start to finish, to come up with a meaningful conclusion was very gratifying and helped instill a greater work ethic.”

Overall, San Diego offers a quality business education where students come first. Through small class sizes, supportive mentorship, and freedom to explore, San Diego business students can truly thrive and discover their passions.

WHAT ALUMNI SAY “I had to create a product with a team and go through a meticulous process that included almost every aspect learned in the business school. What made it unique was that after graduating, I was able to recreate the same process in personal projects that today are successful.”

“Year-long thesis research on a subject of my choosing and under the guidance of a faculty member. Unique vs typical coursework because of the length and breadth of research as well as encouragement to explore novel topics (for example, mine was on baseball, the industry I planned on entering after graduation).”

“Real-time cases, Total cost Offerings, drafting of Operational Business Plans inside and outside of the Supply Chain Management and Business Administration roles assisted exponentially with the preparation for my career.”

THE BEST UNDERGRADUATE BUSINESS SCHOOLS 103

7 MCALISTER DRIVE, NEW ORLEANS, LA 70118 ADMISSIONS OFFICE: 504-865-5000

Tulane University

T $290,048 In-State Total Cost

Freshman

Year When Students Declare Their Majors

15%

Acceptance Rate

1392

Average SAT

11.5%

International Students

17.3%

Underrepresent Minorities

71%

Class of 2020 accepting jobs 90 days after graduation

POETSANDQUANTSFORUNDERGRADS.COM

ulane University’s Freeman School of Business landed at No. 44 in this year’s rankings. While Freeman fell six spots from last year’s 38th ranking — and 10 spots from No. 44 in 2019 — the B-school maintained its admissions selectivity with an acceptance rate of 18.27% this year, in line with last year’s 18%. The average SAT score this year was 1392, slightly lower than last year’s average SAT score of 1414.

Admissions standards was Tulane’s most competitive methodological category where it placed 24th overall.

Employment-wise, Freeman graduates took a hit this year with only 70.96% securing full-time employment within three months of graduation, a significant 16% drop from last year’s 86.98% — though this is likely due to the COVID-19 economic downturn. Internship outcomes remain relatively unchanged with 48.90% of the Class of 2020 having a business-focused internship before graduating, compared to last year’s 47.20%.

Despite Freeman ranking lower this year, the B-school still offers a quality education that heavily emphasizes interdisciplinary thinking and real-world application.

FLEXIBLE INTERDISCIPLINARY EDUCATION One of the key characteristics of the Freeman education is the academic freedom and flexibility it offers students. Tsetsa Dankova Rosensteel, the Assistant Dean of Administration and Finance at Freeman, describes it best: “One College. Five Schools. No Boundaries.”

In other words, Tulane admits undergraduates to NewcombTulane College. Each student can choose to attend any of the five schools (Liberal Arts, Science and Engineering, Freeman School of Business, Public Health, and Architecture) that serve undergraduates.

Additionally, students can easily double major across schools or minor in subjects that they are curious about.

“The ease with which students can cross academic boundaries and break down academic silos is a differentiating feature of a Tulane and Freeman education that promotes interdisciplinary thinking,” Rosensteel told us. “The major declaration policy affords students the opportunity to explore their interests and select a major or majors that match their interests.”

The Freeman School also offers a variety of joint programs with other graduate programs, such as the 3/3 program with the Tulane Law School where students enroll as full-time law students during what would otherwise be the senior year. The most popular joint program is the joint Bachelor of Science in Management (BSM) and the Master of Accounting Program (MACCT). Students earn a BSM and MACCT in five years, with the option in spring of the senior year to complete a “busy season internship” in the geographic area where the student

Tulane University would like to live.

This flexible, interdisciplinary approach is the core of the Freeman education. At many other B-schools, there are a number of barriers — whether through admission or prerequisite requirements — that make it difficult for students to cross academic boundaries. But, at Freeman, students are given more freedom and flexibility to study a variety of fields that interest them.

NUMEROUS REAL-WORLD OPPORTUNITIES There isn’t just one cornerstone experience at Freeman. Alumni we surveyed reported a variety of hands-on, real-world opportunities that they say were key to their business education. Roughly 72% of surveyed 2018 alumni reported engaging in at least one “signature experience,” whether through project work, simulations, or other experiential opportunities.

One example is the Burkenroad Reports program. Started in 1993, it was the nation’s first university-sponsored securities analysis program. Each year, 200 Freeman students are divided up into teams to follow 40 small-cap public companies headquartered in six southern states. Teams meet with top management, visit company sites, design financial models, and publish in-depth, unbiased investment research reports. The companies researched are “stocks under rocks” – companies that are underfollowed by Wall Street securities analysts. In the spring, the Freeman School sponsors the Burkenroad Reports Investment Conference at a major hotel in downtown New Orleans, where top management of participating companies present the outlook for their companies and industries to an audience of nearly 800 individual and institutional investors.

“Burkenroad gave me the opportunity to understand equity research on a real-world analyst level, including meeting with C-level executives of the companies we were tasked with researching,” one 2018 alumni told us.

But the Burkenroad Reports program is just one of many realworld opportunities at Freeman. Alumni we surveyed highlighted the plethora of opportunities they had to apply their studies to the real world. “The service-learning component through the business school injected you straight into the life of New Orleans,” one 2018 alumni told us. “I was in a legal studies service learning which allowed me the opportunity to observe courtroom proceedings in New Orleans. This gave me a real understanding of the system miles beyond what a classroom education could’ve taught me.”

“I had a real-world consulting client for my management consulting class senior year (a local restaurant), and was able to make changes to a real business and see the impacts instead of simply reading case studies,” another 2018 alumni told us.

At Freeman, students are given an open runway to go out and explore their passions and interests. If a student is interested in chemical engineering and business, he or she can pursue that. If a student wants to start taking business classes in the first year, the student can do so freely. With a flexible, interdisciplinary-focused education and plenty of opportunities to learn in the real world, Freeman students can truly explore and pursue everything and anything.

WHAT ALUMNI SAY “We got to embrace ourselves in the athletic departments world. We were figuring out ways to increase audience and engagement with Tulane athletics. We were able to meet with marketing directors at the Saints and Pelicans to learn what was successful for them and helped implement traditions that are still used today.”

“Capstone included simulation requiring you to become the management team for a company of the teachers choosing. My team was then forced to develop a growth plan for the business, address any hurdles, and present a pitch to the class in a competition to determine the best business plan.”

“The professors at Tulane for the most part really want to help their students and will take the extra time to meet with students to go over either work or personal/career matters.”

THE BEST UNDERGRADUATE BUSINESS SCHOOLS 105

100 CAMPUS DR, ELON, NC 27244 ADMISSIONS OFFICE: 800-334-8448

Elon University

E $201,546 In-State Total Cost

Freshman

Year When Students Declare Their Majors

72%

Acceptance Rate

1232

Average SAT

1.3%

International Students

17.1%

Underrepresent Minorities

90.1%

Class of 2020 accepting jobs 90 days after graduation

POETSANDQUANTSFORUNDERGRADS.COM

lon University’s Martha and Spencer Love School of Business (LSB) landed at No. 45 in this year’s ranking, up 11 spots from last year’s No. 56 finish. The Love School of Business had a tighter acceptance rate of 72%, compared to last year’s 78%. The average SAT score stayed unchanged at 1232.

Students graduate from LSB with strong employment prospects.

Some 90.09% of the Class of 2020 secured full-time employment within three months of graduation, a dip from last year’s 97.33% though still impressive given the COVID-19 economic environment. Additionally, 98% of the Class of 2020 had a business-focused internship before graduating, relatively in line with last year’s 98.40%. Elon’s Love School was lifted by a 21st place finish in the alumni survey portion of the rankings and finishing 30th in the Employment Outcomes category.

LSB’s vision is to prepare its students to lead with the skills and aspiration to make the future better for the organizations and communities in which they serve. That vision is embodied through the B-school’s values-driven education and strong study abroad opportunities.

VALUES-DRIVEN EDUCATION LSB students can choose from majors including: Accounting, Business Analytics, Economics, Economic Consulting, Entrepreneurship, Finance, International Business, Marketing, Project Management, Human Resource Management, and Supply Chain Management.

A small, but a significant distinction of the LSB education is how the B-school structures its credits. While most B-schools use the standard three-credit course structure, LSB offers four-credit hour courses, which is designed not for additional lecture time but is designed instead to allow sufficient time during a class for students to begin, complete, and debrief on projects that engage them in learning a topic or concept.

A large part of the education at LSB is dedicated to teaching students the skills necessary to be proficient business professionals, but business leaders who make a difference in the communities that they serve. Many alumni we surveyed highlighted projects or experiences that had an element of community service-based values.

“I did a service experiential learning that provided volunteer income tax assistance; it gave me real-world experience which helped me develop and prepare for my career,” one 2018 alumni told us. “The work itself also impacted me greatly about the difference this kind of service can make in the community.”

“During my time at Elon I was able to work with local businesses in Downtown Burlington North Carolina through the Business Fellows Consulting project, and this truly sparked my interest in management and people-driven consulting,” another 2018 alumni said.

Elon University The B-school actively encourages students to apply their business knowledge to make a real impact. Students can apply for the Love Award for Excellence in Business Leadership, a $12,000 grant to support an independent research project.

“The award (Elon’s Love Award for Excellence) was essentially a grant to cover any expenses of a service-learning, business-centered project,” another 2018 alumni said. “I used the funds to execute a research project centered on tax and poverty. The experience enabled me to study an area I was passionate about, helped me grow as a professional in numerous ways, and resulted in real, tangible help for others. I presented my research at several conferences and was able to publish my research paper.”

The opportunities and level of support exemplify the B-school’s dedication to ensuring its students have the resources to make a real difference in the communities they serve. In turn, LSB students learn the value in not only applying their business knowledge to the real world, but applying it to make a real difference.

78% OF LSB STUDENTS STUDY ABROAD LSB encourages students to travel abroad and learn business from a global perspective. Students have 106 semester abroad opportunities offered through Elon University. Of those, 50 are business-specific. LSB students can choose to study anywhere around the world from Sydney to the United Arab Emirates.

The sheer number of study abroad opportunities at LSB prove that the B-school is committed to ensuring its students can become business leaders in a global community. Additionally, the experiences that students have abroad help widen their perspective of how business is done globally and what type of impact business can have in greater society.

“I did two studies abroad,” said a 2018 alumni. “The first was in the UAE where I got to learn about how business in the Middle East is different from business in the US. Then I also studied abroad in France and learned about French culture and how food and religion have impacted the French people.”

“I studied savings-led microfinance programs in northern Uganda serving South Sudanese refugees and materially poor host community members,” another 2018 alumni reported.

With its values-focused education and strong global opportunities, LSB is a B-school that truly lives up to its vision of building business leaders who are intent on making a real difference in the world.

WHAT ALUMNI SAY “A class called start-up implementation gave us capital provided by the school to start a new venture throughout the semester and the professors acted like investors. It gave us time to research all aspects of the industry we were getting involved in and the professors helped us see things that we couldn’t have thought on our own. It was an amazing experience and helped us discover new avenues in the entrepreneurial world.”

“I competed in multiple case competitions both domestically and internationally. These programs and the preparation required for them were instrumental in my growth as a young professional.”

“The business fellows portfolio investment course allowed students real-world experience into researching companies and giving pitches in a unique and meaningful way that truly impacted the endowment.”

THE BEST UNDERGRADUATE BUSINESS SCHOOLS 107

3200 COLD SPRING RD, INDIANAPOLIS, IN 46222 ADMISSIONS OFFICE: 317-955-6000

Marian University

M $194,080 In-State Total Cost

Freshman

Year When Students Declare Their Majors

61%

Acceptance Rate

1070

Average SAT

N/A

International Students

25.9%

Underrepresent Minorities

98%

Class of 2020 accepting jobs 90 days after graduation

POETSANDQUANTSFORUNDERGRADS.COM

arian University based in Indianapolis is the highest-ranked new school in this year’s ranking, debuting at No. 46 overall. Marian is a relatively small, private Catholic school and its Byrum School of Business offers majors in accounting, business analytics, finance, management, and marketing and minors in accounting, business, and finance. The Byrum School also boasts nine certificates.

Marian’s No. 46 finish was anchored by a 23rd-place finish in the Employment Outcomes category. The school reported 100% of Class of 2020 graduates had at least one business-specific internship before graduation. It also reported 97.95% of the same class found full-time employment within three months of graduation, which was higher than every school ranked besides the University of North Carolina, University of Minnesota, and the Hult International Business School.

TWO EXPERIENTIAL COURSE BUNDLES HIGHLIGHT MARIAN UNDERGRADUATE EXPERIENCE Experiential learning is the cornerstone of Marian’s undergraduate business curriculum. About 78% of 2018 alumni that responded to our survey said they had at least one impactful “signature experience” during their time at the Byrum School. And many referenced experiential learning as those signature experiences.

Byrum has a unique structure of two required nine-hour courses that included bundles of three courses each. The first of which is the Business Plan Competition of Bus109 and consists of the intro to business course as intros to economics and accounting. Students work in teams to create business plans and then pitch those business plans to business professionals, who then award money to the winning team to actually run the business.

“Byrum School of Business did an excellent job of giving us real-world experiences. An example of this was our freshman business class to create a business plan,” one 2018 alumni told us through the alumni survey. “The winning business plan team was provided with money to begin their business on campus. This taught me so much about entrepreneurship, marketing, and finances.”

Next is Bus309 or the Comprehensive Analysis of Business bundle, which includes principles of finance with business law and strategy.

Students put together merger and acquisition plans for larger companies and similar to Bus109, then pitch those ideas to executives from the companies they’ve created plans for.

“Marian’s experiential learning programs were what prepared me the most for life post-graduation,” another alumni said. “I came into the workforce with confidence knowing that I had already worked with experienced professionals, helping them solve problems their companies were currently facing.”

Marian University STRONG ALUMNI RESPONSES Overall, the 2018 alumni seemed satisfied with the experience the Byrum school gave them. Among all ranked schools, Marian finished 44th in the Academic Experience category, which placed them almost exactly in the middle of all ranked schools. Alumni gave the overall experience an average score of 8.725, which was 26th out of 84 schools that surveyed their alumni and met the minimum response rate.

Specifically, Byrum alumni rated their professors very well when it came to their availability and willingness to meet outside of the classroom. They also rated the school very highly for its ability to nurture and grow their soft skills in business. On the other hand, recent alumni gave the lowest mark to its connection with the alumni network and that network’s ability to help them secure jobs throughout their career.

Sticking with the Roman Catholic roots, the school also boasts the recently launched Walker Center for Applied Ethics.

“The mission of the Walker Center for Applied Ethics is to advance a more ethical world by improving and evolving the interdisciplinary teaching of ethics across Marian’s programs, as well as beyond our campus into the community,” school officials told us.

“The Walker Center directly and through collaborations pursues research, coursework and programming designed to advance ethical practices in individuals and organizations of all types, with an emphasis on application, practical understanding, and impact.

The Walker Center for Applied Ethics provides opportunities for undergraduates to engage with executive business leaders through a new course in Moral Capitalism.”

MARIAN IS A SOLID OPTION IN A CROWDED MIDWESTERN MARKET In a crowded Midwestern business education market, Marian’s Byrum School provides an intriguing opportunity for potential students. It’s smaller than other Indiana-based schools in our rankings like Indiana University, Notre Dame, and Purdue. Despite the smaller size and non-traditional brand name, Marian is a solid choice for students looking to make sure they get a job in the Midwest immediately after graduation.

WHAT ALUMNI SAY “I had two experiences that made it unique. First, the Business 309 Financial analysis, merger and acquisition class pushed students to work together and think outside the box for a growing a company. Also the capstone course of running your company with classmates vs other teams helped you understand all facets of a business.”

“Byrum School of Business did an excellent job of giving us real-world experiences. An example of this was our freshman business class to create a business plan. The winning business plan team was provided with money to begin their business on campus. This taught me so much about entrepreneurship, marketing, and finances.

In another class, we had to come up with a recommendation for a company that Eli Lily should acquire. This taught me about research and M&A activity. Another example is the A team which allowed us to work with the Indiana State Fair to assist them in reducing costs. All of these experiences brought the real-world into our classroom and were extremely beneficial in my learning development.”

“I was involved in multiple things. One in particular was a class in which a team of myself and 4 other colleagues connected with a company and listened to their problems.

We then made a proposed solution. Once agreed, we developed a complex excel to fit their needs. We presented the result and it is still being used in the company to this day.

The company even hired one of our team members to help implement the completed product and develop others. It was priceless to be able to pair with a company and provide a solution for them to use.”

THE BEST UNDERGRADUATE BUSINESS SCHOOLS 109

1 CUNNINGHAM SQUARE, PROVIDENCE, RI 02918 ADMISSIONS OFFICE: 401-865-2535

Providence College

P $265,795 In-State Total Cost

Freshman

Year When Students Declare Their Majors

55.6%

Acceptance Rate

1268

Average SAT

1.3%

International Students

18%

Underrepresent Minorities

87.5%

Class of 2020 accepting jobs 90 days after graduation

POETSANDQUANTSFORUNDERGRADS.COM

rovidence College’s School of Business ranked at No. 47 this year.

The B-school fell six spots behind from last year’s ranking of No. 41. Providence’s School of Business had less selective admissions standards this year. The acceptance rate was 55.62% and an average SAT score of 1268, compared to last year’s acceptance rate of 47% and average SAT score of 1281.

2020 employment also took a hit at Providence College this year with 87.53% of the Class of 2020 securing a full-time position within three months of graduation, roughly eight percentage points lower than last year. Although, this dip may likely be attributed to the COVID-19 economic downturn as internship outcomes stayed strong at 94%, unchanged from last year. Employment outcomes was also Providence’s strongest methodological category as it finished 36th. It finished 47th in the academic experience category and 54th in admissions standards.

Providence College’s business education strongly emphasizes liberal arts and ethics with an abundance of opportunities to apply their knowledge and obtain relevant, real-world experience.

EMPHASIS ON LIBERAL ARTS AND ETHICS Liberal arts serve as the foundation for business education at Providence with a strong focus on liberal arts. The curriculum features core focus and competency requirements in addition to linked major and minor course content. Undergraduate business majors at Providence include Accountancy, Finance, Management, and Marketing.

Additionally, all Providence undergraduates are required to take two years of seminar courses for the Development of Western Civilization Program, where they explore human history through many perspectives — from literature to philosophy to theology to art, and more.

First-year business students attend diversity and inclusion workshops focused on unconscious bias and working across differences. The workshops are designed to help students learn how to navigate collaborating with people from a variety of backgrounds in the workplace.

Students can also compete in the college’s Michael Smith Regional Ethics Case Competition, where student teams analyze a business ethics case and present their solutions to a panel of judges. The winning team wins a $2,400 prize.

Ethics and an understanding of how to work across differences are more important now than ever before as employers seek out not only skilled and capable workers, but individuals who have a strong grasp on soft-skills and collaboration. At Providence, business undergraduates are taught these skills early on so that they can graduate into the real world as compassionate, collaborative, and well-rounded business leaders.

Providence alumni also rate the B-school’s ability to offer opportunities to nurture and improve students’ soft skills relatively high at an 8.9

Providence College average rating.

REAL-WORLD PROJECTS Providence students have a number of opportunities to apply their knowledge in real-world scenarios whether through projects or case competitions. 2018 alumni that we surveyed spoke highly about their experience in marketing elective courses, where they were able to develop relevant work skills.

“The required senior marketing elective I took prepared me for the fast-paced, results-oriented environment of a modern business setting, and one of the assigned projects turned into a longer collaborative effort outside of class with a classmate and two professors to edit and tailor the project into a published academic article, which was then submitted and accepted for publication in a marketing journal,” one 2018 alumni told us.

Marketing students can also participate in the annual American Marketing Association (AMA) Collegiate Case Competition, an event that brings together marketing students to solve and present a case study. Last year’s competition asked students to develop a comprehensive marketing plan targeting Generation Z in an effort to increase membership and relevance among American college students.

“Participating in the AMA Challenge was a prominent part of my senior year and helped me prepare for project management in my career,” another 2018 alumni said.

But these types of opportunities span well beyond fields such as marketing. Students interested in finance can participate in the Student Managed Portfolio, where they invest real money from the Providence College endowment. Unlike many student-managed funds, the PCSB Student Managed Portfolio extends to three different classes of assets: equity, fixed income, and alternatives. “[The] student-managed investment fund provided me with real-world investment experience, actively managing a ~30000 tech sector portfolio as part of a larger investment fund,” said another 2018 alumni.

“The student-managed investment fund at Providence College was a life-changing experience and opened my eyes to the world of Investments,” another 2018 alumni told us. “Naturally I find myself currently studying for the CFA while also working in my desired industry. My hope is to break into the insurance investment industry which I see as a perfect fit for my skill set.”

If you’re looking for a business education that includes an emphasis on in-demand soft-skills with plenty of opportunities to gain real-world experience, look no further than Providence College’s School of Business.

WHAT ALUMNI SAY “My capstone course focused on various Corporate Finance fundamentals, but also prepared us for real world financial problems with various case studies, essays, and networking events.”

“The student managed investment fund at Providence College was a life changing experience and opened my eyes to the world of Investments. Naturally I find myself currently studying for the CFA while also working in my desired industry. My hope is to break into the insurance investment industry which I see as a perfect fit for my skill set.”

“The required senior Marketing elective I took prepared me for the fast-paced, resultsoriented environment of a modern business setting, and one of the assigned projects turned into a longer collaborative effort outside of class with a classmate and two professors to edit and tailor the project into a published academic article, which was then submitted and accepted for publication in a marketing journal.”

THE BEST UNDERGRADUATE BUSINESS SCHOOLS 111

721 UNIVERSITY AVE, SYRACUSE, NY 13244 ADMISSIONS OFFICE: 315-443-3751

Syracuse University

T $266,521 In-State Total Cost

Freshman

Year When Students Declare Their Majors

56.1%

Acceptance Rate

1286

Average SAT

3.8%

International Students

18.8%

Underrepresent Minorities

78.7%

Class of 2020 accepting jobs 90 days after graduation

POETSANDQUANTSFORUNDERGRADS.COM

he Martin J. Whitman School of Management at Syracuse University landed at No. 48 in our rankings this year. The Whitman School fell five spots from its No. 43 rank it has the past two years. Whitman had an acceptance rate of 56.10% and average SAT score of 1286, compared to last year’s acceptance rate of 37% and average SAT score of 1309. It placed 48th in the admissions standards category.

Employment-wise, 78.67% of Whitman’s Class of 2020 secured a full-time position within three months of graduation, down nearly 12 percentage points from last year’s 90.59%. Internship prospects remain incredibly strong at Whitman with 100% of both the Class of 2020 and 2019 landing a business-focused internship before graduating.

Employment outcomes was the strongest category for Syracuse Whitman, where it placed 41st among all 93 ranked schools. The School was dragged down a bit by finishing 65th in the academic experience category.

The Whitman undergraduate business education is characterized by its unique skill-development programming and a thorough, comprehensive senior capstone experience.

NEW BUSINESS ANALYTICS MAJOR Whitman launched a new Business Analytics major last fall, joining a growing list of schools to offer the major. The Business Analytics major provides students with the opportunity to become well versed in all facets and business applications of data and analytics. Additionally, students can specialize in financial analytics and marketing analytics and learn how to draw insights from data and improve operational efficiency.

In total, Whitman undergraduate business students can choose from 10 different majors including Accounting, Business Analytics, General Accounting, Entrepreneurship, Finance, Marketing, Management Studies, Retail Management, Supply Chain Management, and Real Estate. As a direct admit business school program, Whitman students begin taking multiple business courses in their first semester and complete at least 12 business courses by the end of the 2nd year.

One of the differentiating factors of the Whitman education is its Goodman IMPRESS Program, which focuses on soft-skill development for all Whitman students through extracurricular activities. Every new Whitman student is delegated to one of four groups, or virtual “houses:” Adams, Harrison, Marshall, and Waverly. Each of these houses has its own insignia and is led by a faculty house mentor who guides students through their first business courses.

Student houses participate in a variety of extracurricular activities for which they will be rewarded with points. Activities are centered around five key learning objectives including Personal & Professional

Syracuse University Leadership Development, Major & Industry Exploration, Certifications, Global Context, and Community Engagement.

Every point a student earns goes towards his or her personal point total and also toward the total point of the house to which the student belongs. In other words, every student is involved in two ongoing challenges – a personal challenge and the house challenge.

When a student is looking for internships and job opportunities, the employers will be able to see two scores on his or her resume – a GPA and an IMPRESS Score.

Like a B-school version of the Harry Potter Hogwarts Houses, Whitman’s IMPRESS program is a creative, fun, and quantifiable way for students to develop and showcase their soft-skill competency. While many B-schools are beginning to introduce new opportunities for soft-skill development, the Whitman School offers a comprehensive program that not only develops soft-skills in students but quantifies their competency in it as well.

“SHARK TANK” STYLE CAPSTONE EXPERIENCE Some 85% of 2018 alumni that we surveyed reported engaging in at least one “signature experience” that was a key part of their business learning at Whitman. For an overwhelming majority of Whitman alumni, that experience was the senior capstone project.

Senior student teams compete in a business pitch competition where they are challenged to come up with an innovative product or service and create a full business plan to successfully bring it to market. Students work in cross-functional teams across all business majors from finance to marketing to supply chain management.

At the end, the teams pitch their plan to a panel of local business owners and professionals and are scored, similar to the show “Shark Tank.” Winning teams receive a grant and can put it towards launching their business idea.

“You learn the ins and outs of being an entrepreneur, receive hands-on experience in presenting to executives, communication and team-building skills and the list goes on,” one 2018 alumni told us. “Definitely a unique experience, that I can say from speaking with friends who attended other universities, is not one every college student participates in or has the opportunity to.”

There are a few things that make Whitman’s capstone project unique. For one, the judging panel includes local business leaders and professionals giving the project an extra element of real-world experience. Secondly, the grant offers students an opportunity to take their idea and turn it into reality. The year-long experience ensures that Whitman students not only are well-versed in their own role but are able to work seamlessly within a team environment.

“It was a great chance to push ourselves to put all of the business, finance, accounting, supply chain, and marketing knowledge to the test after having taken many of those classes previously,” another 2018 alumni said.

Overall, the Whitman program is ideal for a business student who wants to develop an impressive set of technical and soft business skills through healthy competition. It doesn’t hurt to love Harry Potter or Shark Tank either.

WHAT ALUMNI SAY “For all Whitman students, during your senior year you participate in a Capstone Business Plan competition that you work on for an entire semester. During which you create a 40+ page business plan laying out all plans on creating the business, funding the business, marketing the business, your target market and key demographics, market research, your supply chain among other information. Your team presents a 20 minute pitch to a panel of local business owners, professors and experienced professionals and then are scored. Sometimes finalists end up going on and starting the business and may also receive funding from the Panasci Business Plan Competition once competing in that competition as well. You learn the ins and outs of being an entrepreneur, receive hands-on experience in presenting to executives, communication and teambuilding skills and the list goes on. Definitely a unique experience, that I can say from speaking with friends who attended other universities, is not one every college student participates in or has the opportunity to.”

“There were several experiences that made my education at Syracuse unique and impactful. One of many was the opportunity to study abroad in Madrid, Spain where I took classes on international business, economics, cross-cultural psychology and others. I believe this expanded my perspective on the world, both in and outside the classroom. Additionally, experiences such as the capstone business plan project were meaningful in how I approached professional teamwork and entrepreneurship.”

THE BEST UNDERGRADUATE BUSINESS SCHOOLS 113

MCCLELLAND HALL ROOM 204, TUCSON, AZ 85721 ADMISSIONS OFFICE: 520-621-2505

University Of Arizona

U $123,665 In-State Total Cost

Junior

Year When Students Declare Their Majors

62.9%

Acceptance Rate

1222

Average SAT

.01%

International Students

38.6%

Underrepresent Minorities

85%

Class of 2020 accepting jobs 90 days after graduation

POETSANDQUANTSFORUNDERGRADS.COM

niversity of Arizona’s Eller College of Management ranked at No. 49 this year. Maintaining its same ranking as last year, Eller had an acceptance rate this year of 62.87% and an average SAT score of 1208 — a more selective admissions process when compared to last year’s acceptance rate of 79% and average SAT score of 1110. Even so, admissions standards was Arizona Eller’s least competitive category as it placed No. 63. Eller performed better in the academic experience category, where it placed 41st and in the employment outcomes category where it landed at No. 38.

The Eller undergraduate business education is best known for its heavy emphasis on teamwork. From relevant course projects to unique experiential opportunities, Eller students are constantly learning how to not only be skilled business professionals, but successful teammates as well.

HIGHLY SKILLS-BASED & RELEVANT EDUCATION Eller students can pursue either a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration or a Bachelor of Arts in Economics. Majors available include Accounting, Business Administration, Business Economics, Business Management, Entrepreneurship, Finance, Management Information Systems, Marketing, and Operations, and Supply Chain Management.

The B-school is constantly looking for ways to keep its program relevant and its students up-to-date on in-demand skills. One prime example is the recent addition of its Level Up Tech Workshop Series, a collection of workshops that cover a variety of technological topics from “VR for Business” to “Virtual Workspaces and Classrooms in Discord.”

Eller places a strong emphasis on giving its students a real view of what the business world is like and the relevant skills to succeed before they graduate.

“Eller and my overall business school experience did an exceptional job in preparing me for the ‘real world,’” one 2018 alumni told us. “The courses were tough, took group efforts, collaboration with peers and professors, and always had a portion where you had to speak in front of a board of judges or your class/profs. All of these experiences were huge in my development.”

“Real-world business application of knowledge learned was extremely helpful,” another 2018 alumni said. “I was prepared for my interview based on the skills learned in class, as well as practice/advice from the career center. I also was prepared to enter the tech/business world based on my business education.”

“Business comm classes provided me with skills that helped with client interaction and team engagement, multiple projects throughout multiple accounting courses provided me with the knowledge and

university of arizona expertise in regards to technical research and analytics, [and] Master’s program provided classes that proved to be instrumental in passing CPA exams and handling real client issues,” a 2018 alumni said.

TEAMWORK-FOCUSED OPPORTUNITIES Teamwork is central to nearly every opportunity at Eller. Students compete in six embedded formal competitions within classes with their peers. Each experience is formally judged to ensure students develop presentation important collaboration and presentation skills.

“After completion of pre-business coursework, interviews, and evaluation, all accepted students in the business school are placed into groups among their classmates to complete vigorous projects surrounding all aspects of business topics,” one 2018 alumni told us.

“We were challenged in case competitions and real-world scenarios to strengthen our soft-skills and knowledge.”

“I was incredibly shy before getting into Eller, so having to take BCOM 314 [Business Communication] right off the bat was terrifying to me,” another 2018 alumni said. “However, this class effectively turned me into an extrovert. I gained invaluable presentation skills and learned how to get along and work with a variety of personalities. The confidence I built in this class has helped me at every step in my career.”

Alumni view these experiences positively. When asked to rate the opportunities given to them at Eller to nurture and improve their soft-skills in business, 2018 alumni gave a strong 9.1 average rating.

Soft-skills, such as collaboration and communication, are central to business roles, or any career for that matter. Teller emphasizes strong soft-skill development by infusing elements of teamwork into its curriculum and activities. In turn, Eller students are ready to work seamlessly within any team by graduation.

