The Best Undergraduate Business Schools 2023 by Poets&Quants

EXCLUSIVE RANKINGS OF THE TOP 92 PROGRAMS Updated profiles of every school Employment rates, total costs and acceptance rates Full methodology and data explained

THE BEST UNDERGRADUATE

Volume 05 Issue 01 April 2023

THE BEST UNDERGRADUATE BUSINESS SCHOOLS 2023 Edition

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editorial John A. Byrne, Editor-In-Chief Nathan Allen, Rankings Editor Marc Ethier, Managing Editor Anna Watson, Staff Writer Kristy Bleizeffer, Staff Writer

Operations team Heather Soderquist, Chief Operating Officer Sat Sharma, Chief Revenue Officer Jason DePoy, Vice President of Sales Tori Leonhardt, Visual Designer Georgina Hannah, Ad Operations Manager Ursula Balent, Client Success Coordinator Dia Gutierrez, Ad Operations Associate Emily Villavicencio, Directory & Content Support

letter From The Editor Greetings, Welcome to the print guide for our seventh annual Best Undergraduate Business Schools ranking. In this guide, you’ll find our full 2023 ranking and individual profiles for each of the 92 ranked schools, as well as the full methodology that explains how we gathered the data used to create the ranking. No ranking of universities or business schools is perfect. Be skeptical of any ranking that claims it is. So while we don’t pretend to have the perfect methodology for measuring the undergraduate B-school experience, we do create and gather this ranking with the sole purpose of producing a thoughtful, meaningful evaluation of the top B-schools in the country in a way that makes sense for our readers. Now, perhaps more than ever, an informed decision is crucial when picking a college. Student loan debt has been rising for years. Future college students and their families are only now beginning to look past the global pandemic that 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 start 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 recent 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 and strong social and racial justice movements are all a part of business. We promise you, if you study business in college, “sustainability” will be a word you become very familiar with. 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 Poets&Quants 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 Poets&Quants’ Best Undergraduate Business Schools Of 2023 For the first time in 5 years, Wharton did not win....................................................................................................11 The Methodology Behind P&Q’s 2023 Undergraduate B-School Rankings A full explanation of some slight methodological changes this year.............................................................. 17

THE TOP UNDERGRADUATE BUSINESS SCHOOLS #1 University of Southern California Marshall School of Business.......................................................... 19 #2 Georgetown University McDonough School of Business......................................................................... 21 #3 University of Pennsylvania The Wharton School........................................................................................ 23 #4 University of Virginia McIntire School of Commerce...................................................................................25 #5 University of Notre Dame Mendoza College of Business......................................................................... 27 #6 Cornell University Charles H. Dyson School of Applied Economics & Management.................... 29 #7 New York University Stern School of Business...............................................................................................31 #8 University of Michigan Ross School of Business.........................................................................................33 #9 Washington University at St. Louis Olin Business School.................................................................... 35 #10 University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Kenan-Flagler Business School.............................37 #11 Georgia Institute of Technology Scheller College of Business............................................................39 #12 University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Gies College of Business.........................................41 #13 Emory University Goizueta Business School...................................................................................................43 #14 Villanova University School of Business...........................................................................................................45 #15 Northeastern University D’Amore-McKim School of Business.............................................................47 #16 Indiana University Kelley School of Business...............................................................................................49 #17 Boston University Questrom School of Business.........................................................................................51 #18 University of Richmond Robins School of Business..................................................................................53 #19 Bucknell University Freeman College of Management.............................................................................55 #20 Fordham University Gabelli School of Business..........................................................................................57 #21 Texas Christian University Neeley School of Business...........................................................................59 #22 University of Wisconsin at Madison School of Business....................................................................61 #23 Southern Methodist University Cox School of Business......................................................................63

contents #24 University of Washington Foster School of Business............................................................................65 #25 University of Minnesota Carlson School of Management.....................................................................67 #26 Binghamton University School of Management........................................................................................ 69 #27 Lehigh University College of Business and Economics............................................................................71 #28 University of Miami Herbert School of Business Administration.......................................................73 #29 Purdue University Mitchell E. Daniels Jr. School of Business.............................................................. 75 #30 University of Pittsburgh College of Business Administration............................................................ 77 #31 Tulane University A.B. Freeman School of Business..................................................................................79 #32 Hult International Business School..................................................................................................................81 #33 Miami University Richard T. Farmer School of Business.........................................................................83 #34 Syracuse University Martin J. Whitman School of Management........................................................85 #35 University of Houston C.T. Bauer College of Business............................................................................87 #36 Texas A&M University Mays School of Business........................................................................................ 89 #37 Providence College School of Business........................................................................................................... 91 #38 University of Denver Daniels College of Business....................................................................................93 #39 Elon University Love School of Business....................................................................................................... 95 #40 Rutgers Business School at New Brunswick.........................................................................................97 #41 Lipscomb University College of Business.......................................................................................................99 #42 The Business School at Worcester Polytechnic Institute..............................................................101 #43 Wake Forest University School of Business................................................................................................103 #44 Florida Southern College School of Business............................................................................................. 105 #45 University of Arizona Eller College of Management.................................................................................107 #46 Carnegie Mellon University Tepper School of Business.......................................................................109 #47 University of San Diego Knauss School of Business............................................................................... 111 #48 University of South Carolina Darla Moore School of Business......................................................... 113 #49 University of Tennessee at Knoxville Haslam College of Business..............................................115 #50 Seton Hall University Stillman College of Business.................................................................................117 #51 St. John’s University Peter J. Tobin College of Business.........................................................................119 #52 University of Evansville Schroeder School of Business........................................................................121 #53 Rochester Institute of Technology Saunders College of Business............................................... 123 #54 University of Dayton School of Business......................................................................................................125 #55 Drexel University LeBow College of Business............................................................................................. 127 #56 Saint Louis University Richard A. Chaifetz School of Business..........................................................129 #57 Hofstra University Zarb School of Business.................................................................................................131 #58 Marian University Byrum School of Business..............................................................................................133 #59 The College of New Jersey School of Business..........................................................................................135 #60 University of New Hampshire Peter T. Paul College of Business & Economics....................... 137 #61 University of Oklahoma Michael F. Price College of Business.............................................................. 139 #62 University of North Carolina at Wilmington Cameron School of Business............................. 141 #63 University of Delaware Lerner College of Business & Economics................................................... 143 #64 University of St. Thomas Opus College of Business................................................................................ 145 THE BEST UNDERGRADUATE BUSINESS SCHOOLS

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#65 University of Michigan at Dearborn School of Business............................................................... 147 #66 Towson University College of Business & Economics........................................................................149 #67 Ohio University College of Business............................................................................................................. 151 #68 William & Mary Mason School of Business................................................................................................153 #69 Rutgers Business School at Newark........................................................................................................155 #70 Christopher Newport University Luter School of Business...........................................................157 #71 The University of Texas at Dallas Naveen Jindal School of Management................................159 #72 Michigan State University Eli Broad College of Business................................................................ 161 #73 Bowling Green State Univeristy Schmidthorst College of Business......................................... 163 #74 Seattle University Albers School of Business & Economics............................................................. 165 #75 Sacred Heart University Jack Welch College of Business................................................................ 167 #76 University of the Pacific Eberhardt School of Business...................................................................169 #77 Duquesne University Palumbo-Donahue School of Business..........................................................171 #78 Ithaca College School of Business..................................................................................................................173 #79 University of Georgia Terry College of Business...................................................................................175 #80 University of Kentucky Gatton College of Business & Economics..............................................177 #81 Northern Illinois University College of Business..................................................................................179 #82 University of Utah David Eccles School of Business...........................................................................181 #83 American University Kogod School of Business.................................................................................... 183 #84 Texas Tech University Rawls College of Business............................................................................... 185 #85 Iowa State University Ivy College of Business...................................................................................... 187 #86 Florida International University College of Business......................................................................189 #87 San Diego State University Fowler College of Business...................................................................191 #88 University of Akron College of Business Administration...................................................................193 #89 Oregon State University College of Business.........................................................................................195 #90 University of Texas at Arlington College of Business......................................................................197 #91 University of Wisconsin at Milwuakee Lubar School of Management.................................... 199 #92 Temple University Fox School of Business...............................................................................................201

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Offering more articles, series, and videos on MBA programs and business schools than any other media outlet in the world, Poets&Quants has established a reputation for well-reported and highlycreative stories on the things that matter most to graduate business education prospects, students and alumnus. Special offers include: MBA Admissions Consultant Directory, preMBA Networking Festival, Specialized Master’s Directory, CentreCourt MBA Admissions Event, Backstage Events, MBA Watch, Fantasy MBA, and Handicapping Your MBA Odds. Poets&Quants is a community that stays in touch with its readers. We report on and celebrate their success, share in their lessons and trials. Connect with us to stay informed on B-school admissions news, internships and careers. Visit www.poetsandquants.com. Partner Sites: Poets&Quants For Execs | Poets&Quants For Undergrads | Tipping The Scales | We See Genius

Poets&Quants’ Best Undergraduate Business Schools Of 2023 FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 5 YEARS, WHARTON DID NOT WIN BY NATHAN ALLEN

here’s a first time for everything. And for the first time in seven years, the University of Southern California’s Marshall School of Business tops Poets&Quants’ Ranking of Best Undergraduate Business Schools. The Los Angeles-based school ends a five-year streak of wins by The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania and becomes just the third school ever to top our undergraduate B-school ranking. The Olin Business School at Washington University in St. Louis won in 2016, the inaugural year of this ranking. At Poets&Quants, we believe three components best measure the undergraduate business school experience: the quality and diversity of students enrolling in a program; the ability of a B-school to nurture, challenge, and grow those young minds; and how the market and world’s top employers respond to those graduates when leaving the school. In other words, admissions standards, student experience, and career outcomes. In 2022, though USC Marshall did not outright win any of the three categories, it displayed a truly balanced approach, placing second in admissions standards and ninth in both academic experience and career outcomes, leading to its placement atop the overall ranking. WHARTON SLIPS TO THIRD BECAUSE OF THE ALUMNI SURVEY Following USC is Georgetown University’s McDonough School of Business, which placed second for the second year in a row. Georgetown finished fifth two years ago. The McDonough School topped our career outcomes category and placed third in academic experience and fourth in admissions. Wharton, which placed first in admissions and third in career outcomes, was sunk this year for not meeting the 10% minimum response rate in our alumni survey. But the fact that Wharton was able to finish third even with incomplete data only reinforces how great a school it is, and how dominant it continues to be in our data-based ranking. The University of Virginia’s McIntire School of

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Commerce placed fourth, up one spot from last year’s fifth-place finish. Besides Wharton, no other school has been more consistent in our top five than Virginia McIntire, which continues to be the top public university in our ranking. Once again, Virginia’s top-five placement was buoyed by stellar scores in the alumni survey, placing the school second in our academic experience category. It also placed seventh in both admissions standards and career outcomes. Rounding out the top five in 2023 is the University of Notre Dame’s Mendoza School of Business. Mendoza climbed three spots from last year, thanks to stellar admissions standards, where it placed third. The South Bend, Indiana school also placed 10th in academic experience and 11th in career outcomes. CORNELL SURGES INTO THE TOP TEN Cornell University’s Dyson SC Johnson School catapulted 10 spots from last year into the top 10 of the 2023 ranking. The main reason? Cornell reported its standardized test scores this year when it hasn’t in previous years. That helped Cornell finish fifth in the academic standards category, which was its best placement across the three categories. It placed eighth in career outcomes and 12th in academic experience. New York University’s Stern School of Business remained in seventh place, where it finished last year. The University of Michigan’s Ross School of Business slipped a couple of spots from sixth last year to eighth this year. Washington University’s Olin Business School had the biggest tumble in the top ten, falling five spots into ninth. And the University of North Carolina’s Kenan-Flagler Business School surged four spots to round out the top ten in t10th place. These ten undergraduate business programs lead an exceptional group of 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. SOME MORE METHODOLOGICAL CHANGES THIS YEAR We made no changes to the methodology in the first five years of this ranking. But we’ve made changes in the past two years based on feedback from the schools we rank and changes in admissions practices, mainly the removal of standardized tests at many schools. But before getting into the nitty-gritty of our methodological changes, a step back. We believe generally, the quality of business education comes down to three core issues: the quality and backgrounds 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. 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. The admissions and career data comes from a school survey that each school completed between June and December of 2022. The academic experience data comes from an alumni survey also administered between June and December of 2022. This year we surveyed students graduating between July 1, 2019 and June 30, 2020, or the Class of 2020. Like last year, only 10% of weight within the admissions category was given to average SAT scores. Also like last year, acceptance weight was given a weight of 30%. But here’s where significant changes were made this year. After including the average high school GPA of the latest enrolling class and giving it a 15% weight, we removed it — based on feedback from school administrators and deans — and replaced it with diversity data from the entering Class of 2022. We averaged the percentage of first-generation college students, underrepresented minorities, international students, and women to create an overall diversity average and weighted it 15%. The average percentage of 2020 graduates reporting to be a National Merit Scholar finalist or semifinalist in our alumni survey was given 15% weight like last year. And the remaining 30% was given to the percentage of 2020 graduates that reported finishing in the top 10% of their high school class. Our survey asked 17 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%). Again, the main difference in this year’s methodology compared to the previous six is we included two years’ worth of alumni data (this year and last year), and we awarded schools their alumni data based on a sliding scale reflecting their alumni response rates. For example, a 10% or higher response rate earned 100% of alumni data, a 9.43% response rate earned 94.3% of the total alumni data, a response rate of 7.36% earned 73.6%, and so on. 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. Again, this year we included the average of the past two years of data from graduating students. So our employment outcomes category is based on three metrics: the percentage of the latest graduating class (the Class of 2021 and 2022) to gain jobs within 90 days of graduating, weighted 50%; the average salary and bonus for the latest 2021 and 2022 graduating classes, adjusted by the percentage of graduates awarded a bonus, weighted 30%, and finally, the percentage of the Class of 2021 and 2022 that had internships before their senior year, weighted at 20%. A TROVE OF DATA ONLY FOUND HERE This has always been more than a ranking for us at Poets&Quants. It’s been a major data reporting project that includes thousands of data points from school and alumni surveys. And this year, like all previous years, we gathered loads of interesting data reflecting the state of undergraduate business education in the U.S. For example, it’s still very difficult to get into a top business school. Nine schools had an acceptance rate of 10% or lower for students entering in the Fall of 2022. Cornell’s Dyson SC Johnson School had the lowest rate at 4.17%. And five schools admitted classes that had an average SAT score of at least 1500, with New York University’s Stern School of Business leading the way with an average of 1542. Business schools are also getting their graduates very good internships and jobs immediately after graduation. Some 20 schools had an internship rate of 95% or better for students graduating in 2021 and 2022, with four schools having a perfect 100% rate. More impressively, a whopping 41 out of 93 ranked schools reported average employment rates of at least 95% within three months of graduation. Across all schools, the average employment rate for 2022 graduates was 90.17% three months after graduation, up slightly from 89.84% in 2021. The average THE BEST UNDERGRADUATE BUSINESS SCHOOLS

starting salary across all ranked schools was over $68,000 for 2022 graduates. That’s up significantly compared to 2021 graduates, who reported an average starting base salary of just under $62,000. And for the first time ever, we had a school report a six-figure average starting salary. Wharton reported its 2022 graduates earned an average base starting salary of $100,655 and 85% of those reporting salary data also reported earning a signing bonus of $13,247.