WHAT ALUMNI SAY “I was in the McGuire Entrepreneurship program during my senior year in the Eller College of Management, where we spent the year building a business plan - from the marketing to finance plan, and competed in a competition at the end of the year. The competition, the New Venture Competition, judged us based on our product, financial plan and marketability. This business plan was also used for my honors thesis. It was unique because we were able to put our four years of learning about business into the real world and decide if we wanted to continue our venture after graduation.”

“Case competitions which gave us exposure to real-life business projects, and pushed us to put together great business plans and presentations.”

“Every opportunity at the business school is a tool to make me more unique than the next person. Each individual was exposed to different paths and challenges that made us all well prepared yet different from one another that can carry different skills to our future roles.”

EMPLOYMENT OUTCOMES Eller students have relatively strong employment and internship outcomes. Some 85% of the Class of 2020 secured full-time employment within three months of graduation, a slight dip from last year’s 89% although this may likely be attributed to the COVID-19 economic downturn. Internship-wise, Eller students perform very well with 92% of the Class of 2020 having a businessfocused internship before graduating — an increase from last year’s 89%. Additionally, 83% of 2018 alumni that we surveyed report that their first job after graduating was in their desired industry.

Overall, Eller’s relevant education and heavy emphasis on teamwork ensure students are well-prepared for the real world of business and beyond.

THE BEST UNDERGRADUATE BUSINESS SCHOOLS 115

2101 S. UNIVERSITY BLVD. DENVER, CO 80208 ADMISSIONS OFFICE: 303-871-2036

University Of Denver

T $294,360 In-State Total Cost

Freshman

Year When Students Declare Their Majors

62.2%

Acceptance Rate

1264

Average SAT

2.8%

International Students

26.4%

Underrepresent Minorities

81.3%

Class of 2020 accepting jobs 90 days after graduation

POETSANDQUANTSFORUNDERGRADS.COM

he Daniels College of Business at the University of Denver secured a place at No. 50 in this year’s rankings. Daniels improved eight spots from last year’s ranking and 15 spots from 2019, continuing a very solid upward-trajectory in our data-based rankings. This year’s acceptance rate was 62.20%, compared to last year’s 78%. The average SAT score this year was 1264, relatively in line with last year’s average score of 1270.

Employment wise, Daniels students have relatively strong outcomes.

Some 81.29% of the Class of 2020 secured a full-time position within three months of graduation, a dip from last year’s 89.41% although this may likely be attributed to the COVID-19 economic downturn. Despite the economic downturn, internship outcomes were up this year with 94% of the Class of 2020 having a business-focused internship before graduating, an increase from last year’s 88%.

Daniels took a very balanced approach in this year’s ranking, placing 49th in academic experience, 50th in admissions standards, and 55th in employment outcomes. The success of Daniels graduates is largely tied to the B-school’s innovative and relevant curriculum with strong mentorship and support.

TWO DEGREES Daniels offers two distinct degrees: a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and a Bachelor of Science in Accountancy.

The Bachelor of Science in Business Administration degree offers seven majors to choose from including Business Information and Analytics, Finance, Hospitality Management, International Business, Management, Marketing, and Real Estate and the Built Environment.

The Bachelor of Science in Accountancy is an integrated accounting program that also offers the option for students to continue on to the Master of Accountancy degree, also known as the 3/2 Program.

RELEVANT CURRICULUM One of the key characteristics of the Daniels education is the relevance of the information that students learn in the classroom. Experiential learning is well integrated across the curriculum.

“As a hospitality major, most of my experiences with studies were experiential,” one 2018 alumni told us. “One of the most memorable, and beneficial, was a Human Capital class where the course focused on the importance of the employees. As part of this class, we worked with a student in the refugee program at the school and mentored/trained them to be the service staff at a formal dinner. This experience was both eye-opening and very educational. A great learning experience provided by the school.”

University of Denver “An innovation class project afforded us the opportunity to work with local businesses with hands-on experiences and solutions to grow their business,” said another. “This project resulted in my first internship with the local company our project was based on.

Furthermore, this business plan also played a role in the rapid advancement in my career. I graduated in 2018, landed an entrylevel marketing job in 2018, and then advanced to a manager role in 2019 earning 6 figures (less than 2 years out of undergrad) DU’s reputation and the project I shared during my interview are a few things that stood out to my employer and guided their decision in their selection.”

The Daniels College has long been a forward-thinking and innovative institution. The B-school launched the first-ever “Business of Marijuana” course in the state of Colorado back in 2017, offering students a thorough view of the growing industry (no pun intended), from management to ethics.

“I took the only accredited Business of Cannabis class in the country at the time,” one 2018 alumni recalled. “That specific class is the reason I have the role I do today.”

With its innovative curriculum, Daniels can consistently offer students a relevant education that opens doors to internship and job opportunities. Moreover, Daniel alumni view the quality of teaching relatively well, with surveyed 2018 alumni giving an 8.9 average rating.

WHAT ALUMNI SAY “In the international marketing class I took, we split into groups to develop a marketing plan for a company we chose to move into a new country. We had to develop the plan, research what, where, why, and how, and then present within a time limit to the class a concise summary of all the plans made in our full-length marketing plan.”

“I went through a capstone where we worked on using data analytics to help the city of Denver improve their expansion.”

“We worked with McDonald’s corporate in an advertising class. I benefited from the experience of presenting in front of an actual client and getting their honest, real-world feedback on my ideas.”

STRONG MENTORSHIP & SUPPORT Daniels offers a number of resources to support students in their professional development. Its LEAD (Learning by Example, Attaining Distinction) Mentorship Program pairs undergraduate business students with professionals in their chosen field or career trajectory. Mentors meet with undergraduate students once a month and offer guidance and support from someone in their professional development and help them build connections with professionals in the community Students interested in exploring potential careers can participate in the Job Shadow Program, where undergraduate students can shadow professionals and learn more about the day-to-day job of the role that they are interested in.

Alumni also rate the B-school faculty’s availability for informal discussions and mentoring outside of class highly giving it a 9.0 average rating.

But the career support at Daniels goes beyond mentorship and shadowing programs. All Daniels undergraduates are required to take part in professional development as part of the Daniels Core Curriculum. Students must complete requirements including creating a polished resume, writing a cover letter, attending career services workshops, participating in mock interviews, and more.

“The amount of extra support in building resumes, test interviews, what to wear, how to communicate was something that you can’t learn in a classroom,” one 2018 alumni told us.

With an innovative curriculum in the classroom and plenty of support outside the classroom, Daniels students are given the tools they need to succeed in any career path they choose to take.

THE BEST UNDERGRADUATE BUSINESS SCHOOLS 117

3141 CHESTNUT STREET, PHILADELPHIA, PA 19104 ADMISSIONS OFFICE: 215-571-3767

Drexel University

D $241,998 In-State Total Cost

Freshman

Year When Students Declare Their Majors

73%

Acceptance Rate

1271

Average SAT

10%

International Students

11%

Underrepresent Minorities

82.1%

Class of 2020 accepting jobs 90 days after graduation

POETSANDQUANTSFORUNDERGRADS.COM

rexel University’s LeBow College of Business came in at No. 51 in this year’s rankings. Improving 13 spots from last year’s 64, LeBow had a similar admission selection this year with an acceptance rate of 73.08% and an average SAT score of 1271, both in line with last year’s stats.

Where LeBow really shined this year was in employment and internship outcomes. Despite the COVID-19 economic downturn, employment and internship placements saw an increase from last year with 82.05% of the Class of 2020 securing a full-time position within three months of graduation and 89% having a business-focused internship before graduating — compared to last year’s employment outcome of 78.95% and internship outcome of 87%.

With a unique co-op program and experiential learning opportunities, the LeBow College offers students the tools they need to succeed in their chosen field.

INNOVATIVE BUSINESS MAJORS LeBow offers a plethora of undergraduate majors including Business & Engineering, Economics, Accounting, Finance, Marketing, International Business, Legal Studies, Management Information Systems, Operations and Supply Chain Management, Business Analytics, Organizational Management, Sports Business, Esports, Real Estate Management & Development, Technology Innovation Management, and General Business.

Real Estate Management & Development and Esports are the latest additions to the business major portfolio at Daniels. The real estate program offers an interdisciplinary curriculum that covers the ins and outs of the field of real estate management. Students in the program apply their studies in Philadelphia’s real estate market. The Esports program looks at the industry of competitive video gaming and delves into the intricacies of game design, game management, and the required business administration core.

While many B-schools offer the general business majors in Marketing or Finance, few can offer programs in fields such as Esports or Sports Business. LeBow’s constant innovation in its undergraduate business major portfolio helps ensure students have access to relevant knowledge and cutting-edge industries.

EXPANSIVE CO-OP PROGRAM The Co-op program is a cornerstone of the LeBow experience, allowing students the opportunity to alternate academic study with full-time employment, gaining practical experience in their field of study prior to graduation.

Drexel University What makes the LeBow co-op program unique is the duration.

Students participate in six-month co-op experiences as opposed to standard internships, which generally last two to three months. By offering a longer experience, LeBow can ensure that its students are gaining a thorough understanding of their chosen field and developing the proper experience to succeed. LeBow alumni across the board view the co-op program as the “signature experience” that played a key part in their business education.

“Drexel’s Unique Cooperative Learning experiences connected me with two years of work experience at a nationwide media telecoms company and a smaller design firm so the range of available work experiences contributed to an easier hiring process upon graduation,” one 2018 alumni told us.

“I was able to do three, six-month internships with the Boston Red Sox, Johnson & Johnson, and JPMorgan Chase & Co.,” another 2018 alumni said. “Furthermore, I was able to network with Drexel alumni to have an academic internship while in classes with the Philadelphia Phillies.”

By the time they graduate, LeBow students have a strong resume filled with years of work experience — giving them a leg up from other graduates who rely on short three-month internships.

STRONG EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING

WHAT ALUMNI SAY “The whole process of autonomy in working, the coop program, the opportunity to be our own saviors were experiences I earned from my time at Drexel’s LeBow business school.”

“Drexel Mergers & Acquisition course directly related to a project assigned to me during my first year in my CORE class and prepared me exceptionally well to be able to handle the workload and present a welldetailed final project to executives.”

“I was able to partake in a six-month-long co-op/internship. This was a unique aspect of Drexel in which very few, if any, have to offer. The internship was in my field of study at a reputable company, and without Drexel, I would not have gotten this experience.”

Aside from the co-op experiences, another key characteristic of the LeBow education is the strong sense of experiential learning within the classroom. LeBow students don’t just study the course material, but also apply it to real-life situations. Experiential learning allows students to understand business knowledge at a deeper level and offers them valuable experience that they can point to in internship and job interviews.

Many 2018 alumni we surveyed highlighted the strong experiential learning component integrated into LeBow courses.

“I took a course in data analytics which led me to spearhead my current company Cypris,” one 2018 alumni said. “We’re a marketplace & search engine for patents. Currently doing IP data analysis for leading universities & r&d teams. In January we were named a top 50 startup to watch in 2020 by BuiltIn. I wouldn’t be where I am today without that course.”

“In addition to the Cooperative education experiences I had an MIS class that used real-life applications,” said another. “We worked with a class in a technical college in India to develop an app for a client in New Jersey. It showed the difficulties of international business and communication challenges faced as a liaison between the customer want and the technical expected outcome.”

Whether it’s through experiential learning within the classroom or valuable work experience outside the classroom via the co-op program, LeBow students are given a comprehensive business education that enables them to succeed post-grad.

THE BEST UNDERGRADUATE BUSINESS SCHOOLS 119

111 LAKE HOLLINGSWORTH DR, LAKELAND, FL 33801 ADMISSIONS OFFICE: 407-314-8706

Florida Southern College

F $136,064 In-State Total Cost

Freshman

Year When Students Declare Their Majors

51.5%

Acceptance Rate

1172

Average SAT

N/A

International Students

N/A

Underrepresent Minorities

94.7%

Class of 2020 accepting jobs 90 days after graduation

POETSANDQUANTSFORUNDERGRADS.COM

or those looking for a tropical get-away and business education, consider Florida Southern College’s School of Business. Even better?

Florida Southern has consistently improved each of the three years it’s participated in our ranking. Three years ago, Florida Southern, which sits between Tampa and Orlando, debuted at No. 83. Last year, it climbed to 74th place, and this year it surged to 52nd place.

The school took a fairly even approach, placing 47th overall in the admissions standards category and 50th in employment outcomes. It did, however, see a bit of a dip in the academic experience category, ranking 69th overall. Still, the school offers an intriguing option for Florida locals and those interested in studying in a warm climate, alike.

THE CURRICULUM Florida Southern offers the normal bachelor’s in business administration degree. But where the school differs in the curriculum from other B-schools is instead of majors, it offers three “career tracks” of finance, international business, and management.

The school has also introduced some recent changes to appeal to future business leaders. First, the school boasts a “state-of-the-art” building with a Bloomberg trading room. Plus the school offers the professional Bloomberg Certification. Officials from the school claim it is one of the largest collegiate Bloomberg centers. Even cooler, the school has a 3D modeling work area and has added majors in health care administration and sports business management. The school has also caught on with the times and has been investing in business analytics faculty.

CAPSTONE PROJECT A HIT AMONG RECENT ALUMNI According to our alumni survey, which surveys graduates two years after graduation and makes up the methodology in the academic experience portion of the rankings, about 58% of the graduating Class of 2018 said they were involved in some sort of “signature experience,” which was defined as project work, experiential learning, or an international experience. We then asked alumni to elaborate on the key experience(s) that they had. Most popular among Florida Southern graduates was the capstone project completed during the senior year.

“The final capstone class was very useful and appropriate to put all the previous college learning to use,” one alumnus told us in the survey.

“It allowed everyone to see how legitimate businesses operate and how the decision-making process trickles down the chain and impacts the outside environment.”

Said another: “I completed a capstone course that gave students insight into how companies are broken down into segments to review

Florida Southern College their strengths and weaknesses. We presented our findings and analysis of a particular company as the final project and made proposals to improve the company’s current position.”

“We completed a capstone course to receive our degree. It comprised of learning the aspects of business strategy and applying these strategies to case studies,” one other alum explained. “The final project for the course was a group project where we applied all of the concepts we learned to a business of our choosing. We used models that helped us measure the business’ performance and used the results to determine areas of strengths and weaknesses. After examining the weaknesses found in the company, we developed strategies that may help the company improve their weaknesses or achieve other organizational goals.”

TOP-RATED QUALITY OF TEACHING IN BUSINESS COURSES AMONG ALL SCHOOLS Alumni also rated the quality of teaching in their business courses very highly. On a one-to-10 scale, graduates from the Class of 2018 rated the quality of teaching in business courses at 9.5, which was higher than any other school included in this year’s ranking. That topped traditionally top schools like the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School and the University of Virginia’s McIntire School of Commerce, among others.

Florida Southern also excelled in the employment outcomes category this year. The school reported that some 72% of Class of 2020 graduates had at least one business-focused internship by graduation. More impressively, 94.71% of the Class of 2020 reported having accepted a full-time position within three months of graduation. Only 16 schools reported a higher rate this year. Of those reporting a full-time position and a salary, the average first-job earnings for the Class of 2020 was $52,023.

Overall, Florida Southern provides a solid business school option for Florida residents or those looking to escape to a warm climate, in an interesting area of the state and Southeast. With a total cost of less than $140K, Florida Southern also offers one of the most economically-responsible options, especially for Florida residents or those that can gain residency.

WHAT ALUMNI SAY “I wanted to start my own business right after I graduated and my teachers helped me make that possible. They offered me as much experience they could as an entrepreneur and they connected me with programs that would help me be successful.”

“My undergraduate senior project necessitated extreme research into the merger process between AB InBev and SABMiller giving me a very real outlook on international business and anti-trust issues.”

“The relationships built between the students and professors made our capstone project much more fun and immersive. It felt like we were working with our professor as a team.”

THE BEST UNDERGRADUATE BUSINESS SCHOOLS 121

210 S College Ave, Newark, DE 19716 ADMISSIONS OFFICE: 302-831-8123

University Of Delaware

T $196,090 In-State Total Cost

Freshman

Year When Students Declare Their Majors

53.6%

Acceptance Rate

1248

Average SAT

2.1%

International Students

10.9%

Underrepresent Minorities

79.1%

Class of 2020 accepting jobs 90 days after graduation

POETSANDQUANTSFORUNDERGRADS.COM

he University of Delaware’s Alfred Lerner College of Business & Economics landed at No. 53 in this year’s rankings.

Dropping behind two spots from last year’s No. 51, the Lerner College had an acceptance rate of 53.61% this year and average SAT score of 1248. Employment wise, the B-school saw a significant dip with 79.07% of the Class of 2020 landing full-time employment within three months of graduation, roughly 15 percentage points lower than last year.

Internship outcomes saw a smaller dip with 91% of the Class of 2020 having a business-focused internship before graduating, down just three percentage points from last year. Like many other schools this year, the drop in employment and internship placement may likely be attributed to the COVID-19 economic downturn.

While Lerner fell behind a few ranks this year, the B-school still offers a strong undergraduate business program with its prestigious hospitality programs and hands-on immersion internship opportunities.

QUALITY HOSPITALITY PROGRAM Lerner undergraduates can choose from 16 different majors including Accounting, Business Analytics, Economics, Economics Education, Entrepreneurship, Finance, Financial Planning and Wealth Management, Global Enterprise Management, Hospitality Business Management, Hospitality Industry Management, International Business Studies, Management, Management Information Systems, Marketing, Operations Management, and Sport Management. The B-school makes it easy for students to study more than one major with over 33% of graduates double majoring in the college.

The 2018 alumni that we surveyed spoke highly about Lerner’s well-ranking hospitality programs. The B-school offers two hospitality majors. The Hospitality Business Management (HOSP) major offers a curriculum on business management, specific to the hospitality industry. The Hospitality Industry Management (HSIM) major focuses on the analytical skills for careers in hospitality consulting and in the corporate office and students can choose a focus area such as revenue management, resort real estate development, hospitality e-commerce, or tourism sustainability.

“As a hospitality major in the Lerner College of Business, I was given first-hand experience in my industry which prepared me for everything I would be facing in my career,” one 2018 alumni told us. “A lot of colleagues of mine who studied the same major at different universities did not have the same experience.”

The B-school also houses a hands-on learning laboratory, Vita Nova, which serves as a student-run restaurant environment.

“The skills learned in Vita Nova are taken far beyond graduation,” the 2018 alumni told us. “I credit that to the professors of Vita. Not only

University of Delaware do we have on-campus immersive experiences, but we must also complete 800 hours of work experience before graduation. Having this requirement seems daunting as a Freshman, however, these internships helped teach the types of jobs I would and wouldn’t want to have as well as helps land me my first job post-college.

Many of the graduates from HBM go to work in both hotels and restaurants in front of house and back of house, though there is an increasing number of us who are joining the Private Club ranks.

That is also due in part to the clubs on campus and available though Lerner.”

Hospitality majors aren’t commonplace at every B-school. And when they are, they typically don’t have the level of specialization and quality of resources that Lerner has. With the B-school’s immersive learning laboratory, work experience requirements, and specialized majors, hospitality is definitely a strong offering at Lerner.

GLOBAL ENTERPRISE TECHNOLOGY PROGRAM While Lerner’s hospitality programs are the star of the show, the B-school also offers quality, hands-on learning experiences for other majors.

One of the prime examples of hands-on learning at Lerner is the Global Enterprise Technology (GET) Immersion Internship experience. Through extended six-month internships, GET interns use global enterprise systems or create new technology in a global environment. Students work as paid interns directly with corporate system engineers, IT personnel, product planners, and consultants.

“I was accepted into the GET (Global Enterprise Technology) Program which is an internship that starts in the summer and continues into the fall semester,” one 2018 alumni told us. “I worked part-time in the fall while also working on a work-related school project for class credits. This program is how I got my current job at JPMorgan Chase in a technical position I never would’ve applied to if it were outside of this program.” “[The] Global Enterprise Technology Program allowed me to work full time at Deloitte for 6 months while earning college credits for 300-400 level MIS courses at UD,” another 2018 alumni said. “Best experience of my college career, got me my current job, allowed me to really experience work-life rather than a 3 month in and out internship.”

The GET Program essentially offers students an opportunity to intern directly with big-name companies such as JP Morgan Chase, Deloitte, and PwC. And students from other universities intern with these companies over the summer for a short three months, Lerner students can be truly immersed in the company for a solid six months - giving them twice the amount of work experience. Since 2010, according to Lerner, the GET program has had a job placement record of 100%.

Overall, Lerner is an obvious choice for anyone set on pursuing a career in hospitality. But the B-school offers a quality education with strong internship opportunities for those studying any other business degree.

WHAT ALUMNI SAY “The Hospitality Business Management program at Lerner is truly unmatched.

Unlike many college classes of sitting in a classroom learning from a professor, HBM is heavily based on being practical. We spent a semester in the on-campus hotel learning the ins and outs of how to run and operate a hotel and then moved through the practical side of learning and doing each and every job from Front Desk to Housekeeping.”

“The MIS capstone project provided real-world consulting experience as well as the opportunity to demonstrate technical capabilities.”

“I participated in a capstone project which provided a hands-on learning experience when working with clients. This experience allowed myself to take skills that I had learned in my various courses and adapt them to real world situations/scenarios. I still carry many of the skills and knowledge learned from this capstone project to this day in my current job role. This experience was unique to me because it was an ‘initial stepping stone’ for what was to come in my career after graduation.”

THE BEST UNDERGRADUATE BUSINESS SCHOOLS 123

8000 Utopia Parkway, Queens, NY 11439 ADMISSIONS OFFICE: 718-990-2000

St. John’s University

T $247,494 In-State Total Cost

Freshman

Year When Students Declare Their Majors

56.7%

Acceptance Rate

1230

Average SAT

4%

International Students

27%

Underrepresent Minorities

75.2%

Class of 2020 accepting jobs 90 days after graduation

POETSANDQUANTSFORUNDERGRADS.COM

he Peter J. Tobin College of Business at St. John’s University ranked at No. 54 this year.

Tobin College fell behind four spots from last year but is still much higher than its No. 77 finish in 2019. While the B-school had a more selective admissions process this year, its employment outcomes took a significant hit. Some 75.23% of the Class of 2020 were employed full-time within three months of graduation, down nearly 11 percentage points from last year. Internship outcomes stayed unchanged at 81%.

Tobin had an acceptance rate this year of 56.68% and an average SAT score of 1230, a slightly more selective admissions cycle from last year’s 59% and 1208 average SAT score.

Despite ranking lower this year, Tobin’s undergraduate program still offers quality opportunities for students to learn in a hands-on environment, including through its unique residence program and community-driven microloan program.

10 MAJORS Tobin undergraduates can choose from 10 different majors including Accounting, Actuarial Science, Business, Business Analytics, Economics, Finance, International Management, Management, Marketing, and Risk Management and Insurance.

Alumni view their education relatively well. When asked if they would recommend the Tobin program to a close friend or colleague interested in an undergraduate business degree, surveyed 2018 alumni gave an 8.5 average rating. Alumni also gave the B-school an 8.1 average rating in how well it prepared them for the world of work and an 8.4 rating in terms of faculty availability for informal discussions and mentorship.

EXECUTIVE-IN-RESIDENCE PROGRAM One of the main characteristics of the Tobin education is its focus on experiential learning. The B-school offers a number of opportunities for students to learn through engaging in real-world environments.

The Executive-in-Residence Program (EIRP) is one of many handson learning opportunities. EIRP allows selected students to work with partnered organizations as “consultants” to offer them fresh solutions, new product ideas, and more. A maximum of 18 students are admitted to each EIRP class and admitted students receive academic credit for their work.

One of the unique aspects of Tobin’s EIRP is that students can work with a variety of companies as consultants, as compared to one in many other B-school consulting programs. Many Tobin alumni highlighted the relevant skills and valuable experience they gained through EIRP.

St. John’s University “The Executive in Residence program was crucial in providing the experience of the consulting industry,” one 2018 alumni told us.

“We worked with four companies in various industries throughout the year to tackle real problems through research and innovation, and presented our findings in front of the boards for all firms. Some teams’ suggestions were actually implemented by the businesses to reduce internal costs, enter a new industry, reach a new market, or reshape the employee training program. This experience was crucial in getting me my first job as a consultant.” “[EIRP] helped to shape my ability to problem solve and develop fleshed out business cases/recommendations,” another 2018 alumni said. “This also helped introduce me to more professionals in the industry and improved my ability to present to them confidently.”

For aspiring consultants, Tobin’s strong EIRP program offers a unique opportunity to get a head start on their consulting career with valuable, real-world experience.

GLOBAL LOAN OPPORTUNITIES FOR BUDDING ENTREPRENEURS Another cornerstone experiential learning experience at Tobin is the Global Loan Opportunities for Budding Entrepreneurs (GLOBE) program. As a student-run microloan program, GLOBE allows students to work in task teams to manage the microloan fund, vet loan applications, maintain the website, market the program, communicate with stakeholders, and raise funds.

What makes GLOBE unique from other microfinance programs is the social responsibility aspect. GLOBE runs much like a nonprofit organization and works in 72 developing countries in Central America and Africa to boost the earning capacity of local entrepreneurs and serve the needs of the communities. GLOBE’s program field partner, The Daughters of Charity, coordinates the distribution and collection of funds. The social good aspect of GLOBE reflects the university’s Catholic and Vincentrian mission of helping the underserved and marginalized.

GLOBE offers students a unique opportunity to gain valuable, hands-on experience in a breadth of business roles from finance to marketing. On top of that, students can make a real positive impact in the world.

“I worked with GLOBE (Global Loan Opportunities for Budding Entrepreneurs), a volunteer program through Tobin, and that was honestly the best class I took in all of undergrad,” one 2018 alumni said. “The broad perspectives of the world that it provided (not focusing solely on people’s worth as their fiscal output) and the social responsibility it promoted truly changed my outlook on life and helped me to pursue what I truly wanted.” “[GLOBE] helped me to understand the world of microfinance and also taught me more about entrepreneurship,” said another.

Overall, the Tobin undergraduate program is perfect for students who prefer hands-on learning. Whether it’s gaining valuable consulting exposure through EIRP or building socially responsible finance skills in GLOBE, Tobin students have a variety of opportunities to experience the real world of business.

WHAT ALUMNI SAY “The Executive-in-Residence Program offered at The Peter J Tobin College of Business was instrumental in my last year of college in helping me discover the industry I wanted to work in and in helping solidify the presentation, creative thinking, and networking skills I used to get my first job out of college and still use in my everyday career.”

“I had a seminar course in Economics in which we traveled into studying the effects of how variables such as Household income and values affect inequality within the top 50 richest cities within the United States. From that project, it has taught me to approach problems holistically and to see the big picture rather than purely focusing on smaller details. Also through writing the paper with former classmates, it taught me the importance of wording.”

“I was part of two great experiences GLOBE and EIRP. GLOBE is a studentmanaged microfinance program where I actively created change in the global setting, which made it to be a truly rare and unique experience. Dr. Sama also allowed for this program to truly succeed under her great guidance - she is instrumental to the program with her years of experience in microfinance. EIRP allowed me to do student-consulting for top companies in the tri-state area, exposing me to a more highpaced, realistic work setting. To handle both programs on top of a school workload allowed me to build a great work ethic and most importantly, teamwork and people skills.”

THE BEST UNDERGRADUATE BUSINESS SCHOOLS 125

10 GARRISON AVE, DURHAM, NH 03824 ADMISSIONS OFFICE: 603-862-1981

University Of New Hampshire

T $133,422 In-State Total Cost

Freshman

Year When Students Declare Their Majors

71.2%

Acceptance Rate

1183

Average SAT

0.4%

International Students

3.6%

Underrepresent Minorities

86.7%

Class of 2020 accepting jobs 90 days after graduation

POETSANDQUANTSFORUNDERGRADS.COM

he University of New Hampshire’s Peter T. Paul College of Business and Economics secured a spot at No. 55 in this year’s rankings.

Improving 12 spots from last year, the Paul College had an impressive improvement in internship prospects as well as a slightly more selective admissions process. Despite the COVID-19 economic downturn, 88% of the Class of 2020 landed a business-focused internship before graduating — an uptick from last year’s 83.90%. Employment this year saw a dip, however, with 86.74% of the Class of 2020 securing fulltime employment within three months of graduation — down from last year’s 91.11%. The Paul College had an acceptance rate of 71.23% and an average SAT score of 1183 this year, making admissions a tad more selective than last year’s 72% and average SAT score of 1167.

The success of the Paul College is largely linked to the “real-world” applications of its education. From its signature FIRE program to the capstone experience, Paul undergraduates get a real sense of what business is all about. That was evident in this year’s alumni survey, where Paul alums ranked their academic experience No. 34 overall, which was the strongest finish for New Hampshire in our three methodological categorical areas.

FIRE PROGRAM One of the signature programs at the Paul College is the first-year research and innovation experience (FIRE), an experiential learning program designed to help first-year students engage in college life and build relationships with faculty, staff, and other students.

The year-long experience is built around a set of grand challenges where students work in teams, learn research skills, and develop business plans that they present at the end of the year during the undergraduate research conference. FIRE uses game design principles to both motivate and engage students as they participate in a series of healthy competitions designed to increase student involvement and the formation of lifelong friendships.

“This focus on solving real problems is further emphasized and reinforced throughout the curriculum to ensure that students have the knowledge, experiences, and skills they need for successful and meaningful careers,” Sharon Keeler, Director of Communications and Marketing at the Paul College, tells us. “The vast majority of students report that FIRE helps them gain critical academic and professional skills that they build on over the rest of their college career.”

FIRE is a prime example of Paul College’s distinct approach to experience-based learning. At many other B-schools, students don’t experience this hands-on learning until their junior or senior year capstone project. But, at Paul College, students get a taste of experiential learning and teamwork early on in their first year. Year by year, Paul

University of New Hampshire students build on their knowledge and gain valuable teamwork experience that will help them succeed in the real world.

REAL-WORLD CAPSTONE EXPERIENCE The Paul College’s capstone experience offers students the opportunity to apply their business education in real-world environments. Whether they major in marketing or information systems, every Paul undergraduate gains valuable and relevant experience through their capstone project.

“Our marketing degree capstone project was to work in teams of 8 to serve as the ‘marketing consulting team’ for a local business in the Southern NH area (near our school),” one 2018 alumni told us.

“We had to work with the business owners to determine the goals of what they wanted in terms of marketing improvement. Our capstone professor was there to guide us through the structure of how we should approach the work, but each group was working with a very unique, niche business and no two projects were alike.

We got real-world experience working with actual businesses to implement a marketing plan that would fill a gap in the business.”

“Information systems concentration has a capstone project where you are placed on a team of students and you are paired with a company in the surrounding area to complete a project that will assist the company,” another 2018 alumni said. “Gives you hands-on experience doing a project in a corporate setting and extends your network as well.”

At many other B-schools, the capstone project will feature a theoretical company or issue. But Paul students partner directly with a local company to solve a real issue. This small, but significant difference enables students to understand what it is truly like to work in a real-world team setting.

“My biggest takeaway from my capstone project was not necessarily what I learned from the actual content, but more along the lines of project mgmt., time mgmt. and communication skills.

For example, building a project plan, delegating work, what work can be done individually/remotely vs. in person, etc.,” a 2018 alumni said. “The contact at the company we did our capstone for was also great at creating a ‘coworker’ type relationship with our team, which proved invaluable to our team dynamic and ability to fully understand the value of our work to the company’s success.

We weren’t doing busywork, it genuinely felt like we were a part of the team.”

At the Paul College, students gain real-world experience no matter what major they choose to pursue. With a relevant curriculum, strong faculty support, and a variety of hands-on learning opportunities, Paul students are well-prepared for whatever the post-grad world has in store for them.

WHAT ALUMNI SAY “Partnered with a local business to solve real world problems, not just a simulated lesson.”

“Marketing and Advertising Club provided me the opportunity to work with a local, small business and help them solve a marketing problem. It was a real-world problem with real-world results and I reflect on my experiences from that project frequently.”

“Capstone projects working for enterprise rent a car and a hitchiner manufacturing gave me real-world project experience for real companies.”

THE BEST UNDERGRADUATE BUSINESS SCHOOLS 127

ONE UNIVERSITY PARK DRIVE, NASHVILLE, TN 37204 ADMISSIONS OFFICE: 1-877-58-BISON

Lipscomb University

L $200,886 In-State Total Cost

Freshman

Year When Students Declare Their Majors

86.2%

Acceptance Rate

1215

Average SAT

5.9%

International Students

15.8%

Underrepresent Minorities

87.5%

Class of 2020 accepting jobs 90 days after graduation

ipscomb University’s College of Business ranked No. 56 this year. Falling 10 spots from last year’s No. 46, Lipscomb had an acceptance rate of 86.21% and an average SAT score of 1161 this year. Employment and internships saw a decline this year with 87.50% of the Class of 2020 having full-time employment within three months of graduation and 89% having a business-focused internship before graduating, compared to last year’s 90.80% employment and 99% internship outcomes.

Still, the employment outcomes was the strongest category for Lipscomb, where it finished No. 56 overall.

As a Christian liberal arts university, Lipscomb places heavy emphasis on integrating faith and business. Students are encouraged to lead with integrity and are given a solid set of professional skills and expansive resources and opportunities to thrive in the business world.

INTEGRATION OF FAITH AND BUSINESS The Lipscomb education centers around integrating faith into the real world of business. All Lipscomb business students are required to take a Business Values class as part of the core curriculum. The course explores ethical issues from a Christian perspective and challenges students to analyze and frame ethical dilemmas including topics of sustainability, diversity, and multicultural work environments.

Lipscomb offers a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Management, Marketing, Finance, and Accounting. Additionally, the B-school recently started requiring all business majors to complete a minor in Business Analytics. Students will be required to take analytics courses such as “Data-Driven Decision Making” and “Enterprise Systems, Reporting, and Visualization.”

Each major features a unique capstone project, with many requiring an internship element and all implementing some element of real-world, experiential learning.

“Our capstone class involved teams of students competing against each other, with each team managing a company while adapting to shifting industry trends,” one 2018 alumni told us.

Lipscomb places a strong emphasis on the real-world of business. With its capstone projects and required business analytics minor, the B-school ensures that each and every student is equipped with the in-demand knowledge and real-world experience by the time they graduate.

Coupled with its strong Christian values, the Lipscomb education is one that truly finds itself at the integration of faith and business.

KITTRELL PITCH COMPETITION One of the signature opportunities available to Lipscomb students is

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Lipscomb University the annual Kittrell Pitch Competition.

The Kittrell Pitch Competition challenges students to pitch a business idea for a product or service to a panel of professionals.

The competition takes place in both semesters. The fall competition is open to undergraduate and graduate students from any major.

First-place winners receive a $2,500 cash prize with second and third place winners receiving cash prices of $1,500 and $1,000, respectively. Additionally, all first, second, and third place winners automatically qualify for the final round in the spring pitch competition and advising from the Center for Entrepreneurship.

The spring competition takes the pitch to the next level, with up to $10,000 first-place prize for the winning team, who also receives personal advising from a mentor with relevant industry experience.

The annual pitch competition is a fun, yet engaging opportunity for students to explore entrepreneurship and learn from professionals. Additionally, because the competition is held both semesters, students essentially have a year-long opportunity to test out their business ideas and get valuable advice.

WHAT ALUMNI SAY “I was given the opportunity to research the impact of blockchain on the future of accounting.”

“We did a simulation on running an international shoe company.”

“Involved in a case study capstone class where we looked at the financials of a company. Did this in audit too.”

FINANCIAL MARKETS LAB Lipscomb is constantly looking for ways to provide innovative and cutting edge resources for its students.

It recently opened its brand new Financial Markets Lab, a completely renovated classroom space that real-time market tickers, television monitors to view business news outlets, and a bank of computer stations that offer access to Bloomberg Terminal, a financial services platform that offers real-time and historical data, market news and analytics for financial professionals.

“The Financial Markets Lab is designed to give our students the feel of what a real Wall Street trading floor is like,” Brian Masterson, assistant professor of accounting and chair of Lipscomb’s Department of Accounting, Finance and Economics, says in a press release. “Our goal in developing this lab was to create a space particularly for our finance students to have the best tools available to them as they prepare to enter the workforce, but it is a resource that will enhance the educational experience of every business student.”

The new Markets Lab is a prime example of how Lipscomb is committed to ensuring students have not only the in-demand business skills but proper resources to apply those skills. With its emphasis on leading with faith, integration of valuable skills such as business analytics, and plenty of experiential opportunities and resources, the Lipscomb College of Business offers the full business education package.

THE BEST UNDERGRADUATE BUSINESS SCHOOLS 129

1014 GREENE ST, COLUMBIA, SC 29208 ADMISSIONS OFFICE: 803-777-1014

University Of South Carolina

T $105,492 In-State Total Cost

Freshman

Year When Students Declare Their Majors

67.1%

Acceptance Rate

1271

Average SAT

N/A

International Students

N/A

Underrepresent Minorities

84.8%

Class of 2020 accepting jobs 90 days after graduation

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he Darla Moore School of Business at the University of South Carolina landed at No. 57 this year. Improving three spots from last year, the Darla Moore School took a balanced approach, finishing 58th in employment outcomes, 60th in admissions standards, and 64th in academic experience.

The Moore School had an acceptance rate of 67.10% this year and an average SAT score of 1271, showing slightly increased selectivity compared to last year’s acceptance rate of 69% and average SAT score of 1299. Employment wise, the Moore School saw a small dip this year with 84.83% of the Class of 2020 securing full-time employment within three months of graduation and 67.82% having a business-focused internship before graduation, compared to last year’s 85.78% employment and 73.92% internship outcomes.

With its strong international business program and project-based learning, the Moore School develops students into leaders in global business.

STRONG CURRICULUM FOUNDATION Moore undergraduates can choose from 12 different majors.

Additionally, undergraduates can choose to concentrate on Business Analytics. All undergraduates start with general education classes as part of the Carolina Core, which includes courses ranging from communication to global citizenship and multicultural understanding.

Students also take part in the Business Core curriculum which sets the foundation for more advanced business courses. Business Core classes include introductory courses on accounting, economics, finance, and more.

Alumni view the Moore education relatively well giving an 8.6 average rating in terms of the quality of teaching in business courses.

2018 alumni also gave an 8.9 average rating for faculty availability for informal discussions and mentoring outside of class. When asked if they would recommend the Moore program to a close friend or colleague interested in an undergraduate business degree, 2018 alumni gave a strong 9.4 average rating.

GLOBAL BUSINESS IS A FOCUS The Moore School is best known for its highly ranked international business program. On top of the core classes on “global citizenship and multicultural understanding,” international business students also take courses on international finance management, foreign market entry and growth, and more. Students can choose from five business tracks including the Chinese business track, Middle East, and North Africa business track, European business track, South American business track,

University of South Carolina or Eurasian business track.

While the global focus of its courses is impressive, what really makes the international business program at the Moore School strong are the study abroad opportunities it offers. An overwhelming number of 2018 alumni we surveyed highlighted the lasting impact that study abroad had on both their personal and professional lives.

“As part of the International Business program, I had the opportunity to study abroad at an incredible institution (Keio University) in Tokyo, Japan. The business courses I was able to take at Keio allowed me to develop an understanding of economics and business in Asia. Not only that, I was able to attend a seminar taught by Haruhiko Kuroda (Governor of the Bank of Japan),” one 2018 alumni told us. “Studying abroad also forced me to experience adapting to new and foreign surroundings where I had a language barrier. Tokyo is a beautiful city with so much to experience. On top of that, I was able to make life-long friends from all over the world during my study abroad. I look back on my time in Tokyo and am so thankful for having had that opportunity from both an academic and personal growth standpoint. The IB program at the Moore School was equally enriching, unique, and amazing. I have incredible respect for all the professors I had. If I could, I would do it all over again.”

“For my International Business degree, I was required to study abroad for a semester at a top business school somewhere in the world. I chose to study at Fudan University in Shanghai, China,” said another. “I’m very thankful that this abroad experience was required through my program, because, as someone who would like to work with China in the future, it is key for me to understand the Chinese from a business perspective, a cultural perspective, and a linguistic perspective. This experience gave me all three of those aspects.”

QUALITY PROJECT-BASED LEARNING

WHAT ALUMNI SAY “Spending an entire marketing class developing a comprehensive marketing strategy for an existing business was an invaluable experience. Learning what a marketing position post-grad would entail was extremely helpful in determining what direction I wanted to take my marketing degree.”

“Was a part of the Operations and Supply Chain Capstone Consulting experience where we were partnered with one of the Southeast’s largest hospital systems to do a logistics redesign of their med-surg/linen supply to three of their hospitals.”

“With both my B.S.B.A (Global Supply Chain Operations and Management, Business Economics, and French Minor) and my Master’s of International Business (Global Strategy and International Leadership) I had unique opportunities to engage with local professionals and large international companies that are local in South Carolina. The teachers, directors, and advisors were always willing and able to help, while also pushing us to meet our future goals.”

Project-based learning is a huge component at the Moore School.

Many class projects feature the valuable experience of working with a real business to solve a real problem. With project-based learning and real-world applications, Moore students enter the professional world with impressive experience and skillsets. “We were given the opportunity to work with and consult for a real business,” one 2018 alumni told us. “This helped exponentially in bringing what we had learned in the classroom to real-world practice. Being in consulting now, I was able to practice some of my skills and make determinations on what clients will react best to.”

“We got to work with start-up companies in my management classes and had to create a legitimate business plan to help the company take off,” another 2018 alumni said.

Overall, the Moore School is a solid choice for anyone intent on pursuing an international business degree. However, the B-school also offers a quality education that ensures all students get the foundational business knowledge and practical experience they need to succeed.

THE BEST UNDERGRADUATE BUSINESS SCHOOLS 131

105 LOMB MEMORIAL DR, ROCHESTER, NY 14623 ADMISSIONS OFFICE: 585-475-2209

Rochester Institute Of Technology

R $226,432 In-State Total Cost

Freshman

Year When Students Declare Their Majors

75%

Acceptance Rate

1192

Average SAT

11.3

International Students

38.4%

Underrepresent Minorities

94.12%

Class of 2020 accepting jobs 90 days after graduation

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ochester Institute of Technology’s Saunders College of Business landed at No. 58 in our rankings this year. Saunders made a huge leap from last year’s No. 91 ranking, due to meeting the minimum alumni response rate in the alumni survey this year. Even so, it finished five spots higher than its No. 63 rank in 2019, when, like this year, it also met the minimum response rate.

The B-school saw a slightly more selective acceptance rate this year at 75.46%, compared to last year’s 81%. The average SAT score this year landed at 1191, slightly lower than last year’s score of 1253. The undergraduate business experience at Saunders is best characterized by its strong foundational education, real-world learning, and impressive co-op program.

BIZ 1+2 PROGRAM Saunders undergraduates can choose from the following majors: Accounting, Finance, Hospitality & Tourism Management, International Business, Management, Management Information Systems, Marketing, and Supply Chain Management. Students get a business education starting on day one with The Freshman Experience: Biz 1+2 program.

A rigorous and comprehensive curriculum, Biz 1+2 provides an introduction to the fundamentals of business and serves as a valuable reference through the rest of students’ four-year education. Throughout their first year, students take classes in a cohort and develop a business plan from conceptualization to commercialization.

The Biz 1+2 program is a unique experience in that it gives students a strong foundation in learning something as comprehensive as putting a business plan together. While many other B-schools don’t require an experiential learning experience like this until the senior year capstone, at Saunders, every student gets a hands-on education starting on day one. In turn, Saunders students can have an early head start when it comes to internship opportunities, and ultimately, employment.

“Creating a business plan for product/service - exposed me to the process of starting a company and maintaining its success - helped me contribute to my current company’s long-term sustainability and strategy/innovation,” one 2018 alumni told us.

YEAR BY YEAR REAL-WORLD LEARNING With a strong foundation in experiential learning and teamwork, Saunders students have a valuable toolbox of skills to continuously apply their knowledge year by year. No matter what major they choose to pursue, each program at Saunders features a variety of opportunities to apply classroom knowledge to real-world problems.

Some 80.65% of surveyed 2018 alumni report engaging in at least one

Rochester Institute of Technology “signature experience,” whether through project work, simulations, global immersion, experiential learning, senior thesis, or capstone project, that was a key part of their business learning. “Capstone project and many projects throughout the program were designed to work similarly to real-life projects at modern companies,” one 2018 alumni said.

“Working on and seeing the efforts of a complete ad campaign from start to finish showed me what it was like to work on a real project,” said another 2018 alum. “Though it wasn’t successful and we didn’t win the competition, it was a great learning experience that taught me more than I thought it would.”

Rather than just through a distinct capstone project or first-year experience, Saunders weaves experiential learning in each of the four years — an important distinction that equips students with plenty of valuable experience by the time they graduate.

STRONG CO-OP PROGRAM The co-op program at Rochester Institute of Technology is one of the oldest and largest cooperative education programs in the nation and connects over 4,400 students with over 2,200 employer partners annually. A full-time paid employment opportunity, the co-op program begins after students have completed their first two years of coursework. Co-op employers have included the likes of KPMG, EY, Wegmans Food Markets Inc., and more.

For many students, the co-op experience gives them the opportunity to explore potential careers and gain valuable experience that they can reference in future internships and job interviews. “The co-op program at RIT definitely gave me a ‘legup’ in terms of experience to talk about with a potential employer during interviews,” a 2018 alumni said. “Doing a day-to-day job for three months also gave me a sense of what I would be expecting in a corporate environment.”

“My co-op experience gave me exposure into the intricacies of business transformation, and led to the opportunity that I’m in right now with KPMG,” another 2018 alumni said.

Because of the co-op program, 100% of Saunders students graduate with a business-focused internship — an impressive feat that ensures each and every student has an experience to reference when it comes time to interview for future internships or employment. Employment wise, a strong 94.12% of the Class of 2020 secured a full-time position within three months of graduation.

Saunders’ spot in the rankings was boosted thanks to strong employment outcomes. It placed No. 26 overall in the employment outcomes portion of the ranking.

Ultimately, what makes the Saunders education strong is the B-school’s flexible program offerings, an emphasis on real-world learning, and its historic co-op program. From the first day they step on campus to the day they graduate, Saunders students are given a hands-on business education that equips them with the valuable knowledge and experience they need to thrive.

WHAT ALUMNI SAY “Internship with an interesting company.

Was able to work on a vital program.”

“Built on my core business knowledge but also opened my eyes to international business and not just government intervention in international business but also cultural. Also strong focus on product innovation which is so important.”

“Starting two clubs in the Saunders College of Business was educational in learning what it took to execute tasks and complete projects.”

THE BEST UNDERGRADUATE BUSINESS SCHOOLS 133

4400 MASSACHUSETTS AVE NW, WASHINGTON, DC 20016 ADMISSIONS OFFICE: 202-885-1968

American University

A $248,192 In-State Total Cost

Freshman

Year When Students Declare Their Majors

31%

Acceptance Rate

1259

Average SAT

N/A

International Students

N/A

Underrepresent Minorities

74.6%

Class of 2020 accepting jobs 90 days after graduation

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merican University’s Kogod School of Business ranked at No. 59 this year. Kogod slid six places behind from last year’s 53 rank, but is still much higher than its No. 76 finish in 2019. The B-school had an acceptance rate of 35.25% this year, roughly 3% higher than last year.

This year’s average SAT score landed at 1259, compared to last year’s average score of 1256.

The Class of 2020 saw a dip in employment outcomes with 74.63% securing full-time positions within three months of graduation, down nearly six percentage points from last year’s 81.33% — although this may in large part be due to the COVID-19 economic downturn. On the other hand, internships saw a boost this year with 70% of the Class of 2020 landing a business-focused internship before graduating, up from last year’s 60%.

Despite falling behind this year in rankings, the Kogod School of Business still offers a quality business education. As Washington, D.C.’s first business school, Kogod is recognized nationally for its strong hands-on approach to education with unique program offerings and real-world opportunities both in and out of the classroom.

UNIQUE PROGRAM OFFERINGS The Kogod School of Business offers undergraduate majors in Business Administration, Accounting, Finance, Business, Language & Cultural Studies, and Business & Entertainment. While Kogod offers the typical programs such as Business Administration and Finance, it also offers some unique programs such as its Business & Entertainment major and Business, Language & Culture Studies major. The Business & Entertainment program covers topics such as entertainment law, business law, and music publishing and copyright. Students in the program can specialize in areas including agency, audio technology, and music performance.

The Business, Language & Culture Studies program is designed for students passionate about business and foreign language. Students in the program choose a language track (Arabic, French, German, Russian, or Spanish) and have the opportunity to spend a semester abroad where they take courses in their language track. It’s not typical for B-schools to offer programs outside of the traditional finance or accounting majors, but at Kogod they exist — giving students who are intent on studying more than just business the opportunity to do so.

HANDS-ON CAPSTONE EXPERIENCE The Kogod undergraduate education heavily emphasizes handson learning. The B-school’s capstone experience features a real-world client and focuses on valuable soft-skills such as teamwork and time

American University management. “We worked directly with a company in a sort of consulting role to improve their process and marketing,” one 2018 alumni told us. “We spent a few weeks directly interacting with the client and getting to know how a business really works in multiple aspects, such as marketing, accounting, IT, and logistics. Working in teams and working with deadlines was some of the most hands-on learning a class had offered during college.”

“For my capstone project I consulted with a Washington D.C.based vegan taco restaurant with a focus on advising and sustaining marketing and data analytics initiatives,” another 2018 alumni said.

What makes Kogod’s capstone project experience valuable is the real-world component. Rather than focusing on a simulation or theoretical business problem, Kogod students are given an opportunity to truly apply their business knowledge out in the real world. “Every undergraduate business student completes a group consulting project for a real company, tackling a real issue that they are facing,” a 2018 alumni said.

Aside from the capstone project, Kogod students have a number of opportunities outside of the classroom to apply their business knowledge. The B-school’s Student Managed Investment Fund is one such opportunity. Students oversee roughly $850,000 in assets from a variety of positions, including analysts, fund managers, and portfolio managers. The program is designed to give students interested in financial investments a real-world perspective of how an asset management team is structured and managed.

“I was a part of the student-managed investment fund which allowed us to invest close to 600,000 of the school money,” one 2018 alumni recalled. “During my time in the fund we were extremely successful and I learned how to utilize all the information I had learned in my finance classes.”

For students interested in entrepreneurship, Kogod partnered with FedTech, a federally funded venture builder that matches aspiring entrepreneurs with cutting-edge technologies. The program is a unique opportunity for students to work alongside business professionals and learn about cutting edge technology.

“I was part of the student team that pioneered FedTech for undergraduates,” another 2018 alumni said. “Prior to my partners and my participation, the program was only open to graduate students, PhDs, and industry professionals. Fedtech is a government commercialization accelerator and allowed me to push the limits of what I knew about customer discovery and business innovation.”

Programs, such as FedTech, offer students the opportunity to gain valuable experience out in the real world. FedTech recently provided Kogod’s Management Entrepreneurship program with 16 innovative technologies to commercialize for the marketplace as part of students’ final projects. Not every B-school can partner with a federally funded venture builder, but Kogod’s prestige as Washington, D.C.’s first business school certainly allows the school access to unique and cutting edge opportunities for its students.

With Kogod’s hands-on approach to education, unique program offerings, and real-world opportunities both in and out of the classroom, students can truly take business to a whole new level.

WHAT ALUMNI SAY “Tom Kohn’s senior capstone class and project taught me a lot about companies big and small and their downfalls.”

“Working with peers from different cultures.”

“My senior capstone was a business proposal to a company in the DMV area.”

THE BEST UNDERGRADUATE BUSINESS SCHOOLS 135

865 RESEARCH PARKWAY, OKLAHOMA CITY, OK 73104 ADMISSIONS OFFICE: 405-325-5599

University Of Oklahoma

T $97,144

In-State Total Cost

Junior

Year When Students Declare Their Majors

90%

Acceptance Rate

1236

Average SAT

2.3%

International Students

21.5%

Underrepresent Minorities

91%

Class of 2020 accepting jobs 90 days after graduation

POETSANDQUANTSFORUNDERGRADS.COM

he Michael F. Price College of Business at the University of Oklahoma ranked at No. 60 this year. Price College fell three spots behind from last year’s 57th place but is still up quite a bit from finishing No. 75 in 2019. The B-school had a slightly less stringent admissions process this year with an acceptance rate of 71.13% and an average SAT score of 1236, compared to last year’s acceptance rate of 62% and average SAT score of 1228.

Despite falling behind in this year’s rankings, Price had an impressive improvement in employment and internship outcomes.

The B-school managed to overcome the challenges of the COVID-19 economic downturn with 91.01% of its Class of 2020 securing full-time employment within three months of graduation and 68.58% landing a business-focused internship before graduating, both increases from last year’s 87.18% employment and 65.67% internship outcomes.

Price’s undergraduate program is designed to give students a competitive edge in the world of business. From relevant course material to unique opportunities, such as the Integrated Business Core Program, the B-school ensures that its students are job market-ready come graduation day.

HIGHLY RELEVANT COURSE MATERIAL Price undergraduates can choose from 12 majors including Accounting, Economics, Energy Management, Entrepreneurship, Finance, Healthcare Business, International Business, Management, Management Information Systems, Marketing, Sports Business, and Supply Chain Management.

No matter what they choose to major in, Price students are given an education that challenges them to understand business from a real-world perspective. In survey responses from 2018 alumni, an overwhelming number highlighted the relevance of the education at Price.

“Working in a large group over an idea that we presented to the whole class,” one 2018 alumni told us. “Taught teamwork and where people excelled in certain areas. Also went over business case studies that were very interesting and relevant in today’s business environment.”

“Having to research real-world topics and apply them to our projects made them more relatable,” said another.

“My capstone project was to run a fictional airline with a team made up of fellow students who specialized in relevant fields of accounting, HR, administration, and supply chain management,” another 2018 alumni reported. “Using a simulation program, we competed with other student-run airlines for contracts and business at simulated airports. We could focus on the public and/or private sector. My team ended up as the most profitable by the end of the semester. Working with my team

University of Oklahoma was rough at times, but the experience of working together to get a larger task done effectively was invaluable to me.”

INTEGRATED BUSINESS CORE PROGRAM One of the cornerstone programs at Price is the First Fidelity Bank Integrated Business Core (IBC) Program. Students in the First Fidelity Bank IBC program receive hands-on, real-world, experiential training in launching a successful business. The experience is truly end-to-end with students experiencing every aspect of business including accounting, financial analysis, market analysis and advertising, supply chain, website development and design, employee/employer relationships, and the business regulatory environment.

A number of 2018 alumni that we surveyed highlighted the IBC program as a key part of their business learning at Price.

“The IBC program gave me invaluable experience with managing company finances and culture,” one 2018 alumni said. “It involved enough pressure and realism to allow me to make dozens of mistakes from which I learned.”

“Through this program, we went through the entire process of building and working in a company (elect a board of officers, develop product, obtain a bank loan, sell product, etc.),” another 2018 alumni said. “This was a great introduction to how a business works, and the complexity of operating a company. I believe this is a valuable experience that allows students to apply the business concepts taught in coursework, and apply them to the pseudo-real world.”

“I was the president during my time in the First Fidelity Bank IBC program,” said another 2018 alumni. “Here I received handson, real-world, experiential training through simulated business opportunities inside and outside of the classroom. Starting with the formation of a company, we brainstormed product ideas, performed market analysis, managed employees, and discovered legal implications of business transactions associated with a plethora of day-to-day business dealings.”

The IBC Program is a unique opportunity that helps differentiate Price because the experience is truly comprehensive. Students are exposed to every facet of launching and managing a business and go beyond simply understanding their chosen field or major. By the time they graduate, Price students are ready to not only excel in their own role, but are able to understand how other roles function within an organization as well.

With the B-school’s relevant course material and strong opportunities to apply business knowledge, it makes sense why Price students were able to overwhelmingly secure employment despite an economic downturn. Price does more than just teach its students business, it gives them a true competitive edge to excel in the business world.

WHAT ALUMNI SAY “As part of our capstone class, we were able to participate in a simulation of starting our own business in the local area.”

“Governor’s Cup for Entrepreneurship majors was an absolute blast. Best part of my college experience, for sure. Competition and teamwork.”

“The Energy Management program is unique. If I were to go back and do it all again, I wouldn’t hesitate in my choice.”

THE BEST UNDERGRADUATE BUSINESS SCHOOLS 137

2000 PENNINGTON RD., EWING, NJ 08628 ADMISSIONS OFFICE: 609-771-2131

The College Of New Jersey

T $121,497 In-State Total Cost

Freshman

Year When Students Declare Their Majors

51.2%

Acceptance Rate

1223

Average SAT

1%

International Students

38%

Underrepresent Minorities

70.2%

Class of 2020 accepting jobs 90 days after graduation

POETSANDQUANTSFORUNDERGRADS.COM

he College of New Jersey’s (TCNJ) School of Business landed at No. 61 in this year’s rankings.

TCNJ plummeted from last year’s 34th-place finish because of drops in the admissions standards and academic experience categories.

The B-school had an acceptance rate of 51.20%, compared to last year’s 44%. The average SAT score this year landed at 1223, down from last year’s average score of 1260.

Employment outcomes, however, dropped just about 1% from last year’s 71.28% to 70.21% for the Class of 2020. Internship placements, on the other hand, increased from 80% to 84% of the Class of 2020 landing a business-focused internship before graduation.

The TCNJ education is best described as a toolbox. From its hallmark signature experiences and strong faculty support to unique research and experiential opportunities, TCNJ students are given the building blocks to set out and make their own mark on the world.

DNA OF TCNJ: FIVE SIGNATURE EXPERIENCES At the core of the TCNJ education is what the B-school calls its Five Signature Experiences: personalized, collaborative, and rigorous education; undergraduate research, mentored internships, and field experiences; community-engaged learning; global engagement; and leadership development.

All TCNJ undergraduates go through each of these experiences within their four years in the program. The objective of the signature experiences is to help students discover their goals and develop the technical and soft skills necessary to achieve those goals. The benefit of the Five Signature Experiences is that students are given a comprehensive education that incorporates every aspect of business to prepare students for the real world. By the time they graduate, TCNJ students are well-versed in all areas from research to leadership.

STRONG FACULTY SUPPORT TCNJ offers a fairly simple and straightforward curriculum.

Undergraduate students can choose from four majors: a Bachelor of Arts in Economics, Bachelor of Science in Accounting, Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, and Bachelor of Science in Economics. The Business Administration degree offers additional specializations in Finance, Interdisciplinary Business, Management, and Marketing.

While TCNJ lacks the shiny and cutting-edge curriculum offerings of other B-schools, it does ensure that each and every student receives quality support and mentorship. This is a key differentiating factor of TCNJ and goes hand in hand with its hallmark Five Signature Experiences offering. As students go through each experience, faculty

The College of New Jersey and staff are there to enhance their intellectual curiosity and guide their development.

Surveyed 2018 alumni gave TCNJ faculty a strong 9.0 average rating in terms of availability for informal discussions and mentoring outside of class. Additionally, classes are often discussionbased with an average class size capped at just 25 students.

“I conducted a research and performance study on the valuation of Mortgage and Asset-Backed Securities under the guidance of Dr. Herbert Mayo, a professor I have always looked up to for his teaching and publications,” one 2018 alumni told us. “This experience not only helped to bridge my academic experience with more real-world applications, but he also invited me to join the College’s Student Investment Fund. These opportunities made a huge impact on my college experience, solidifying my goals when assessing what kind of career I hoped to earn in Finance.”

Other B-schools may offer more specialized degrees, but at TCNJ, students are given the proper guidance and attention from faculty, which can play a large role in helping them discover their passions and achieve their career goals.

VARIETY OF REAL-WORLD OPPORTUNITIES

WHAT ALUMNI SAY “I engaged in a networking event in NYC with a panel of alumni from distinguished universities. The unique opportunity provided a network to learn outside of the classroom.”

“Capstone project in Valuations as well as Capstone Management. Both were incredibly useful and helpful.”

“I was also a member of the Honors College at The College of New Jersey, which allowed me to submit an additional thesis project on top of the two capstones traditionally completed by Business students in my major (Finance and Management).”

TCNJ students have a variety of opportunities to discover their interests and gain valuable real-world experience. Surveyed 2018 alumni highlighted a number of experiences that they say were valuable in helping them succeed in their careers.

“Working with a novice business management company, myself, along with 4 other students, used a real tool to evaluate and guide the management of a local business,” one 2018 alumni told us. “In addition to learning about launching a new company, it also assisted the local economy as they received this management advice for no cost. This business-based relationship helped establish early, vital business etiquette and expectations which helped me grow as well.”

“Senior thesis in economics allowed me to analyze a project I was interested in over 2 semesters,” another 2018 said. “I received exceptional faculty support.”

“Doing Business In China course-traveled with the class to China to experience firsthand how business is conducted in China,” said another. “We toured businesses in several industries and completed market research for a major toy manufacturer.”

While a capstone project is often the singular “signature experience” at many B-schools, at TCNJ, the signature experiences are expansive and diverse. Whether it’s consulting a local business, diving into a research topic, or touring a real business, TCNJ students have a variety of opportunities to learn business from a real-world perspective.

Overall, if you’re looking for a specialized or expansive curriculum, TCNJ probably isn’t the right fit for you. But what the B-school does offer that many others can’t is a commitment to your development throughout your education. With its strong faculty support and hallmark signature experiences, TCNJ will be right beside you as you embark on your business journey.

THE BEST UNDERGRADUATE BUSINESS SCHOOLS 139

901 12TH AVENUE, SEATTLE, WA 98122 ADMISSIONS OFFICE: 206-220-8040

Seattle University

S $232,740 In-State Total Cost

Freshman

Year When Students Declare Their Majors

82.1%

Acceptance Rate

1184

Average SAT

21.2%

International Students

14.7%

Underrepresent Minorities

90.8%

Class of 2020 accepting jobs 90 days after graduation

POETSANDQUANTSFORUNDERGRADS.COM

eattle University’s Albers School of Business and Economics secured a spot at No. 62 in this year’s rankings — improving 14 ranks from last year’s 76th spot. Albers had an acceptance rate of 82.12% this year, up slightly from last year’s 78%. The average SAT score landed at 1184 this year, down from last year’s average score of 1252.