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P&Q Rank

School

Total Score

Admissions Academic Careers Standards Expierence Outcomes Rank Rank Rank

University of Southern California

100.00

Georgetown (McDonough)

99.75

3 4

UPenn (Wharton) Virginia (McIntire)

98.39 97.76

1 7

57 2

3 7

Notre Dame (Mendoza)

97.69

6 7 8 9

Cornell (Charles H. Dyson) New York University (Stern) Michigan (Ross) Wash U St. Louis (Olin)

96.41 95.92 95.84 95.52

5 6 9 8

12 19 6 17

8 6 5 4

UNC Chapel Hill (Kenan-Flagler)

95.26

Georgia Tech (Scheller)

92.52

Illinois (Gies)

91.43

Emory (Goizueta)

91.01

Villanova University

90.72

Northeastern (D’Amore McKim)

89.95

Indiana (Kelley)

89.86

Boston (Questrom)

89.65

Richmond (Robins)

88.00

Bucknell University

86.87

Fordham (Gabelli)

85.92

Texas Christian University

85.71

Wisconsin At Madison

84.89

Southern Methodist (Cox)

84.73

Washington (Foster)

84.49

Minnesota (Carlson)

84.41

Binghamtom University

84.15

Lehigh University

84.05

University of Miami (Herbert)

83.47

Purdue University (Daniels)

82.90

University of Pittsburgh

82.29

Tulane University (Freeman)

80.72

Hult International

80.37

Miami University (Farmer)

79.75

Syracuse University (Whitman)

79.29

University of Houston (Bauer)

78.87

THE BEST UNDERGRADUATE BUSINESS SCHOOLS

P&Q Rank

School

Total Score

Admissions Academic Careers Standards Expierence Outcomes Rank Rank Rank

Texas A&M (Mays)

78.85

Providence College

78.78

University of Denver (Daniels)

78.41

Elon University (Love)

78.29

Rutgers at New Brunswick

77.96

41 42 43

Lipscomb University Worcester Polytechnic Institute Wake Forest University

77.79 77.49 77.34

53 44 25

29 53 79

42 45 20

Florida Southern College

77.10

University of Arizona (Eller)

76.97

Carnegie Mellon (Tepper)

76.47

University of San Diego

76.39

South Carolina (Darla Moore)

76.29

University of Tennessee (Haslam)

76.15

Seton Hall (Stillman)

76.06

St. John’s (Peter J. Tobin)

75.73

University of Evansville

75.26

Rochester Institute of Technology

74.42

University of Dayton

74.38

Drexel University (Lebow)

73.84

Saint Louis University (Chaifetz)

73.8

Hofstra University (Zarb)

73.63

Marian University

73.23

The College of New Jersey

72.69

University of New Hampshire

72.62

University of Oklahoma (Price)

71.85

UNC at Wilmington

70.95

University of Delaware (Lerner)

70.93

University of St. Thomas (Opus)

70.83

University of Michigan at Dearborn 70.60

Towson University

70.21

Ohio University

69.43

William & Mary (Mason)

69.21

Rutgers Business School (Newark)

69.04

Christopher Newport (Luter)

68.90

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P&Q Rank

School

Total Score

Admissions Academic Careers Standards Expierence Outcomes Rank Rank Rank

UT Dallas (Jindal)

68.45

Michigan State University (Broad)

68.10

73 74

Bowling Green State Seattle University (Albers)

67.98 66.83

80 83

30 58

83 71

Sacred Heart University

66.27

University of the Pacific

66.11

77 78 79

Duquesne University Ithaca College University of Georgia (Terry)

66.07 65.73 65.51

85 84 37

35 66 80

82 73 39

University of Kentucky (Gatton)

63.98

Northern Illinois University

59.26

University of Utah (Eccles)

56.97

American University (Kogod)

55.88

Texas Tech University (Rawls)

46.74

Iowa State University (Ivy)

44.95

Florida International University

43.50

San Diego State University

42.24

University of Akron

32.62

Oregon State University

30.82

University of Texas at Arlington

16.72

Wisconsin at Milwaukee (Lubar)

12.33

Temple University (Fox)

1.39

THE BEST UNDERGRADUATE BUSINESS SCHOOLS

The Methodology Behind P&Q’s 2023 Undergraduate B-School Rankings A FULL EXPLANATION OF SOME SLIGHT METHODOLOGICAL CHANGES THIS YEAR BY NATHAN ALLEN

here’s no way around it. 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 seventh annual Poets&Quants’ Best Undergraduate Business Schools are very different. Still, we believe that the quality of business education generally comes down to three core issues: the quality and backgrounds of the talent coming through the door; what a school does with that talent over four years; and how the marketplace responds to the graduates. In other words: How promising are the incoming students? What is their view of their own academic experience? And what career outcomes are achieved by the graduating class? Admissions and career data comes from a school survey that each school completed between June and December of 2022. The academic experience data comes from an alumni survey, also administered between June and December of last year. This year we surveyed students graduating between July 1, 2019 and June 30, 2020, or the Class of 2020. And that is exactly the approach we take in what we sincerely believe is the best ranking of undergraduate business programs currently available. This year, we ranked 92 business schools in the U.S., down from 94 schools last year (and slightly down from the most schools we ranked, which was 97 in 2020), but exactly the number of schools we ranked in 2021. SEVERAL DEANS ASKED US TO CREATE THE RANKING In the world of undergraduate business education, there is only one other undergraduate B-school 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 — a popularity contest based solely 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

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prejudices partly based on the self-fulfilling prophecy of U.S. News’ rankings. As in other years, in creating our 2023 ranking of undergraduate business schools, Poets&Quants invested significant time and effort into putting together an 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 in 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 92 schools ranked this year, 80 met the minimum 10% response rate, three less than last year, our second-highest ever. In the past, schools that did not meet the minimum response rate did not have any alumni data included, which significantly lowered their ranking. To help mitigate those fluctuations and reward schools for the alumni data they were able to gather, we included last year’s alumni data for all schools that met the minimum response rate and we included this year’s data on a sliding scale based on response rates. For example, if a school had a 10% or higher response rate, it got the full amount of its alumni data. But if a school had a 9% response rate, it’d only get 90% of its alumni data. Overall, of the participating schools, 54,978 alums had the opportunity to provide responses to the survey about the academic and co-curricular experience of their higher education. Of those, 5,527 responded for an overall response rate of 10.05%. 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 to or better than you. If you play with someone you can always beat, you’ll never reach a level of personal excellence. Coronavirus and a changing admissions landscape have led us to alter our admissions standards category a bit for the second time in seven years. (Last year was the first change to the category.) Like last year, only 10% of weight within the admissions category was given to average SAT scores. Also like last year, acceptance weight was given a weight of 30%. But here’s where significant changes were made this year. After including the average high school GPA of the latest enrolling class and giving it a 15% weight, we removed it — based on feedback from school administrators and deans — and replaced it with diversity data from the entering Class of 2022. We averaged the percentage of first-generation college students, underrepresented minorities, international students, and women to create an overall diversity average and weighted it 15%. The average percentage of 2020 graduates reporting to be a National Merit Scholar finalist or semifinalist in our alumni survey was given 15% weight like last year. And the remaining 30% was given to the percentage of 2020 graduates that reported finishing in the top 10% of their high school class. 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 92 schools, asking for data on students entering during the fall of 2022, except for the top 10% and National Merit Scholar data, which came from the alumni survey of the Class of 2020. 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 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 provide an accurate assessment of how wellprepared they were for the world of work.

Our survey asked 17 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%). Again, the main difference in this year’s methodology compared to the previous six is we included two years’ worth of alumni data (this year and last year), and we awarded schools their alumni data based on a sliding scale reflecting their alumni response rates. For example, a 10% or higher response rate earned 100% of alumni data, a 9.43% response rate earned 94.3% of the total alumni data, a response rate of 7.36% earned 73.6%, and so on. 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. Again, this year we included the average of the past two years of data from graduating students. So our employment outcomes category is based on three metrics: the percentage of the latest graduating class (the Class of 2021 and 2022) to gain jobs within 90 days of graduating, weighted 50%; the average salary and bonus for the latest 2021 and 2022 graduating classes, adjusted by the percentage of graduates awarded a bonus, weighted 30%, and finally, the percentage of the Class of 2021 and 2022 that had internships before their senior year, weighted at 20%. 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. THE BEST UNDERGRADUATE BUSINESS SCHOOLS

3670 TROUSDALE PKWY, LOS ANGELES, CA 90089 ADMISSIONS OFFICE: 213-740-8885

university of Southern california

T N/A

Total Cost

$78,316 Average Salary

9.03%

Acceptance Rate

1480

Average SAT

24%

International Students

25.4%

Underrepresented Minorities

97.4%

Class of 2022 accepting jobs 90 days after graduation

POETSANDQUANTSFORUNDERGRADS.COM

he University of Southern California’s Marshall School of Business earned a gold medal in the P&Q’s 2023 ranking of best undergraduate business programs. Placing No. 1 and knocking University of Pennsylvania’s The Wharton School out of the top spot for the first time in six years. Marshall offers a quality business education that is characterized by experiential learning opportunities. Of the three methodological categories, Marshall placed highest in Admissions, where they came in 2nd. It placed 9th in Career Outcomes and Academic Experience. USC Marshall’s average SAT score was 1480 this year, relatively high. The B-school had one of the most selective acceptance rates of all ranked undergraduate business schools this year at 9.03% — coming in just behind Cornell’s 4.17%, Northeastern’s D’Amore-McKim, Wharton’s 5.73%, Stern’s 6.60%, Carnegie Mellon Tepper’s 8.62% and Olin’s 9% — yet still more selective than top schools such as Michigan Ross, with an acceptance rate of 9.8%, and UNC’s Kenan-Flagler, with an acceptance rate of 10% this year. Both internship and employment outcomes for Marshall graduates were especially strong this year. A perfect 100% of the Class of 2022 secured an internship before graduation. As for employment, the B-school did rather well as well — with 97.81% landing a full-time position within three months after graduation. The reported average starting salary was the 10th-highest of all ranked undergraduate business schools, coming in at $83,777. For prospective MBAs, it’d be wise to become familiar with the way “breadth with depth” is used at Marshall. The school’s administrators use it to describe the idea of studying the appropriate amount of depth in a student’s specific area of interest. This is reflected in the curriculum by a commitment to liberal arts even for business students. Within the business school, students choose from a business administration major or an accounting major. However, USC Marshall has one of the most unique degree programs in the World Bachelor in Business Program. A joint program more akin to an executive MBA than a bachelors degree in business, students spend for years studying at Marshall, HKUST Business School in Hong Kong, and Università Bocconi in Milan, Italy. “The World Bachelor Program in particular touches on things like university processes, admissions, housing, and medical insurance,” Vice Dean of Undergraduate Programs at USC Marshall Tyrone Callahan told Poets&Quants in July 2021. “We had to make sure we considered every aspect of the program and what the student experience would be like. Through that, I was able to learn a lot about how the university works in different capacities in a way that most faculty members are unaware of.” Incoming students have the opportunity to experience the state-of-theart Jill and Frank Fertitta Hall. Before, the undergraduate population had

University of Southern California been spread out among multiple buildings, but Fertitta Hall serves as a hub for undergraduates at Marshall. Another relatively recent innovation made by Marshall was to “trim the fat” of unnecessary core courses. The result was freeing up a lot of electives. “Within the business curriculum, students have a minimum of 24 free electives, and that’s enough to do pretty much every minor,” Callahan pointed out in his interview.

WHAT ALUMNI SAY “I was a Global Leadership Program scholar, which involved a semester of cultural immersion and business themed classes for an upcoming trip to China. That trip to China turned into a wonderful internship in Taiwan, and I will be forever grateful for that experience for broadening my horizons and making me a professional that possesses polish and internationalism.” “As a part of the Global Leadership Program, I was given the opportunity in my very first year to take a year-long course in international business strategy and apply those learnings when we traveled to China and met business leaders.” “My freshman year I was a part of a program that studied the importance of learning international business cultures. Through this class we traveled to China for a week to meet with Chinese companies to be able to experience international business culture firsthand.”

THE BEST UNDERGRADUATE BUSINESS SCHOOLS

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

Georgetown University

T $312,953 Total Cost

$91,065 Average Salary

12.3%

Acceptance Rate

1423

Average SAT

12.5%

International Students

19%

Underrepresent Minorities

97.6%

Class of 2022 accepting jobs 90 days after graduation

POETSANDQUANTSFORUNDERGRADS.COM

he McDonough School of Business at Georgetown University secured the No. 2 place in this year’s rankings, the same as last year which broke their two-year streak of placing fifth. Acceptance at McDonough this year was more exclusive, with only 12.29% of applicants accepted as compared to 19.95% for the Class of 2020. The average SAT score was 1423, down from 1447 from last year’s average. What really helped Georgetown this year was their first-place finish in Career Outcomes. They also finished fourth in Admissions and third in Alumni Experience. In terms of employment outcomes, the B-school had an impressive rate with 97.58% for the Class of 2022 employed with fulltime positions, down just a smidge from 97.63% for the previous class. Also a notable 97% of the Class of 2022 had at least one business-focused internship before graduation. 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. Students enroll in the business school during their first year and declare a specific major in their sophomore year. 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 postgraduation. “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

georgetown university 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. 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. “I participated in at least 3 signature experiences that the business school provided including the first year seminar (the real estate game), a fellowship with the Fabretto foundation in Nicaragua over the summer, and the Global Business Experience in Argentina focused on the wine industry,” one 2022 alumni told us. “All three experiences changed and shaped my academic and ultimately my professional trajectory. They allowed for real world application of academics and contributed to so much of what made me successful in interviews for jobs. My fellowship and the GBE initiative have been two of the most invaluable experiences of my life, and they influence me to this day.” Another 2021 alumni who took part in the Global Business Experience says it ignited an appreciation for international business. “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,” 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 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 traveled to Lille & Brussels over Spring Break to present our work to KIABI,” the alumni said. “Great real-world experience.”

WHAT ALUMNI SAY “We had a senior capstone ethics seminar, which provided an essential framework for understanding the role of ethics and ethical behavior in the business world. The issue of unethical decision-making in business and finance more specifically continues to garner significant public attention; the capstone program aimed to cast light on these broader ethical issues by engaging students in projects and essays that broadened students’ appreciation for the damage unethical decision-making can have on individuals, businesses, and society.” “I did a Global Business Program where we consulted for a business in France. We actually presented our findings. This opened me up to the world of Consulting and that allowed me to get a job that I currently have and also have the necessary fundamentals to thrive in the field!” “I participated in the Senior Thesis cohort where I worked alongside a professor to research a topic of personal interest and write a paper on the topic and my findings. It was a small cohort that was also guided by the Dean of the Undergraduate Program and a senior academic Dean. The experience taught me valuable lessons about research, self-motivation and discipline, and also gave me a forum to discuss fascinating topics with my small cohort.”