But Albers performed its best in the alumni survey and employment outcomes portions of the rankings. The B-school had impressive employment and internship outcomes this year despite the challenges of the COVID-19 economic downturn. Some 90.79% of the Class of 2020 secured full-time employment within three months of graduation, up almost 1% from last year’s 90%. And 76% of the Class of 2020 had a business-focused internship before graduating, a significant 21 percentage point increase from the previous year’s 55%.

The Albers undergraduate program is best characterized by its ethicsfocused curriculum, real-world learning component, and strong abroad opportunities — all of which equip students with a strong and unique outlook on the business world and beyond.

ETHICS-FOCUSED, LIBERAL ARTS CURRICULUM Seattle’s Albers School of Business offers two Bachelor of Arts degree programs in either Business Administration or Economics.

Students in the Business Administration program can choose to major in Accounting, Marketing, Finance, Management, Business Analytics, Business And Law, Business Economics, or International Business.

The core curriculum is a foundational set of 12 liberal arts courses that are distributed over four key learning objectives: “Engaging Academic Inquiry,” “Engaging Jesuit Traditions,” “Engaging the World,” and “Reflection”. The core curriculum encourages students to think critically about their place in the world with a focus on themes such as community and ethics. As a Jesuit university, Seattle University places an important emphasis on the values of ethical and responsible leadership and its core curriculum reflects that. Some core classes include Philosophy of the Human Person, Ethical Reasoning, and Humanities and Global Challenges.

An important distinction of the core curriculum at Seattle is how expansive it is compared to core curricula at other universities. Seattle students typically spend freshman through junior year completing the fundamental courses, as opposed to just two years. In turn, however, Albers students are given a strong foundation in the liberal arts and a comprehensive understanding of important values to lead ethically and responsibly.

REAL-WORLD LEARNING COMPONENT

Seattle University Many of the business courses at Albers feature a real-world learning component. Surveyed 2018 alumni highlighted a variety of key “signature experiences” that were integral to their business learning — from unique capstone projects to case study-based courses.

“I engaged in a thorough business plan review of a local brewery for my capstone project,” one 2018 alumni told us. “The coordination efforts and hands-on experience of working with multiple contacts in a successful business helped prepare me well for the communication and coordination skills I needed to quickly become a top associate at my firm.”

“There was one core class that did not have any exam for the whole quarter,” another 2018 alumni said. “There were only discussions and presentations for case studies every week. I think it was very unique since I could exchange ideas with my classmates on how to solve the problems in the real world.”

What ties the variety of courses together at Albers is the realworld learning component. Projects encourage students to apply their knowledge in real-world situations. Courses emphasize critical thinking and team problem solving over multiple choice exams. In turn, students are given valuable soft skills that can be referenced when it comes time to interview for internships and jobs.

2018 alumni also rated the opportunities given to them at Albers to nurture and improve their soft skills with a strong 9.0 average rating with an 8.9 average rating in terms of the quality of teaching in business courses.

STUDY ABROAD OPPORTUNITIES

WHAT ALUMNI SAY “I participated in a European Union study tour with two professors and a small group from my university. It was unique as we worked through normal course content that was supplemented by visits to institutions such as the European Central Bank. This trip sparked my curiosity and inspired me to conduct various research projects. It was a defining moment in my education and life.”

“We had a capstone project that required us to use everything we learned in business school and apply it in a real-life case. This was extremely helpful and unique because it showed me how the different fields and tracks of business complement each other to make successful endeavors and projects.”

“Study abroad in Spain at the oldest and most prestigious University in the country.

Solid teachers and learning environment that further challenged my learning and pushed me as well.”

Albers students have a number of study abroad opportunities.

They can choose to participate in either the Study Tour Courses, two-week in-country classes, or the Education Abroad Programs, which are generally longer. Destinations range all over the globe from Madrid and Paris to Beijing and Tokyo.

One of the more popular programs is the two-week Study Tour of the European Union, where students travel to the cities of Madrid, Frankfurt, Paris, Brussels, and Amsterdam. Students explore European business culture and corporate governance and visit a variety of institutions and companies.

“For my international business course, I went on a trip to the EU where we studied corporate governance and met with the big four accounting firms abroad and met with regulatory groups within the EU,” one 2018 alumni reported. “This class had a profound impact on my understanding of business principles and being able to see the consecutiveness of our global economy.”

With its strong liberal arts foundation, Albers empowers students to think critically about their place in the world. Its curriculum emphasizes ethical values and critical thinking with a real-world learning component. In turn, students are well-prepared to set out into the world as socially responsible business leaders.

THE BEST UNDERGRADUATE BUSINESS SCHOOLS 141

1 AVENUE OF THE ARTS, NEWPORT NEWS, VA 23606 ADMISSIONS OFFICE: 757-594–7184

Christopher Newport University

T $121,276 In-State Total Cost

Junior

Year When Students Declare Their Majors

93.4%

Acceptance Rate

1213

Average SAT

1.4%

International Students

24.3%

Underrepresent Minorities

94.4%

Class of 2020 accepting jobs 90 days after graduation

POETSANDQUANTSFORUNDERGRADS.COM

he Luter School of Business at Christopher Newport University ranked at No. 63 this year. The B-school dropped 15 spots from last year’s 48th-place. Luter had a much less selective admissions process this year with an acceptance rate of 93.42%, up nearly 17 percentage points from last year’s acceptance rate of 76%. The Average SAT score stayed unchanged at 1213. The difference in admissions standards is the main reason for the drop in rankings placement. Luter placed 36th in the academic experience category and 39th in career outcomes but finished 89th in the admissions standards area.

While Luter fell behind overall in our rankings this year, the B-school still offers a quality business education that is characterized by its comprehensive core curriculum, strong professional development opportunities, and a capstone project where students simulate a realworld business. Finishing highest in the academic experience category, which is driven solely by alumni feedback, says a lot about the satisfaction of recent alumni coming out of the school.

LIBERAL LEARNING CORE CURRICULUM As a two-year business program, Luter requires all undergraduates to complete the Christopher Newport Liberal Learning Core Curriculum.

The core curriculum consists of the Liberal Learning Foundations and the Areas of Inquiry. Courses in the Liberal Learning Foundations include writing literacy, a second language, mathematical literacy, logical reasoning, and economic modeling and analysis.

There are five Areas of Inquiry that are designed to give students a range of scholarly approaches to learning. Areas of Inquiry include: Creative Expressions, Civic and Democratic Engagement, Global and Multicultural Perspectives, Investigating the Natural World, and Western Traditions.

Luter’s core curriculum offers a comprehensive education that ensures a strong foundation in general studies, but also a range of diverse perspectives as well. Through its Areas of Inquiry, Luter teaches students how they should learn rather than what they should learn — an important distinction that prepares students well for the real world.

Upon completion of the core curriculum, students can choose from four business majors including Accounting, Finance, Management, and Marketing. Overall, Luter alumni view their education very positively with surveyed 2018 alumni rating the quality of teaching a strong 9.2 average rating.

THE LUTER SIGNATURE PROGRAM As a small, public university, Christopher Newport University can devote a large portion of its resources to student development.

Christopher Newport University One prime example is the Luter Signature Program, where students explore career opportunities and build personal and professional soft skills. All Luter students participate in at least one extracurricular elective. Elective topics range from “interviewing skills” to “personal marketing.”

In addition to an extracurricular elective, students also fulfill at least one academic elective in the program, with experiences ranging from student research to Bloomberg certification. Mentorship is a key component of the Luter education. The Executive Mentorship Program allows students to engage in a 12-month one-on-one mentoring experience with a local business executive. Throughout the year-long mentorship, students explore possible career options while gaining invaluable insights from an industry leader.

Nearly every B-school offers some sort of development resource, but what makes the Luter Signature Program unique is the expansiveness of resources students have access to. Whether through a mentorship program or research opportunity, each and every Luter student graduates with valuable experience. Alumni also view these opportunities well. 2018 Luter alumni rated the opportunities given to them in the business program to nurture and improve soft skills at an 8.9 average rating.

A large number of Luter alumni that we surveyed spoke highly of their capstone experience, where student teams simulate running a real-world business. Each student is designated a role from CEO to CFO and is tasked with managing their business from ordering inventory to tracking finances. Student teams compete against each other in building and growing their businesses.

“This was extremely difficult but provided me with the realistic experience of the daily operations of running a successful business,” one 2018 alumni told us. “At the end of the semester, we had to present our results to a panel of professors and business executives.

During this presentation, we had to display our results, go through each decision we made and the outcomes of those decisions, and what we would have done differently to achieve better results.

This was an incredible experience for me and helped me grow exponentially in my professional career as I have used what I learned from that specific experience in my profession.”

WHAT ALUMNI SAY “I participated in an internship program where I participated in various accounting functions within a business office at the University. This experience helped me develop good communication skills, writing skills, and other soft skills as well as proper documentation skills necessary in the field of accounting. I also participated in a capstone project in my senior year. This project involved working with other majors to simulate the operations of a business. I learn to demonstrate good communication skills, negotiation skills, time management, planning skills, and team-building skills necessary in the field of accounting. This capstone project helped develop business habits that I have come to use in my current job.”

“I was able to use 2 different internships for class credit which was really helpful in applying course materials to the real world.”

“I was able to gain hands-on real-world projects that allowed me to be confident and capable in my abilities in the workplace because I had already experienced similar scenarios at business school.”

EMPLOYMENT OUTCOMES Luter graduates have strong employment outcomes. Some 94.41% of the Class of 2020 secured a full-time position at the time of graduation, down from last year’s 99.15% but still an impressive feat considering the impact of the COVID-19 economic downturn. And 82.40% of the Class of 2020 had a business-focused internship before graduating, a small dip from last year’s 84.70%.

The strong employment outcomes of Luter graduates stem from the B-school’s approach to education. With a comprehensive core curriculum, strong student development, and valuable capstone experience, Luter students are ready for whatever career path they choose to embark on.

THE BEST UNDERGRADUATE BUSINESS SCHOOLS 143

1000 VOLUNTEER BLVD, KNOXVILLE, TN 37996 ADMISSIONS OFFICE: 865-974-5061

University Of Tennessee At Knoxville

T $158,432 In-State Total Cost

Freshman

Year When Students Declare Their Majors

92%

Acceptance Rate

1196

Average SAT

1.8%

International Students

16.6%

Underrepresent Minorities

78.4%

Class of 2020 accepting jobs 90 days after graduation

POETSANDQUANTSFORUNDERGRADS.COM

he Haslam College of Business at the University of Tennessee Knoxville landed at No. 64 in this year’s rankings. Falling one spot compared to last year, Haslam had an acceptance rate of 93.12% and an average SAT score of 1196, both relatively in line with last year’s acceptance rate and average SAT score.

Employment wise, the B-school took a hit with 78.38% of the Class of 2020 securing full-time employment at the time of graduation, down nearly eight percentage points from last year’s 86.25% — although this may largely be due to the COVID-19 economic downturn. Internship outcomes saw an increase this year with 77% of the Class of 2020 landing a business-focused internship before graduating, compared to last year’s 70%.

The Haslam experience is designed around an integrated education with a strong emphasis on global leadership development and realworld learning. Recent grads seem to be responding well to the experience Haslam offers, as the school placed 38th this year in the academic experience portion of the rankings, which is based solely on data collected from an alumni survey. It was Haslam’s highest finish in all of the three methodological categories.

INTEGRATED EDUCATION Where Haslam really shines, however, is its integrated program offerings. The B-school recently partnered with the Tickle College of Engineering to offer the Heath Integrated Business and Engineering Program, a three-year program that allows students to graduate with a special concentration. The integrated program features a number of cohort-based projects and unique extracurricular activities such as an Executive Mentor Program and company site visits to organizations such as Oak Ridge National Laboratories and Amazon Fulfillment Center.

For those interested in government and nonprofit enterprises, the Public Administration program combines a general business education with specific courses in the economic and political aspects of government policies. Students can choose electives to focus their expertise on.

Haslam alumni view their education relatively well. Graduates from 2018 rated the quality of teaching in Haslam courses at an 8.6 average.

When asked if they would recommend the Haslam business program to a close friend or colleague interested in an undergraduate business degree, 2018 alumni gave a strong 9.4 average rating.

The Greg and Lisa Smith Global Leadership Scholars (GLS) is the official honors program at Haslam. GLS students pursue a collateral or concentration in international business with whichever business major they declare. The GLS curriculum consists of honors courses and a set of

University of Tennessee At Knoxville leadership training seminars in their second, third, and fourth years.

But one of the biggest benefits of the program is the access that students have to strong mentorship.

“It gave me immensely more opportunities to cultivate my soft skills for business,” one 2018 alumni told us. “It gave me a greater outreach to talented UT Haslam Alumni. As part of the program, I worked directly with an accounting professor to write my thesis on a complicated accounting topic that prepared me for the industry I headed into after I graduated. The program also gave me direct contact with my professors in small classroom settings that shaped me immensely.”

Additionally, the global component allows students to travel and intern in London.

“As part of the GLS program, we spent a semester in London, where I interned with a company called Michael Page,” another 2018 alumni said. “I learned a lot about how the major I had chosen could lead to a certain career path and how to be a business professional.

The experiences I learned that helped me realize I wanted to change my major to accounting and how to excel in my future internships.”

The GLS program is a prime example of the strong leadership development at Haslam. Students are not only given direct leadership training and mentorship through seminars but are also exposed to the global component of leadership through the London internship. In turn, Haslam students are taught to lead with a solid understanding of global business.

REAL-WORLD CAPSTONE Haslam’s senior capstone experience brings together the cumulative business education into one project. Student teams take part in a business simulation and run a business throughout the semester. The capstone experience simulates what working in the real world is like as students are challenged to collaborate and overcome differences to effectively run their business.

“I believe Haslam provided a great opportunity to combine all the pieces of the business disciplines together to complete the capstone project,” another 2018 alumni reported. “Student groups had to use their combined accounting, supply chain, analytics, marketing, finance, etc. skills to complete their final capstone projects. We also learned presentation skills in order to effectively present our final project. We were graded on both the material and presentation.”

The focus on collaboration and teamwork is a key component of what makes the Haslam capstone experience valuable. By bringing together students from different majors and backgrounds, Haslam creates a real-world experience where each team member brings their strengths to the table and works with others to achieve a common goal.

With strong integrated education opportunities, global leadership development, and a real-world capstone experience, Haslam students are equipped with a well-rounded education that very much prepares them for post-grad opportunities.

WHAT ALUMNI SAY “In our senior capstone course, we were required to be a part of a business simulation where a group of students from different majors “ran a business” throughout the semester. It was challenging/exciting to get to work with different students outside your major and collaborate business decisions.

I was able to improve my problem solving and communication skills through teamwork instead of writing a thesis.”

“Business students were required to take a project-based capstone class senior year.

We ran our own virtual business as a team of 5, and there was very little overlap of majors on the team. Each teammate had their own strengths to bring to the table and it was really neat to see what our 4 years of learning had taught all of us.”

“I was able to study abroad and intern abroad. Also, I was able to do a crossdepartment thesis that helped connect dots of different subjects.”

THE BEST UNDERGRADUATE BUSINESS SCHOOLS 145

1800 LINCOLN AVE, EVANSVILLE, IN 47722 ADMISSIONS OFFICE: 812-488-2954

Evansville University

U $205,706 In-State Total Cost

Freshman

Year When Students Declare Their Majors

59.2%

Acceptance Rate

1169

Average SAT

3%

International Students

16%

Underrepresent Minorities

90.5%

Class of 2020 accepting jobs 90 days after graduation

POETSANDQUANTSFORUNDERGRADS.COM

niversity of Evansville’s Schroeder School of Business ranked at No. 65 this year — falling 13 places behind from last year’s No. 52 finish. Schroeder had an acceptance rate of 59.15% and an average SAT score of 1169 this year. The B-school had lower employment this year, but it was pretty much impossible not to as last year’s graduating class had a 100% placement within three months of graduation.

The Class of 2020 still had impressive outcomes despite the COVID-19 economic downturn with 90.48% of the graduates securing full-time employment within three months of graduation. Additionally, 89.19% of the Class of 2020 landed at least one business-focused internship before graduating, just 2% lower than last year’s 91.67%. Schroeder’s best methodological category was employment outcomes, where the school placed 47th overall.

Much of the success of Schroeder students post-grad stems from the B-school’s well-rounded education which includes engaging course material, impactful experiential learning programs, and flexible study abroad options.

ENGAGING COURSE MATERIAL The Schroeder School of Business offers a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (BSBA), a Bachelor of Science in Accounting, and a Bachelor of Science with a major in Economics. The BSBA includes Global Business, Finance, Management, Marketing, and Logistics and Supply Chain Management. Schroeder courses include real-world projects, as well as outside guest speakers from the business community to actively engage students in their learning. For many alumni, the projects at Schroeder provided an active learning experience in solving a real problem and understanding how business functions in the real world.

“Senior projects like presenting work in front of the owner of a company or an actual client made me feel like the work I was doing was more than an assignment - it was actually affecting someone’s business,” one 2018 alum told us. “It gave me an extra push to do well.”

“Most of my marketing classes at the University of Evansville had class projects where we were able to apply what we had learned to help real businesses within the community,” another 2018 alum said.

IMPACTFUL EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING PROGRAMS The Schroeder School has a variety of unique programs that provide opportunities for students to engage in impactful experiential learning.

Its executive-style leadership training program, LEAD Forward, offers a year-long fellowship to select students who demonstrate a passion for leadership. Fellows spend their year on personal skills development,

Evansville University engagement with business leaders, and community impact. The program is directed by former Starbucks Category Manager for Brewed Coffee and Espresso Professor Mindy Sagez, who actively mentors LEAD Forward fellows.

“I was involved in the LEAD Forward program, which helped me increase and develop my leadership style and characteristics,” a 2018 alum told us. “The program gave unique experiences with a retreat focused on leadership development and opportunities to have access to high ranking individuals such as C-Suite executives.”

Upon graduation, LEAD Forward fellows have experienced a job placement rate of 100% and a starting salary of 12% higher than their peers. “The experiential learning through the LEAD Forward Fellowship program was exceptional,” another 2018 alum reported.

“The unique experience taught me a lot and put me in a position to exceed my employer’s expectations after graduation.”

Another experiential learning program that Schroeder students can participate in is the CFA Institute Research Challenge, an annual global competition that provides students with hands-on mentoring and intensive training in financial analysis and professional ethics.

The competition is structured around local, regional, and global rounds as students compete with peers from other universities and are tested on analytic, valuation, and presentation skills.

“I had the opportunity to take part in the CFA competition where I was able to analyze and provide financial recommendations on a company as part of a regional competition,” one 2018 alum said. “[I gained] further opportunities to network with other students and industry professionals as part of this event.”

Opportunities such as the LEAD Forward program or the CFA Challenge enable active experiential learning outside of the classroom. But the true value of these experiences is the real impact that they leave on students. From strong mentorship and leadership development to unique networking opportunities with business professionals and executives, students are put in a strong position to succeed post-grad.

WHAT ALUMNI SAY “I traveled to the U.K. with a group of my business school peers to study the effects of global trade and the impacts of the UK exiting the European Union. We visited large companies, manufacturing facilities, sports complexes, and listened to several lectures.”

“Business school provided multiple extracurricular programs that covered different areas of business and finance that allowed students to gain a better understanding of careers in the fields of business and finances.”

“The class engaging activities, simulations, real-life examples, and the social activities at the business school made my experience unique.”

FLEXIBLE STUDY ABROAD OPTIONS On average, 60% of Schroeder School graduates study abroad.

That’s in large part due to the ease and flexibility that students have to go abroad. The University owns and operates Harlaxton College in Grantham, England. The Schroeder School leverages Harlaxton to create extensive opportunities for students to study abroad through a two-week business program, five-week summer session, full semester, or combination of these options.

“I was able to study abroad two times due to the flexibility allowed by my degree program,” one 2018 alum told us. “These experiences helped me grasp various concepts of international business that I do not believe could be easily taught.”

At Schroeder, learning business isn’t so one-dimensional. Whether it’s through real-world projects, experiential learning programs, or study abroad opportunities, students are getting an integrated education in becoming well-rounded business professionals.

THE BEST UNDERGRADUATE BUSINESS SCHOOLS 147

1655 CAMPUS CENTER DR, SALT LAKE CITY, UT 84112 ADMISSIONS OFFICE: 801-581-8761

University Of Utah

T $119,821 In-State Total Cost

Freshman

Year When Students Declare Their Majors

72%

Acceptance Rate

1257

Average SAT

<1%

International Students

19%

Underrepresent Minorities

86.9%

Class of 2020 accepting jobs 90 days after graduation

POETSANDQUANTSFORUNDERGRADS.COM

he David Eccles School of Business at the University of Utah ranked at No. 66 this year. Maintaining the same position as last year, Eccles had an acceptance rate of 71.57% and an average SAT score of 1257, in line with last year’s acceptance rate of 72% and average SAT score of 1257.

Utah had a balanced finish in this year’s ranking, placing 62nd in employment outcomes, 65th in admissions standards, and 70th in academic experience. The Eccles experience is centered around an integrated business and liberal arts curriculum with plenty of opportunities for students to travel globally.

TRULY INTEGRATED CORE CURRICULUM Business majors at Eccles include Accounting, Business Administration, Entrepreneurship, Finance, Information Systems, Management, Marketing, Operations Management, and Quantitative Analysis of Markets and Organizations.

All Eccles undergraduates are required to take the undergraduate core curriculum, which features a number of liberal arts courses. What makes the core curriculum at Eccles unique is that the curriculum is designed specifically for business students unlike at other B-schools where students take a university-wide general education. The Eccles core curriculum integrates liberal arts and business together with courses such as “Foundations of Business Thought” and “Business and Humanities.” In Spring 2019, Eccles began offering a revised core curriculum that features an integrated, problem-based approach to teaching foundational principles and concepts. The new curriculum reorganizes foundational information systems and statistics material in a two-semester, problem-based sequence called “Frameworks for Business Problems.”

Additionally, first-year students take a Career Development course, where they explore career interests and goals, and a VIBE (Value, Impact, Business, and Entrepreneurship) course where they are exposed to challenges faced by businesses. In their second year, students build foundational interdisciplinary business knowledge through an integrated semester blending accounting, finance, management, marketing, and operations. Through the core curriculum, Eccles students are given a strong foundation in a business-focused, liberal arts education.

Eccles alumni view their education relatively well with 2018 alumni rating the quality of teaching in business courses an 8.5 average rating.

Graduates of the Class of 2018 also rated the business school faculty’s availability for informal discussions and mentoring outside of class an 8.8 average rating. “My professors became mentors and friends that I will remain in contact with long-term,” one 2018 alumni told us.

university of utah GLOBAL OPPORTUNITIES Eccles students have a variety of opportunities to travel abroad to learn business from a global perspective. The B-school makes it easy for students to still gain credits and stay on track in their program as students can take Eccles School courses at a variety of international locations, both with Eccles faculty and partner university faculty. “I studied abroad in Paris and I was able to tour different businesses there while studying marketing,” a 2018 alumni said. “This was unique because I was able to see business from a global perspective while still learning from professors from the University of Utah.”

One of the strong global opportunities at Eccles is the honorslevel Business Scholars Program. Business Scholars get priority registration for Eccles Global trips and have the opportunity to meet with business leaders from the companies that they study. Many 2018 alumni that we surveyed spoke highly about their experience abroad through the Business Scholars Program. “I took part in a summer program with the Business Scholars,” one 2018 alumni reported. “It helped me to integrate with my classmates, many of whom I worked with the remaining years of my degree. It also exposed me to the alumni network and helped facilitate my eventual career abroad.”

“The Business Scholars Program would definitely be considered a ‘signature experience’ during my time at the David Eccles School of Business,” said another 2018 alumni. “This program afforded me many opportunities, like traveling around the country and abroad, including California to visit Apple and Google Headquarters, Colorado to experience business there, plus Europe, to the Netherlands, France, and Belgium, where we experienced the United Nations Office in Brussels.”

Beyond the Business Scholars Program, there are a number of other opportunities for students to travel globally as well with programs designed around specific majors. For example, the Eccles Global Business Consulting Internship Program allows students to be part of a multidisciplinary team working with companies in Amsterdam and Paris. Students act as the subject matter expert for their field within the consulting team and work together to solve real challenges that global businesses face.

WHAT ALUMNI SAY “I visited many different large corporations and went out of the country to experience business in other countries to gain exposure to all types of businesses.”

“The student investment fund program prepared me for the high expectations and long hours associated with early-career finance. The network of high achieving young professionals and access to top tier professors was a great motivator and resource post-graduation.”

“The Goff Strategic Fellows program was a student-run consulting agency that provided consulting services to actual companies. Over a year, we developed four unique business model recommendations for four real-world companies. This experience provided me skills and tools I still use to this day to identify and solve problems.”

EMPLOYMENT OUTCOMES Eccles students have relatively strong employment outcomes.

Some 86.92% of the Class of 2020 secured full-time employment within three months of graduation, down from last year’s 91.67% — although this may largely be attributed to the COVID-19 economic downturn. Internship outcomes saw a significant increase this year with 61% of the Class of 2020 landing a business-focused internship before graduating, up nearly 13% from last year’s 48.50%.

Overall, what makes the Eccles program valuable is its integrated business and liberal arts core curriculum and the ease and variety of opportunities for students to travel abroad.

THE BEST UNDERGRADUATE BUSINESS SCHOOLS 149

19000 HUBBARD DR, DEARBORN, MI 48126 ADMISSIONS OFFICE: 313-593-5634

University Of Michigan At Dearborn

T $107,504 In-State Total Cost

Freshman

Year When Students Declare Their Majors

61%

Acceptance Rate

1154

Average SAT

7.2%

International Students

26.8%

Underrepresent Minorities

86.6%

Class of 2020 accepting jobs 90 days after graduation

POETSANDQUANTSFORUNDERGRADS.COM

he University of Michigan-Dearborn School of Business ranked No. 67 this year — improving four spots from last year’s rank of 71.

Michigan-Dearborn had a 61% acceptance rate and average SAT score of 1154 this year, both unchanged from last year’s admissions season.

Employment wise, the B-school performed rather well despite the COVID-19 economic downturn with 86.80% of the Class of 2020 securing a full-time position within three months of graduation, a mere 3% dip from last year’s employment rate of 89.69%. Internship outcomes saw a six percent drop this year at 47%, compared to last year’s 53%.

The Michigan-Dearborn undergraduate business experience is best described as one with strong faculty support and a variety of unique experiential learning opportunities.

9 TOTAL MAJORS Michigan-Dearborn undergraduates have access to nine different business majors including Accounting, Digital Marketing, Finance, General Business, Human Resource Management, Small Business Management, Marketing, Information Systems Management, and Supply Chain Management.

The B-school’s Digital Marketing program is especially unique as it dives into social media marketing, email marketing, and mobile strategies used in marketing campaigns — offering a more tactical and in-depth education than a traditional marketing program.

“The digital marketing program is world-class for sure,” one 2018 alumni told us. “Had so many people that were high up in digital marketing do a lot of talks during class and after class too.”

The BBA curriculum is structured around both the Dearborn Discovery Core (the university’s general education curriculum), the BBA core (business core courses), and major requirements. The Dearborn Discovery Core includes a variety of liberal arts topics including courses in humanities and critical and creative thinking. The BBA core offers a strong foundation in all aspects of business from economics to corporate finance.

Overall, Michigan-Dearborn alumni view their undergraduate business education positively with 2018 alumni rating the quality of teaching in business courses at an 8.8 average score.

STRONG FACULTY SUPPORT Faculty support is one of the main selling points behind the MichiganDearborn business education. An overwhelming number of alumni that we surveyed spoke highly about the mentorship and guidance that Michigan-Dearborn business professors provided.

University of Michigan At Dearborn “The professors were professionals who cared about learning rather than forcing information,” one 2018 alumni said. “I saw this across the board: the professors cared.”

“The teachers really cared and guided the students to make sure they would succeed,” said another 2018 alumni. “It helped create a lifetime personal bond.”

Out of all the survey categories, 2018 Michigan-Dearborn alumni rated the B-school’s “faculty availability for informal discussions and mentoring outside of class” the highest at a strong 9.1 average rating. Despite the fact that Michigan-Dearborn is a public university, the B-school still places heavy emphasis on giving each and every student the support and guidance they need.

EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES One of the biggest strengths of the Michigan-Dearborn undergraduate business program is how relevant the education is.

Students have a number of opportunities to engage in experiential learning and gain real-world skills. Whether through relevant course topics or experiential capstone projects, Michigan-Dearborn students are challenged to apply their knowledge to the real world.

“Doing business in Detroit course-related projects and learning about the unique business climate in the city at a time that it was rebuilding itself,” one 2018 alumni told us.

“The capstone project involved taking learning from every single part of our time at the school and bringing it all together,” another 2018 alumni said. “We ran a simulation of a car manufacturer throughout the whole semester, competing against other manufacturers (students) in the class. You had complete control over everything; pricing, R&D, release cycles, vehicle types, market research.”

Outside of the classroom, Michigan-Dearborn students also have a variety of opportunities to engage in real-world learning. Students can partake in a number of consulting projects where student teams coordinate with clients on projects of up to 15 weeks to address a real need or issue within an organization. Students work with stakeholders throughout the term and conclude with a final deliverable. Consulting project topics range from general consulting to supply chain logistics and business analytics.

Students can also take part in project-based internships, which allow them to work for organizations that don’t necessarily need a full-time intern but seek support for smaller projects or initiatives.

Project-based interns work part-time on specific projects from website building to social media plans.

Both in and out of the classroom, Michigan-Dearborn students are given an abundance of unique opportunities to actively engage in real-world learning. Add to that a strong sense of faculty support and guidance and you have a solid foundation for a successful career.

WHAT ALUMNI SAY “Project management class and project prepared me for a major project that my team took on at my current employer.”

“The in-depth capstone course has been relevant throughout my career.”

“Project management class played a key role in preparing me for the real world.

It taught me the importance of meeting deliverables and managing my time.”

THE BEST UNDERGRADUATE BUSINESS SCHOOLS 151

207 HAYES HALL, BOWLING GREEN, OHIO 43403 ADMISSIONS OFFICE: 419-372-2531

Bowling Green State University

T $97,826

In-State Total Cost

Freshman

Year When Students Declare Their Majors

74.5%

Acceptance Rate

1140

Average SAT

3.4%

International Students

11%

Underrepresent Minorities

72%

Class of 2020 accepting jobs 90 days after graduation

POETSANDQUANTSFORUNDERGRADS.COM

he Schmidthorst College of Business at Bowling Green State University (BGSU) came in at No. 68 in this year’s rankings. BGSU fell three spots from last year’s rank at No. 65. Its Class of 2020 saw lower employment outcomes this year with 72% landing fulltime employment within three months of graduation, down from last year’s 89.87% although this may largely be attributed to the COVID-19 economic downturn. Internships increased this year with 74% of the Class of 2020 securing a business-focused internship before graduating, up two percentage points from last year’s 72%.

Originally referred to as simply the College of Business, the B-school was officially named the Allen W. and Carol M. Schmidthorst College of Business after a historic $15 million gift from Ohio entrepreneur Allen Schmidthorst, and his wife, Carol in 2020. It’s one of the many recent changes at BGSU. The university’s brand new approach to undergraduate business education focuses on lifelong learning with tools for students to design a personalized education that will follow them long after graduation. Bowling Green’s placement this year was thanks largely to very impressive results from the surveyed alumni, which placed the school 24th overall in the academic experience methodological category.

The undergraduate experience at BGSU starts with a newly launched student focus initiative that it calls Life Design. The initiative is designed to help students find their purpose and develop personal and professional success plans. Through workshops and seminars over their four years, students continuously update and develop their college and life plans. On the surface, Life Design may seem like any other B-school’s approach to student development. But the initiative at BGSU is more holistic and long-term focused with pillars such as career, connections, purpose & passion, and health & wellness. To offer students a toolkit of knowledge that they can utilize beyond graduation, BGSU hired life design coaches to support students in all aspects of academic, life, and career development.

“It is designed to allow for discovery-based learning, hands-on experimentation, and collaboration to support the development and education of future business leaders and entrepreneurs,” Zubair Mohamed, associate dean of the Schmidthorst College of Business, told us.

Additionally, through a new Signature Work initiative, students apply their learnings to a project report. “The Signature Work builds on the integrative learning where a student integrates and applies the concepts learned across disciplines to their life experiences and workplace settings culminating in a project report focusing on a societal issue,” Mohamed explained. “The signature four-course applied business core sequence provides a perfect platform to develop these skills in students starting with their freshmen years throughout four-years of

Bowling Green State University undergraduate business education.”

The Life Design initiative embodies BGSU’s commitment to giving students more than just a degree. It’s about giving them the tools they need to design a more accomplishing career, reflective mindset, and fulfilling life. Alumni tend to view their undergraduate education positively as well, with 2018 alumni giving a strong 9.1 average rating in terms of the business degree’s worth in time and resources. Faculty were rated a 9.3 in terms of availability for informal discussions and mentoring outside of class.

80% OF ALUMNI REPORT ENGAGING IN A “SIGNATURE EXPERIENCE” Hands-on learning is integral to the undergraduate business education at BGSU. Some 80% of surveyed 2018 alumni report engaging in a “signature experience” whether through project work, simulations, global immersion, experiential learning, senior thesis, or capstone project.

“For our marketing specialization, we were assigned to teams for the entire semester for our capstone project,” one 2018 alum told us. “We partnered with real local businesses to assess their current marketing, research their audience, and create a tangible and attainable marketing plan for the organization to help them reach their goals. We presented the marketing plan to the business and our teammates. One aspect that made this project extremely unique was the ability to actually help a real business reach its goals before we even left the classroom. The other one was the ability to cultivate everything we had learned over our time at Bowling Green - particularly our ability to work as a team — to succeed in our project.”

For many, the capstone project is through Capsim, an intuitive business simulation software that places students in the role of executive management at a multi-million dollar company. Students compete against other real or simulated teams to grab market share and grow their business.

“I participated in Capsim, and it teaches you how to run a business and what decisions or sacrifices you may need to make to advance your market share and increase your overall profits,” one 2018 alum said. “It was great to put your knowledge to the test and understand how businesses work. It’s not the textbook readings or small projects that made my experience memorable, it was the case study and virtual simulation that I completed that reinforced all my knowledge and prepared me.”

Across these various experiences, the one common theme is active learning. Students engage with one another in teams, are expected to prepare for meetings and lead discussions, and constantly apply their learnings to address real business problems.

At BGSU, students are encouraged to look beyond simply landing a dream job or hitting a high GPA. They’re given tools to design a personalized journey that takes into account all aspects of their life — from their career and connections to their purpose and wellness.

In turn, students are not only well-prepared for whatever career path they choose to pursue, but also the life that they plan to lead.

WHAT ALUMNI SAY “I obtained two internships while at BGSU. My second opportunity was in Washington D.C, which allowed me to further develop as a student and future employee. Living and working so far from home also allowed me to learn more about myself. This opportunity would not have been possible without BGSU and I will forever be grateful for the experience.”

“Well-rounded education with midwest values.”

“Opportunity to participate in CAPSIM simulations, study abroad, intern abroad, golfing workshops, and soft skills workshops all through the College of Business at BGSU. All of these opportunities helped me reach my collegiate and early career goals and exposed me to a plethora of knowledge and experiences to build me into a well rounded young professional.”

THE BEST UNDERGRADUATE BUSINESS SCHOOLS 153

600 FORBES AVE, PITTSBURGH, PA 15282 ADMISSIONS OFFICE: 412-396-6245

Duquesne University

T $217,608 In-State Total Cost

Freshman

Year When Students Declare Their Majors

80%

Acceptance Rate

1177

Average SAT

5%

International Students

17%

Underrepresent Minorities

58.3%

Class of 2020 accepting jobs 90 days after graduation

POETSANDQUANTSFORUNDERGRADS.COM

he Palumbo-Donahue School of Business at Duquesne University landed at No. 69 in this year’s rankings — jumping 11 spots up from last year’s 80th place. Duquesne was able to do this thanks to stellar alumni feedback in the alumni survey, which led to the school placing 25th overall in the academic experience category.

Admissions-wise this year, the Pittsburgh-based B-school had an acceptance rate of 79.54% and an average SAT score of 1177, in line with last year’s numbers. From a tight-knit, supportive community to highly relevant course material and capstone experiences, Duquesne University offers a comprehensive business education that prepares students well for the real world of business.

SMALL COMMUNITY, BIG CITY Duquesne places a strong emphasis on cultivating a strong sense of community. The business school itself enrolls about 1,500 students with the university as a whole having roughly 9,000 students.

“Duquesne is a close-knit university and well known in the Pittsburgh area,” one 2018 alumni told us. “This gave me the opportunity to make a big city feel smaller. It allowed me to make amazing connections and gave me an amazing education which led me to where I am today.”

A tight-knit, community atmosphere at a B-school can have a number of valuable benefits — from building a strong network on-campus to connecting with alumni when it comes time to apply for internships and jobs. Surveyed 2018 Duquesne business alumni gave a strong 9.6 average rating in terms of the B-school faculty’s availability for informal discussions and mentoring outside of class.

“Strong personal connections with professors which helped me to develop professionally,” a 2018 alumni said.

Alumni also rated the B-school’s efforts to bring them into contact with practicing professionals, including the school’s alumni network, in the business community at a strong 9.2 average rating.

HIGHLY RELEVANT EDUCATION Duquesne business students have access to nine different undergraduate majors including Accounting, Economics, Entrepreneurship, Finance, Information Systems Management, International Business, Management, Marketing, and Supply Chain Management.

Each major offers a highly relevant curriculum with a capstone project that challenges students to apply their business knowledge to realworld scenarios and emphasizes valuable soft skills such as teamwork and communication. Nearly every Duquesne alum that we surveyed spoke highly about their capstone experience, with many saying that it

Duquesne University provided them with skills that they use to this day in their career.

“Tax classes were extremely unique in that lectures were informal and eye-opening, and presentations were given with local professionals in the industry in attendance,” a 2018 alumni reported.

“Audit class involved audit presentations with a panel of judges that was very helpful in sharpening important skills.”

“As a double major in accounting and information systems, I had the opportunity to participate in two capstone projects,” said another 2018 alumni. “The first was for my information systems degree in which the objective was to build an inventory management system using the knowledge that we had obtained throughout the entire program. Secondly, in my accounting courses, we performed a mock audit of a company and reported our findings to the class. Working in audit now, this proved to be a great experience in understanding the flow of information and types of findings we may come across.”

“My capstone project gave me the opportunity to create an e-commerce website and experience it from the seat of a consumer and developer,” reported another. “Understanding both aspects is key to my everyday job. In order to succeed, one must be able to see issues from many angles and conglomerate them to come up with a solution. This capstone project was one of many assignments and discussions that have allowed me to succeed in my career.”

Overall, Duquesne alumni gave strong remarks on their business education. Surveyed 2018 alumni rated the quality of teaching in business courses at a strong 9.2 average rating. Alumni also rated the opportunities at Duquesne to nurture and improve their soft skills in business at a 9.2 average rating. When asked how well the Duquesne business program prepared them for the world of work, 2018 alumni gave a 9.0 average rating.

WHAT ALUMNI SAY “I, like many other business students at Duquesne, had the opportunity to do several ‘signature experiences.’ Most memorable being the process improvements study where we went to an actual business in need of process improvements and presented our recommendations to senior leadership.”

“I was in both the accounting and finance capstone courses. Both provided new and interesting ways to learn about these industries and helped me to make my job decision.”

“As part of my information systems management courses, our senior coursework included a capstone class in which we spent the semester building an inventory program in C#. Each student was presented the same case but was given the freedom to independently build the program based on the parameters of the case.”

EMPLOYMENT OUTCOMES The Class of 2020 saw a large dip in employment outcomes when compared to 2019, with only 58.33% securing a full-time position within three months of graduation. That’s a roughly 12% decline from 2019’s 70.73% — although the drop in employment may largely be attributed to the COVID-19 economic downturn which has impacted nearly every B-school across the nation.

Internship-wise, however, Duquesne performed strongly with 90% of its Class of 2020 landing a business-focused internship before graduating — a two percentage point from last year’s 88%.

Duquesne’s tight-knit community and highly relevant education ultimately make the B-school a strong contender for any student looking for a comprehensive undergraduate business degree.

THE BEST UNDERGRADUATE BUSINESS SCHOOLS 155

3601 PACIFIC AVE., STOCKTON, CA 95211 ADMISSIONS OFFICE: 209-946-2211

University Of The Pacific

D $275,388 In-State Total Cost

freshman

Year When Students Declare Their Majors

67.3%

Acceptance Rate

1141

Average SAT

7.5%

International Students

31.2%

Underrepresent Minorities

77.1%

Class of 2020 accepting jobs 90 days after graduation

POETSANDQUANTSFORUNDERGRADS.COM

ebuting at No. 70 is the University of the Pacific’s Eberhardt School of Business in Stockton, California. Eberhardt took a balanced approach, placing 67th in Admissions Standards, 60th in the Academic Experience, and 74th in Employment Outcomes. This is actually the third time the Pacific has attempted to participate in the rankings but is the first time the school successfully completed all required school data and met the minimum alumni survey response rate.

The Business Administration degree at Eberhardt is a four-year program where students can begin taking business courses as freshmen.

The degree has five focus areas in Finance, Management and Human Resources, Business Analytics, Marketing Management, and Sport Management. It also features a Business Administration minor as well as minors in Business Analytics, Leadership, and Management.

MULTI-MILLION DOLLAR STUDENT-RUN INVESTMENT FUND ONE OF THE MOST POPULAR ASPECTS OF THE PROGRAM As part of the alumni survey included in the ranking process, we asked Class of 2018 graduates if they had a “signature experience” as part of the business school experience. A signature experience could be any sort of impactful project work, global immersion, or experiential learning experience. Of those that responded, some 53% of the class said they were engaged in some sort of “signature experience.”

One of the most popular signature experiences listed was the Eberhardt Student Investment Fund. Students are accepted into the two-term course through a formal application process. Once accepted, they help manage an investment portfolio that is currently reaching $3.2 million. Students manage the fund with the help from an advisory panel including the Dean of the B-school. “The student investment fund was a great experience giving us hands-on learning in the real business world,” one 2018 alum said about the experience.

EMPLOYMENT OUTCOMES According to the school, about 53.60% of Class of 2020 graduates had at least one business-focused internship before graduating. That number is relatively low compared to other participating schools. The Class of 2020 did, however, report a job acceptance rate of 77.12% within three months of graduation. That rate was relatively better than the internship rates compared to other participating schools. Those with accepted jobs reported an average starting salary of $58,083.

Within the alumni survey, we asked Class of 2018 alumni if their first jobs were in a desired industry and at a desired company. Some 65% of 2018 graduates from Pacific reported taking a position in their desired

University of the Pacific industry immediately after graduation. And 47% reported their first jobs were at one of their desired companies.

AN INTRIGUING OPTION IN THE GOLDEN STATE The Eberhardt School offers an intriguing business education option for students looking to be close to the San Francisco Bay Area but avoid the cost of living that goes with it. About 85 miles from San Francisco, Eberhardt alumni had positive feedback of their experience as the school punched above its weight in the alumni survey. Alumni also noted enjoying the smaller school and class sizes.

“Small class sizes were the most beneficial part of the school,” one 2018 alum told us. “It was engaging.”

WHAT ALUMNI SAY “I spent every summer as a paid intern at a new company for my entire college career, at times doubling up to also work in our University Development department as a student worker. Work experience was what set me apart from students with only exceptional academic background. In the business world, experience trumps grades and clubs.”

“I did the Students Investment Fund but wish I could have had the opportunity to do an Internship or Co-Op like the engineers.”

“I was a part of Model United Nations. I applied for and received a Grant through the business school to attend. It was extremely educational and helped support the business principles of negotiation, teamwork and public speaking.”

THE BEST UNDERGRADUATE BUSINESS SCHOOLS 157

800 WEST CAMPBELL ROAD, RICHARDSON, TX 75080 ADMISSIONS OFFICE: 972-883-2750

University Of Texas At Dallas

T $119,856 In-State Total Cost

Freshman

Year When Students Declare Their Majors

53%

Acceptance Rate

1240

Average SAT

3%

International Students

22%

Underrepresent Minorities

50.4%

Class of 2020 accepting jobs 90 days after graduation

he Naveen Jindal School of Management at the University of Texas at Dallas placed at No. 71 this year — climbing one spot from last year’s rank of No. 72. The Jindal School of Management had a relatively similar admissions process this year with an acceptance rate of 52.53% and an average SAT score of 1240, nearly identical to last year’s acceptance rate of 53%, and an average SAT score of 1240.

Employment-wise, the Class of 2020 saw a slight dip in employment outcomes with 50.43% securing a full-time position within three months of graduation — down from last year’s 54.26%, although this may largely be attributed to the COVID-19 economic downturn. Internship outcomes are strong at Jindal with 90% of the Class of 2020 landing a business-focused internship before graduating, up six percentage points from last year’s 84%.

Jindal’s undergraduate business program offers a quantitative, realworld curriculum with a heavy emphasis on student development outside of the classroom such as its mentorship program and internship component.

QUANTITATIVE, REAL-WORLD CURRICULUM Students can choose from nine different business majors including Business Administration, Finance, Global Business, Healthcare Management, Human Resource Management, Information Technology and Systems, Marketing, and Supply Chain Management.

Unlike most B-schools, Jindal offers Bachelor of Science degrees as opposed to BBA degrees. Its degree programs are quantitatively based with two of its nine program offerings being STEM-designated (“Information Technology and Systems” and “Supply Chain Management”). Each major has a required senior capstone project that encourages students to apply their comprehensive business education to the real-world. “[We] participated in an Information Technology and Systems capstone class which exposed us to a real-world business problem which we had to resolve,” one 2018 alumni told us. “This was a project that a sponsoring company was facing and needed our assistance in accomplishing. Got the opportunity to use all knowledge learned while obtaining the ITS degree to solve this business problem.”

Jindal alumni view their business education as a valuable experience with surveyed 2018 alumni giving an 8.7 average rating in terms of how well the business program prepared them for the world of work.

Alumni also rated the quality of teaching in Jindal business courses an 8.8 average rating with an 8.9 average rating in terms of opportunities to nurture and improve soft skills in business.

REAL MENTORSHIP SUPPORT

POETSANDQUANTSFORUNDERGRADS.COM

University of Texas At Dallas Mentorship is a key component of the Jindal undergraduate experience. The B-school provides a three-prong mentoring program, where each student is paired with a peer, faculty member, and alumni member. What makes the mentoring program at Jindal unique, however, is that the mentorship goes beyond curricular and professional development to cultivate a real community of support.

“The mentoring was not limited to just curricular matters,” a 2018 alumni who was a mentor told us. “I was much older than the students I was paired with to mentor, having returned to school after decades of working. On the first day of meeting each of them, I offered to have them paired with someone their age, but also made it clear I was willing to share my experience and knowledge. Not one student asked for someone else. I was able to work with a wide variety of students, male, female, and from other countries. I helped some improve their interviewing skills then watched as they landed jobs. Some wanted to better define what field they wanted to go into after they graduated. I even had one who was concerned she wasn’t making very good progress. I was able to help her define some goals, determine the actions needed to reach those goals, then track her progress. It helped her so much that she started helping her friends do the same. I saw it as a way to give back to the younger generation, but they shared a lot of insight with me as to what people from other countries and generations care about, how they process information, and what motivates them. So in the end, I got as much from that program as I gave.”

Surveyed 2018 alumni also rated Jindal faculty support highly, giving a strong 9.2 average rating in terms of faculty availability for informal discussions and mentoring outside of class.

WHAT ALUMNI SAY “The healthcare accounting project provided great insight to healthcare operations and we created realistic recommendations for improvement.”

“The Capstone project was a challenging yet interesting task during the final year.

It was unique because you got a chance to showcase the knowledge you gained throughout your college career and narrow that focus into one final project.

The CURRENT Capstone project was a challenging yet interesting task during the final year. It was unique because you got a chance to showcase the knowledge you gained throughout your college career and narrow that focus into one final project.”

“Large international community and highly-driven, like-minded individuals that I could relate to and we lifted each other up during my time in college.”

REQUIRED INTERNSHIP COMPONENT All Jindal undergraduates are required to complete at least one internship by the time they graduate. The internship component allows students to explore potential careers in their field of interest and gain valuable experience to bolster their resumes.

“The school’s internship requirement pushed me to venture outside the traditional confines of an accounting career and helped me land a job in a rapidly growing niche of tax practice,” one 2018 alum reported.

“In order to graduate by Dec 2020, I had to complete my internship at Dallas Texas Consultant,” another alum said. “This was a valuable experience where I learned and gained knowledge every single day of working. This is one of the reasons I chose UTD over other universities, because of the required internship. By completing my internship, I felt like I grew in my personal and professional life.”

With its required internship component, strong mentorship, and quantitative, real-world curriculum, Jindal provides students with the proper tools and resources to succeed both in the classroom and beyond.

THE BEST UNDERGRADUATE BUSINESS SCHOOLS 159

3674 LINDELL BOULEVARD, ST. LOUIS, MO 63108 ADMISSIONS OFFICE: 314-977-2500

Saint Louis University

T $236,636 In-State Total Cost

Freshman

Year When Students Declare Their Majors

81.7%

Acceptance Rate

1255

Average SAT

2.6%

International Students

10.8%

Underrepresent Minorities

83.1%

Class of 2020 accepting jobs 90 days after graduation

POETSANDQUANTSFORUNDERGRADS.COM

he Richard A. Chaifetz School of Business at Saint Louis University (SLU) ranked No. 72 this year — dropping four spots from last year’s 68th place. The St. Louis, Missouri-based B-school had a slightly more selective admissions year with an acceptance rate of 81.72% and an average SAT score of 1223, compared to last year’s 83% and 1241.

Employment-wise, Chaifetz performed well despite the COVID-19 economic downturn with 83.10% of its Class of 2020 securing fulltime employment within three months of graduation — up from last year’s 81.43%. Internship placements remained unchanged at 76%.

Employment outcomes was SLU’s strongest methodological category, where it placed 60th.

The Chaifetz education is made up of three key components: values, leadership, and action. Whether it’s through service opportunities or experiential learning, Chaifetz implements these three core elements throughout the entire undergraduate business experience.

10 MAJORS Chaifetz undergraduates can choose from 10 different business majors including Accounting, Analytics & Enterprise Systems, Economics, Entrepreneurship, Finance (Financial Analysis Concentration and Real Estate Concentration also available within Finance), Information Technology Management, International Business, Leadership and Human Resource Management, Marketing, and Sports Business.

All students are required to take both an Arts and Sciences Core as well as the Business Common Body of Knowledge requirements. The Arts and Sciences Core are general education courses taken in the College of Arts and Sciences. The Business Common Body of Knowledge Requirements consists of fundamental business knowledge from accounting to marketing.

Chaifetz alumni view their business education relatively well with surveyed 2018 alumni giving an 8.3 average rating for the quality of teaching in business courses. Faculty support was rated the highest with 2018 alumni giving a 9.4 average rating in terms of faculty availability for informal discussion and mentoring outside of class.

SERVICE LEADERSHIP PROGRAM Community service is a central part of the Chaifetz experience. The Service Leadership Program allows students to volunteer at service sites in the St. Louis community including Big Brothers Big Sisters, Ronald McDonald House, Saint Louis University’s Campus Kitchen. Since its inception in 1996, Chaifetz students have completed more than 100,000 hours of service. Upon completion of 200 hours of community service,

St. Louis University 12 leadership workshops, and 15 credit hours of coursework. students in the Service Leadership Program earn a minor in Service Leadership. The program is fundamental to the type of education that Chaifetz instills in its students — one that is driven by values, leadership, and action.

“This is an intensive program that is designed for business students and is unique to the Chaifetz School of Business,” one 2018 alumni told us. “The service hour requirement combined with leadership workshops transform business students into agents for change in their communities no matter what their career path and I haven’t seen any program like this at another business school.”

EXPERIENTIAL, REAL-WORLD LEARNING Many of the courses at Chaifetz include an experiential learning component that challenges students to learn in the real world. A number of these courses also offer a global component and 52% of Chaifetz students graduate with a global experience.

Students in the International Business program can take part in a two-week global immersion trip to Budapest, Hungary as part of their required electives. The trip includes company visits, market survey research, and cultural excursions aimed at teaching students about the business challenges specific to Central Europe.

“I participated in a global immersion course that traveled to Budapest, Hungary, and consulted for a global company,” one 2018 alumni said. “This was an exceptional opportunity to expand my cultural knowledge and provide a practical application of my international business degree during my undergrad experience.”

“I traveled to Hungary through an immersion course and worked on a sustainability project for Bayer Crop Science,” another 2018 alumni said. “This was a unique learning experience that brought what we learned in the classroom to a real business scenario.”

Beyond the International Business program, many other programs include a strong experiential learning component. A number of surveyed 2018 alumni across different majors spoke to the relevance of their business education.

“One of my favorite aspects of the business classes that I took at SLU was the classes that required service hours or field hours,” one 2018 reported. “Although meeting that requirement was difficult and time consuming it allowed me to get real work experience. It showed me what I enjoy doing.”

“My SAP project class that was co-taught by a Deloitte professional gave me the real-life experience of being a Deloitte SAP Consultant,” another 2018 alumni explained. “The SAP offering in classwork is what helped me land my first job at Deloitte and set me up for future success for my next job.”

The Chaifetz education is one that challenges students to not only utilize business to solve real-world issues, but also to lead as agents of change. The B-school’s strong Service Leadership Program and experiential coursework, ultimately, create business professionals who are driven by the Chaifetz DNA of values, leadership, and action.

WHAT ALUMNI SAY “Drafted a program to help further market/ expand LGPA reach domestically. The engagement of this work did not feel like normal school work. The engagement of a 3rd party company was a great experience & use of application of skills rather than learning material.”

“SAP Alliance Program set me apart from other peers in my starting class at Deloitte.

It gave me the competitive edge to start my career in SAP with a head start.”

“I have bachelors & masters degrees from SLU’s business school. My bachelor’s capstone introduced me to academic research and my master’s thesis helped me make it a career.”

THE BEST UNDERGRADUATE BUSINESS SCHOOLS 161

703 FLINT AVE, LUBBOCK, TX 79409 ADMISSIONS OFFICE: 806-834-3179

Texas Tech University

T $94,824

In-State Total Cost

Freshman

Year When Students Declare Their Majors

64%

Acceptance Rate

1096

Average SAT

<1%

International Students

29.5%

Underrepresent Minorities

90.8%

Class of 2020 accepting jobs 90 days after graduation

POETSANDQUANTSFORUNDERGRADS.COM

he Rawls College of Business at Texas Tech University ranked No. 73 this year — improving an impressive eight spots from last year’s rank of No. 81. The movement was largely buoyed by strong alumni survey scores, which gave Rawls College a 50th-place finish in the academic experience methodological category.

Rawls College had a similar admissions process this year with an acceptance rate of 65.78% and an average SAT score of 1096, in line with last year’s 64% and 1096. But where the B-school saw its biggest improvement was in its strong employment outcomes and the aforementioned positive alumni ratings on the academic experience.

Despite the COVID-19 economic downturn, 90.83% of the Rawls Class of 2020 secured full-time employment within three months of graduation — roughly a one percentage point dip from last year’s 91.95%.

Internship placements remained unchanged at 20%. The surveyed 2018 alumni spoke highly of their business education from the quality of teaching to opportunities to nurture soft skills in business.

The Rawls College experience is best described as a real-world business education with a strong capstone experience and quality study abroad opportunities. At Rawls, students are given valuable skills that are directly transferable to the career of their choice.

REAL-WORLD EDUCATION There are seven total majors at Rawls including Accounting, Energy Commerce, Finance, Information Technology, Management, Marketing, and Supply Chain Management. Additionally, students can apply for accelerated and pathway programs such as the B.B.A. to Master of Science in Accounting, B.B.A. to Master of Science in Finance, and Pathway to STEM MBA. Overall, Rawls alumni view their business education positively.

Surveyed 2018 alumni rated the quality of teaching in business courses a strong 9.1 average rating. Alumni also gave an 8.9 average rating in terms of faculty availability for informal discussions and mentoring outside of class. When asked how likely they would recommend the Rawls program to a close friend or colleague interested in an undergraduate business degree, 2018 alumni gave a 9.6 average rating.

A number of Rawls alumni also mentioned the real-world applications of their education. For many, the Rawls program provided a realistic education of what their future careers would be like.

“Several classes allowed us the creativity and freedom to create solutions to real-world issues and rise or fall as actual companies would,” one 2018 alumni told us.

“Had to do a valuation on a company,” another 2018 alumni said.

“It was the closest thing to a real finance job. It was intense and helped prepare you in every aspect.”

Texas Tech University STRONG CAPSTONE EXPERIENCE The senior capstone project is a signature experience at Rawls. A number of surveyed 2018 alumni spoke highly about their capstone project saying that it gave them a headstart in their job search with valuable experience and skill sets.

“The Capstone course in the MSA program prepared me to pass the CPA exam prior to starting full-time work,” a 2018 alumni reported. “This gave me a tremendous leg up on my co-workers who were not afforded that opportunity.”

“I absolutely loved my senior capstone course,” another 2018 alumni said. “It was by far my favorite class because I felt like I got to learn about what happens in business rather than straight concepts. Our semester-long project was insightful into business structures and allowed us to relate to real businesses.”

Part of what makes the Rawls capstone experience strong is the direct application of what students learn and accomplish. For instance, the accounting capstone course requires students to take time to study and take the CPA exam. Each capstone project features an element of collaborative teamwork as well and challenges students to work together in solving a real-world issue. With this valuable experience, Rawls students go into job interviews with substantial talking points that give them a leg up from other students whose capstone experiences weren’t as applicable.

WHAT ALUMNI SAY “Able to do mock audits through online software to simulate what we do in our profession as well as planned for an audit like we do assessing the risk of certain areas of financials.”

“Term project spring semester senior year. Very collaborative. Blended all major business areas into one project.”

“Global immersion and experiential learning by sharing the classroom with international students and learning from working professionals guest speakers. I am thankful for it because it has helped me to easily adapt to my company’s multicultural environment.”

QUALITY STUDY ABROAD OPPORTUNITIES Study abroad is another strong selling point for Rawls. According to the university, 19% of Rawls students study abroad at one of the many global destinations from Prague to China. For many Rawls students, the abroad experience offers a global perspective to how business is conducted as well as an appreciation for diverse cultures — both important for the real-world of business where teamwork is crucial.

“I studied abroad for a summer in Prague through a faculty-led trip,” one 2018 alumni told us. “It allowed me to gain a larger global perspective that has helped me in my sales career.”

“We were able to see the differences in culture, business practices, and opportunities with another region of the world,” another 2018 alumni recalled. “China’s business dealings are drastically different than the United States. The comparison of the two changed our mindsets going back into our collegiate experience and translated into our professional career.”

Overall, what makes the Rawls education great is the real-world opportunities both in and out of the classroom. Whether through the capstone project or a semester abroad, Rawls students are given practical, real-world experiences that give them a head start to a long and fulfilling career.

THE BEST UNDERGRADUATE BUSINESS SCHOOLS 163

1 OHIO UNIVERSITY DRIVE, ATHENS, OH 45701 ADMISSIONS OFFICE: 740-593-4100

Ohio University

T $95,768

In-State Total Cost

Freshman

Year When Students Declare Their Majors

90.3%

Acceptance Rate

1175

Average SAT

1.4%

International Students

7.5%

Underrepresent Minorities

74.7%

Class of 2020 accepting jobs 90 days after graduation

POETSANDQUANTSFORUNDERGRADS.COM

he Ohio University College of Business debuted at No. 74 in its first time participating in the Poets&Quants Best Undergraduate Business Schools ranking. While Ohio University’s College of Business placed 74th overall, it excelled in the Academic Experience category, where it placed 32nd overall. The Academic Experience category is based solely on the alumni survey.

Based in Athens, in the southwestern portion of the state, Ohio University’s BBA degree features 10 majors. Those majors include accounting, business analytics, business economics, business pre-law, entrepreneurship, finance, international business, management and strategic leadership, management information systems, and marketing.

The college also offers a bachelor of science in applied management degree and bachelor of sport management degree, both of which sit outside of the traditional BBA degree. Additionally, the college offers minors in business, business analytics, finance, marketing, and sport management. The college also offers 11 certificates, some of which are in some interesting and unique areas like esports, festivals and events management, and financial programming.

UNIQUE BUSINESS CLUSTER PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS UNDERGRADUATE BUSINESS EXPERIENCE Regardless of major, the highlight of the business education experience at Ohio University is The Business Cluster. Students are placed in teams, professors from multiple disciplines come into the classroom, and then the student teams are assigned to solve different real-life business challenges.

“The Business Cluster is such a phenomenal program. An array of skills are required to succeed, all of which are directly applicable to the real-world,” one alum told us in the alumni survey. “Soft skills such as communication, critical thinking, organization, teamwork, and time management, as well as hard skills like data mining, financial analysis, marketing, and so much more. From a learning perspective, I can imagine no better way to encourage students to collaborate.

Collaboration occurs not only amongst classmates but across classes themselves. Knowledge from all four courses must be applied, resulting in a well-rounded curriculum.”

Said another: “The integrated business cluster is where I learned how to be on an effective team and get comfortable with presenting, and the intermediate accounting courses showcased a case study that really immersed students into the implications of financial accounting.”

CAPSTONE COURSE ANOTHER HIGHLIGHT FOR RECENT GRADS

Ohio University The capstone class was another hit among those from the Class of 2018 that responded to the survey.

“Our capstone project allowed us to present to many distinguished companies in the sports industry,” a 2018 alum explained. “During this project, we were able to utilize our skills learned through our business classes to conduct industry research, conduct interviews, and present our findings to high ranking officials for each of these companies/organizations. This research and presentations were used to further their decision-making process.”

Said another: “In my capstone class, we worked directly with sports properties all over the country. My group in particular worked directly with IMG College at Ohio University to help them increase their attrition rate. This experience allowed us as students to put our best foot forward and create, brainstorm, and collaborate with real professionals on real issues. The legitimacy of each project was very helpful and valuable for our actual careers after college.”