THE BEST UNDERGRADUATE BUSINESS SCHOOLS

1 COLLEGE HALL, PHILADELPHIA, PA 19104 ADMISSIONS OFFICE: 215-898-7507

University of pennsylvania

T $315,051 Total Cost

$93,000 Average Salary

6.3%

Acceptance Rate

1519

Average SAT

19.1%

International Students

22.6%

Underrepresent Minorities

97.6%

Class of 2022 accepting jobs 90 days after graduation

POETSANDQUANTSFORUNDERGRADS.COM

he Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania has been a perennial power of our undergraduate ranking, topping the list of the Best Undergraduate Business Schools for five straight years. Though it slipped to No. 3 for the 2023 ranking, it remains one of the best programs in the country. The reason? Wharton has tough admissions standards. It enrolls top students, gives them a top-notch undergraduate business education, and places them into coveted jobs. Of the three methodological categories, Wharton led in the Admissions Standards. It also placed third in the Career Outcomes category. At 6.3%, Wharton’s acceptance was a bit less selective than last year’s rate of 6.03% but more selective than the 7.62% acceptance rate for the Class of 2020. It has the third toughest acceptance rate of all ranked undergraduate B-Schools for the fall entering class, coming in right behind Cornell’s rate of 4.17% and Northeastern’s D’Amore McKim’s 5.73%. As far as average SAT scores go, the Class of 2022 reported a score of 1519, up from 1497 the year before. Up 2% from last year, 99% of the Class of 2022 had at least one business-focused internship before graduation compared to last year’s 97%. Wharton also placed 98.43% of its 2022 graduates in full-time positions — up from 96.74% for the Class of 2021. Wharton graduates reported the highest average salaries in their jobs immediately after graduating, earning a whopping $100,655. That’s up from last year’s already eye-popping $85,345. This year’s grads also reported an average signing bonus of $13,247, the third highest of all ranked schools. NEARLY TWO-DOZEN CONCENTRATIONS AND 50 STUDENTRUN 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. In 2022, Wharton became 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

University of Pennsylvania the potential she has to put diversity and inclusion at the forefront of the Wharton experience. According to our rankings, Wharton continues to be the creme of the business school crop for undergraduate business education.

WHAT ALUMNI SAY “Management 100 - Leadership & Communication in Groups The required foundation course for all undergraduates who entered Wharton prior to Fall 2017, Management 100 is a highly experiential course in which teams of ten students plan and execute a field project for a client in the greater Philadelphia area. The course focuses on teamwork, group dynamics and leadership development. This was an extremely foundational course for my undergraduate education.” “Participated in the International Case Competition program at Wharton, the team was selected to go to the Marshall International Case Competition in February 2020. The case competition was a 24-hour business simulation (our case was a marketing case created by Adobe), which was a rare opportunity to generate real-life business ideas, create a pitch and thesis, run profit calculations, put together a presentation, and present to a panel of business executives, including Adobe’s CFO. We were able to take all the concepts, themes, and lessons learned in our classes and apply them to an actual company’s marketing issues, helping us understand market dynamics and think competitively, under a business mindset.” “I did a number of experiential learning programs, including a 99-page Thesis relating to 16th-century trade routes, globalization & commerce written in Spanish while studying abroad in Sevilla, a senior capstone where we examined my startup’s business model with a panel of professors and pitched our final output to 6 VC alums, and lastly, there was being a part of Wharton’s venture initiation program where we met founders and were mentored in building a startup I ran for 18 months while in undergrad--before covid led to bankruptcy.”

THE BEST UNDERGRADUATE BUSINESS SCHOOLS

PO BOX 400173, CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA 22904 ADMISSIONS OFFICE: 434-924-3865

University of Virginia

T $155,164 Total Cost

$82,521 Average Salary

11.8%

Acceptance Rate

1418

Average SAT

9.25%

International Students

22.1%

Underrepresent Minorities

97.8%

Class of 2022 accepting jobs 90 days after graduation

POETSANDQUANTSFORUNDERGRADS.COM

he University of Virginia McIntire School of Commerce has consistently placed in the top 5 among all ranked undergraduate business schools. Virginia McIntire placed No. 4 in the 2023 Poets&Quants‘ annual ranking, one spot higher than last year’s No. 5, two places lower than 2021’s No. 2, and one down from 2020’s No. 3. One of only a handful of elite two-year programs, students at Virginia begin with two years of liberal arts before applying to the McIntire School for entry in their junior year. In 2022, just 11.79% of McIntire applicants were 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 year, the average SAT score of that class was 1418, down from last year’s 1430. Employment rates for McIntire were impressive, with 97.83% Class of 2022 securing full-time employment right after graduation — landing the B-school in the top 10 undergraduate business schools with the highest employment rates this year. As for internships, a solid 93% of the Class of 2022 had at least one business-focused internship by the time of graduation. ICE SETS McINTIRE EXPERIENCE ABOVE THE REST 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 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

University of Virginia 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. 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 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 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.”

WHAT ALUMNI SAY “Advertising & Promotional Aspects of Marketing was phenomenal - it gave realworld experience in identifying the customer and achieving better brand positioning to meet that customer. Overall, most classes allowed us to take on a real problem and strategically solve it from many aspects of a business.” “Took a valuation and restructuring capstone finance class in the spring of my senior year with an incredible professor who was hands-on and engaging, incorporating several real world case studies, mock bankruptcy negotiations, and industry guest speakers as part of the curriculum.” “The exceptional and unique “signature experiences” at McIntire, as I’m sure many fellow students will attest, were endless. No matter what your particular interest in business (everything from real estate, marketing, data science, ESG investing, etc.), you’ll find a way to explore deeper at the school. For me, the most unique aspect of McIntire is the first semester of the business school called “Integrated Core Experience” (ICE). In ICE, you work very closely with a small group of students on a semester-long project directly for a client (in my semester, that client was the domestically infamous CarMax). This was very important to me primarily because I learned firsthand how to collaborate in a team with all the challenges that come along (which is essential for any job). ICE was also quite broad, and introduced classes such as “Communications” and “Negotiations” which were atypical to a business school and super enjoyable.”

THE BEST UNDERGRADUATE BUSINESS SCHOOLS

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

University of Notre Dame

M $307,242 Total Cost

$78,500 Average Salary

13.7%

Acceptance Rate

1466

Average SAT

9.6%

International Students

18.4%

Underrepresent Minorities

98.2%

Class of 2022 accepting jobs 90 days after graduation

POETSANDQUANTSFORUNDERGRADS.COM

endoza College of Business at the University of Notre Dame has bounced around in our ranking of the best undergraduate business programs, but it has always finished within the top 10, very much solidifying itself as one of the premier undergraduate schools. Mendoza ranks No. 5 in the 2023 ranking, rising three spots from 2022. It also ranked No. 5 in 2019, No. 6 in 2020, and No. 7 in 2021. While Mendoza’s employment and internship outcomes dipped slightly this year, they’re still impressive A solid 92% of the Class of 2022 secured a at least one business-focused internship before graduation (down from 93%), and 97.34% landed a full-time job after graduation (down from 98.94% for the Class of 2021.) Salary-wise, the Class of 2022 earned an average overall salary of $84,500, up and impressive $12,000 over the Class of 2021 which earned an average of $72,500. That’s the eight-highest average base salary for graduates at all ranked business schools. Of the 59% of Mendoza grads who reported getting a signing bonus, the average was $10,000, up $2,500 from the previous class. The acceptance rate this year at Mendoza was 13.66%, more selective than the last two years. It accepted 15.10% in 2022 and 19.78% in 2021. This makes Mendoza more competitive than the B-school’s fellow in-state rival programs like Indiana University’s Kelley School (which accepted 39.71% of applicants) and Purdue’s Krannert School (17.5%) Additionally, the average SAT score at Mendoza was 1466, up from last year’s 1460. Being a B-school within a Catholic 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

University of Notre Dame 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 affecting society, including issues related to sustainability” — further reinforcing Mendoza’s slogan of “grow the good in business.” 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. For students seeking a well-rounded, hands-on business education with an emphasis on “doing good” coupled with a strong network of suppo

WHAT ALUMNI SAY “I participated in multiple Student International Business Council projects with public accounting companies. This gave me real world experience studying accounting literature and presenting my findings to professionals. I also gained valuable experiences working in a team and resolving conflicts between team members.” “I participated in VCIC, an extracurricular class and program through ND. I was selected to travel to represent ND. This experience was instrumental in helping to prepare me for a career in VC, and eventually in starting my own company and raising capital. Since starting this company, we’ve raised over $21M and I still use what I learned in that program.” “My final project in Marketing Analytics was perhaps the most challenging and rewrding experience I ever had. I specialize in the more strategic/creative part of marketing, and this project was my first true experience in analytics. I learned A TON, was challenged to the brink along with my group and we ended up doing an incredibly complete, practical, and applicable project. It was a tremendous experience and had it been earlier in my college career, I would have probably taken more analytics classes.”

THE BEST UNDERGRADUATE BUSINESS SCHOOLS

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

Cornell University

C $230,025 Total Cost

$84,337 Average Salary

4.17%

Acceptance Rate

1520

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-20 school as it has placed in the top 20 each year it’s participated in the Poets&Quants rankings. Cornell is also one of just two Ivy League schools that offers an undergraduate business degree. This year, Cornell placed No. 6, up 10 places from No. 16 in 2022’s ranking. It ranked No. 9 in 2021. Cornell’s undergraduate business education is truly a unique experience. This year’s acceptance rate of 4.17% was at an all-time low, the most selective of any of the ranked B-schools including Northeastern D’Amore McKim’s 5.73% and Wharton Wharton’s 6.3%. Cornell’s acceptance rate has marked a three-year streak of getting progressively tougher, hitting 5.44% in 2021 and 7.96% in 2021. Some 90.2% of the Class of 2022 graduates landed a business-focused internship before graduating, down slightly from last year’s 93.40%. As far as employment goes, 97.55% of 2022 grads had secured full-time employment within three months of graduation, up slightly from 96.72% for 2021 grads, and up considerably from 93% for 2020 grads. Of those with full-time employment, the average starting salary was $88,897. That’s up nearly $9,000 from last year’s average salary of $79,777, which was up from the $76,827 average salary in 2021. Only four other ranked schools had a higher average starting salary. Meanwhile, 53.7% of 2022 graduates reported getting a signing bonus which averaged $9,886 – down from an average of $11,038 from the year before.

Average SAT

UNIQUE CONVERGENCE WITH COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURAL AND LIFE SCIENCES

12.3%

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 says. “Dyson students 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 the competition by preparing them to lead in a future where the

International Students

26.4%

Underrepresent Minorities

97.1%

Class of 2022 accepting jobs 90 days after graduation

POETSANDQUANTSFORUNDERGRADS.COM

Cornell university sciences, social sciences, and the arts will increasingly converge.” This unique convergence is seen in 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 tells P&Q. “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.” A FOCUS ON SOFT SKILLS 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.”

WHAT ALUMNI SAY “Food Marketing Fellowship - this was a unique opportunity where I traveled abroad and around Spain with my cohort (as well as around the NY region during the semester) to study the food and agricultural industries of both places and write a group research report comparing them. After this program I worked in the Spanish Food Industry importing food from Spain for 2 years upon graduation.” “I was part of a program that was running a student-led cooperative grocery to provide healthy food to the Cornell population. It was important that there was sustainably sourced food available to the general population.” “I was able to go to South Africa on a school trip that allowed us to effectively apply our class learnings to positively impact a few small businesses that I can still have the effects of a few years on.”

THE BEST UNDERGRADUATE BUSINESS SCHOOLS

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

New York University

N $317,296 Total Cost

$86,621 Average Salary

6.6%

Acceptance Rate

1542

Average SAT

17.8%

International Students

24.2%

Underrepresent Minorities

95.2%

Class of 2022 accepting jobs 90 days after graduation

POETSANDQUANTSFORUNDERGRADS.COM

ew York University’s Stern School of Business ranked No. 7 in 2023’s ranking of Best Undergraduate Business Programs, the same spot as last year. Although this ties the B-school’s lowest ranking over the past few years — breaking the streak of moving up one place in the rankings each year from No. 5 in 2019 to No. 4 in 2020 and then No. 3 in 2021 — it shouldn’t go unnoticed that Stern consistently ranks in the top 10. Stern’s acceptance rate was one of the most exclusive of all ranked undergraduate B-schools this year, at a mere 6.6%. Only Cornell Dyson (4.17%), Northeastern D’Amore-McKim (5.73%), and University of Pennsylvania’s The Wharton School (6.3%) were more selective. Stern was also more selective than it was in 2021 when it accepted 7.16% of applicants. Further, Stern’s average SAT score of 1542 was incredibly high — the highest of all ranked B-Schools — and 12 points higher than the best-inranking average it posted last year, 1531. The next closest school in terms of SAT scores was Washington Olin with an average of 1523. 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 lofty employment outcomes. The graduating Class of 2022 with full-time positions started with an average salary of $92,572 — nearly $10,000 higher than last year’s starting average of $81,669 — which is the fourth highest of the undergraduate B-schools. Its employment rate of 96.08% was strong, up slightly from the Class of 2021’s 94.37% and from the Class of 2020’s 95.22%. Its internship rate for 2022 grads was 92.5%, down from 94.10% for the previous class. 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. Stern’s pioneering International Studies Program (ISP) now requires each of its nearly 600 juniors to embark on an international study trip as part of their capstone course. However, the school is taking the three most important aspects of ISP – the global experience, the capstone course, and community building – and reinventing them into three new innovations for the undergraduate program. The Class of 2024 will have a new senior capstone course in which Stern students work with one of New York City’s iconic companies or organizations throughout the semester. “You can think of it as consulting to that organization, but that organization could be in any number of industries,” says Robert Whitelaw, vice dean of Stern’s undergraduate college, in our 2022

New York University interview. “We also wanted to exploit all the locational advantages of New York: A ton of our alums are here, and we have this amazing network of organizations, companies, firms we can work with. We doubled-down on experiential.” Beginning with the Class of 2027, every graduate will also have a global requirement to earn their degree. They will have three ways to do this: • Study a semester away at on of NYU’s 14 global sites includingNYU Paris, NYU Prague, NYU Buenos Aires, and others. • Spend a semester at one of NYU’s 17 IBEX (International Business Exchange Program) partners including Bocconi University in Milan, PKU (Peking University) in Beijing, and many others. • Take a Stern Around the World Course which will feature a travel immersion built into the curriculum. “I’ll give you a couple of examples: We have a sustainability consulting course that has a trip to Costa Rica. In Ghana, we have a social entrepreneurship course which is taught during the spring semester and then, over spring break, the students go to Ghana. We have adopted a village there that we’ve been working with for more than a decade. For this course, students have actually helped them develop a business producing fabric, and they are actually now selling it to this little dressmaker in Brooklyn who has a store in DUMBO,” Whitelaw says. “Those courses have already existed, but we’ve actually boosted that portfolio to six courses this year. They include trips to the Netherlands, Singapore, France, and actually domestic trips as well because we have a lot of international students. We’re going to build it even further next year.” STERN’S FIVE PILLARS

WHAT ALUMNI SAY What the Class of 2020 said: “The social impact core and capstone class encouraged students to think beyond traditional capitalism and instilled a sense of responsibility to the communities we engage with.” “I participated in a European Union simulation with the rest of my degree class in Brussels, Belgium. We met European policymakers, program managers, and more. I learned about the policy-making process in a manner that impacted the way I view business processes to consider a wider stakeholder ecosystem.” “”My program had a capstone project which entailed using the knowledge gained over the course of 4 years and applying it to a real-world problem and trying to identify a solution. It was important for me because I learned a lot about a specific problem and realized the critical thinking and analytical skills I had gained over the 4 years really helped me understand the problem and its potential solutions to the fullest extent.”

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, 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 says. Highlighting the professional pillar is SternTalks, which are “TED-style” alumni presentations given to first-year students during the fall semester. “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 says. “Students meet individually with a trained Stern administrator to understand their results and develop a personalized plan for growth.”