STRONG ALUMNI SURVEY RESULTS As mentioned above, Ohio University’s College of Business really punched above its weight in the alumni survey portion of our methodology. In particular, when asked on a one-to-10 scale how likely they would be to recommend the College of Business to a colleague or close friend, respondents from the Class of 2018 gave an impressive average of 9.5. When asked how available business professors were for informal out of class meetings and mentoring, 2018 graduates gave an average of 9.3.

As part of the survey, we also ask the recent graduates if they had a “signature experience,” defined as key project work, experiential learning, or global immersions as part of the business school.

Of those responding, some 81% said they did have a signature experience through the business school.

EMPLOYMENT OUTCOMES The Class of 2018 graduates were also asked if the first jobs they landed after graduation were in a desired industry and at a desired company. Impressively, about 86% of respondents reported that their first jobs were in a desired industry. And about 73% said they landed first jobs at a desired company.

Some 78.6% of Class of 2020 graduates had at least one businessfocused internship before graduation. Within three months of graduation, 74.7% of the Class of 2020 had accepted a full-time job offer. Of those accepting a full-time job offer, the average starting salary was $50,292.

Ohio University offers an under-the-radar business education experience. Students in Ohio and in the region should consider the sleeper school as an option as it holds up against other more well-known business programs at Ohio State and the University of Cincinnati.

WHAT ALUMNI SAY “I took the financial planning track of the finance degree at Ohio University to fulfill the applicable educational requirements set forth by the CFP Board, as I knew I wanted to be a Financial Planner, particularly a Certified Financial Planner and this past Thursday I was notified that I achieved a preliminary pass on the National CFP exam with my final results and diagnostics arriving in four weeks. I can’t say enough about Ohio University’s College of Business or about the CFP Certificate program in and of itself. Everyone from the professors to the faculty to the students were willing to collaborate and help each other to achieve their goals and that seems to be something that has come to be a standard at Ohio University as a whole.”

“What is wonderful about Ohio University College of Business is that every major has a professional immersion program. My three majors each had a capstone project. I worked with real company stakeholders that provided business scenarios for us to provide them a service. I was in the Consumer Research and Analytics Center where we worked on real projects with corporate partners in my case Chase, Wendy’s and Kelloggs, and we presented our findings at headquarters.

The Schey Sales center and the professional sales certificate but me in front of corporate partners. We did sales competitions and case study competitions. Our classes are project-based more than exam based so we were consistently engaging in real-life business scenarios with corporate partners.

Finally, every business student engages in a group based semester, where we do industry assessments and create our own companies from idea, business plan and execution.”

THE BEST UNDERGRADUATE BUSINESS SCHOOLS 165

1 WASHINGTON PARK, SUITE 324, NEWARK, NJ 07102 ADMISSIONS OFFICE: 973-353-5169

Rutgers Business School At Newark

R $132,242 In-State Total Cost

Freshman

Year When Students Declare Their Majors

67.5%

Acceptance Rate

1120

Average SAT

3.4%

International Students

41%

Underrepresent Minorities

83.5%

Class of 2020 accepting jobs 90 days after graduation

POETSANDQUANTSFORUNDERGRADS.COM

utgers Business School in Newark, New Jersey landed at No. 75 in this year’s rankings — falling six spots from last year. Rutgers saw a slightly less selective admissions process this year with an acceptance rate of 74.99%, up from last year’s acceptance rate of 68%.

The average SAT score for last fall’s incoming class remained unchanged at 1120.

Despite falling behind in this year’s rankings, Rutgers managed to see modest improvement in internship outcomes with 61% of its Class of 2020 landing a business-focused internship before graduating — up from last year’s 56%. Employment outcomes seemed unaffected by the COVID-19 economic downturn as well, with 83.54% of the Class of 2020 securing full-time employment at the time of graduation — in line with last year’s 83.72%. Those results led RBS Newark to finish 63rd in the employment outcomes methodological category, its strongest finish of the three methodological areas.

The undergraduate experience at Rutgers Business School is best characterized by its relevant curriculum, diverse student community, and hands-on learning.

RELEVANT CURRICULUM Rutgers undergraduates can choose from six different majors including Accounting, Finance, Financial Management and Capital Markets, Financial Planning, Real Estate, Leadership & Management, Management Information Systems, Marketing, and Supply Chain Management.

The B-school is consistently making updates to keep its curriculum state of the art. This past Fall, the accounting department created a new degree requiring Auditing Analytics.

“This new course helps prepare students by teaching skills that are needed and used in today’s Accounting world,” Jenny Roberts, manager of Academic Programs at Rutgers Business School, Newark & New Brunswick, told us. “The purpose of this change was to ensure students continue to receive a top-notch educational experience that encompasses the skills and knowledge that is sought by employers.”

Additionally, within the past three years, Rutgers has added a number of concentrations to its portfolio offering to allow students to add specializations without needing to double major. As of Fall 2020, students have eight potential concentrations including Business of Fashion, Entrepreneurship, Global Business, Leadership Skills, Management Science and Information Systems, Real Estate, Sales, and Supply Chain Management.

DIVERSE STUDENT COMMUNITY

Rutgers Business School At Newark At the core of Rutgers is its people. The B-school boasts one of the most diverse student body populations in the nation. Some 30% of its incoming Fall of 2020 students are first-generation college students. And 41% of the incoming class are underrepresented minorities. To put those numbers into perspective, at an Ivy League school, like Wharton, only 12% of the incoming class are first-generation college students. At NYU Stern, only 23% of the incoming class are underrepresented minorities.

Diversity has become a major initiative in the U.S. as many companies and organizations increasingly face scrutiny for the lack of minorities in leadership positions. At Rutgers, the diverse student community is critical to the educational environment. Students, often from different backgrounds, exchange ideas, collaborate on solutions, and develop into future leaders.

“RBS-Newark undergraduate students are ambitious and talented.

They are the business leaders of tomorrow. Many go on to graduate school, start companies, and hold executive positions in major corporations,” Roberts told us. “With almost every country in the world and ethnic background represented at Rutgers University – Newark, students learn as much from each other as they do in the classroom.”

HANDS-ON LEARNING

WHAT ALUMNI SAY “The program was very realistic to the real world. It was a great experience working with a real company and witnessing real problems that companies occur. Doing the research and coming up with different solutions was a great exercise for me for the future.”

“The entire aspect of taking a successful company and theorizing ways it could run into potential issues in the future while brainstorming with a group of classmates.

This almost felt like a true real-world consulting-like experience.”

“True support from the department and they allowed us to have lots of leadership experiences.”

The Rutgers education places heavy emphasis on hands-on learning and offers students a realistic understanding of business.

Many classes feature a component of real client work and students are challenged to apply their business knowledge. Surveyed 2018 alumni all spoke to the real-world applications of course content, which often emphasized hands-on learning over theoretical. “[I] took a course called Industry Client Project where we all had different clients and worked on projects during the semester,” one 2018 alum told us. “I had the opportunity to have Panasonic as my client and I worked with the stakeholder weekly to make sure their needs were being met, which prepared me for the consulting career.”

“One of the projects of our marketing research analysis class was to evaluate a real company using market research and SWOT analysis and provide a plan of action that can be implemented to produce results,” another 2018 alum said. “I think this was one of the best exercises I did in my whole undergraduate career.”

Unlike at many B-schools, where hands-on learning is often reserved for the senior capstone course, hands-on learning at Rutgers is integrated throughout the curriculum to give students a strong foundation of real-world business experience by the time they graduate.

Overall, what makes the Rutgers Business School unique is the investment it places in its people. With one of the most diverse student populations in the nation, a relevant curriculum, and handson learning, the B-school creates a skilled, multicultural talent pipeline for tomorrow’s world of business.

THE BEST UNDERGRADUATE BUSINESS SCHOOLS 167

259 SOUTH BROADWAY ST., AKRON, OH 44325 ADMISSIONS OFFICE: 330-972-7042

University Of Akron

U

niversity of Akron’s College of Business Administration (CBA) ranked No. 76 this year — jumping an impressive 19 spots from last year. The Akron CBA had an acceptance rate of 40% this year and an average SAT score of 1096. Akron’s undergraduate business program offers real, tangible learning with strong professional development and plenty of out-of-classroom opportunities for students to gain valuable experience and build professional networks.

$91,420

In-State Total Cost

Freshman

Year When Students Declare Their Majors

95.1%

Acceptance Rate

1110

Average SAT

1.9%

International Students

21.4%

Underrepresent Minorities

83.2%

Class of 2020 accepting jobs 90 days after graduation

POETSANDQUANTSFORUNDERGRADS.COM

13 MAJORS Akron business students have access to 13 different undergraduate majors including Accounting, Business Administration, Business Data Analytics, Economics, Financial Management, Financial Planning, Human Resource Management, Information Systems, International Business, Marketing, Risk Management and Insurance, Sales Management, and Supply Chain/Operations Management.

All students, regardless of major, are required to complete the general education courses and a required set of Business Integrated Core classes, which feature a comprehensive catalog of fundamental business topics from economics to business communication.

Overall, Akron alumni view their business education as fair. Surveyed 2018 alumni gave a 7.8 average rating for the quality of teaching in Akron CBA courses. Business school faculty support and mentorship was rated at an 8.3 average rating in terms of availability for informal discussions and mentoring outside of class.

REAL, TANGIBLE LEARNING The Akron CBA curriculum features a strong sense of real-world learning. A number of 2018 alumni that we surveyed spoke highly about the hands-on and realistic course projects that they were involved in during their undergraduate business education. Roughly 68% of surveyed alumni report engaging in at least one “signature experience.”

“We had to analyze the supply chain structure of another country using five principles we were taught,” one 2018 alum told us. “We then had to make recommendations for improvement based on our analysis.

It was unique in that capstones usually focus on an industry or specific company. I had never looked at supply chain structure at a global level and assessed how a country handled the infrastructure and approach to the supply chain.”

“Our professor made sure we were given a challenging and real-world project with Walmart,” another 2018 alum said. “It was a very difficult situation but he helped us work through all of the issues we came across and it prepared me for what it is like to work with different people in the workplace.”

University of Akron Outside of the classroom, Akron business students can also take part in a number of experiential opportunities — from case competitions to unique programs — where they gain valuable experience and build their professional network.

“I was the Vice President of the American Marketing Association and participated in the national case competition in New Orleans my Senior Year, it was awesome to meet and be a part of that large of a conference,” one 2018 alum reported. “I also was a member of the first business analytics team at Akron who traveled to New York for the Manhattan College business analytics competition. This helped open a new avenue in my future path that I hadn’t considered before.”

“I participated in multiple conferences & competitions that allowed me to travel and extend my professional network across the country,” another 2018 alum recalled. “In addition, I completed an experiential learning project through the Leadership Development program that allowed me to create a financial literacy program for inner-city high school students while I also extended my professional network locally.”

“For a national competition, a team of myself and two other students interviewed over 20 finance industry professionals on their jobs & the road to get there,” said another 2018 alum. “Through this, we were able to not only network but gain great insight into the different paths that can be taken in the finance profession. In addition, we were able to compete and network at a national level. I left that competition with not only a first-place trophy, but priceless relationships and memories built.”

Both in the classroom and out, Akron business students are actively involved in real-world learning. While business theory is an important part of undergraduate education, Akron places special emphasis on giving students opportunities to actively apply those theories to the real world. In turn, students gain valuable experience and graduate with a set of tangible skills.

WHAT ALUMNI SAY “Through the Honors Project in the College of Business, my team researched how the advent of self-driving cars and autonomous technology would impact the Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company.”

“Many of the projects that I worked on at the UA, specifically the group dynamics, helped me navigate real-world projects and manage the group.”

“Teamed up with business students pursuing other degrees, local business came in and described a problem they were dealing with, we had two semesters to research and come up with a presentation covering our solution.”

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT Akron wants to ensure each student has the proper resources to outline their professional goals and track their progress towards those goals. The CBA EDGE (Exploring Degree Goals and Experiences) is a professional development program designed to help students organize their college participation and experiences to easily evaluate their readiness to enter the world of work.

Events and experiences focus primarily on professional development — from career fairs to resume workshops and leadership courses. For each event or experience that students take part in, they earn points towards their “EDGE.” If a student completes 2,000 points, they graduate with a CBA EDGE medal.

The program is a quantitative model that encourages students to actively participate in professional development workshops and events. With real-world learning opportunities (both within and beyond the classroom) and an incentive-based professional development program, Akron students are given both the tangible experience and the impressive edge they need to succeed.

THE BEST UNDERGRADUATE BUSINESS SCHOOLS 169

740 GARDEN RD, DEKALB, IL 60115 ADMISSIONS OFFICE: 815-753-1000

Northern Illinois University

T $116,050 In-State Total Cost

Freshman

Year When Students Declare Their Majors

57.4%

Acceptance Rate

1023

Average SAT

1.4%

International Students

50.2%

Underrepresent Minorities

48.4%

Class of 2020 accepting jobs 90 days after graduation

POETSANDQUANTSFORUNDERGRADS.COM

he Northern Illinois University (NIU) College of Business ranked at No. 77 this year — improving two spots from last year’s 79th place.

The College of Business had an acceptance rate of 60.83% and an average SAT score of 1023 this year. Employment-wise, the B-school’s Class of 2020 saw slightly lower outcomes with 48.42% landing a fulltime position within three months of graduation, down from last year’s 55.88% — although this may largely be attributed to the COVID-19 economic downturn. Internship outcomes remained unchanged at 58%.

At NIU’s College of Business, students are encouraged to learn by doing. The business courses challenge students by requiring them to “run a company.” Students work cross-functionally in solving problems.

Experiential opportunities are abundant. By the time they graduate, NIU business students have a ton of experience to stand out amongst the competition. Recent graduates seemed to like their experience based on data gathered through our alumni survey. That data helped NIU place 30th overall in the academic experience methodological category.

BUSINESS STUDENTS, BUSINESS OWNERS NIU business students can choose from five majors including Accountancy, Business Administration, Finance, Management, Marketing, and Operations & Information Systems. Each major, aside from Accounting, offers the option of a specialized certification. For instance, management students can gain a Certificate of Undergraduate Study in Social Entrepreneurship. Marketing students can gain a certificate of Undergraduate Study in Retail Management.

Learning by doing starts early on at the NIU College of Business.

Starting in fall 2018, new business students were given the option to enroll in “Business in Action,” an introductory business course that introduces students to business functions, language, etiquette, and opportunities in modern business through a live consulting project.

Additionally, each major program features strong, hands-on learning opportunities for students to apply their knowledge. A number of surveyed 2018 alumni highlighted the learning-by-doing approach of the NIU business education.

“I was part of a business course that ran a simulation of us owning our own global shoe company where each week was a new year of operations and we had to make decisions from a supply chain, marketing, and financial perspective for different global regions,” one 2018 alum told us. “In the same course, we also had simulations of executive business meetings where we discussed the future of realworld companies, as if we worked there, based on recent news reports of what those companies were experiencing. We would discuss how we would advance or improve the business as ‘executive leaders’ of our respective areas, e.g. CFO, CMO, CEO, etc.”

Northern Illinois University “Created, marketed, financed, and presented on our own company,” another 2018 alum said. “We were given a specific industry (out of a hat) and had to create a business around it. Crossfunctional team (one person from every Business major partnered up) acting as executive leadership. Outstanding to work crossfunctionally in the pre-real world. Communication and confidence in business speaking went way up. It was great.”

The experience of running a business from end-to-end is extremely valuable. As “business owners,” NIU students are given a unique opportunity to essentially gain insight into what an executive in their field of business does on a daily basis. But the experience is also valuable because it encourages important soft skill development — from effective communication to cross-functional collaboration.

When asked how well the opportunities offered in NIU’s business program nurtured and improved their soft skills in business, surveyed 2018 alumni gave a strong 9.1 average rating. Additionally, faculty support is strong at NIU. Alumni rated the business school faculty’s availability for informal discussions and mentoring outside of class at a strong 9.3 average rating and the quality of teaching in business courses at an 8.9 average rating.

EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING CENTER Experiential learning is a strong selling point for NIU’s College of Business. The B-school has a dedicated student consulting team called the Experiential Learning Center (ELC), where students act as consultants under the guidance of coaches (professors, instructors, and business professionals) and solve issues for organizations.

Students must apply for projects and are selected for teams of five to eight students.

The ELC experience is unique in that it offers a hands-on opportunity to gain experience in a variety of business facets including project management, communication, presentation, team building, leadership, and technical skills. Additionally, students work with real companies and organizations to solve real issues.

At many other B-schools, this type of experience is limited to a simulation or theoretical case studies. “[At] Experiential Learning Center, I was a consultant for a nonprofit for a semester and delivered a solution to their CEO at the end,” one 2018 alum reported. “(I) Worked with a Fortune 500 company on an ERP improvement project,” another 2018 alum recalled.

Overall, NIU’s College of Business is a good choice for anyone looking to actively apply their business education with real-world experience. Whether it’s through live consulting projects, running a business, or the Experiential Learning Center, NIU business students are given a variety of opportunities to truly learn by doing.

WHAT ALUMNI SAY “I interned for a company’s HR department which helped me decide to major in HR. I took a consulting class where I consulted for the College of Business on their brand which was a great way to engage with product development and how to work with stakeholders. I also completed a capstone project on socio-economics in Indonesia that allowed me to maintain a global focus while honing my research and analytical skills.”

“MGMT 444 was an expectational experience that really got me thinking more of how to gather data, understand it, and implement/recommend business solutions for business problems.”

“I was in a competitive entry class called Student Managed Portfolio that required an interview process for admission. It was a small class of only about 10-15 students and students were assigned to a S&P 500 sector. We were responsible for monitoring the sector and the holdings our portfolio had in that sector. We performed advanced analysis and were taught by the head of the finance department. This class gave me the confidence in my analytical abilities and the respect of peers/professors.”

THE BEST UNDERGRADUATE BUSINESS SCHOOLS 171

5401 PARK AVENUE, FAIRFIELD, CT 06825 ADMISSIONS OFFICE: 203-371-7880

Sacred Heart University

T $238,500 In-State Total Cost

freshman

Year When Students Declare Their Majors

61.5%

Acceptance Rate

1208

Average SAT

1.4%

International Students

16%

Underrepresent Minorities

61.4%

Class of 2020 accepting jobs 90 days after graduation

POETSANDQUANTSFORUNDERGRADS.COM

he Jack Welch College of Business & Technology at Sacred Heart University landed at No. 78 this year — falling slightly behind from last year’s 73rd place finish. The Jack Welch College had an acceptance rate of 61.51% and an average SAT score of 1208 this year.

Employment and internship outcomes took a significant hit, likely in large part due to the COVID-19 economic downturn. Some 61.40% of the Class of 2020 was able to secure a full-time position within three months of graduation, down from last year’s 92.50%. And 75% of the Class of 2020 landed at least one business-focused internship before graduating, compared to last year’s 91%.

Innovation is at the heart of the Jack Welch business experience.

With applied, interactive, and collaborative experiences, students are encouraged to think outside the box in solving business problems. The B-school’s state-of-the-art resources, intimate learning environment, and emphasis on both the hard and soft skills of business enable students to bring their ideas and passions to life.

STATE-OF-THE-ART RESOURCES Jack Welch business students have access to the following undergraduate majors: Management (Supply-chain, HR, Entrepreneurship, Sales, Global Entrepreneurship, Sales), Marketing (Digital), Sport Management, Finance (Corporate Finance, Investment Management Track, Private Wealth Management, Banking & Capital Markets), Business Economics (Global Economy Track, Strategic Decision Making Track, and Analytical Economics Track), Accounting (Analytics, Audit, Tax), Hospitality Management (Hotel/Resort Management, Tourism Management, Data Analytics Management), and Fashion Marketing and Merchandising (Fashion, Smart Retail).

One of the unique aspects of the Jack Welch College of Business & Technology is that the College of Business includes the School of Computer Science & Engineering, which allows the school to integrate more technology in every business major curriculum.

The B-school recently moved into a new building, the formal global headquarters for General Electric. Acquiring the new space allowed the college to create an Innovation Campus that includes state-of-the-art resources for students including an artificial intelligence lab, augmented reality lab, IDEA Lab, and an iHub co-working space.

INTIMATE & SUPPORTIVE ENVIRONMENT The Jack Welch College fosters an intimate and supportive learning environment. Class sizes are capped at 30 students and faculty often address students on a first-name basis. Surveyed 2018 alumni rated Jack Welch College faculty a strong 9.2 average rating in terms of their

Sacred Heart University availability for informal discussions and mentoring outside of class.

“You were treated like a professional and expected to act the same,” one 2018 alum told us. “The professors spoke to you as if you were equally qualified which made for a tremendous learning experience coupled with needed confidence.”

That support extends beyond the professors as well. All freshmen are paired with an upperclassman mentor and a set mentorship curriculum that is to be completed in both the fall and spring semesters as part of the “Freshman First-Year Experience.” Mentors essentially ensure each incoming freshman gets the support and guidance they need to seamlessly transition into college life, from connecting them to on-campus organizations to introducing them to the Career Development and Placement Center, where they can get support in resume and interview preparation.

Having an environment of strong support and mentorship is key to not only ensuring students feel at home but also to fostering a community where students feel comfortable connecting with one another. The intimate and supportive community at Jack Welch College goes hand-in-hand with the school’s innovation-focused approach as students can easily collaborate with one another through one of the college’s many innovation hubs or centers.

WHAT ALUMNI SAY “It really prepared me for the business world in terms of working in a team environment to complete the task at the given deadline.”

“Class sizes small and able to connect with professors personally.”

“Taught a lot about developing software, project management, and presentation skills.”

COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH TO BUSINESS The Jack Welch College emphasizes a comprehensive approach to learning business. Students are challenged to learn both the hard and soft skills through intensive capstone projects. The capstone projects often require students to apply analytical skills and work effectively amongst a team. Surveyed 2018 alumni rated the B-school’s opportunities to nurture and improve their soft skills in business at an 8.4 average rating.

“The experience was to analyze troubled companies, or those at risk of bankruptcy, on a fundamental, legal, strategic level,” one 2018 alum said. “What made this unique is rather than spending our time marveling at the companies performing so well we instead analyzed what companies were doing wrong and how they could improve. It has certainly been interesting to see how our theses have panned out over the years.”

“In undergrad, we had a strategic management class that served as a capstone course,” another 2018 alum reported. “It captured many different areas of the business program. We were able to utilize skills and knowledge from all courses and execute a semester-long assignment. In grad school for the accounting program, we had the option of taking a forensic or international concentration. With the forensic route, we took on the task of valuing a business based on certified valuators’ guidelines. Both equally incorporated a great deal of teamwork and delegating tasks, working with deadlines, utilizing business skill and subject presentation.”

With the B-school’s state-of-the-art resources, intimate and supportive community, and comprehensive approach to business, Jack Welch undergraduates are given the perfect environment to learn, collaborate and, most importantly, innovate.

THE BEST UNDERGRADUATE BUSINESS SCHOOLS 173

149 HOFSTRA UNIVERSITY, HEMPSTEAD, NY 11549 ADMISSIONS OFFICE: 516-463-9272

Hofstra University

H $228,908 In-State Total Cost

Freshman

Year When Students Declare Their Majors

69%

Acceptance Rate

1206

Average SAT

7%

International Students

28%

Underrepresent Minorities

71.4%

Class of 2020 accepting jobs 90 days after graduation

POETSANDQUANTSFORUNDERGRADS.COM

ofstra University’s Zarb School of Business landed at No. 79 this year, falling behind nine spots from last year’s rank of 70th. The Long Island-based B-school had an acceptance rate this year of 89.55% and an average SAT score of 1206.

Despite falling behind this year, the Zarb School of Business managed to see modest jumps in both employment and internship outcomes.

Some 71.43% of the Class of 2020 secured full-time employment within three months of graduation, up from last year’s 68.12%. Internship prospects saw a significant increase with 77% of the Class of 2020 landing at least one business-focused internship before graduating, up from last year’s 68%. The Zarb School offers a fully integrated business education that is characterized by strong business community engagement and expansive global opportunities.

INTEGRATED APPROACH TO BUSINESS Undergraduate students at the Zarb School get a truly integrated approach to learning business. Coursework throughout the undergraduate degree program emphasizes how all business disciplines contribute to the success of an organization. The Zarb School offers nine undergraduate majors including Accounting, Business Analytics, Entrepreneurship, Finance, Information Systems, International Business, Management, Marketing, and Supply Chain Management.

All undergraduates are required to take “Business and SocietyFoundations for Professional Development,” a course that exposes students to concepts across all business disciplines and familiarizes students with the role that business serves in society. In their senior year, students take “Business Policy and Strategy,” another integrated business course where students engage in consulting projects.

Overall, Zarb alumni view their undergraduate business education rather positively with surveyed 2018 alumni rating the quality of teaching in business courses an 8.2 average rating. Zarb School faculty also received high remarks for their availability for informal discussions and mentoring outside of class with an 8.7 average rating.

The Zarb School offers a number of opportunities for students to engage with business professionals. Through the B-school’s alumni network and strong corporate partnerships, students engage with senior-level executives at speaker series and conferences arranged by the school’s research centers.

The Zarb Leadership Series is one prime example. The annual event is hosted in New York City and has featured lectures by CEOs including Ajay Banga of Mastercard; Roger Ferguson of TIAA and Michael Dowling of Northwell Health. Beyond speaker series, a number of courses also feature a component of business community engagement — from meeting finance professionals to visiting advertising agencies.

Hofstra University “I took a January session course called Money and Capital Markets taught by Dean Bales,” one 2018 alum told us. “We were lucky enough to go into the city for five of the course days and meet with industry professionals. I felt that those discussions really gave me an inside look at the finance industry that you don’t get in a classroom.”

These engagements, both through speaker series and class trips, give students insight into potential careers that they may be interested in while also providing them with unique opportunities to network and connect with the business community.

The Zarb School’s strong corporate partnerships also enable a number of resources for its student and faculty community from training workshops to unique courses. The B-school recently partnered with IBM Skills Academy to provide students and faculty access to some of IBM’s cutting-edge technology, resources, and training material. Additionally, through the IBM partnership, the Zarb School recently launched a new course in data science, “Fundamentals of Design Thinking and Data Science.” By completing the course, students earn an IBM badge that proves competency in areas of data science.

EXPANSIVE GLOBAL OPPORTUNITIES Students at the Zarb School have a number of opportunities year-round to travel and learn business from a global perspective.

Courses in Global Entrepreneurial Consulting, each with a different country of focus, are offered every spring semester. Students work virtually with entrepreneurs in the focus country and visit the country during their spring break. Past focus countries have included South Africa, South Korea, Ireland, and Israel. Students can also partake in the school’s dual degree program with Dongbei University of Finance and Economics, where they spend six weeks in an internship in China.

The Zarb School’s global opportunities offer students unique opportunities to not only see another culture but also gain professional work experience in a foreign country. Having that global work experience can be a huge asset when it comes time to apply for jobs that require an understanding of how businesses operate outside of the U.S. “I participated in the Dual degree program with Dongbei University of Finance and Economics in Dalian China,” one 2018 alum recalled. “The program gave me exposure to foreign professors and work environments helping to prepare me to work for a global bank.”

From an integrated education to strong business community engagement and global opportunities, the Zarb School takes students out into the real world to give them a sense of how they too can make their mark.

WHAT ALUMNI SAY “I spent a semester abroad at the University of Valencia in Spain, as part of Zarb’s suite of exchange program offerings.

I was able to take coursework that fulfilled my BBA requirements, while also enriching my business education with international perspectives. At the same time, I got to explore a new country and culture - an enormously fulfilling personal experience, and one that increased the value of my education tenfold!”

“Dual Degree Program - gave me a second business degree that was international. This degree helps me stand out in my job search as it is not a common opportunity provided across other universities.”

“I participated in a Consulting Case Competition my senior year, which Zarb’s management department hosted in partnership with GEICO. It was a unique, hands-on way to explore many of the topics we’d learned in the classroom while addressing real-life issues faced by a large and enormously successful firm.”

THE BEST UNDERGRADUATE BUSINESS SCHOOLS 175

2100 NEIL AVENUE, COLUMBUS, OH 43210 ADMISSIONS OFFICE: 614-292-2715

Ohio State University

T $116,765 In-State Total Cost

Freshman

Year When Students Declare Their Majors

61%

Acceptance Rate

1308

Average SAT

1%

International Students

13%

Underrepresent Minorities

81.8%

Class of 2020 accepting jobs 90 days after graduation

POETSANDQUANTSFORUNDERGRADS.COM

he Ohio State University’s Fisher College of Business came in at No. 80 in this year’s rankings. The Fisher College improved seven spots from last year’s 87th-place finish with an acceptance rate this year of 61.13% and an average SAT score of 1308.

Employment-wise, Fisher College saw a slight dip with 81.82% of its Class of 2020 securing full-time employment within three months of graduation, down roughly four percentage points from last year’s 85.19%. Internship outcomes remained strong with 96% of the Class of 2020 landing business-focused internships before graduating, unchanged from last year. The B-school also received high ratings from alumni who gave a strong 9.0 average rating when asked if they believed their business degree assisted them in climbing to a new socioeconomic status. However, Fisher did not meet the minimum alumni response rate, so it did not receive a full score in the academic experience methodological category.

Fisher College offers a business education that emphasizes real-world learning. The B-school’s quality faculty, strong honors program, and unique experiential learning opportunities are a few of the aspects that make Fisher College worth considering.

Fisher College offers one degree: a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration. Students, however, can choose from 14 different specializations. Faculty received positive remarks from surveyed alumni who rated the quality of teaching in business courses an 8.6 average rating. Alumni also rated faculty availability for informal discussions and mentoring outside of class a strong 9.1 average rating. “I felt that the undergraduate professors challenged us in a way that few schools did, and also were extremely effective at teaching material,” one 2018 alum told us.

HONORS COHORT PROGRAM The Honors Cohort program at Fisher College is a selective leadership program for 60 select students. A two-year experience, the program focuses on four pillars including action-based learning, service, global business acumen, and leadership and teamwork.

The program is unique in that it, in many ways, offers an MBAlike experience for accomplished undergraduate students through its intensive curriculum, leadership development, and unique opportunities. The cohort experience features company consulting projects, domestic business trips to Chicago and San Francisco, community service projects, international business trips, and leadership opportunities — to name a few.

“After graduating and working for an employer that recruits almost solely from Ivy League universities, I’ve heard my colleagues’ undergrad experiences, and I strongly believe that the Honors Cohort

Ohio State University Program is the best undergraduate Honors business program in the country,” one 2018 alum said. “The program’s ability to bring intellectual rigor, experiential learning, community service, alumni and corporate engagement, global experiences, and lifelong friendships all into one program is truly unparalleled.” “[The Honors Cohort Program] provided countless opportunities to learn from high-achieving peers, travel to meet and network with professionals from countless different industries, hone my soft skills, and even prepare for crisis type situations that will occur within my career,” said another 2018 alum.

REAL-WORLD EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING Fisher College emphasizes real-world learning with a number of opportunities, both in and out of the classroom, for students to apply their business knowledge. The Six Sigma Green Belt project is a prime example of the type of experiential learning at Fisher College. Six Sigma, famously utilized by General Electric, is a set of techniques and tools utilized to improve a process. At Fisher College, undergraduates have a unique opportunity to learn these techniques and tools by working on projects for local companies. Upon completion, students can earn Lean Six Sigma Belt certifications.

“I was engaged in an MRP Simulation and a SixSigma Green Belt project and they were both very well run and taught a lot about project management and how to apply class learnings to the real and simulated world,” one 2018 alum recalled.

Outside of Six Sigma, a number of courses across Fisher College majors also provide strong, real-world learning opportunities for students. Surveyed 2018 alumni highlighted a variety of experiential projects that they say gave them a real-world understanding of their field — from marketing to entrepreneurship.

“For my marketing capstone course, we were tasked with creating and presenting a full-service marketing plan for Root Insurance Company,” one 2018 alum reported. “This provided a level of real-world experience that is unmatched. I have been able to take that experience and bring it to the table when working with major partners of Stewart-Haas Racing on a daily basis.”

“My minor, Entrepreneurship & Innovation, provided me with the opportunity to ideate and launch a start-up in a mock academic environment as a capstone project,” another 2018 alum said. “This project was guided by two university faculty that were venture capitalists by trade, and they taught me how to think like a scrappy start-up CEO. I now work for an exciting, high-growth technology start-up, and I owe a massive debt of gratitude to my university and its faculty for instilling in me the entrepreneurial spirit that led me here.”

Real-world learning is at the heart of the Fisher College experience. Whether it’s through the MBA-like honors program or one of the many experiential learning projects, Fisher students are masters of their trade by the time they graduate into the real world.

WHAT ALUMNI SAY “I was a member of the Dean’s Leadership Academy and the Fisher Leadership Initiative. Both of these were experiential leadership learning opportunities that, I believe, prepared me more for the working world than did my core courses.”

“I worked within the Business School prior to my final year of Undergrad and was given the opportunity to partner with faculty on various projects, including a research project centered around data mining of Pharmaceutical companies.”

“I was involved in the Buckeye Undergraduate Consulting Club (BUCC) through the Fisher College of Business where we partnered with real companies to solve various business problems.”

THE BEST UNDERGRADUATE BUSINESS SCHOOLS 177

550 S LIMESTONE, LEXINGTON, KY 40506 ADMISSIONS OFFICE: 859-257-6539

University Of Kentucky

T $92,135

In-State Total Cost

Junior

Year When Students Declare Their Majors

84.5%

Acceptance Rate

981

Average SAT

6.1%

International Students

9.1%

Underrepresent Minorities

58.9%

Class of 2020 accepting jobs 90 days after graduation

POETSANDQUANTSFORUNDERGRADS.COM

he University of Kentucky’s Gatton College of Business and Economics landed at No. 81 in this year’s rankings. Gatton College slipped four spots from last year’s 77th-place finish. The B-school had an acceptance rate this year of 84.54% and an average SAT score of 981. Gatton saw a dip in employment outcomes this year, with 58.90% of the Class of 2020 securing full-time employment within three months of graduation, down almost seven percentage points from last year’s 65.71%. Some 71% of Gatton’s Class of 2020 landed a business-focused internship before graduating.

Despite falling a bit in this year’s rankings, Gatton College still offers a quality undergraduate business education that is best characterized by its supportive faculty, strong Global Scholars program, and projectbased learning.

STRONG FACULTY SUPPORT Gatton undergraduates have access to six majors including Accounting, Economics, Finance, Management, Marketing, and General Business. The B-school also recently added a new Business Analytics minor to its portfolio of minors which also include: Business, Economics, and International Business. Gatton faculty were rated positively amongst surveyed 2018 Gatton alumni who gave the quality of teaching in Gatton courses an 8.4 average rating. 2018 alumni also rated Gatton faculty availability for informal discussions and mentoring outside of class an 8.6 average rating.

In survey responses, 2018 Gatton alumni specifically highlighted the effectiveness of Gatton professors’ teaching and how large of a role they played in students’ development. Having quality course content or projects is one thing, but having supportive professors who challenge students to excel and grow is another. At Gatton, it seems students truly have the benefits of both impactful project material and high-caliber faculty.

“Every economics major took a capstone course over one of five topics, and the end assignment was a 15-20 page term paper plus a presentation over a subtopic related to the course,” one 2018 alum told us. “The uniqueness was that the instructor gave us constant feedback on both the topic we were writing about and ways to make both the paper and the presentation better (accomplished by using two class sessions as checkpoints where we presented what we had to that point).”

GLOBAL SCHOLARS PROGRAM One of the unique offerings at Gatton College is the school’s Global Scholars Program, a four-year honors program for high-achieving students interested in leadership and international business.

University of Kentucky What makes Global Scholars unique is just how much the program packs into its offering. Each Global Scholar student studies abroad for at least one semester and completes a minor in International Business. Global Scholar students are required to take cohorted classes on top of their other coursework and extracurricular activities. The program curriculum includes course topics ranging from “Leadership in the Global Marketplace” to “Intercultural Business Communication” and “International Trade.” From the program’s intensive curriculum to its study abroad component, students are given immense opportunities to truly develop a global business perspective with necessary leadership and professional skills.

“I was a part of the Global Scholars Program, which was a four-year program focusing on cross-cultural learning and communications,” one 2018 alum reported. “Throughout the program, there were various projects, international mentoring opportunities, as well as a study abroad component. I was completely immersed in the French way of life when I spent a semester in Dijon. It was an amazing and life-changing experience.”

PROJECT-BASED LEARNING Projects are a cornerstone of the Gatton undergraduate experience.

Through these projects, students are challenged to apply their knowledge to real-world situations while gaining valuable soft skills such as clear communication and effective teamwork. Surveyed 2018 Gatton alumni highlighted a variety of projects — from specialized research to capstones — that they say were significant to their undergraduate education.

“I was chosen to participate in undergraduate research through the marketing department at my school, as a freshman,” one 2018 alum recalled. “I continued to work in the department until I graduated, as it transformed the way I viewed business. Through research, I was able to discover the scientific side of business and better understand the impact of appropriate data collection and consumer behavior on business. In the role, I was able to use high tech, cutting edge equipment to gather data and learn how to effectively code it, both in quantitative and qualitative form. I completed my capstone in consumer behavior research, which gave me the opportunity to design and carry out a marketing experiment on my own. Having a background in research has opened so many doors for me and helped me think more complexly about the issues facing businesses today.”

“We had a start-up company project that forced us to create a company and work through a business plan,” said another 2018 alum. “It was insightful and helped us increase our team-building skills.”

With comprehensive project work, a supportive faculty, and a strong leadership program, Gatton students are given a stellar foundation to develop and meet their full potential.

WHAT ALUMNI SAY “Capstone project for Environmental Justice economics. I studied a contaminated site in my hometown and researched the changes that occurred in the town both before and after the completion of the project.

It was great to combine my passion for cleaning and caring for the environment, and being able to study the direct impacts that I watched unfold in my hometown during my childhood years.”

“Created a marketing-focused business plan for Lululemon. This included thinking of creative promotional mix ideas (advertising, promo, etc), pricing, logistics, organizational structure, and buying systems. This was unique because it made students think of the big picture and all that goes into creating a plan.”

“I was a part of the Gatton Women Business Leaders program and it was pivotal to my career, it introduced me to many female alumni that mentored me and were the networking reason for my current career. I also was a part of the Global Scholars Program that was key in developing necessary skills, as well as experience with international business and networking.”

THE BEST UNDERGRADUATE BUSINESS SCHOOLS 179

CAMERON HALL, 601 S COLLEGE RD, WILMINGTON, NC 28403 ADMISSIONS OFFICE: 910-962-3226

University Of North Carolina At Wilmington

T $103,020 In-State Total Cost

Junior

Year When Students Declare Their Majors

68%

Acceptance Rate

1186

Average SAT

N/A

International Students

N/A

Underrepresent Minorities

35.4%

Class of 2020 accepting jobs 90 days after graduation

POETSANDQUANTSFORUNDERGRADS.COM

he University of North Carolina-Wilmington’s Cameron School of Business ranked at No. 82 in this year’s rankings — plummeting 23 spots from last year’s 59th-place finish, thanks to much lower employment outcomes this year compared to last year.

The Cameron School of Business had an acceptance rate of 67.79% this year and an average SAT score of 1186. The B-school took a significant hit in employment outcomes with only 35.37% of its Class of 2020 securing full-time employment within three months of graduation, down nearly 61 percentage points from last year’s employment outcome of 96.67% — although this may in large part be attributed to the COVID-19 economic downturn. Internship outcomes, on the other hand, saw a bump with 61% of the Class of 2020 landing a business-focused internship before graduating, up from last year’s 57%.

While the Cameron School of Business ranked lower this year, its undergraduate business program is still a worthy contender for prospective applicants. With its experiential project work and expansive global experiences, the Cameron School of Business offers a strong undergraduate program that challenges students to learn and grow.

EXPERIENTIAL PROJECT WORK The Cameron School business education places a strong emphasis on project work. Students work on a variety of projects that not only help develop their hard business skills but also their soft skills and creativity.

Surveyed 2018 alumni rated the opportunities given to them in the business program to nurture and improve soft skills in business (such as verbal and written communication skills, adaptability, delegation, time management) a strong 8.6 average rating.

“My senior capstone course was intriguing and challenging,” one 2018 alum told us. “For our final project, we were required to create an art project & essay that represented a business strategy that we had covered over the semester. Some students chose singing or performing a skit. I chose to demonstrate the strategic alliance between a whale shark and remora in a painting. This project was unique by challenging us to be creative and practical skills that weren’t necessarily encouraged throughout our typical business courses.”

“My capstone project really made me consider all areas of business that I had learned about all throughout my time in school,” another 2018 alum said. “And working with others on a large project helped mimic teamwork in a career.”

STRONG GLOBAL EXPERIENCES Global learning is one of the main offerings that makes the Cameron School of Business attractive. Students have a number of opportunities

University of North Carolina At Wilmington to travel abroad and challenge themselves — both on a professional and personal level.

The Prague Consulting Project is a three-credit course that provides an opportunity for students to engage in a real-life consulting project for a client in the Czech Republic. The 2019 class traveled to Prague to present an in-depth marketing and financial analysis for an emerging sports energy drink company. The valuable consulting project experience of this course is a prime example of what makes the global learning experience at the Cameron School of Business unique. Many other B-schools offer consulting projects for real clients, but few offer such projects in a foreign country.

“I was engaged in several signature experiences through our business school (honors thesis project, hands-on stock market experience with real funds, study abroad, and a consulting project for a company in Prague),” one 2018 alum recalled. “The most impactful project for me was the consulting project. We spent 8 intense weeks researching and building our presentation to help solve an issue for a company in Prague. Then we traveled to Prague to present our findings to the company. I was one of the presenters, and the experience is one I will never forget. I learned so much about forecasting finances and developing marketing plans, but also about professional decorum and public speaking. Every employer I spoke with about this project was incredibly impressed, and I believe this experience played a big role in helping me to get a job.”

Students looking for a more traditional study abroad program can choose from one of many partner universities around the globe from schools in France to China.

“I studied abroad at the KEDGE Business School in Marseille, France both as a business school endeavor and because I was minoring in the French language. The experience of studying abroad completely changed my outlook on life, learning, and growing into real-life experiences,” another 2018 alum reported. “The opportunity allowed me to be taught by foreign teachers and learn a new way of thinking. I also was forced into situations where I had to make new friends and connections and learn to live with what I had. I had never been placed in a situation where I was so responsible for myself, more on the learning side of being in a foreign place.”

Overall, what makes the Cameron School of Business unique are the variety of experiential projects and the global learning opportunities available to undergraduates. Whether it’s through an art project of a business strategy or a study abroad program in France, Cameron students aren’t just on a path of learning business, but also a bit about themselves as well.

WHAT ALUMNI SAY “I was involved in many experiences, from the Prague project to the Fed Challenge team.

These experiences, generally, were teambased and helped me to connect and meet with some of the other great personalities and minds on campus. It was absolutely enthralling, inspiring, and helped me to grow as a student and person.”

“The capstone project allowed us to select a large company and do research and make projections on their next strategic moves. My team and I accurately predicted that Disney would launch its own subscription streaming service.”

“I was in a global immersion learning experience when studying abroad with the business school at UNCW. I studied in the United Kingdom- University of Hertfordshire. In addition, I attended two years of the business schools trip to New York City to engage with numerous financial institutions and alumni in the metro area.”

THE BEST UNDERGRADUATE BUSINESS SCHOOLS 181

2751 SW JEFFERSON WAY, CORVALLIS, OR 97331 ADMISSIONS OFFICE: 541-737-2551

Oregon State University

O $117,228 In-State Total Cost

freshman

Year When Students Declare Their Majors

91.7%

Acceptance Rate

1118

Average SAT

7%

International Students

29%

Underrepresent Minorities

63.2%

Class of 2020 accepting jobs 90 days after graduation

POETSANDQUANTSFORUNDERGRADS.COM

regon State University’s College of Business ranked at No. 83 this year — climbing one spot from last year’s 84th-place finish. The B-school had a 91.66% acceptance rate and an average SAT score of 1118 this year. Employment outcomes saw a drop (likely attributed to the COVID-19 economic downturn) with 63.22% of the Class of 2020 securing full-time employment within three months of graduation, down from last year’s 79.12%. On the other hand, internship placements saw an increase with 79% of the Class of 2020 landing a businessfocused internship before graduating — an improvement from last year’s 77%.

At Oregon State University’s College of Business, students are given a comprehensive education that guides them from the day they step foot onto campus to the day they embark on their career. With a strong blueprint curriculum and a variety of real-life experiences, students are given a clear path to a meaningful career.

THE BLUEPRINT MODEL The College of Business offers 12 undergraduate business and design majors including Accounting, Apparel Design, Business Administration, Business Analytics, Business Information Systems, Design & Innovation Management, Finance, Hospitality Management, Innovation Management, Interior Design, Management, Marketing, Merchandising Management, and Supply Chain and Logistics Management.

One of the highlights of the undergraduate business program is Blueprint, a required 12-course series on professional and leadership development and financial literacy. The Blueprint curriculum follows an education-to-career model to provide a strong foundation for every business student. Students take one course each term every year until graduation with topics and projects including financial literacy, running a microenterprise, and competing in a college-wide case competition.

What makes the Blueprint model unique is its focus on work-based learning and transferable skills. Students develop key soft skills such as adaptability, teamwork, and communication. Additionally, Blueprint coursework is designed around NACE career competencies, a definitive guide of key competencies and career readiness. Since its launch in 2017, Blueprint has been well-received. The model was awarded a competitive $775,000 grant from the Strada Education Network and received praise at the AACSB’s Redesigning the Undergraduate Curriculum conference in May of 2019 and the 2019 Western Association of Collegiate Schools of Business (WACSB) conference.

Another benefit to the Blueprint model is the support that students receive throughout their undergraduate business education. Since they are required to take one course per term until graduation, students get direct and consistent support from faculty and staff. Overall, business

Oregon State University school faculty received a strong 8.5 average rating from surveyed 2018 alumni in terms of their availability for informal discussions and mentoring outside of class.

“Through it all, we had the support of excellent professors, and they fostered an outstanding sense of teamwork amongst all students,” one 2018 alum told us.

REAL-LIFE EXPERIENCES Students at Oregon State have a variety of opportunities to gain real-life experience both in the classroom and out. Course projects often require students to work in teams and solve a real business problem.

“Every case study and project I worked on helped me think outside the box and encounter real problems companies face.

This really helped my problem-solving skills and future planning strategies,” one 2018 alum said.

“In our Statistical Demand planning and forecast project, we worked with real data from a local company that our class had partnered with,” another 2018 alum reported. “It was unique in that we were using real-life data and information and the highly analytical side of business was something I thoroughly enjoyed. I feel it prepared me for the workforce by giving me the experience and confidence to not shy away from quantitative business problems.”

“The level of ‘real-life’ experiences at the instructional level were invaluable,” another 2018 alum said. “We were exposed to things that today’s employers are looking for in new hires.”

A number of surveyed 2018 alumni also highlighted the valuable experience they gained from the Oregon State Investment Group, a student-led asset management organization that manages approximately $2.5 million of assets.

“I was in the Oregon State Investment Group,” one 2018 alum told us. “It was a unique experience due to the Group’s very strong network nationally and intense hands-on learning environment. The Group also provided exposure to the type of work that’s completed in great finance career paths.”

“We were entirely student-led and invested the funds across three long-only portfolios,” another 2018 alum recalled. “This hands-on learning experience was the best thing for my career and time in college. It also gave me a community of classmates and dedicated alumni who pushed me to end up where I am today. I truly could not speak higher of any other organization/activity I’ve participated in. I would not be where I am today if it wasn’t for this group.”

Whether in-class projects or extracurricular activities, students at Oregon State are learning how to conduct business in real-world settings while also building important soft skills. Additionally, with the B-school’s comprehensive and supportive Blueprint model, they’re given a strong foundation in professional and leadership development and financial literacy. By the time Oregon State students graduate from campus and into the real world, they’ll be ready for anything and everything that comes their way.

WHAT ALUMNI SAY “Working on an actual use case that the College of Business was dealing with helped me understand real-world applications of software and process development.”

“Oregon State Investment Group was by far the most real-world application and useful experience I had at OSU.” “Our faculty was exceptional at building a project that allowed us the flexibility to achieve a goal we essentially set for ourselves around the project parameters. Each group programmed and executed a different part of the overall project that we presented to a real-life client.”

THE BEST UNDERGRADUATE BUSINESS SCHOOLS 183

10 WATAUGA CLUB DRIVE, RALEIGH, NC 27607 ADMISSIONS OFFICE: 919-515-2434

North Carolina State University

D $33,653

In-State Total Cost

Freshman

Year When Students Declare Their Majors

38.6%

Acceptance Rate

1283

Average SAT

3.7%

International Students

13.5%

Underrepresent Minorities

65.3%

Class of 2020 accepting jobs 90 days after graduation

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ebuting in our Best Undergraduate Rankings at No. 84 is the Poole College of Management at North Carolina State University. Poole finished 43rd in Admissions Standards and 75th in Employment Outcomes but failed to meet the minimum response rate in the alumni survey and was penalized to 89th place in the Academic Experience category.

Still, North Carolina State is a top university in an exciting area of the country. Poole offers degrees in accounting and economics along with the traditional business administration degree. Within the BBA degree, students can pick from six concentrations including entrepreneurship, finance, human resource management, information technology, marketing, and operations/supply chain management. The four-year program allows freshmen to start business courses during their first year.

BUSINESS ANALYTICS COURSE REQUIRED AMONG ALL BUSINESS STUDENTS Regardless of degree or concentration, all students are now required to take a business analytics course. A SAS course is also required among all business majors. The school has also recently made diversity and inclusion integral pieces of the business education experience and have baked those ideas and ideals into its curriculum and the co-curriculum.

“We are focusing on developing an inclusive mindset for our students and are integrating aspects of that into the curriculum and the cocurriculum,” the school reported, “we completely revised our first-year course to include identity development and inclusive awareness.”

SENIOR PRACTICUM COURSES POPULAR AMONG RECENT GRADUATES According to the alumni survey, which surveyed the graduating Class of 2018, the senior practicum courses were most popular among recent graduates.

“I was enrolled in a practicum course that involved working on a project with an external company that was partnered with the college,” one alum said. “It provided real-world experience to students, as the project work was equivalent to items that you would have done as an intern for that specific company.”

The senior capstone project was also popular among surveyed alumni.

“I did a capstone thesis on public choice principles in the redistributing process,” one 2018 alum said in the alumni survey.

“Stephen Margolis was my advisor. The critical thinking skills were exceptional.”

Said another: “The final capstone project involved consulting for a

North Carolina State University local restaurant and helping to improve their staffing strategy. This data was compiled into a presentation. The business we worked with, and the complex nature of their issues made it unique.”

NC State’s Poole College also features many different global programs and opportunities.

EMPLOYMENT OUTCOMES Some 79.4% of the graduating Class of 2020 had at least one business-focused internship by graduation. However, just 65.26% of the Class of 2020 had accepted a full-time job offer within three months of graduation. Many schools have seen a decrease in the rate of students accepting jobs immediately after graduation, but that rate is also low compared to other schools participating in this year’s ranking, with just nine schools reporting lower rates. Those accepting full-time positions reported a starting average salary of $57,271.

WHAT ALUMNI SAY “I was enrolled in a practicum course that involved working on a project with an external company that was partnered with the college. It provided real-world experience to students, as the project work was equivalent to items that you would have done as an intern for that specific company.”

“I did a capstone thesis on public choice principles in the redistributing process.

Stephen Margolis was my advisor. The critical thinking skills were exceptional.”

“The final capstone project involved consulting for a local restaurant and helping to improve their staffing strategy. This data was compiled into a presentation. The business we worked with, and the complex nature of their issues made it unique.”

THE BEST UNDERGRADUATE BUSINESS SCHOOLS 185

DUQUES HALL 2201 G ST NW, WASHINGTON D.C., 20052 ADMISSIONS OFFICE: 202-994-6040

George Washington University

G $283,980 In-State Total Cost

freshman

Year When Students Declare Their Majors

37.4%

Acceptance Rate

1304

Average SAT

15%

International Students

22.9%

Underrepresent Minorities

85.1%

Class of 2020 accepting jobs 90 days after graduation

eorge Washington University’s School of Business landed at No. 85 in this year’s rankings — improving one spot from last year’s rank at No. 86. The School of Business had an acceptance rate of 37.37% and an average SAT score of 1304 this year. Employment-wise, 85.14% of the Class of 2020 secured full-time employment within three months of graduation, relatively in line with last year’s 85%. Internship outcomes for the Class of 2020 were not available.

Located in Washington, D.C., GW offers a quality undergraduate business education with its hands-on curriculum, unique connections to the nation’s capital city, and strong academic and professional development.

ONE DEGREE, SIX CONCENTRATIONS Beginning in Fall 2020, all new students enrolling in the School of Business will have the Bachelor of Science as their degree in one of six majors including Accountancy, Business, Business Analytics, Finance, Information Systems Technology, and Marketing. The B-school also offers the option of earning a bachelor’s and master’s degree in five years through its 4+1 Program.

Global business is an integral part of the GW undergraduate business education with over a dozen courses in international business and more than 20 devoted faculty members. All undergraduate business students are required to take two international business courses as part of their business core: The Age of Globalization and Introduction to International Business. Students are also required to take at least one international business course as part of their concentration.

But what truly makes GW’s global business program strong is how informative and hands-on the curriculum is. Courses often feature active learning with a strong emphasis on soft skills such as collaboration and communication. Opportunities at GW’s School of Business for soft skill development were rated the highest amongst all other categories with surveyed 2018 alumni giving a 9.4 average rating.

“I took a class called ‘Managing in Developing Countries,’” one 2018 alum told us. “At the beginning of the semester, we were placed into groups and chose a developing country. While learning about business challenges/opportunities/strategies for developing countries, we produced a business plan for a product we thought could succeed in our assigned countries. We pitched these at the end in a case-style competition. I found the class formative and thoroughly enjoyed the project as it directly relates to my interest in emerging markets.”

UNIQUE ACCESS TO NATION’S CAPITAL CITY GW’s prime location in Washington, D.C. offers students access

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George Washington University to unique opportunities and established relationships with the International Monetary Fund, World Bank, and US State Department (all of which are within a few blocks of campus). Students often conduct research and intern at financial institutions, consulting firms, policy institutes, and on the Hill.

To connect students with alumni and prospective employers, GW’s F. David Fowler Career Center hosts DC Career Treks in the Spring semester, one-day experiences for students to connect with alumni and prospective employers in fields such as Accounting, Consulting, Finance, and Real Estate. Overall, surveyed 2018 GW alumni tend to appraise the B-school’s efforts to connect them with practicing professionals, including the alumni network, in the business community rather positively with an 8.5 average rating.

4-YEAR STRATEGY FOR SUCCESS One of the strong selling points of GW’s School of Business is the 4-year Strategy for Success, a comprehensive plan for academic, personal, and professional development. Each year, students are guided through a series of tasks, activities, and events to support them throughout their development as students, leaders, and professionals.

Freshman year consists of an introduction to the B-school curriculum as well as what resources and co-curricular activities are available. Students also begin their professional development by creating a resume and cover letter and learning the fundamentals of networking.

Sophomore year, students declare their major and start to take an active role in co-curricular activities including student organizations and community work. The second-year also includes a case study competition and exploration of research opportunities. On the career front, sophomores begin developing their own marketing plan, researching and registering for professional development resources such as the Career Management Strategy Course and the Career Leader Assessment, and applying for internships and externships.

In their junior year, students start taking on more leadership opportunities within student organizations and begin researching and considering graduate school options. Professional development intensifies as many students plan to secure internships in their third year.

Senior year, students start preparing for graduation and decide on graduate school as an option. Seniors meet with career coaches and attend career events from fairs to workshops with the plan of securing a full-time position before graduating.

Surveyed 2018 alumni appraised the effectiveness of the B-school’s career advising as rather positively with an 8.2 average rating.

Among the 2018 alumni that were surveyed, 100% report that their first job after graduating was in their desired industry. Some 82.61% of those surveyed reported that their first job was at their desired company.

Overall, GW’s School of Business provides a stellar undergraduate business education. With its hands-on curriculum, unique connections to D.C., and 4-year strategy, students are given a rich and comprehensive education that sets them up for personal and professional success.

WHAT ALUMNI SAY “I attended exchange programs in both Korea and Singapore. Being able to study in top universities at different places brought me perspectives that I didn’t have.”

“Although I wasn’t part of the capstone or more specialized GWSB academic programs, I was highly involved in the advising and programs offices. This gave me great immersive experiences and a high level of activity with the school itself.”

“Guest speakers from the top of major entities like IMF, Supreme Count, etc.”

THE BEST UNDERGRADUATE BUSINESS SCHOOLS 187

11200 SW 8TH ST, MIAMI, FL 33174 ADMISSIONS OFFICE: 305-348-0051

Florida International University

F $93,504

In-State Total Cost

Freshman

Year When Students Declare Their Majors

41%

Acceptance Rate

1204

Average SAT

19%

International Students

65%

Underrepresent Minorities

78.8%

Class of 2020 accepting jobs 90 days after graduation

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lorida International University’s College of Business landed at No. 86 in this year’s rankings — falling four spots from last year’s 82ndplace finish. The B-school had an acceptance rate of 41.17% and an average SAT score of 1204 this year. Employment outcomes saw an increase, despite the challenges of the COVID-19 economic downturn, with 78.76% of the Class of 2020 securing full-time employment at the time of graduation — up from last year’s 66.22%. Internship outcomes remained unchanged at 29%.

Located in Miami, the Florida International College of Business takes advantage of the dynamic business environment. The undergraduate business program emphasizes hands-on learning, community involvement, and a global perspective.

HANDS-ON LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES Florida International offers 10 undergraduate business majors including Accounting, Finance, Human Resource Management, International Business, Management, Management Information Systems, Real Estate, Marketing, Logistics and Supply Chain Management, and Business Analytics. Hands-on learning is at the core of Florida International’s education. Each major’s curriculum often includes some element of experiential learning whether through project work or simulations.

Florida International alumni tend to view these opportunities relatively well with surveyed 2018 alumni rating the opportunities in the business program to nurture and improve their soft skills in business at an 8.2 average rating. Extra-curricular opportunities in the business program that nurture and improve hard skills in business received an 8.3 average rating. “Each course had project work, case studies, and a global perspective on business and helped develop each student as a leader in their field,” one 2018 alum told us.

“The capstone project for my program BBA (Finance) was a financial analysis of a Fortune 500 company,” another 2018 alum said. “It was unique in that I never had done such an analysis before, and it was a great introduction towards understanding how analysts use information to plot useful information for other managers/decision-makers.”

Hands-on learning not only provides students with strong skill development but also a realistic understanding of what potential careers or industries are like. A number of surveyed 2018 alumni highlighted how the hands-on learning opportunities at Florida International gave them valuable insight and experience in their chosen field.

“During my time at FIU I had the wonderful opportunity to be part of the Executive Board of their collegiate American Marketing Association chapter,” one 2018 alum reported. “I also served as Director of Roaring Concepts Marketing agency, an on-campus agency which assisted both

Florida International University local business and national organizations with their marketing needs. This gave me vital experience in managing projects, team members, budgets which later on contributed to my management skills in my current role.”

TIES TO LOCAL COMMUNITY Florida International actively works to maintain close ties with the local Miami community. Home to over 1,000 multinational companies including American Airlines, Carnival Cruise Lines, and Office Depot, Miami is a thriving business hub. The prime location offers students a direct connection to many internship and job opportunities. Surveyed 2018 alumni rated the B-school’s efforts to bring them into contact with practicing professionals in the business community at an 8.0 average rating.

But outside of the business community, Florida International students also have opportunities to actively volunteer in civic engagement and utilize their business skills to address community issues and challenges. Through the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program, accounting students assist low-income community members with completing their tax returns. Through the Miami Benefit Club, students connect with local business professionals to volunteer at Habitat for Humanity.

While many B-schools offer similar volunteer opportunities, at Florida International, service is directly implemented as a component of the curriculum. The B-school’s “Service Learning: Social Change and Contemporary Social Issues” is a unique course that examines volunteerism from historical and contemporary perspectives and includes a required community-based servicelearning project.

WHAT ALUMNI SAY “I was the co-founder of the student advisory board for the college of business. It provided me with crucial connections and opportunities that helped me establish my career.”

“The internship class I was a part of allowed me to land my first job out of college.”

“We were part of a Model United Nations at the university level. It pushed us to develop diplomacy and communication skills.”

GLOBAL PERSPECTIVE Florida International business students have a number of opportunities to travel abroad and broaden their global perspective.

The university, as a whole, offers a total of 68 semester abroad opportunities. Some 22 are business-specific with locations ranging from China to Costa Rica.

The experience of studying abroad not only allows students to gain international expertise in aspects of business but also provides a valuable experience that shifts their perspective long after they graduate. A number of surveyed 2018 alumni highlighted the impact that international experiences had on them.

“Diversity and inclusion are big at where I work,” one 2018 alum told us. “Having traveled to India and Costa Rica with my university has provided me with a different perspective and appreciation of what I have. I also appreciate others customs and culture and understand it more now having visited their countries.”

Overall, Florida International’s emphasis on hands-on learning, community involvement, and global perspective all contribute to the quality of its undergraduate business education. With these three major components, students are given a strong opportunity to become well-rounded business leaders.

THE BEST UNDERGRADUATE BUSINESS SCHOOLS 189

500 EL CAMINO REAL SANTA CLARA, CA 95053 ADMISSIONS OFFICE: 408-551-1000

Santa Clara University

S $296,992 In-State Total Cost

freshman

Year When Students Declare Their Majors

46%

Acceptance Rate

1357

Average SAT

7.2%

International Students

19.5%

Underrepresent Minorities

N/a

Class of 2020 accepting jobs 90 days after graduation

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anta Clara University’s Leavey School of Business landed at No. 87 in our rankings this year. The Leavey School of Business fell behind from last year’s rank of 33rd because it was unable to report Class of 2020 employment data. The B-school had an acceptance rate of 46.44% and an average SAT score of 1357 this year.

While Leavey fell behind in rank this year, its undergraduate business program still deserves high praise as one that is fundamentally driven by strong ethics. From unique experiential opportunities to cultural immersions, students are taught to lead with integrity and commit to social responsibility in order to create a more just, humane, and sustainable world.