THE BEST UNDERGRADUATE BUSINESS SCHOOLS

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

University of Michigan

T $137,748 Total Cost

$82,387 Average Salary

9.8%

Acceptance Rate

1460

Average SAT

International Students

17%

Underrepresent Minorities

96.5%

Class of 2022 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 at No. 8 in 2023. That’s two places behind 2022’s No. 6 rank and four spots behind its No. 4 rank in 2020, but still notably in the top 10. Ross did well in Career Outcomes, ranking fifth overall. It also ranked ninth in Admissions and sixth in Academic Experience. Its acceptance rate was 9.8% and its average SAT score was 1460. Ross boasts high internship and employment outcomes for its students. This year, 97% of Ross students had a business-focused internship before graduation, the same as last year. Meanwhile, 99.55% of the Class of 2022 secured full-time employment after graduation, down slightly from last year’s 93.34% employment rate. The average starting salary for Ross graduates in 2022 was $88,472, up more than $12,000 from the previous class’s average of $76,295. Further, 77.2% of graduates got signing bonuses of an average of $9,368 which is more than $1,100 higher than the previous class. SIGNATURE EXPERIENCES INCLUDE CAPSTONE PROJECT AND GLOBAL IMMERSION 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. With global immersions from China to Croatia, Ross students can gain an in-depth understanding of international businesses while actively engaging in unique cultural experiences. 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 co-curricular 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

University of Michigan 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. 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. 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 did my capstone course in banking regulation and was able to explore the topic through case based learning and discussions; the course culminated with a paper that I was actually able to get excited about. It was particularly relevant for me as I was entering the investment banking space upon graduation.” “Every junior class is tasked with solving a worldly issue through the lens of business, my team was a part of the question of solving the opioid crisis through the lens of business, that fast was critical in helping develop our overall business acumen, soft skills in terms of presenting, and just overall generated creative thinking. Senior year I was a part of the marketing capstone, allowing me to get hands-on experience with a major company to once again think creatively and critically to help them solve business questions. Overall, I felt very prepared entering the workforce through these more hands-on learning opportunities.” “There is an integrative semester to blend all the classes together and tackle a complex problem with different perspectives. We had a bunch of project work which is very applicable to my job in consulting. Our final year we had a capstone project, that was working with a real company to complete a consulting project.”

THE BEST UNDERGRADUATE BUSINESS SCHOOLS

ONE BROOKINGS DR, ST. LOUIS, MS 63130 ADMISSIONS OFFICE: 314-935-6000

Washington University in St. Louis

A $312,477 Total Cost

$79,934 Average Salary

Acceptance Rate

1520

Average SAT

International Students

28%

Underrepresent Minorities

96.8%

Class of 2022 accepting jobs 90 days after graduation

POETSANDQUANTSFORUNDERGRADS.COM

fter debuting at No. 1 in our first ranking of undergraduate business programs seven years ago, the Olin Business School at Washington University in St. Louis had been slowly sliding down the rankings, falling out of the top 10 to No. 12 in 2021, down from 2020’s No. 7. But the Olin School has made a comeback to the Top 10 the last two years: It ranked No. 4 in 2022 and No. 9 in our 2023 ranking. Overall, it ranked fourth best in the Career Outcomes category, eighth best in Admissions, and 17th in Academic Experience. Olin had the sixth most selective acceptance rates of all ranked undergraduate business schools this year at 9%, slightly less inclusive than last year’s 8.36% rate but well above the 14.26% it accepted in 2021. Its average SAT score of 1523 was the second highest of all ranked B-schools as well, 19-points behind Stern’s 1542. In terms of Career Outcomes, Olin grads were especially strong in both internship and employment stats. Both internship and employment outcomes for Olin graduates were especially strong this year. Some 99% of Class of 2022 grads secured an internship before graduation, falling off its perfect 100% achieved a year earlier. As for employment, 95.89% of 2022 grads landed a full-time position within three months of graduation compared to 97.67% for the Class of 2021. Those starting full-time positions reported an average starting salary of $84,328, well above last year’s average of $75,539. That puts Olin graduates in the top 10 as far as starting compensation. Additionally, 76.10% of 2022 grads reported getting signing bonuses that averaged $10,602 – much higher than 2021’s average of $9,115. Olin offers a quality business education that is characterized by strong global study programs and a values-based approach to business. 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. A GLOBAL EXPERIENCE While the Olin Business School itself is located in St. Louis, Missouri, the education itself is truly global – and it is based in an interesting spot in a revitalized Midwestern city with a lot of startup, tech, and entrepreneurial momentum. Starting in the fall of 2021, all Olin undergraduates are now required to fulfill the “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 features 11 courses that offer a significant global business component, which we define as at least a third of the

WASHINGTON univeRsity IN ST. LOUIS coursework. Additionally, students have access to 175 semester abroad opportunities with 19 of them being business-specific. 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. What makes Olin unique is that many of the experiences offered 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.

WHAT ALUMNI SAY “I participated in the Honors in Management senior thesis program. In the content of the thesis, I was able to explore the intersection between my interests in politics and the environment, and the strategic leadership concepts I had learned in business school. To construct my dataset and draft my thesis I applied other qualitative and quantitative skills that I had learned throughout my program.” “WashU Olin enabled me to become deeply immersed in the business world in a collaborative and hands on effort. As a first generation business student, this approach was incredibly important to my long term development and career success.”

THE BEST UNDERGRADUATE BUSINESS SCHOOLS

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

University of North Carolina

K $98,960 Total Cost

$77,751 Average Salary

10%

Acceptance Rate

1430

Average SAT

International Students

15%

Underrepresent Minorities

97.8%

Class of 2022 accepting jobs 90 days after graduation

POETSANDQUANTSFORUNDERGRADS.COM

enan-Flagler Business School at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill ranked No. 10 this year, moving up five places from 2022. In the 2023 ranking, it ranked 10th overall in the Career Outcomes, 11th in Admissions, and fourth in Academic Experience. UNC Kenan-Flagler held strong in both internship and employment outcomes this year, with 97% of the Class of 2021 securing a businessfocused internship before graduation, the same as the Class of 2021. Some 97.80% of the class landed a full-time job by the time of graduation. As for compensation, the average starting salary for the Class of 2022 was $83,525, up almost $12,000 over the previous class. Meanwhile, 68% of 2022 grads reported getting a signing bonus of an average of $9,394. With an acceptance rate of 10%, up about a tenth of a percentage from last year’s 11.42%, admission into UNC Kenan-Flagler was more competitive this year than similar schools such as Emory University’s Goizueta, which had a 16% acceptance rate. The average SAT score for accepted students at UNC Kenan-Flagler was 1390, quite high but down from last year’s 1422. UNC 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 UNC Kenan-Flagler are required to complete 10 core courses, six business electives, and five electives outside of business. Additionally, the UNC 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 UNC 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 course, 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 alum told us. “This helped inform my decision to join consulting, and

UNiversity of North Carolina 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, an integrated and immersive 18-month curriculum where students gain first-hand exposure to foreign business operations and culture. The GLOBE program is essentially an 18-month study abroad program at partner universities: Chinese University of Hong Kong and Copenhagen Business School. Students study in cohorts of around 54 students on all three campuses and study business with expertise from three business school’s faculties. GLOBAL IMMERSION EXPERIENCE In addition to the GLOBE program, UNC Kenan-Flagler offers other opportunities for undergraduate business students to travel the world and learn about business and culture firsthand. 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. WELL PREPARED FOR THE WORLD OF WORK Overall, the UNC 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®. As North Carolina’s public flagship institution, graduates often fuel the economy with Charlotte, Raleigh and Durham in the top post-graduation destinations (along with New York and Atlanta). UNC Kenan-Flagler offers a solid undergraduate business education from a renowned public university.

WHAT ALUMNI SAY “Adams Apprenticeship; a small cohort of entrepreneurial leaders. Went on two entrepreneurship treks in NYC and San Francisco which fully validated the idea of myself pursuing entrepreneurship as a “career path” for myself. Continued to pursue the growth of my business full-time post-graduation because of experiences like this.” “STAR Program - A true consulting project as part of a semester class where we got to create recommendations for a real client. This is where I learned about my love for consulting, and I got to learn and grow in the healthiest of environments because we had an excellent team of 5 seniors and 1 junior that worked together to create an excellent recommendation and presentation for the NC DPS.” “The Globe program gave me the opportunity to travel to two different campuses around the world in Hong Kong and Copenhagen, developing an international community of like-minded people. I also was able to learn a lot about myself and my priorities during the experience, which led to significant career acceleration. A GLOBE alumni helped me decide on my full time career.”

THE BEST UNDERGRADUATE BUSINESS SCHOOLS

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

Georgia Institute of Technology

T $50,810 Total Cost

$72,440 Average Salary

17.7%

Acceptance Rate

1322

Average SAT

International Students

28.8%

Underrepresent Minorities

91.9%

Class of 2022 accepting jobs 90 days after graduation

POETSANDQUANTSFORUNDERGRADS.COM

he Scheller College of Business at the Georgia Institute of Technology slipped just one spot in its continued climb in our rankings of Best Undergraduate Business Schools. It ranked No. 11 in 2023 after breaking the Top 10 in 2022. Georgia Tech placed 18th in 2019, and 14th in 2021. Overall, it ranked 27th in the category of Career Outcomes, 12th in Admissions, and 8th in Academic Experience. Scheller is getting more and more selective in its admissions. It had an acceptance rate of 17.74% this year compared to 20.10% in 2022’s ranking, 23.29% in 2021, and 24% in 2020. Its average SAT score was 1322, down from 1365 the previous class. Scheller’s Class of 2022 saw strong employment outcomes in both internship and career numbers. Some 92% of the Class of 2022 had a business-focused internship before graduation, equal to the previous class. Meanwhile, 91.86% of the Class of 2022 secured a full-time position within three months of graduation, up from last year’s 91.95%. 2022 grads reported an average starting salary of $75,219, compared to $69,660 for the Class of 2021. Additionally, 67% of the most recent grads reported getting a signing bonus of an average $7,833. 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. “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.” Scheller students can choose from eight concentrations including Accounting, Finance, General Management, IT Management, Leadership and Organizational Change, Marketing, Operations and Supply Chain Management, and Strategy and Innovation.

GEORGIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY TECHNOLOGY & MANAGEMENT PROGRAM 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. Another key benefit of the Scheller education is the very location of Georgia Tech — located in the heart of midtown Atlanta’s 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. 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. In the Sustainable Business Practicum 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.

WHAT ALUMNI SAY “I was engaged in a capstone project with a large company with real issues needing to be solved related to processes at the company. This was important as it exposed me to how businesses talk through the issues and gave a presentation to key stakeholders at the business regarding the potential solution.” “In many terminal pathway courses we were asked to take on real clients and help solve business problems using the methodologies taught in class. One example that comes to mind was for my Systems Analysis and Design. My group consulted for the IT department on campus to set up a ticketing system in ServiceNow. It was important to get this real world experience because it showed me how to engage with clients and properly scope deliverables. Skills I use daily.” “Portfolio Management through Georgia Tech’s Investment Committee (funded by the Student Foundation) - The studentled organization made actual investment decisions and allocations within a portfolio valued at over $1.5 million. Healthcare Consulting with Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta - The experience was essential to help the organization offer more impactful value-based healthcare to families across the state of Georgia. Marketing consulting with a local Organization - The experience was important to learn how to deal with limited resources in a creative and differentiated way.”

THE BEST UNDERGRADUATE BUSINESS SCHOOLS

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

University of Illinois At Urbana-Champaign

T $68,552 Total Cost

$70,447 Average Salary

27%

Acceptance Rate

1421

Average SAT

13.6%

International Students

17.6%

Underrepresent Minorities

97.4%

Class of 2022 accepting jobs 90 days after graduation

POETSANDQUANTSFORUNDERGRADS.COM

he Gies College of Business of the University of Illinois at UrbanaChampaign has been solidly trending upward in the rankings, coming in at No. 12 for the second straight year. That’s up five places from 2021’s No. 17, seven places from 2020’s No. 19, and 10 places from its 20th-place finish in 2019. Overall, it ranked 21st in Career Outcomes, 16th in Admissions, and 5th in Academic Experience. For those looking for a B-school education that emphasizes crossfunctional collaboration and a tight-knit community of support, the Gies College definitely merits consideration. Like other major state universities listed on our ranking, Gies provides a top-notch business education and true university experience in a college town. This year, Gies had a more selective acceptance rate of 26.96% compared to 38.93% in 2022’s ranking and 44.06% in 2021’s. The average SAT score for this past fall’s incoming class was 1421, also up from 2022’s average of 1408, and 2021’s average of 1374. Gies graduates have strong career outcomes both on the internship and employment front. About 92% of the Class of 2022 had a businessfocused internship before graduating, up from 88% for the previous class. Some 97.33% of 2022 graduates were employed full-time within three months of graduation compared to 97.44% of the Class of 2021. The average starting salaries for this spring’s graduates was $73,436 compared to $67,458 for the previous class. Further, 71% of 2022 grads reported getting a signing bonus of an average of $6,400 compared to $5,185 the year before. The Gies College is unique in that it is housed in a major and academically strong university but recently terminated 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 cross-functionally and supporting one another along the way in an environment that fosters inclusiveness, collaboration, and intellectual curiosity. CURRICULUM Gies students usually declare their major in their sophomore year from ten distinct majors including accounting, accountancy & data science, supply chain management, finance, information systems, finance & data science, management with a concentration (general or international), marketing, operations management, and finally the last one – strategy, innovation and entrepreneurship. Uniquely to Gies, first and second year students engage with a jobshadowing program with corporate partners during winter breaks.

University of illinois at urbana -champaign Regardless of which major they choose, all Gies undergrads take the Business Core, a select series of courses that offer a foundation in everything, beginning with business dynamics, where they are taught to teach and engage like business leaders, then taking on real issues and recommending solutions to real clients, stretching to global business. Gies’ thoughtfully designed academic and extracurricular programs provide students with ample opportunities to apply what they’ve learned to real client projects. Gies also excels at maintaining international partnerships with world-renowned business schools. Many students study abroad their sophomore or junior year, and others participate in one of the many short-term international programs available. 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. 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. Other ways to engage in extracurricular activities include the Margolis Market Information lab, where students have access to state-of-the-art finance and business data software, the iVenture Accelerator, which supports student-led startups with knowledge, funding and access to resources and alumni, and Illinois Business Consulting, the largest student-run university consulting organization in the country. Case competitions are also staple in the program – each designed to address unique business challenges and provide students with opportunities to prepare and present as professionals. 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. 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.

WHAT ALUMNI SAY “Gies is and always has been on the cutting edge of experiential learning. Many faculty supported Student-run Organizations like Enactus (an international project-based social entrepreneurship organization) and Illinois Business Consulting provided opportunities to apply my academic learnings to real businesses and communities. This enriched my academic experience by providing an avenue for real-world application which also refined some of the soft skills that have made me a top performer in my post-graduate career. Having project-based experiences in all of my classes has prepared me with all of the tools and skills to succeed in my work-life. This preparation is the primary takeaway I looked for when getting a higher education experience and I could not have been as prepared as I felt without the opportunities afforded to me by Gies.” “Investment Banking Academy is the primary reason for why I was able to break into the investment banking industry despite coming from a non target school. The mentorship provided by alumni, upper class men and faculty was unlike anything else I had experienced on campus. The targeted training and preparation was critical for my success in recruiting and securing a full time offer.” “I participated in a project where I acted as a consultant for a large company and they gave us a problem that we worked to solve and come up with ideas for it. It was a wonderful experience working with professionals in the field and putting what I learned in the classroom to use.”

THE BEST UNDERGRADUATE BUSINESS SCHOOLS

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

Emory University

T $290,098 Total Cost

$76,037 Average Salary

16%

Acceptance Rate

1441

Average SAT

23%

International Students

16%

Underrepresent Minorities

95.5%

Class of 2022 accepting jobs 90 days after graduation

POETSANDQUANTSFORUNDERGRADS.COM

he Goizueta Business School at Emory University fell two spots to No. 13 in our 2023 ranking of the best undergraduate business programs. That’s after landing at No. 16 for two years, before finally breaking through to No. 11 in the 2022 rankings. The Atlanta-based business school is one of few remaining two-year undergraduate programs in which Emory students have to apply to Goizueta as sophomores. This year’s incoming class of students experienced an acceptance rate of 16%, compared to last year’s 14.77% rate. It boasted an average SAT score of 1441, up 6 points from last year’s average score of 1435. 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. Being in Atlanta, it’s not surprising Goizueta students have strong employment outcomes year after year. Some 96.05% of the Class of 2022 secured a business-focused internship before graduation, up from the 95.40% of the Class of 2021. AVERAGE STARTING SALARY EXCEEDS $80K A total of 96% of 2022 graduates landed a full-time position by the time of graduation, up 1% from the previous class but up 10% from for the Class of 2020. The B-school dropped to 85% employment in 2020 from 95% of the Class of 2019 employed, which can likely be attributed to the COVID-19 economic downturn. Starting average salary for 2022 grads was $80,973. That’s up almost $10,000 above the average from the Class of 2021. It’s also higher than other prominent Atlanta-area business schools including Georgia Tech’s Scheller College (average $75,219) and University of Georgia’s Terry School (average $68,378). Additionally, 62.3% of 2022 Goizueta grads reported getting a signing bonus of an average $8,075. CURRICULUM: FINDING YOUR ‘AREA OF DEPTH’ 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. Students looking for an established and traditional B-school setting with a flair for entrepreneurship and innovation, should definitely consider Emory’s Goizueta School. Students accepted to the BBA program attend orientation at Kaplan Mitchell Retreat Center in August. The overnight retreat is designed to facilitate students’ transition into the BBA program while beginning

Emory University the process of building leadership capacities like resilience, interdependence, and coping with risk and ambiguity. 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” which 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.

WHAT ALUMNI SAY “There was a Leadership class in which only certain seniors could participate. It was a class that taught us the importance of beginnings, middles, and endings. We learned about how relationships with our parents, partners, friends and colleagues evolve over time. My class is named The Daffodils for our resilience and willingness to step up, even if no one else has yet. We spoke and debated and learned of the meaning of life in a context completely unlike any other course offered.” “I was an Undergraduate Fellow in the Social Enterprise Center. I worked in a program unique to Goizeuta called Grounds for Empowerment, which provides capacity building services for women coffee farmers in Latin America. It completely changed my conception of what a business education can do, at the nexus of international development and entrepreneurship. The mentors in the program, travel experiences, and experiential learning have completely changed the way I think about business’s role in society.” “At Goizueta, each course was designed to have real world applications. Whether it was partnering with Audi for a marketing case where we could hone our presentation skills to going out in our community and doing pro-bono consulting work for startups, Goizueta helped me learn how businesses work and what a successful business education means.”

THE BEST UNDERGRADUATE BUSINESS SCHOOLS

ADMISSIONS OFFICE: 610-519-3013

Villanova University

T $252,889 Total Cost

$73,600 Average Salary

16.8%

Acceptance Rate

1447

Average SAT

International Students

18%

Underrepresent Minorities

99.3%

Class of 2022 accepting jobs 90 days after graduation

POETSANDQUANTSFORUNDERGRADS.COM

he Villanova School of Business landed at No. 14 in the 2023 P&Q ranking, down 5 places up from last year’s ranking of No. 9. Overall, Villanova ranked 12th in Career Outcomes, 17th in Admissions, and 22nd in Academic Experience in the ranking’s three categories. The B-school’s acceptance rate was an exclusive 16.8%, more selective than last year’s rate of 18.89%. This year’s class reported an average SAT score of 1447, up nearly 20 points from the 1428 reported by the previous class – which was up 18 points over the class before that. VSB students are well-prepared for their careers with a very high 97.36% of the Class of 2022 securing a business-focused internship before graduation — up from last year’s 96.67% for the graduating Class of 2021. Although employment outcomes were already impressive, Villanova improved, with 99.71% of the Class of 2022 landing a full-time position within three months of graduation, up from 98.78% for the Class of 2021 and 92.16% for the Class of 2020. As far as compensation, VSB grads reported an average starting salary of $77,868 compared to $69,331 for the previous class. Some 43.5% of 2022 graduates reported getting a signing bonus of an average of $7,611. CURRICULUM As a Catholic university, Villanova is founded on 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. 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. With small class sizes, VSB also ensures its students are getting the support they need. BACKPACK TO BRIEFCASE VSB offers a number of experiential learning opportunities for

Villanova University 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. GLOBAL PERSPECTIVE 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. 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 “I did a Co-Op program in Morgan Stanley’s Operation Risk Department. There I was able to network with various Villanova alumni in the firm to learn more about their careers. Ultimately, I was able to use those coffee chats to figure out what role I would want after graduation.” “My capstone marketing seminar entailed various case-style projects, which were essential in preparing me for my first job post-graduation as a Business Analyst at McKinsey & Company. As a business student interested in social impact, McKinsey was definitely not where I envisioned myself to be post-graduation, but I am grateful for my experience there and the professional development I acquired during my time there. My marketing seminar was key in preparing me for collaborative, strategy consulting work in the real world.” “Our ‘signature experience’ was called Competitive Effectiveness: an 8-credit Marketing and Management course, which culminated in a marketing plan presentation to a real company. Our company, 3M, provided us with face-time with executives and the opportunity to see our marketing ideas actually be implemented. It was a pivotal experience for me because it taught me how to really get inside the mind of a brand, how to work with a large team at a young age, and how to manage different personalities & unite everyone around a common goal. I still think of the lessons I learned in this project today.”

THE BEST UNDERGRADUATE BUSINESS SCHOOLS

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

Northeastern University

T $303,636 Total Cost

$74,324 Average Salary

5.73%

Acceptance Rate

1465

Average SAT

25%

International Students

21%

Underrepresent Minorities

95.5%

Class of 2022 accepting jobs 90 days after graduation

POETSANDQUANTSFORUNDERGRADS.COM

he D’Amore-McKim School of Business at Northeastern University landed at No. 15 in 2023’s rankings, down two spots from 2022’s 13th place finish, but up 3 spots from 2021’s 18th place. For the past few years, the Boston-based business school has consistently ranked in the teens, coming in at No. 15 in 2020. D’Amore-McKim had an acceptance rate of 5.73%, the second most selective of all 100 of our ranked undergraduate business schools, just a bit off Cornell University’s Dyson’s 4.17% rate. This is an impressive improvement for D’Amore-McKim which had a 16.28% acceptance rate in 2022 and 19.53% in 2021. Its average SAT score of 1465 is the ninth highest overall, and up two points from the 2022 average of 1463. Some 96.7% of the Class of 2022 secured a business-focused internship before graduation, up from last year’s 94%. Further, 93.33% of the Class of 2022 was employed full-time by the time of graduation, down a bit from last year’s 97.62%. Compensation wise, 20220D’Amore-McKim graduates reported an average starting salary of $76,735, up from $71,913 for the previous class. Some 32% reported getting a signing bonus on an average of $9,152. CURRICULUM 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 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. 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. SIGNATURE CO-OP EXPERIENCE Every D’Amore-McKim student graduates with some form of

Northeastern University 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. Many students take on more than one co-op experience throughout their four years at D’Amore-McKim. 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.

WHAT ALUMNI SAY “I completed two co-op work experience programs that were requirements of my degree. Northeastern’s co-op program was the entire reason I chose Northeastern over other colleges - I wanted more than a degree. I wanted real-world experience. That is exactly what the Northeastern co-op program gave me. By my sophomore year of college, I had a polished and professionally written resume and was connected with an endless list of top-tier companies affiliated with Northeastern. By my junior year, I had worked for a Fortune 500 company and made invaluable connections with its upper leadership team. I was asked to work for the company full-time after my co-op with them ended. By my senior year, I had completed my second co-op for an industry-leading technology startup local to Boston - and founded by Northeastern Alumni. I ended up being hired by this company when I graduated in May of 2020. These experiences might have been possible without going to Northeastern, but I strongly believe that Northeastern’s network and co-op program is the reason that, two years after graduating, I am already a Marketing Manager.” “I participated in my concentrations “unofficial” capstone class (Management Consulting course). My team worked with a real organization -- a local children’s choir group based in Dorchester -- to provide probono advice to management. This experience resonated with me largely because I am a musician myself, so I understand how difficult it can be for small music non-profits to run efficiently, all while maintaining a positive environment for the children involved.”

THE BEST UNDERGRADUATE BUSINESS SCHOOLS

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

Indiana university

T $113,375 Total Cost

$70,970 Average Salary

39.7%

Acceptance Rate

1450

Average SAT

5.85%

International Students

10.6%

Underrepresent Minorities

97.6%

Class of 2022 accepting jobs 90 days after graduation

POETSANDQUANTSFORUNDERGRADS.COM

he Kelley School of Business at Indiana University ranked No. 16 in 2023, falling five spaces after tying with Emory University’s Goizueta for No. 11 last year. It ranked No. 19 in 2021. Overall, the school ranked 18th in Career Outcomes, 24th in Admissions, and first in Academic Experience in our three main ranking categories. Kelley had an acceptance rate of 39.71%, significantly more selective than its 48.96% rate last year and 50.65% in 2021. This year’s incoming class had an average SAT score of 1450, 12 points higher than last year’s average of 1438. At Kelley, business education is founded on professional and leadership development, and Kelley students graduate with strong employment outcomes. Some 90% of the Class of 2022 had at least one business-focused internship before graduation, up one point from the previous class. 98% of 2022 grads were employed full-time within three months of graduation, up from last year’s 96.47%. 2022 grads reported an average starting salary of $74,015, compared to $67,925 for 2021 graduates. They also reported an average signing bonus of $7,331, down slightly from $8,081 for the previous class. (78% of the Class of 2022 reported receiving a signing bonus, compared to 57% of the previous class.) KELLEY COMPASS 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 students have access to 19 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.

INDIANA university 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 real-world, 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. 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 19 workshops that range from investment banking to consulting. 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. ENTREPRENEURIAL ECOSYSTEM The school is home to the Johnson Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation, led by one of the pioneers of entrepreneurship as an academic discipline – Donald F. Kuratko, the Jack M. Gill Distinguished Chair of Entrepreneurship. In 2023, the U.S. Association for Small Business and Entrepreneurship awarded the Kelley School its prestigious 2023 Model Entrepreneurship Program Award. The honor is given to the institution with the most comprehensive, high-quality educational program that successfully trains future generations of entrepreneurs. “I think an award like this is sort of like the Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval. It says to incoming students that if you’re interested in the idea of an entrepreneurial mindset, or being innovative even in organizations, this is the school for you,” says Kuratko in an interview. “We’ve made entrepreneurship one of the pillars of our university, and certainly at the Kelley School of Business. This puts a stamp that says not only did we think we’re good, but now the world thinks we’re good.”

WHAT ALUMNI SAY “I-CORE was the fall semester of junior year. It was based around the 4 core areas of business - operations, finance, marketing, and management. We took a class for each area. and had midterms and finals along with a 2 week long case where we integrated all areas into one business proposition. We also took a business ethics and law class this semester to go along with rounding out all aspects of general business.” “Global Sales Workshop - taught me the necessity of being able to sell and the skills that are required. Networking Courses taught me how to leverage connections to get job interviews, prepare me for career fairs, find the best companies, create a proper resume, and build a strong LinkedIn profile. Charles Schwab Wealth Management Workshop - CFP registered curriculum that taught me about the world of financial advising which has helped me in my current role at Nuveen as a mutual fund wholesaler.” “I was part of the Investment Management Workshop, which prepared me for a career in the financial services industry by exposing me to industry professionals and real, pratica knowledge of the industry since my first year in college, which put me ahead of my peers when starting my career.”

THE BEST UNDERGRADUATE BUSINESS SCHOOLS

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

Boston University

T $367,740 Total Cost

$67,373 Average Salary

13.5%

Acceptance Rate

1411

Average SAT

28.1%

International Students

17.3%

Underrepresent Minorities

97.3%

Class of 2022 accepting jobs 90 days after graduation

POETSANDQUANTSFORUNDERGRADS.COM

he Questrom School of Business at Boston University ranked No. 17 in 2023’s ranking, down two spots from 2022, but up 10 from 2021. Overall, in our rankings three main categories, Questrom ranked 23rd in both Career Outcomes and Academic Experience, and 15th in Admissions. Questrom had an acceptance rate of 13.54%, up slightly less than 2 points from the 15.23% rate of last year. Its average SAT score was 1411, down from last year’s average score of 1417. Questrom students have relatively strong employment outcomes, in large part due to the hands-on experience they gain through Core. About 95.58% of the Class of 2022 landed a business-focused internship before graduation, on par with last year’s 95.50%. This year, a strong 98.3% of graduating seniors secured full-time employment within three months of graduation, up from 96.20% for last year’s seniors, and skyrocketing from the 68.53% for the Class of 2020 — which had taken a serious hit relative to the Class of 2019’s rate of 91.77%. The 2020 rate is likely due to the COVID-19 economic downturn. Average starting salaries for 2022 grads also increased over the previous class, climbing more than $7,000 to $70,991. 48.1% of graduates reported getting a signing bonus of an average of $7,553. Today, almost 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

Boston University 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 develop a product or service and create a fullfledged business plan. The year-long project is a valuable experience that enables students to understand nearly every aspect of business – from research to presentation. 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. For those looking to get a quick start on their business education with an opportunity to learn both the hard and soft skills of business, Questrom is the right place to be. 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.

WHAT ALUMNI SAY “I was in the Questrom Honors Program, which was an invaluable experience and community that I wouldn’t trade for anything else. We were given the opportunity to travel abroad to learn about other countries’ economies, participate in honors discussion seminars about various fascinating business topics, and build a community of like-minded peers that I am still close with today.” “The Core project not only gave me amazing insight and knowledge on how a business works and what it takes to actually build a business but it also gave me important experience that helped prepare me for my professional career and how to work with others in a professional setting.” “Drafting business plans for hypothetical companies was instrumental to my development as a business mind professional. It allowed to learn about various critical facets of starting and managing a viable business: operations, finance, strategy, marketing, and data analytics.”

THE BEST UNDERGRADUATE BUSINESS SCHOOLS

102 UR DR, RICHMOND, VA 23173 ADMISSIONS OFFICE: 804-289-8550

University Of Richmond

T $283,810 Total Cost

$72,348 Average Salary

24.7%

Acceptance Rate

1392

Average SAT

International Students

20%

Underrepresent Minorities

99.4%

Class of 2022 accepting jobs 90 days after graduation

POETSANDQUANTSFORUNDERGRADS.COM

he Robins School of Business at the University of Richmond landed in the 18th spot in this year’s rankings, the same spot it achieved last year. That was up 5 places from 2021’s 23rd place. Robins has consistently climbed upward the past few years, having placed 26th in the 2020 rankings. The B-school has been more selective over the years as well, with a slightly more selective acceptance rate this year of 24.65% which climbed from 28.14% for the Class of 2022 and up from 2021’s 31.20% acceptance rate. The average SAT score was 1392 compared to 1366 the previous year. Overall, in the three ranking categories for the 2023 best undergraduate business school ranking, Robins was 14th in Career Outcomes, 23rd in Admissions, and 21st in Academic Experience. After scoring a perfect 100% employability three months after graduation for the Class of 2022, the employment rate fell slightly to 98.8% for 2022 graduates. Graduates reported an average starting salary of $78,403, up more than $12,000 from the $66,293 reported by the previous class. Robins grads also reported an average signing bonus of $8,958 with 31% of grads getting a bonus. Meanwhile, 94% of the Class of 2022 had secured a business-related internship prior to graduation, up 2% over the Class of 2021. 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 other B-schools can boast the expansive opportunities that are available to their students, but the fact that Robins places heavy emphasis on its small class size and attentive faculty speaks volumes about the individual care they put into each and every student’s development.