VALUES-BASED CURRICULUM As a Jesuit university, Santa Clara University was founded around the idea of creating a more just, humane, and sustainable world. The Jesuit tradition at Santa Clara lays the groundwork for each of the university’s six colleges.

At Leavey, ethics and values are an integral part of the curriculum.

In the required undergraduate core curriculum, students take a variety of liberal arts courses ranging from “Culture & Ideas” to “Ethics” and “Civic Engagement.” The required business core curriculum features fundamental business courses on accounting and economics, but also incorporates values-based courses such as “Business Ethics” and “Global and Cultural Environment of Business.”

Leavey students can choose from the following undergraduate majors: Accounting, Accounting & Information Systems, Economics, Finance, Individual Studies, Management, Marketing, and Management Information Systems.

Overall, Leavey alumni tend to view their undergraduate education positively with surveyed 2018 alumni rating the quality of teaching in business courses an 8.5 average rating. Leavey faculty received a 9.3 average rating in terms of availability for informal discussions and mentoring outside of class.

EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING WITH REAL IMPACT Leavey’s values and ethics help to create truly unique experiential learning opportunities that positively impact the communities that students serve. The Neighborhood Prosperity Initiative (NPI) is one example of an experiential learning opportunity at Leavey that connects students with a community in need. Through the initiative, Leavey students utilize their business skills in accounting, marketing, and management to offer pro bono services to small businesses in the local San Jose area.

Santa Clara University Another strong example of an impactful experiential learning opportunity at Leavey is its Community Fellow Program, which places students in paid, year-long internships at nonprofit and government organizations. In addition to the internship, students spend their year exploring social justice and economic issues in courses. Community Fellow partners include the Office of San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo, the Hispanic Foundation of Silicon Valley, and Catholic Charities of Santa Clara County — to name a few.

The benefits of programs such as NPI or Community Fellows are two-fold: on one hand, students get valuable experience in applying their business knowledge to the real world. On the other hand, local businesses and communities benefit from their services. The local community, small business focus of NPI is what makes the program unique. While other B-schools incorporate experiential learning through case studies or simulations, Leavey incorporates it to create real impact for local communities.

“The experiential learning components were a great opportunity to think about how our lessons could be applied in the real world,” one 2018 alum told us. “It was important to reframe how we thought about class.”

“I learned so much from being able to actually help a family and be given the resources to make smart investments for them and their business,” another 2018 alum said.

Overall, surveyed 2018 alumni view these experiences highly.

When asked how they would rate the opportunities at Leavey to nurture and improve soft skills in business (such as verbal and written communication skills, adaptability, delegation, time management, etc.), 2018 alumni gave a strong 9.1 average rating.

“The NPI program has really helped me stand out from my peers,” one 2018 alum said. “It was real work experience with business and soft skills that prove I am who I say I am.”

WHAT ALUMNI SAY “Completed a fellowship in Morocco with a social enterprise connecting women artisans with the global e-commerce market.”

“I participated in the Global Fellows Program, which allowed me to spend 3 months in India working with an NGO. This experience was unique because it allowed me to apply and contextualize my classroom knowledge about international business in a real-world setting.”

“Hands-on analysis with real companies in the Bay Area made the project both applicable to the real world and relevant to future career skills.”

CULTURAL IMMERSIONS Leavey offers a variety of opportunities for students to travel abroad and experience diverse cultures. Through Leavey’s Center for Food Innovation and Entrepreneurship, students can take partake in immersive study trips during Spring Break to places such as Rwanda, Myanma, and Cuba. The immersive study experience also incorporates lectures, guided discussions, and reflections.

For many students, the immersion trips offer a unique opportunity to learn how communities around the world function and how issues around sustainability and poverty impact the world. But the immersion trips also challenge many students to step out of their comfort zone and simply experience how different life can be for others around the world.

“The immersion programs I was a part of made me more well rounded and contentious, which has improved my outlook in the working world, leading to very positive professional relationships,” one 2018 alum reported.

Opportunities such as the immersions or Community Fellows are what make the Leavey School of Business unique. On top of teaching students the necessary business skills, Leavey emphasizes an element of corporate social responsibility that few other B-schools can match.

THE BEST UNDERGRADUATE BUSINESS SCHOOLS 191

16401 NW 37TH AVENUE, MIAMI GARDENS, FL 33054

St. Thomas University

T $260,700 In-State Total Cost

Freshman

Year When Students Declare Their Majors

88%

Acceptance Rate

1255

Average SAT

3%

International Students

19%

Underrepresent Minorities

N/a

Class of 2020 accepting jobs 90 days after graduation

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he University of St. Thomas Opus College of Business ranked No. 88 this year. Falling behind from last year’s rank at No. 62, Opus College had an acceptance rate of 88% and an average SAT score of 1249 this year. Employment and internship outcomes for the B-school’s Class of 2020 were not available, which is why the school dropped in the rankings so much.

Despite that lower ranking this year, Opus College still offers a quality real-world education that emphasizes team-based project work and service-learning.

REAL-WORLD APPLICATIONS Opus College business majors can choose from the following concentrations: Accounting, Business Communication, Entrepreneurship, Finance, General Business, Human Resources, International Business, Leadership & Management, Law & Compliance, Marketing, and Operations & Supply Chain Management. The B-school recently introduced a new co-concentration in Business Analytics that can be added to students’ business major concentration.

The core business curriculum at Opus College includes a variety of fundamental business courses with the addition of unique courses such as “Working Skillfully in Organizations” and “Business for the Common Good.”

Overall, Opus College alumni gave high remarks for their undergraduate business experience. When asked if they would recommend the Opus College business program to a close friend or colleague interested in an undergraduate business degree, surveyed 2018 alumni gave a strong 9.4 average rating. Alumni also gave a strong 8.7 average rating in terms of how well the business program prepared them for the world of work.

A number of Opus College courses integrate team-based project work that requires students to work on real-world issues. Many surveyed alumni highlighted how beneficial those real-world projects were in their career development.

“Through my work on my Senior Capstone Project, I was able to work with a real-life company that became my marketing ‘client,’” one 2018 alum told us. “With the help of my team, we were able to develop a full-funnel marketing plan for them to help them grow their business objectives. In my current job, creating client RFPs and full-funnel proposals is a large part of my day to day work.”

“Many of the larger projects in my business classes were able to be applied directly to my current job,” another 2018 alum said. “They were usually group projects. When you have to work with a group (good or bad) on a project that determines a majority of your grade, you develop so many important life skills.”

St. Thomas University Among survey responses, entrepreneurship courses received high praise for their real-world components. “[The] JTerm for Entrepreneurship course in Silicon Valley was a full immersion with local businesses and business leaders and a project spanning Design Thinking process in practice,” one 2018 alum reported. “We took to the streets for feedback and learned from many brilliant minds in innovation.”

“The Silicon Valley trip with entrepreneurship professors was extremely eye-opening,” another 2018 alum recalled. “I now work in tech for a company based in San Francisco and travel there every quarter. The experience motivated me to join this industry and the projects we worked on with design thinking were majorly impactful.”

Additionally, Opus College faculty received positive reviews, with 2018 alumni rating the quality of teaching business courses an 8.7 average rating. Faculty received a strong 9.1 average rating in terms of availability for informal discussions and mentoring outside of class. With quality faculty and coursework that integrates real-world applications, students have a proper foundation for success postgrad.

“St. Thomas had great professors that have all seen individual success in their respective fields,” one 2018 alum told us. “Most courses I took had real-life situations and experiences that have helped prepare me for post-grad situations.”

WHAT ALUMNI SAY “I participated in the Aristotle Fund course, which provides students an opportunity to experience real-world equity research by investing a dedicated portion of the endowment fund.”

“My Marketing Capstone course we partnered with a real small business in the Twin Cities area. We performed extensive market research, came up with ideas to improve the business, and then presented them to our client. This experience is very real-life in the business world, whether for a large or small company.”

“I felt supported throughout and I was able to interview on campus with multiple Fortune 500 companies, which was extremely helpful. I got my current job through the on-campus interviews.”

SERVICE LEARNING COMPONENT One of the unique aspects of Opus College is the emphasis that the B-school places on social responsibility and ethics. All undergraduates are required to take part in a service-learning course that includes 40 hours of volunteer service in the community — a requirement that few B-schools can say they have.

The service-learning requirement offers students valuable experience in working with a non-profit organization and understanding the impact of social responsibility. Collectively, students provide an average of over 28,000 hours of volunteer service to over 300 nonprofit organizations each year through the requirement. “[We partnered] with local nonprofits in order to create a new business plan that fit their needs,” one 2018 alum said. “It brought me into wanting to work for nonprofits and the benefits that come with it.”

Opus College’s real-world education creates a unique learning environment where students are encouraged to learn by doing.

The projects—from marketing to entrepreneurship to community service—all require students to collectively work together in solving real-world problems.

THE BEST UNDERGRADUATE BUSINESS SCHOOLS 193

2167 UNION DRIVE, AMES, IA 50011 ADMISSIONS OFFICE: 515-294-8300

Iowa State University

I $93,332

In-State Total Cost

Freshman

Year When Students Declare Their Majors

84.2%

Acceptance Rate

1035

Average SAT

1.9%

International Students

11%

Underrepresent Minorities

82.2%

Class of 2020 accepting jobs 90 days after graduation

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owa State University’s Ivy College of Business ranked at No. 89 this year. The Ivy College improved eight spots from last year’s 97th-place finish. The B-school had an acceptance rate of 84.15%. Employment outcomes saw a slight dip this year with 82.22% of the Class of 2020 landing full-time employment at the time of graduation, down from last year’s 88.04% — although this may largely be attributed to the COVID-19 economic downturn.

The undergraduate business experience at Ivy College is best characterized by its flexible curriculum structure and relevant course material.

FLEXIBILITY Ivy College undergraduates can choose from the following majors: Accounting, Actuarial Science, Business Analytics, Business Economics, Entrepreneurship, Finance, Management, Management Information Systems, Marketing, and Supply Chain Management. One of the benefits of the Ivy College undergraduate program is that students enter as prebusiness majors and all follow the same pathway into their upper-level major. In turn, students have more flexibility and time to decide their major.

“Our ‘admission’ requirements to the upper-level majors is not a floating quota or target – students who meet the course and GPA requirements are admitted to their major,” Valentina Salotti, associate dean for Academic Affairs at Iowa State, told us.

Ivy College alumni view their undergraduate business education positively. Surveyed 2018 alum rated the quality of teaching in Ivy College business courses an 8.5 average rating. When asked if they would recommend the business program to a close friend or colleague interested in an undergraduate business degree, alumni gave an 8.9 average rating. Ivy College faculty received a strong 9.2 average rating in terms of their availability for informal discussions and mentoring outside of class.

RELEVANT, END-TO-END COURSE MATERIAL Ivy College is consistently updating the course material in its curriculum to ensure students are getting a relevant business education.

The B-school recently added dedicated majors in Actuarial Science, Entrepreneurship, and Business Analytics — all three are fields that are seeing growth in the B-school’s region as well as in the overall state of Iowa. Additionally, analytics courses were integrated within the curricula of nearly all majors across Ivy College.

The business program received positive ratings from surveyed 2018 alumni who gave it an 8.3 average rating in terms of how well

Iowa State University it prepared them for the world of work. Alumni also rated the opportunities at Ivy College to nurture and improve their soft skills in business at an 8.5 average rating.

A number of surveyed 2018 alumni highlighted the relevancy of course material and the impact that course projects had in teaching them valuable long-term skills.

“The supply chain case study course was life-changing in my business career,” one 2018 alum told us. “It taught me quick problem solving and teamwork. It also taught me professional presentation skills. This helped me learn the industry and potential real-life situations.”

“In my entrepreneur course we had to create a product to sell to people to raise money for a charity,” another 2018 alum said.

“The goal of this project was to give the largest donation overall. I was able to use skills learned in my accounting and management classes as well as the supplementary courses required to be taken for a degree. My group came up with the idea of selling Christmas mugs for Mug Night. We had to come up with a sale price, price out vendor cost, market the product, and actually sell it. This was a really cool experience where I felt we got to learn how some businesses work and how an entrepreneur gets to where they are.

We learned from our peers that some were more successful than others and were able to see what is needed to be successful in business.”

The relevance of court material and project work at Ivy College is what makes its undergraduate business program strong. Students aren’t just taught material and given exams. They’re challenged to apply their knowledge and experience what an industry is really like — from end-to-end.

“The supply chain class had a live study with Target’s Global Supply Chain,” one 2018 alum recalled. “We traveled to China to a lawn furniture factory, followed product back to the Port in China, Port in the U.S., Distribution Center, and then back to the local Target store. We saw an entire supply chain from start to finish while being able to evaluate processes for improvement. We then traveled to Target Headquarters to present our process improvements to Senior Leadership.”

When students enter Ivy College as freshmen, they enter as prebusiness. But by the time they make their way through the four-year curriculum of highly relevant material, they have all the proper training they need to be masters of their craft.

WHAT ALUMNI SAY “The content of the capstone project was very relevant at the time of the competition.

The team dynamics and the program layout was a very competitive and immensely enriching experience for my business school learning.”

“Hands-on work with industry professionals.”

“Did a project through the college’s honors program on credit scores and ended up becoming a credit analyst! The universe definitely aligned to give me my dream career.”

THE BEST UNDERGRADUATE BUSINESS SCHOOLS 195

QUAD CENTER, AUBURN, AL 36849 ADMISSIONS OFFICE: 334-844-6425

Auburn University

A $131,576 In-State Total Cost

Freshman

Year When Students Declare Their Majors

86%

Acceptance Rate

1217

Average SAT

1%

International Students

9%

Underrepresent Minorities

58%

Class of 2020 accepting jobs 90 days after graduation

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uburn University’s Harbert College of Business debuted in this year’s ranking at No. 90. Harbert placed 75th in Academic Standards, 86th in the Academic Experience, and 89th in Employment Outcomes. Auburn placed lower in the academic experience category because it did not meet the minimum alumni response rate.

Auburn’s Harbert College offers eight undergraduate business majors including accounting, business administration, business analytics, finance, information systems management, management, marketing, and supply chain management. Harbert also offers 11 different minors.

Auburn’s Harbert College is also one of the rare schools that offer undergraduate online programs and certificates. Harbert has been doing distance learning longer than most schools and its online MBA program regularly places in the top-five in our online MBA rankings.

THE FOUR-YEAR BUSINESS SCHOOL PATH As a four-year program, students start their business education right away with Harbert’s pre-business curriculum. The idea is to introduce first-year students to the different aspects of business and majors offered at Harbert so they can decide if business is right for them, and if so, which major would be best. Also available freshman year is the Harbert Connects mentorship program which places first-year students in both informal and formal internships.

During the second year, students are expected to declare a major. By year three, students are fully immersed in the business and Harbert experience. Students may then begin study abroad opportunities (when safe to travel abroad) and attend business career fairs and job interview prep services like mock interviews. This is also when students normally participate in an internship if they haven’t already. By the time they are seniors, students are expected to be in regular contact with their career coach and be on the hunt for that first job.

CAPSTONE COURSES, CAREER DEVELOPMENT OFFICE LISTED AS POPULAR ‘SIGNATURE EXPERIENCES’ OF RECENT GRADS While the response rate for the alumni survey was too low to be counted in the methodology of the rankings, some 65% of the graduating Class of 2018 that responded said they had a “signature experience” as part of their Harbert experience. We defined signature experience as any sort of impactful project work, experiential learning, or global immersion. The capstone course and project was one of the more popular aspects of the program listed by the surveyed alumni.

“I was involved in several capstone courses in my final year,” one 2018 graduate told us. “There was a capstone project with strategic

Auburn University management, where we did a simulation to apply managerial theory in ‘real-world’ situations. I had a capstone for marketing strategy and for marketing research. The interesting thing about the other two is that they allowed us to work with actual clients. We met with the campus’s food service company and were able to experience what it’s really like to deal with a client.”

Students also mentioned the career development office and being particularly helpful to their experience.

“Our career development office was phenomenal,” one alum said.

“My soft skills still set me apart from my colleges even 2+ years outside of college. Also, Auburn’s unique business analytics degree and the practical experience it gave me set me apart in my interview processes and make me a better analytical thinker in my current role.”

EMPLOYMENT OUTCOMES Auburn was unable to report the percentage of graduates from the Class of 2020 that had a business-focused internship before graduation. The school did report that 58% of 2020 graduates had accepted a full-time position within three months of graduation.

That rate was only higher than four other schools reporting employment data. Among those landing a full-time position, the average starting salary was $55,399.

WHAT ALUMNI SAY “I worked with Professor Kincaid to build case studies for students within his APS class. Additionally, I took a study class on negotiation in which we had to begin the class by negotiating with the faculty to allow us to have the class. This class was one of the more effective uses of my time at Auburn in teaching me how to negotiate effectively and efficiently.”

“I was involved in several capstone courses in my final year. There was a capstone project with strategic management, where we did a simulation to apply managerial theory in ‘real-world’ situations. I had a capstone for marketing strategy and for marketing research. The interesting thing about the other two is that it allowed us to work with actual clients. We met with the campus’s food service company and were able to experience what it’s really like to deal with a client.”

“Our career development office was phenomenal. My soft skills still set me apart from my colleges even 2+ years outside of college. Also, Auburn’s unique business analytics degree and the practical experience it gave me set me apart in my interview processes and make me a better analytical thinker in my current role.”

“Advance Personal Selling was offered to exceptional marketing students. I participated and it made an incredible impact on my strength in sales. It provided students opportunities to watch themselves sell on video and to improve throughout the year. It greatly improved my confidence and persuasion skills. The instructor was extremely effective and always available outside of class.”

THE BEST UNDERGRADUATE BUSINESS SCHOOLS 197

701 S. WEST ST. ROOM 107 BOX 19366, ARLINGTON, TX 76019 ADMISSIONS OFFICE: 817-272-3368

University Of Texas At Arlington

T $111,984 In-State Total Cost

Freshman

Year When Students Declare Their Majors

83%

Acceptance Rate

1090

Average SAT

7.7%

International Students

70.5%

Underrepresent Minorities

74.1%

Class of 2020 accepting jobs 90 days after graduation

he University of Texas at Arlington (UTA) College of Business ranked at No. 91 this year — improving five spots from last year’s rank of No. 96. The UTA College of Business had an acceptance rate of 87.34% and an average SAT score of 1090 this year. Employment-wise, 74.07% of UTA’s Class of 2020 secured full-time employment within three months of graduation, slightly down from last year’s 79.07% — although this may largely be attributed to the COVID-19 economic downturn. Internship outcomes saw a small uptick with 48.40% of the Class of 2020 landing a business-focused internship before graduating, up from last year’s 47.10%.

As one of the largest B-schools in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, UTA College of Business enrolls about 6,500 students in total. UTA’s undergraduate business program offers a comprehensive education that encourages students to apply their business knowledge and develop as strong leaders.

CAPSTONE EXPERIENCE UTA business undergraduates can choose from seven majors including Accounting, Economics, Finance, Information Systems, Operations Management, Management, and Marketing. Additionally, the B-school offers two certificate programs: one in entrepreneurship and another in sales.

The business program received satisfactory ratings with surveyed 2018 alumni giving a 7.0 average rating in terms of how well the business program prepared them for the world of work. Quality of teaching in business courses was rated at a 7.5 average rating with opportunities to nurture and improve soft skills in business rated at a 7.4 average rating.

In survey responses, a number of 2018 alumni highlighted the realworld nature of their capstone experience. The project emphasizes both hard and soft business skills as students work in cross-functional teams to solve real-world business problems.

“The capstone project made me pull all my knowledge I had learned through my time in university,” one 2018 alum told us. “This project showed that I had the skills and abilities to create, operate, and grow a successful competitive business.” “[For our] final project we had a real client and were able to interact directly with them, understand the business problems, conduct real research, and see the impact in real life,” another 2018 alum said. “We partnered with a few other clients as well, and it gave us really good exposure to various industries and business objectives.”

GOOLSBY LEADERSHIP ACADEMY One of the cornerstone offerings at UTA College of Business is its

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University of Texas At Arlington leadership program. The Goolsby Leadership Academy is a two-year leadership program reserved for select juniors and seniors. Students apply for the selective program prior to their junior year. The Academy admits only one cohort per year with a rigorous selection process of an in-depth application, two letters of recommendation, and an interview by a panel of students and faculty. Key criteria for selection includes strong academic performance and future leadership potential.

Accepted students, or scholars, receive a $2,500 annual scholarship, extensive leadership development through curated courses, and access to networking opportunities with high-level executives and Goolsby alumni. Goolsby courses focus on dynamic leadership development with topics ranging from effective business communication to organizational strategy. Additionally, scholars take a study abroad course, called “Global Market Place,” where they travel abroad to visit global businesses and learn from company leaders. Past cohorts have traveled to Edinburgh, Scotland, and London, England in the UK, where they met with executives at companies such as Deloitte, FanDuel, AKWA, and Eurasia Group. By the time they graduate, Goolsby scholars have a strong competitive edge with past alumni securing positions at prestigious organizations including Goldman Sachs, Ernst & Young, Fidelity Investments, Athleta, and more.

Many B-schools have resources for leadership development, whether through workshops, courses, or dedicated programs.

But UTA’s Goolsby Leadership Academy isn’t just any ordinary leadership program. It’s an extensive and challenging experience — one that holds students to a high standard and provides them with the necessary tools to become effective global leaders. The Academy’s annual scholarship, curated curriculum, and study abroad component are all integral components that offer a strong environment for students to achieve their full leadership potential.

Overall, what makes the University of Texas at Arlington College of Business unique is the cohesive educational experience that it provides students. Whether it’s through managing a business in the capstone experience or developing well-rounded leadership skills in the Goolsby Leadership Academy, UTA business students are given an end-to-end undergraduate experience to truly learn, grow, and succeed.

WHAT ALUMNI SAY “The capstone projects helped me research deeply into challenging topics facing the business world. Above all, they strengthened my writing abilities and being able to easily communicate complex ideas to both industry professionals and individuals outside the field with ease of comprehension. These skills have helped me immensely to stand out as a high performing classmate within grad school and now as an employee on several projects. These valuable attributes were not possible without the education and project work taught and developed in Saunders students.”

“Almost each class in my business program had one of these opportunities, starting with my very first semester. We ran a year long business simulation, creating a variety of content like a website, written business plan, etc and then presented to a board at the end of the year. After first year there were many more business simulations, team projects, & presentations.”

THE BEST UNDERGRADUATE BUSINESS SCHOOLS 199

1 UNIVERSITY OF NEW MEXICO, ALBUQUERQUE, NM 87131 MAIN PHONE: 505-277-6471

University Of New Mexico

T

he University of New Mexico’s Anderson School of Management debuted in this year’s ranking at No. 92. Anderson placed 53rd in Admissions Standards, 92nd in Academic Experience, and 90th in Employment Outcomes. Anderson did not meet the minimum alumni survey response rate so was penalized to 92nd place in the Academic Experience Category.

10 MAJORS AND A TWO-YEAR CURRICULUM

$98,500

In-State Total Cost

junior

Year When Students Declare Their Majors

69.6%

Acceptance Rate

1110

Average SAT

N/A

International Students

Anderson offers 10 majors within the Business Administration degree including accounting, entrepreneurship, financial management, general management, human resources management, film and digital media arts, management information systems, marketing management, and operations management. Based in Albuquerque, Anderson is near a burgeoning film and digital arts community within Albuquerque and nearby Santa Fe. Anderson also offers an accelerated online BBA degree.

A two-year program, students must first get accepted to the University of New Mexico as freshmen and then apply and get accepted again to the Anderson School of Management during sophomore year. Once in the Anderson School, all students complete 11 core courses before branching out into “free electives” and their specific majors.

EMPLOYMENT OUTCOMES Some 38% of the graduating Class of 2020 had at least one businessfocused internship before graduation. However, just 23% of the Class of 2020 had accepted a full-time job offer within three months of graduation. Of those reporting accepting a full-time job offer, the average starting salary was $47,500.

The University of New Mexico offers an intriguing degree for students looking to study in the Southwest in a city and region with strong and interesting culture.

N/a

Underrepresent Minorities

23%

Class of 2020 accepting jobs 90 days after graduation

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THE BEST UNDERGRADUATE BUSINESS SCHOOLS 201

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953 DANBY ROAD, ITHACA, NY 14850 ADMISSIONS OFFICE: 607-274-3940

Ithaca College

I $248,105 In-State Total Cost

freshman

Year When Students Declare Their Majors

85%

Acceptance Rate

1181

Average SAT

2%

International Students

22%

Underrepresent Minorities

N/A

Class of 2020 accepting jobs 90 days after graduation

POETSANDQUANTSFORUNDERGRADS.COM

thaca College’s School of Business landed at No. 93 in this year’s rankings. Ithaca College dropped 32 spots from last year’s rank of No. 61. The B-school had an acceptance rate of 85.45% and an average SAT score of 1181 this year. Internship outcomes experienced a dip, although still remained strong despite the COVID-19 economic downturn with 88% of the Class of 2020 landing a business-focused internship before graduating, compared to last year’s 97%. Employment outcomes for Ithaca’s Class of 2020 were not available, which is one of the factors that led to Ithaca’s slide from last year to this year’s finish.

Despite placing lower on the rankings this year, Ithaca College School of Business still offers an extraordinary undergraduate business program that emphasizes learning by doing with strong experiential learning opportunities, an in-depth professional development program, and cutting-edge resources.

EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES Ithaca College School of Business offers the following portfolio of undergraduate majors: Accounting, Finance (with Asset Management, Corporate Finance, and Wealth Management tracks), International Business, Marketing, Management, Sport Management, and Secondary Concentrations in Corporate Accounting and Sports Marketing.

Within each major curriculum, experiential learning is well-integrated with plenty of case studies, consulting projects, and service-learning opportunities to give students hands-on experiences.

All first-year students are required to take a comprehensive “World of Business” course, where they are introduced to the key functions of business and work in student teams to run a simulated company.

One thing that makes this course especially unique is that the World of Business professor also acts as students’ official advisor for their first two years. This creates a strong mentorship as the professor gets to connect with students more and understand their goals and interests.

Another strong example of the experiential learning at Ithaca is in its Sports Management program. Students in the program (one of the oldest sports management programs in the nation) get unique access to intern at some of the world’s largest sporting events. Past students have participated in faculty-led internships at events such as Super Bowls (L-LIII), Pyeongchang Winter Olympics, NCAA basketball tournaments, and the “Cortaca Jug” game at MetLife Stadium (the annual college football matchup between the Red Dragons of the State University of New York at Cortland and the Bombers of Ithaca College).

These types of experiential learning opportunities are not unique to the Sports Management program. Students in every business program at Ithaca are given real-world opportunities to learn their trade.

“We did consulting for local companies on their marketing efforts for

Ithaca College my marketing degree,” one 2018 alum told us. “For my management degree, we did management consulting with a local hotel.”

PROFESSIONS PROGRAM Ithaca College takes a truly holistic approach to professional development. All undergraduate business students are required to take the Professions Program, a four-year professional development curriculum that includes networking and interview skills, personal branding, professional dress, and etiquette. Students begin by taking part in workshops such as “Making Success a Habit” and “All-Star Interviewing.”

What really makes the Professions Program unique, however, are the courses. In “Informational Interview,” students explore a career path of interest and conduct an interview with a professional in their field of interest using the skills that they learned in their workshops.

In “Career Exploration,” students spend 30 hours shadowing an organization in their field of interest and interviewing employees to learn more about their role and the business. While many B-schools offer resume and etiquette workshops, Ithaca College takes professional development one step further by requiring students to apply their workshop learnings into action.

That extra step in professional development pays off. Ithaca College boasts impressive internship outcomes (97% of the Class of 2019 landed a business-focused internship) even when compared to some top-ranking B-schools. Popular internship sites for Ithaca undergraduates include Amazon, Deloitte, JPMorgan, and Google — to name a few.

WHAT ALUMNI SAY “Going to visit Koch industries and see the Berkshire Hathaway shareholders meeting was just inspiring and was amazing to feel awash in a wave of people interested in the same subject matter.”

CUTTING-EDGE RESOURCES Within the B-school, students have access to a number of state-ofthe-art facilities and resources to utilize. Ithaca recently launched two brand new technology labs, the Neeson Business Analytics Lab and the Neeson Digital Marketing Lab. The business analytics lab features a state-of-the-art teaching space and a range of analysis tools such as Microsoft Excel, R Studio, and Tableau. While many B-schools offer virtual trading rooms, Ithaca’s lab is one of the few to fully dedicate its lab to analytics. At the digital marketing lab, marketing students also have a dedicated space to utilize web-based software platforms including customer relationship management (CRM) and account-based management (ABM) as well as tools such as Salesforce Social Studio and iMotions eye-tracking and facial scanning software.

The cutting-edge resources are a strong example of how Ithaca College approaches business education. Here, learning exists both within and beyond the classroom environment. Students engage in hands-on projects where they work in teams and consult for companies. They learn important career searching skills that they then directly apply to securing an internship. They apply their knowledge by using the software that practitioners use every day.

Because, at Ithaca College, learning business is a lot like doing business in the real world. And that’s exactly what makes it unique.

THE BEST UNDERGRADUATE BUSINESS SCHOOLS 203

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Campus Notes

Boundless Business Opportunities!

•

Academic programs focused on students’ success

•

Innovative faculty

•

Active executive mentors

•

Internships, student clubs and applied learning experiences

•

International education options

•

Exciting coastal location in historic city

Competitive Graduates:

94% placement rate

uncw.edu/csb

An EEO/AA institution.

The Kelley Effect

As lived by Martin Aguinis, BS’17 Head of Global Marketing, Flutter, Google

1 SUCCESS STORY growing with every moment

4 GLOBAL EXPERIENCES in Australia, Greece, India, and Spain

DOZENS of public speaking engagements

2 APPS developed as an undergrad

1 INTERNSHIP at Google’s YouTube

NUMEROUS professors providing mentorship

The pivotal moments in Martin’s life mean a lot more than most. Before leading marketing efforts at Google, Martin launched two apps as an undergraduate student at Kelley. He gained international business experience, honed his presentation skills, and found lifelong mentors in his entrepreneurship professors.

Moments like these start a chain reaction of new paths, connections, and opportunities. For Martin, that includes his selection for the Forbes 30 Under 30 and the Product Marketing Alliance’s Rising Star award.

Start building your momentum at gokelley.iu.edu/kelleyugrad

GO FROM MOMENT TO MOMENTUM

RUTGERS BUSINESS SCHOOL Top 15 Best Return on Investment in the U.S. Poets and Quants, 2020

PERSONAL TOUCH

DIVERSITY EXCELLENCE

Rutgers Business School’s TeamUp mentoring program provides one-on-one coaching with a business professional on how to grow and prosper in your career.

Rutgers ranked “Top 10 business school with most firstgeneration students” in the U.S. (Poets & Quants, 2019).

HIGH RETURN ON INVESTMENT

CORPORATE CONNECTIONS

Highlighted as one of the best return on investments for a business degree (Poets & Quants, 2018, 2019, 2020).

Close proximity to New York and New Jersey’s top global companies bring internship & job opportunities.

Our Road to Success programs provide a direct path to future careers.

• Road to Wall Street • Road to CPA • Road to Silicon V/Alley • Road to Consulting

BUSINESS.RUTGERS.EDU Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey – Founded 1766.