University Of Richmond 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. 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 “Our international accounting class traveled to London to meet with various industry leaders to learn about IFRS vs US GAAP. This gave unique hands-on experience I would not have been able to experience outside of this class.” “I was able to go to one of the best business schools in Europe and gained significant insights into cultural differences and business models in Europe.” “I took two consulting classes where we worked with a global retailer to determine the feasibility of entering LATAM markets. The classes were some of my initial experiences in consulting and allowed me to be very handson with my learning.”

THE BEST UNDERGRADUATE BUSINESS SCHOOLS

1 DENT DRIVE, LEWISBURG, PA 17837

Bucknell University

B $309,659 Total Cost

$73,181 Average Salary

21.5%

Acceptance Rate

1380

Average SAT

International Students

24%

Underrepresent Minorities

98%

Class of 2022 accepting jobs 90 days after graduation

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ucknell University’s Kenneth W. Freeman College of Management placed No. 19 in the 2023 ranking after ranking No. 17 the two previous years. This is a huge surge from 2020’s ranking of No. 35. Overall, in the ranking’s three main categories, Bucknell was 22nd in Career Outcomes and Admissions, as well as 24th for Academic Experience. Admissions-wise, the B-school had a very selective acceptance rate compared to other undergraduate schools at 21.46%, slightly more selective than the 22.78% rate from the previous year. The average SAT score was 1380. As far as employment goes, Freeman scored high, with 97.7% of the Class of 2022 securing full-time employment within three months of graduation. That’s down a smidge from the 98.29% employment rate for the Class of 2021. Graduating seniors reported an average starting salary of $78,079, up nearly $10,000 Class of 2021’s average starting salary of $68,283. Further, 59% of grads received a signing bonus of an average of $6,942. Meanwhile, 89% of this year’s class landed a business-focused internship before graduating compared to 81% of the previous class. 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. 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 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.

BUCKNELL University 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. 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. 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. 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.

WHAT ALUMNI SAY “My capstone class was consulting with a team of students for a real local nonprofit. I obtained excellent experience, education, and relationships from the course. I felt like we actually made a positive change for the nonprofit, and the team I worked with is still near and dear to my heart - friends I still keep in touch with.” “The Student Managed Investment Fund taught me how to think like a professional in my field and gave me friends and contacts for life.” “Senior project was running a business consulting project with a local organization. Helped me receive real world consulting experience and develop skills that can’t be found in the classroom.”

THE BEST UNDERGRADUATE BUSINESS SCHOOLS

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

Fordham University

T $312,781 Total Cost

$66,898 Average Salary

48.5%

Acceptance Rate

1406

Average SAT

13.7%

International Students

22.2%

Underrepresent Minorities

96.4%

Class of 2022 accepting jobs 90 days after graduation

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he Gabelli School of Business at Fordham University came in at No. 2020 in 2023, up two places from 2022. The school has steadily climbed higher each year in our ranking of undergraduate business programs. It ranked No. 25 in 2021 and 2020, and No. 27 in 2019. Overall, in the three main categories of the 2023 ranking, it placed 15th in Career Outcomes, 34th in Admissions, and 11th in Academic Experience. Gabelli had an acceptance rate of 48.49%, more selective than 2022’s rate of 54.50%, It had an average SAT score of 1406, up from last year’s 1390 average. The Gabelli School has maintained relatively strong employment and internship outcomes for this year, despite a small dip in employment rate a few years ago that can likely be attributed to the COVID-19 economic downturn. Some 97.4% of the Class of 2022 had a business-focused internship before graduating, down a smidge from last year’s 97.80%. Further, 97.42% of the Class of 2022 were able to secure a full-time position within three months of graduation, up from 95.28% of the previous class, and back up to the Class of 2019’s rate from the dip to 89.12% for the Class of 2020. As for compensation, 2022 grads reported an average starting salary of $78,561 compared to $71,649 of the previous class. A quarter of the seniors reported getting a signing bonus of an average of $8,164. GABELLI’S CURRICULUM: 4 MAIN FOCUSES 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. 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

FORdham University 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-world project in their senior year as a capstone course, Gabelli students are given this opportunity early on in their education as sophomores. 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. 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. 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. 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 was a member of the Global Business Honors Program, which was a small cohort of students who took honors courses focused on global business. Each year, we took a trip to a different continent to study business practices worldwide.” “The Consulting Cup Experience at Gabelli was strong and sets a strong foundation for analysis and teamwork.” “I was a finalist in the Consulting Cup which was a key talking point in interviews and landed me two of my internships during college. It was a very “real industry” experience that I was able to gain before having formal work experience in the industry. It also stood out from anything other schools did and impressed interviewers.”

THE BEST UNDERGRADUATE BUSINESS SCHOOLS

2900 LUBBOCK AVE #320, FORT WORTH, TX 76109 ADMISSIONS OFFICE: 817-257-6772

Texas Christian University

T $277,484 Total Cost

$73,237 Average Salary

48.8%

Acceptance Rate

1315

Average SAT

5.93%

International Students

13.1%

Underrepresent Minorities

97.5%

Class of 2022 accepting jobs 90 days after graduation

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he Neeley School of Business at Texas Christian University ranked No. 21 in 2023, a short drop from last year’s No. 19. However, 2022’s rank was a huge jump from the No. 38 it scored in 2021 and the No. 31 from 2020. Overall, on the ranking’s three main categories, Neeley was 16th in Career Outcomes, 39th in Admissions, and 7th in Academic Experience. Neeley’s business program is one that embraces leadership development with plenty of opportunities to gain the necessary skills of business. This year, the Neeley School had an acceptance rate of 48.78%, a smidge less selective than last year’s 47.94%. Its average SAT was 1282, up from 1251 for the Class of 2021. Neeley students have maintained strong employment outcomes, with 98.68% of the Class of 2022 securing full-time employment within three month of graduation, climbing from 96.34% for the previous class. Average starting salary for graduating seniors was $72,985, down a bit from the previous class’ $73,488. Some 29% of seniors reported getting a signing bonus of an average of $7,889. As for internships, 96.67% of the Class of 2022 had a business-related internship prior to graduation compared to 95% of the previous class. Much of that success can likely be attributed to Neeley’s quality education, which gives students the proper skill sets to embark into the real world as business leaders. REAL-WORLD EDUCATION 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. 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.

TEXAS CHRISTIAN University 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 was a member of the student investment fund, called the Educational Investment Fund (EIF). This allowed students to make decisions on investing over $1 million in funds into different stocks, bonds, and ETFs. This prepared me for my Investment Banking job post-graduation by teaching me how to work with SEC financial statements, complete financial modeling, execute trades, prepare presentations, and understand the economy.” “I wrote a thesis through the honors program on whether REITs were a hedge against inflation. I thought it taught me important project management skills and gave me the opportunity to delve deeper into something I was interested in.” “The Neeley Leadership Program was instrumental in providing me with the soft skills I needed in terms of decision making, leadership, collaboration, and negotiation to make myself a successful employee and stick out amongst my peers.”

THE BEST UNDERGRADUATE BUSINESS SCHOOLS

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

University of Wisconsin at Madison

T $115,720 Total Cost

$65,153 Average Salary

23.7%

Acceptance Rate

1340

Average SAT

5.3%

International Students

29.8%

Underrepresent Minorities

94%

Class of 2022 accepting jobs 90 days after graduation

POETSANDQUANTSFORUNDERGRADS.COM

he Wisconsin School of Business at the University of WisconsinMadison rose 9 spots in our latest ranking, climbing from No. 31 in 2022 to No. 22 in 2023. Overall, in the three main ranking categories, the business school was 35th in Career Outcomes, 20th in Admissions, and 39th in Academic Experience. Wisconsin’s acceptance rate stood at 23.67%, more selective than last year’s acceptance rate of 27.29%. Its average SAT score was 1340, down a few points from last year’s 1388. 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. EMPLOYMENT OUTCOMES Wisconsin’s internship rate fell somewhat from about 90% of the Class of 2021 having a business-focused internship before graduation compared to 84% of the Class of 2022. Employment, however, rose for 2022 seniors with 94.89% securing full-time employment by the time of graduation compared to 93.02% for the previous class. Starting salaries were also up, with Class of 2022 earning an average of $68,488 compared to $61,817 for the previous class. 39.73% of graduating seniors secured a signing bonus averaging $6,719. For those who 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. 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. BUSINESS BADGER BADGES The Business Badger Badge program offers workshops, experiences, and opportunities to help undergraduate business students gain a

University of Wisconsin at Madison 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 well-rounded candidacy for the career they choose to pursue professionally. 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.

WHAT ALUMNI SAY “I was in Professor Jim Johannes’ commercial banking simulation course as a senior in the Wisconsin School of Business. As a finance and real estate major, this commercial banking course allowed me to broaden my perspective by understanding the interconnectedness within industries.” “I was involved in the Nicholas Center for Corporate Finance and Investment Banking where I was able to take courses with MBA students as well as complete a year-long thesis project that was directly aligned to the job I was going into. It allowed for a great learning experience and connections that prepared me for my current role.” “I was involved in a couple of real estate case competitions. I was able to connect with other students who were passionate about real estate and learn from each other both academically and career wise through previous internships and opportunities my other classmates had and shared about. I was able to apply the concepts learned in class to an applicable problem and work with my team to try to find a solution, which gave us a challenge and furthered my interest in the field and how much there is out there to continually learn in this field. It also gave me a chance to work on soft skills such as public speaking, presentation, written communication, and collaboration among many other growth areas. These experiences really helped me grow outside of the classroom.”

THE BEST UNDERGRADUATE BUSINESS SCHOOLS

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

Southern Methodist University

R $302,076 Total Cost

$74,853 Average Salary

46%

Acceptance Rate

1470

Average SAT

2.5%

International Students

19%

Underrepresent Minorities

92.2%

Class of 2022 accepting jobs 90 days after graduation

POETSANDQUANTSFORUNDERGRADS.COM

anking No. 23 in 2023’s ranking (the same as 2022), the Cox School of Business at Southern Methodist University improved three places from 2021’s No. 26. Overall, in the ranking’s three main categories, it finished 24th in Career Outcomes, 33rd in Admissions, and 20th in Academic Experience. Located in metropolitan Dallas, the Cox School celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2020. It leverages the city’s extensive network of highprofile companies to offer students a rigorous education with plenty of opportunities to apply their studies in the real world. Cox had an acceptance rate of 46.04%, slightly more selective than 2022’s 48.70% but much more selective than 2021’s 62.54%. Its average SAT score was 1472, also on an upward swing from 1457 in 2022 and 1399 in 2021. The employment outcomes for Cox students help paint a clearer picture of how important it is for a B-school to have a well-connected network. An impressive 93.4% of the Class of 2022 had a businessfocused internship before graduating, down less than 1% from the Class of 2021. Some 92.68% of graduating seniors secured a full-time position within three months of graduation, up from last year’s 91.78%. For compensation, 2022 grads reported an average starting salary of 76,651 and an average signing bonus of $8,992. (61% of this year’s grads reported getting a signing bonus.) To compare, the Class of 2021 reported an average salary of $73,054 with an average signing bonus of $8,842. 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. 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.

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. 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. Additionally, the small, tight-knit Cox community plays a large role in allowing students to connect to alumni for potential jobs and internships. 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 “During my final semester, I took an “entrepreneurship” class. We were placed into groups and each group had to come up with a business plan from start to finish. This included identifying how our product or service would solve a problem by surveying potential clients in our target market and formulating marketing and business strategy. This experience provided valuable insight on what it looks like to start a business and allowed me to help my wife start a business of her own earlier this year.” “I did the Marketing Capstone Class in my final semester at SMU with Judy Foxman. This was probably my most useful class at SMU as it was really more like an internship versus a class. We had real life project management, development, and presentation experience to professional clients. This experience is most similar to what I do at work now.” “During my time as SMU-Cox I was in the Alternative Asset Management program which is a business school honors program at SMU. As part of the course we regularly worked on Harvard Business School case studies on a weekly basis, including quantitative and qualitative analysis of various companies across industry groups. This level of detail, technical prowess and applicable work served me incredibly well during my time as an investment banking analyst.”

THE BEST UNDERGRADUATE BUSINESS SCHOOLS

202 DEMPSEY HALL, BOX 353223, SEATTLE, WA 98195 ADMISSIONS OFFICE: 206-685-3400

University of Washington

T $129,838 Total Cost

$69,152 Average Salary

21%

Acceptance Rate

N/A

Average SAT

8.4%

International Students

20.1%

Underrepresent Minorities

97%

Class of 2022 accepting jobs 90 days after graduation

POETSANDQUANTSFORUNDERGRADS.COM

he Foster School of Business at the University of Washington in Seattle came in at No. 24 this year, exactly where it ended up in 2022’s ranking. While down only slightly from 2021s No. 22, Foster has improved much since its No. 32 ranking in 2019 and held its rankings in the low 20’s since. Of the three methodological categories, the B-School scored highest in the Career Outcomes category, placing 19th. Its acceptance rate of 20.98% is a big improvement from last year’s 39.08% and 2019’s 52%. In terms of employment outcomes, the Foster School performs very well. 97% of the Class of 2022 had a business-focused internship before graduation, up 1% from last year’s 96%. Further, 97.67% of the Class of 2022 secured a full-time position within three months of graduation — up from last year’s 96.39%. Graduating seniors reported an average starting salary of $72,262 compared to $66,042 of the previous class. Meanwhile, 32% of the class reported getting signing bonuses of an average of $8,435. A “TWO-YEAR” BUSINESS EDUCATION 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. 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 the following business majors: accounting, entrepreneurship, finance, general business, human resources management, information systems, marketing, and operations and supply chain management. 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.

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. 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.

WHAT ALUMNI SAY “In my final quarter, I had the opportunity to do a full consulting class where we were assigned a small, local business to provide consultative resources too. It was a remarkable experience being able to apply my education onto a real world practice with tangible results seen by this company.” “The general capstone covered a wide array of general business foundations that offered a wide array of critical thinking opportunities to improve long term outlooks of a company and blended real world examples into the curriculum in a fun and engaging way.” “I participated in the Create a Company class at Foster. This gave me the experience of having a company with little to no risk. It was a once in a lifetime experience.”

THE BEST UNDERGRADUATE BUSINESS SCHOOLS

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

University of Minnesota

T $135,396 Total Cost

$64,237 Average Salary

29.5%

Acceptance Rate

1330

Average SAT

3.2%

International Students

8.4%

Underrepresent Minorities

97.4%

Class of 2022 accepting jobs 90 days after graduation

POETSANDQUANTSFORUNDERGRADS.COM

he Carlson School of Management at the University of Minnesota ranked slightly lower in 2023, landing at No. 25 compared to 2022’s No. 20 and 2021’s No. 14. Overall, in the ranking’s three methodological categories, Carlson finished 29th in Career Outcomes, 26th in Admissions, and 43rd in Academic Experience. For students entering this fall, Carlson had nearly the same acceptance rate as last year’s at 29.52%, compared to 29.16%. The average SAT score of 1359 was down slightly from 1375 the previous year. A great 97.24% of the Class of 2022 secured a full-time position by graduation — nearly identical to the previous class at 97.90%. Meanwhile, 88.34% of graduates had secured a business-focused internship by the time of graduation, compared to 92.1% for the Class of 2021. As for compensation, the Class of 2022 reported an average starting salary of $66,498 compared to $61,975 for the prior class. Nearly 40% of graduating seniors reported getting a signing bonus of an average of $6,130. Much of that success likely comes down to the “in-action” learning approach at Carlson, its unique location, and the global business component. CURRICULUM 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. “IN-ACTION” LEARNING 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. Examples include a marketing analytics class with different simulations every week and 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.

university of Minnesota 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. 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. 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 was accepted into a Consulting Enterprise with MBA students. Teams of 5-6 MBA students and 1-2 undergrad students worked on two different semesterlong projects in partnership with companies in Minneapolis - St. Paul. Projects ranged from valuation of new business markets to increasing customer satisfaction practices. We ended the semester by presenting our findings and recommendations to leadership. This was a great introduction to client facing work and consulting best practices. I was able to grow my professional network and gain valuable soft skills in a low-stakes environment.” “We worked closely with local businesses to define marketing strategies that were ultimately executed by those organizations. It was incredible to see hands on how things we were learning had a direct impact on the success of local businesses.” “I had a capstone project that was leading a team through a real company’s marketing and ideating how to effectively solve some problems they had. It was important to me because it was a real-life application and something I go back to in my job now when ideating and solving problems.”

THE BEST UNDERGRADUATE BUSINESS SCHOOLS

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

Binghamton University

B $117,024 Total Cost

$75,674 Average Salary

27.1%

Acceptance Rate

1434

Average SAT

9.4%

International Students

19.3%

Underrepresent Minorities

82.2%

Class of 2022 accepting jobs 90 days after graduation

POETSANDQUANTSFORUNDERGRADS.COM

inghamton University School of Management landed at No. 26 this year, climbing rank by rank, up from last year’s No. 27 and the previous year’s No. 28. Binghamton continues to impress since their 2020 ranking at 47th-place. The school earned its place in the rankings anchored by a strong No. 16 placement in the Admissions Standards category, a No. 44 for Career Outcomes, and No. 29 in Academic Experience. Binghamton had an acceptance rate of 27.10%, with an average SAT score of 1434 for business students entering Fall 2022. The B-school improved as well as far as internships and career outcomes go. Some 87.90% of the graduating Class of 2022 had a business-focused internship before graduating, up from last year’s 85.60% and the previous year’s 78.30%. As far as career outcomes go, 82.20% of the Class of 2022 secured a full-time position by the time of graduation, down slightly from 84% of the Class of 2021. The average starting salary for the Class of 2022 was $75,674, up from the Class of 2021’s average of $70,300. 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 just over 50 years old. 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

Binghamton University 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. CAREER EXPLORATION Binghamton offers several 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, 2019 alumni gave a strong 9.1 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 “I was in the Scholars Program which involved regular live case competitions and experiential learning. It provided access to the community and alumni in a unique way.” “The capstone management course in SOM was key to bringing together all the ideas taught in all of the core courses from prior years and summarized the curriculum in a way that allowed us to present both soft and hard skills learned to local area professionals.” “We had the opportunity to participate in a major case competition for Mazda to help them solve a real question. My group won the competition. This experience consulting for a real company and working with my team validated my desire to work in the consulting industry.”

THE BEST UNDERGRADUATE BUSINESS SCHOOLS

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

Lehigh University

L $286,990 Total Cost

$75,063 Average Salary

38%

Acceptance Rate

1413

Average SAT

International Students

18%

Underrepresent Minorities

93.5%

Class of 2022 accepting jobs 90 days after graduation

POETSANDQUANTSFORUNDERGRADS.COM

ehigh presents a great opportunity to earn a business degree at a private research university, soon to be in a new space – in the Business Innovation building, expected to open this April. Coming in at No. 27 in the 2023 rankings, Lehigh has held their place, with no change since last year’s rankings. This year, the Class of 2022 had an average acceptance rate of 38.03%, more exclusive than 2021’s rate of 44.58%. The average SAT score was high as well, at 1413, up from the Class of 2021’s score of 1404. The school shared that a solid 87% of students from the Class of 2022 had completed business-specific internships before graduation, down only 1% from 2021’s 88%. When it comes to full-time employment, 93.48% of the Class of 2022 landed full-time employment within 3 months of graduation – up a bit from Class of 2021, 91.67% for the Class of 2021. Companies that have consistently hired Lehigh graduates include the “Big Four” accounting firms, Citigroup, Vitech Systems Group, and IBM. Other top hirers are General Electric, Accenture, Prudential, and Bank of America Merrill Lynch. “The new facility will include a new trading center, a dedicated communications skills lab, and more entrepreneurial and innovation space to match the new curriculum we’ve designed,” says Katrina Zalatan, Associate Dean and Director of Undergraduate Programs. In the four-year program, students can choose between aBachelor of Science in Business and Economics, Integrated Business and Engineering, or Computer Science and Business. In Business and Economics, majors can be in Accounting, Economics, Finance, Business Information Systems, Marketing, Management, and Supply Chain Management. The accounting major is further split into three tracks – Public Accounting Assurance and Tax Services, Financial Services and Corporate Accounting, and Information Technology. FUNDAMENTALS FIRST AT LEHIGH At Lehigh, all students begin with an intro to business course to learn the fundamentals of business and a Professional Development Track to help hone in on career strengths and professional development. Students also frequent guest speaker series and professional skill workshops, and have access to faculty advisors. “Students come to us wanting to make an impact and when they leave, they should have a clearer vision of where they fit in and can make an impact through their contributions in business. We seek to give them a clear understanding of success,” Zalatan said. “Our employers keep coming back to recruit on campus and continue to engage our students because they think highly of them. In return, our students become alumni and come back to participate in classes and mentor students in programs.”

Lehigh University MORE CRITICAL-SKILLS TRAINING In the Analytics and Decision Making Sequence, students learn calculus, statistics, and a new business analytics course right from the start. They engage in hands-on programming, learn basic concepts of data collection, organization, and explore decision making. They also take a more in-depth business analytics course their junior year where they engage in hands-on data analysis and practice techniques for creating effective visualizations to support business decision making. In the Business Communications Sequence, students discuss critical issues affecting society today and are introduced to writing claims in respective conversations with others. They practice delivering evidence-driven persuasive communications including memos, reports, and presentations. In their junior year, students build on their skills and learn how to translate and analyze data, organize a narrative around data, and make persuasive recommendations. “We’ve always had a strong focus on technical education and we’re teaching our students more about data analytics. However, students need to take that learning and communicate, sell an idea, create a narrative around that information, and make it impactful,” Zalatan said. “It’s the heart of why you have business communications and our new curriculum is designed to run alongside technical training.” In the Leadership and Management Sequence, students engage in group projects and co-curricular activities and practice leading with impact.

WHAT ALUMNI SAY “Multiple business simulations and projects allowed me and my classmates to work in collaborative cross functional environments which were very realistic to my experiences in corporate work thus far.” “My capstone experience involved helping a Lehigh startup company expand the deployment of one of its software tools to other states’ correctional systems. The tool reduced prison violence, gave inmates more educational opportunities, and even saved money. It was a fantastic experience, and it even led to an internship opportunity for me.” “Traveled to Singapore and Saigon over winter break to meet with alumni in different international companies. Also received a Truck scholarship to intern internationally in Dublin.”

STARTUP ACADEMY IN SAN FRANCISCO For about 5 years now, the College of Business and the Lehigh Nasdaq Center has hosted the Startup Academy – a 10-week internship where students gain practical experience by spending up to 40 hours per week interning with early-to-mid stage startups based in Silicon Valley or anywhere around the world. KEEPING UP WITH INDUSTRY CHANGES The Segal Accounting Distinguished Lecture Series is a course where speakers who are thought leaders inform students on current accounting issues from their perspective. Past speakers include Rick Petrino, Executive Vice President, Corporate Controller, and Principal Accounting Officer of American Express Company, who is also a Lehigh alum. In line with rapid changes happening in the finance industry, the school offers a FinTech Minor consisting of four courses, with topics including disruptive technologies like cryptocurrency, business analytics, blockchain, mobile banking, cybersecurity, machine learning, and mobile trading as applied to the financial services sector. Lehigh offers a 12-credit Business Analytics Certificate where students work on computer programming, business intelligence, computer models, and data management. THE BEST UNDERGRADUATE BUSINESS SCHOOLS

5250 UNIVERSITY DR, MIAMI, FL 33146 ADMISSIONS OFFICE: 305-284-4641

University of Miami

T $298,968 Total Cost

$67,436 Average Salary

19.2%

Acceptance Rate

1395

Average SAT

International Students

30%

Underrepresent Minorities

98.5%

Class of 2022 accepting jobs 90 days after graduation

POETSANDQUANTSFORUNDERGRADS.COM

he University of Miami Patti and Allan Herbert Business School’s mission is to develop transformative scholarship and principled leaders for business and society, and their vision is to cultivate a premier learning community that values inclusivity, innovation, and impact for sustainable prosperity. Miami Herbert Business School has moved into its highest-ever finish in our annual rankings. At No. 28, the B-School moved up two places from last year’s 30th place, and the B-school has gradually been trending upward in general from a 36th place finish in 2021’s. Of the three methodological categories, Miami Herbert finished highest in the Admissions category, coming in at 19th place. As for the other two categories, the B-School placed 50th in Academic Experience category and 46th in Career Outcomes. For students entering this past fall 2022, they had to overcome a tough 19.16% acceptance rate — around the same as last year’s rate of 19%. The average SAT score was 1395, down slightly from last year’s 1405. Miami Herbert had an extremely high internship rate for graduates, with 91.50% of the Class of 2022 landing a business-specific internship before graduation – well above the Class of 2021’s 47.07% rate and the Class of 2020’s 51.80%. Miami Herbert’s ranking improvement stemmed from some of the best job placement numbers on the board. The Class of 2022 reported that 98.46% of students secured full-time employment within six months of graduation, nearly consistent with the Class of 2021’s 98.96% rate – still above the Class of 2020’s 95.67%. ‘FRONT-LOADED’ CURRICULUM FEATURES NEW MAJORS AND MINORS Miami boasts 15 specialization areas and 16 minors for business students along with 10 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. Additionally, a career course has been added to the second year of the curriculum to provide additional preparation for internship and employment. Other recent innovations include a new Sustainable Business comajor, The Latina Project, and the integration of two tracks available to students specializing in Economics: Quantitative Economics and Political Economy. According to our alumni survey, recent 2019 Miami Herbert graduates rated faculty member’s availability for informal discussions outside of class a strong 9.1. Additionally, 94% of 2019 Miami Herbert alumni reported having a “signature experience” through the business school. Overall, Miami Herbert is a solid option for students looking to earn

University of miami a business degree in South Florida. Going to school in Miami, one of the most international cities in the U.S., is a culturally rich experience, especially for students interested in international business.

WHAT ALUMNI SAY “Extremely comprehensive business litigation simulation focused on relationships with all stakeholders of the business and incorporating elements of corporate strategy, risk management, financial stewardship, human resource management, and public relations. Designed a litigation scenario for fictitious business in desired industry from the bottom up and presented to business law academic counsel posing as company’s executive management. Presentation contained interactive questions throughout and testing from management on costs, liability/risk, and corporate strategy recommendations.” “Wrote a formal business plan over the course of a semester and presented it to volunteer Angel investors. This real world experience and knowledge of the research and critical skills vital to successfully begin a business venture is something I’ll carry forever.” “The most beneficial of my undergrad experience was hands on project work and simulations - specifically classes focused on building financial models, using real world business programs (tableau, excel, power BI, etc) to solve problems similar to what one might see in the workforce.”

THE BEST UNDERGRADUATE BUSINESS SCHOOLS

403 W. STATE ST, WEST LAFAYETTE, IN 47907 ADMISSIONS OFFICE: 765-496-0264

Purdue University

P $97,432 Total Cost

$61,830 Average Salary

17.5%

Acceptance Rate

1372

Average SAT

International Students

11%

Underrepresent Minorities

94.3%

Class of 2022 accepting jobs 90 days after graduation

urdue University’s Daniels School of Business landed in 29th place this year, up 16 spots from last year’s placement at 45th, also up from the previous year’s 42nd place. The last two years’ rankings are much more reflective of the B-school and much farther up than 2020’s 89th ranking, which was due to Purdue not meeting the minimum alumni response rate. Purdue had an acceptance rate of 17.50% this year, far more exclusive than last year’s 74.65%. The average SAT score shot up to 1372 — a huge increase from last year’s 1267 and the previous year’s average of 1277. A solid 89.50% of the Class of 2022 landed a business-focused internship before graduating, up from last year’s 86%. The Class of 2022 reported that 94.33% of Purdue MBAs secured full-time employment within three months of graduation – the highest rate the school has seen in years, up from 2021’s still impressive rate of 93.63%. One alumni from the Class of 2021 said, “(Purdue) helped prepare me for internships by teaching me how to think critically. (Purdue) classes have a lot of case studies built into them, which helps you learn how to think, analyze, and find solutions.” Another 2021 alum said, “In addition to technical accounting skills, (Purdue) prepared me to be successful in my internships by helping me develop my problem-solving, teamwork, and communication skills.” Much of the success of Purdue can be attributed to the B-school’s integrated degree offerings and strong emphasis on learning through real-world, hands-on experience. PURDUE’S DEGREE OFFERINGS Purdue students can choose from a variety of majors including General Management, Industrial Management, Accounting, Economics, Marketing, Finance, and Supply Chain, Information, and Analytics. “I chose (Purdue) because of the emphasis on analytics within their degrees, which I knew would give me a competitive edge in the workforce,” said an alum from the Class of 2021. Purdue’s Integrated Business and Engineering (IBE) program gives students a truly integrated hybrid degree that incorporates basic engineering, basic management and project courses that emphasize realworld application and teamwork collaboration. Students are selected for the program on the basis of their interest in interdisciplinary work. Additionally, IBE students have access to select seminars that feature the latest in engineering and management practices. IBE is a program that is unique to Daniels’ offering as a B-school. By leveraging the prestige of Purdue’s College of Engineering, Purdue 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 Purdue incorporate opportunities

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PURDUE UNIVERSITY for students to get real-world, hands-on project 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. Many B-schools require students to work on projects that emphasize real-world, hands-on learning. But, at Purdue, these experiences go beyond just required course projects. These types of experiences and the variety of opportunities to gain hands-on, real-world experience are what make the Purdue education unique. Many alumni reported unique opportunities to apply their business knowledge and gain real world experience. Overall, the Daniels School of Business 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 “I participated in a course where students were able to file federal and state income tax returns for low and middle income families in the community. This helped me connect with my community, hone my skills in communicating complex rules into easy to understand language, and gain a deeper understanding of personal/family income tax.” “I was involved in research on implicit gender bias in teams and it gave me a lot of useful knowledge on diversity and inclusion and implicit gender bias which helped me to recognize my own biases and be prepared to address other people’s biases.” “Predictive analytics research project where I got to partner with an NFL team. Very unique undergrad experience. Professors from the business analytics masters program are very hands on with undergrads. Krannert students, especially in supply chain, are very technical largely because of that.”

THE BEST UNDERGRADUATE BUSINESS SCHOOLS

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

University of Pittsburgh

he University of Pittsburgh’s College of Business Administration landed at No. 30 in this year’s 2023 rankings, down one place from last year’s No. 29. Of the three methodological categories, Pittsburgh placed best in Academic Experience this year, coming in 25th. For the other two categories, the B-School placed 34th in Career Outcomes and 36th in Admissions. The University of Pittsburgh’s College of Business Administration had an acceptance rate of 29.46% – a much more exclusive rate than that of the Class of 2021, which was 48.05%. Those students also reported an average SAT score of 1349, up only slightly from last year’s score of 1346.

N/A

Total Cost

$61,239 Average Salary

29.5%

Acceptance Rate

1349

Average SAT

International Students

16%

Underrepresent Minorities

95.8%

Class of 2022 accepting jobs 90 days after graduation

POETSANDQUANTSFORUNDERGRADS.COM

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 We asked the Class of 2019 Pittsburgh graduates to appraise the effectiveness of the business school’s academic advising, and the grads gave their school a fairly high rating of 8.67. 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 the Global Business Institute. “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

university of Pittsburgh 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 95.76% of the Class of 2022 had at least one business-specific internship before graduation, an increase from 92% for the Class of 2021. Although the B-School had held steady with a 95% internship rate for three years, rates dropped slightly this year to 91.50% for the Class of 2022. Employment outcomes held strong with the slightest increase – 95.76% of the Class of 2022 secured full-time employment within three months of graduation, compared to 95.12% for the Class of 2021. Of those, the average starting salary was $61,239.

WHAT ALUMNI SAY “I took Andy Hannah’s Business Analytics project course which gave real life experience working with a client to introduce data analytics to their firm and create a simulation model. I also took Professor Gilbert’s market research project course that gave me real life experience creating surveys and collecting data for Acura’s marketing campaign. Talking about these experiences in my interview got me my first job out of college in my desired industry (market research insights).” “I was a member of the Certificate Program for Leadership and Ethics. Through this program, I participated in several consulting projects that taught me how to have professional presentation and communication skills that I found valuable after graduation.” “I completed a semester-long tax internship at a Big 4 public accounting firm. This gave me invaluable work experience and helped me to develop realistic expectations about working in public accounting.”

THE BEST UNDERGRADUATE BUSINESS SCHOOLS

7 MCALISTER DRIVE, NEW ORLEANS, LA 70118 ADMISSIONS OFFICE: 504-865-5000

Tulane University

T $310,845 Total Cost

$68,603 Average Salary

12.9%

Acceptance Rate

1430

Average SAT

6.1%

International Students

21.4%

Underrepresent Minorities

89.2%

Class of 2022 accepting jobs 90 days after graduation

POETSANDQUANTSFORUNDERGRADS.COM

ulane University’s Freeman School of Business impressively landed at No. 31 in this year’s 2023 rankings, up 11 places from last year’s No. 42. Freeman had hovered right around the low 40’s for the previous few years — ranking No. 38th in 2020 and No. 44 in 2019. The B-school increased their admissions selectivity slightly, now with the even more selective acceptance rate of 12.86% compared to last year’s 13.56%. The average SAT score this year was 1430 – higher than last year’s 1416. Admissions standards was Tulane’s most competitive methodological category where it placed 18th overall. The B-School placed No. 59 in Academic Experience and No. 72 in Career Outcomes. Employment wise, Freeman graduates did quite well this year, with 89.22% of the Class of 2022 securing full-time employment within three months of graduation – up from 82.02% for the class of 2021. Internship outcomes rose, with 36.10% of the Class of 2022 landing a businessfocused internship before graduating compared to 30.30% of the Class of 2022. 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.” 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. The B-school offers joint programs, the most popular being the Bachelor of Science in Management (BSM) and the Master of Accounting Program (MACCT) which they can complete in five years, with the option in spring of the senior year to complete a “busy season internship.” This flexible, interdisciplinary approach is the core of the Freeman education. Many other B-Schools have barriers with admissions or prerequisite requirements that make it difficult for students to cross academic boundaries but at Freeman, students are given more freedom and flexibility. 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 80% of surveyed

TULANE University 2019 alumni reported that their first career after graduating was in their desired industry. One example is the Burkenroad Reports program where each year, 200 Freeman students are divided up into teams to follow companies. 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. In the spring, top management of participating companies present the outlook for their companies and industries to an audience of nearly 800 individual and institutional investors. 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. 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 “Capstone classes got to work with local businesses on strategy/marketing plan/effective budgeting to get real-world behind the scenes look into ins and outs of small business. Also, the career development course requirement forced students to reach out to notable people in their desired industry to get comfortable expanding their network and learn more about what their future day to day may be like.” “During my program I was directly involved with two separate internships. My first was with the New Orleans Saints and Pelicans where I worked as a Data Analyst with a team of my peers. We ended up delivering a solution that could directly add up to a half a million dollars in yearly revenue. Second, I worked as a Data Scientist with Crescent Bank. In this instance, I was able to utilize machine learning technology to help their business predict outcomes with an 85% accuracy that would severely reduce their risk.” “My Capstone class and project was very impactful. It taught me the value of delegating work, having regular check-ins, gaining insights from my teammates, and developing solutions to problems from multiple angles. We learned the value of routine and consistency and also learned how to lean on each other. We have an absolutely devastating experience directly before a presentation, but we all rallied together and pulled through.”

THE BEST UNDERGRADUATE BUSINESS SCHOOLS

ADMISSIONS OFFICE: +44 20 7636 5667 (LONDON) +1 617-746-1990 (BOSTON)

Hult International Business School

H $49,100 Total Cost

$45,900 Average Salary

48.2%

Acceptance Rate

1245

Average SAT

92%

International Students

Underrepresent Minorities

96.4%

Class of 2022 accepting jobs 90 days after graduation

POETSANDQUANTSFORUNDERGRADS.COM

ult International Business School placed No. 32 in this year’s 2023 rankings, up 4 places from last year’s No. 36, back at their ranking for 2021. The B-school had been more lenient each year with their admissions process, with an acceptance rate of 48.21% for the Class of 2022 as compared to the Class of 2021’s 40.11%, and the Class of 2020’s 37.79%. The average SAT score for the Class of 2022 was 1245, up from last year’s average SAT score of 1222. Of the three methodological categories, their strongest was in Academic Experience, coming in 14th. Hult placed 35th in Admissions and 64th in Career Outcomes. Hult’s No. 36 rank is due to its stellar performance in the Alumni Experience category, where alumni rated their experience as 13th-best of all schools ranked. With four different campuses including Boston, London, Dubai, and San Francisco, 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 Hult’s Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) is designed around the widely-agreed upon truth that to master a skill—any skill—it must be practiced. Practical learning challenges are integrated into the entire program, ensuring students understand the relevant theory while developing the mindsets and skills essential for a career. Through live client consulting, hackathons, business simulations, and complex team projects, students apply contemporary theory to creatively solve the challenges businesses are facing right now. Each year of the degree, students can choose to study at one or many of Hult’s campuses in central Boston or London, with optional Summer Programs in Boston, London, San Francisco, and Dubai. Students will study alongside others of over 150 nationalities across campuses and gain international experience and differentiate themselves as global professionals. Hult students are assessed throughout the BBA program on the essential mindsets and skills that make an exceptional businessperson— and what matters most to employers. Each student has a personal career and development coach that will work with them to evaluate their skills, better understand their strengths and weaknesses, and help to connect all of their learnings with future career goals. FOUR UNIQUE CAMPUSES Hult offers its curriculum across four different campuses. London and Boston are the home campuses, with Dubai and San Francisco being summer rotation campuses. The benefits of having such an expansive

HULT INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS SCHOOL presence is two-fold: On one hand, students can gain a truly global perspective in their education. Hult is home to students from 150 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. EMPLOYMENT OUTCOMES Hult graduates have remarkably strong employment outcomes. This year, the Class of 2022 saw 96.39% of their class landing a fulltime job within three months of graduation – down slightly from their extremely high rate of 98% for the Class of 2022. Consistent with the past three years, 70% of the Class of 2022 had a businessfocused internship before graduating. 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 “Hult thrives in integrating project work into the curriculum, it is what makes this business school stand out. I was part of multiple real-world cases, most importantly the capstone project.” “I completed the Hult Business Challenge and had a great experience learning to understand a business problem with limited information and formulate a solution and strategy to present to the client.” “Hult Business Challenge where a worldrenowned consultancy firm presented us with a challenge to resolve in a universitywide consultancy tournament. It was important to me as it presented me with the opportunity for real-life experience with professionals in the current labour market, during my studies.”

THE BEST UNDERGRADUATE BUSINESS SCHOOLS

800 EAST HIGH ST, OXFORD, OH 45056 ADMISSIONS OFFICE: 513-529-3631

Miami University

M $140,668 Total Cost

$64,403 Average Salary

76.1%

Acceptance Rate

1240

Average SAT

1.7%

International Students

34.1%

Underrepresent Minorities

94.7%

Class of 2022 accepting jobs 90 days after graduation

POETSANDQUANTSFORUNDERGRADS.COM

iami University’s Farmer School of Business has held strong in the rankings year after year. They placed No. 33 in this year’s 2023 rankings, down only one place from last year’s No. 32. The B-school has seen a slight increase in selectivity, with a 76.11% acceptance rate for the Class of 2022 as compared to last year’s 78.05%. The Class of 2022 had an average SAT score of 1240, down from last year’s 1273. Of the three methodological categories, the B-School did the best in Academic Experience, scoring 13th. They scored 33rd in Career Outcomes, and 55th in Admissions. The Class of 2021 saw a higher internship rate at 90.45% for the Class of 2022 as compared to 85.20% for the Class of 2021. Although internship rates were up, employment rates went down slightly from the Class of 2021’s impressive rate of 99.32% to 94.68% for the Class of 2022. The Farmer School of Business (FSB) offers a foundational, goaloriented business education with a variety of hands-on opportunities for students to explore their potential. 100% of all FSB students participate in hands-on learning, starting their first year. FIRST-YEAR INTEGRATED CORE FSB 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 first-year business student works with real business clients as part of the First Year Integrated Core curriculum. The FSB business education is designed around five key learning goals – Critical & Creative Thinking, Technology, Communication & Collaboration, Globalization and Diversity, and Ethics, which help lay the groundwork for everything students engage in during their time at Farmer. Alumni rate their FSB education relatively well. Surveyed 2019 alumni gave an 9.2 average rating for the quality of teaching in FSB business courses and a 9.3 average rating in terms of faculty availability for informal discussions and mentoring outside of class. Alumni also gave a strong 9.5 average rating in recommending the FSB business program to a close friend or colleague interested in an undergraduate business degree. “Every possible interview question an employer asks you, the FirstYear Integrated Core sets you up to answer them – to think critically about your role in a team and how the people you work with will impact you and your development,” says a current FSB student. Another current student said, “We are getting the opportunity to talk to people in the real world and see how our ideas actually play out and how realistic they are. They get to see what the next generation is working on, what they’re doing, how they can use our ideas to stimulate theirs. I think we both get a lot out of it.”

MIAMI UNIVERSITY NEARLY 80% ENGAGE IN SIGNATURE EXPERIENCE One of the main benefits of the FSB program is the sheer number of opportunities for students to explore their potential and apply their knowledge. Some 77.78% of students surveyed in 2021 reported engaging in a “signature experience” that was a key part of their business learning whether through project work, global immersion trip, or capstone. 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. At the FSB, students are given a strong, goal-oriented foundation in business. No matter what path or discipline FSB 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 got a chance to participate in several business projects (from Business Honor Program) that allowed us to communicate with companies directly, helped me to understand what a real business world looks like, and how to work in teams.” “My first year at the university marked the change of the core principles of the business school in establishing a series of courses focused on a case study to enhance their students across 4 different business areas. Looking back, this was an interesting experience and exposed me to the various components to business that I do not regularly engage in.” “A semester-long capstone course was offered within the final year of the Miami University Farmer School of Business that tied together all components of the supply chain program leading up to that point and truly enabled me to incorporate all the key supply chain topics into a single project. This enabled me to experience what a supply chain career would look like prior to engaging with the workforce after graduation.”

THE BEST UNDERGRADUATE BUSINESS SCHOOLS

721 UNIVERSITY AVE, SYRACUSE, NY 13244 ADMISSIONS OFFICE: 315-443-3751

Syracuse University

T $295,493 Total Cost

$64,569 Average Salary

46.2%

Acceptance Rate

1331

Average SAT

4.3%

International Students

17.4%

Underrepresent Minorities

90.5%

Class of 2022 accepting jobs 90 days after graduation

POETSANDQUANTSFORUNDERGRADS.COM

he Martin J. Whitman School of Management at Syracuse University landed at No. 34 in the 2023 rankings, no change from last year. The school has held its place up 14 spots from 2021’s No. 48 ranking. Whitman had a slightly more exclusive acceptance rate of 46.21% for the Class of 2022, compared to last year’s 48.02% for the Class of 2022. The average SAT score was 1331, up significantly from last year’s 1298. Overall, the B-school placed the highest in the career outcomes category, coming in 32nd place, up one place from last year’s 33 in the category. The B-School placed 41st in the Admissions category, and 56th in Academic Experience. Whitman has been trending upward for many years now, improving employment-wise with 90.49% of the Class of 2022 securing a fulltime position within three months of graduation, up a few percentages from 89.61% for the Class of 2021 and nearly 11% from 2020’s 78.67%. Internship prospects remain as high as they can be, with 100% of the Class of 2022 landing a business-focused internship before graduating – a record the school has held for the past four years in a row. 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. IMPRESS PROGRAM 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, and every student is involved in two ongoing challenges – a personal challenge and the house challenge. 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. “SHARK TANK” STYLE CAPSTONE EXPERIENCE Some 85% of alumni that we surveyed recently reported engaging in at least one “signature experience” that was a key part of their business learning at Whitman, and for an overwhelming majority of Whitman alumni, that experience was the senior capstone project. Student teams enter the 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

Syracuse University 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. 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 “Being part of Whitman’s numerous extracurriculars (particularly OVF, Enactus, DSP) helped me connect with peers and alumni, really enriching my undergraduate experience.” “Capstone business plan competition in my final year really solidified my interest in entrepreneurship. As it is a business plan competition, we learned to build a business from scratch. The technical parts were straightforward and I had no issues with digesting and applying what I learned to the project. The key takeaway for me from that project was that along the way, I realized that entrepreneurship, as technical as the professors try to make it out to be, is a fundamentally creative process that requires thinking outside the box. It has opportunities for experimentation, and in a controlled setting like a capstone project, there isn’t real money or jobs at stake when our trials lead us to failure. That sort of simulation allowed me to properly understand how entrepreneurship works and it really solidified my interest in it.” “Whitman’s senior year capstone project is a great opportunity for students to work as a team to learn what it is like to build a company. From writing a business plan to pitching our idea to real life investors, I personally learned and grew professionally throughout the capstone project.”

THE BEST UNDERGRADUATE BUSINESS SCHOOLS

334 MELCHER HALL ROOM 262, HOUSTON, TX 77204 ADMISSIONS OFFICE: 713-743-4900

University of Houston

T $93,396 Total Cost

$60,967 Average Salary

34.2%

Acceptance Rate

1295

Average SAT

8.8%

International Students

50.4%

Underrepresent Minorities

88.5%

Class of 2022 accepting jobs 90 days after graduation

POETSANDQUANTSFORUNDERGRADS.COM

he C.T. Bauer College of Business at the University of Houston placed 35th in the 2023 rankings, climbing 8 places from last year’s No. 43. The Bauer College had a more lenient acceptance rate for the Class of 2022 at 34.17% compared to last year’s 23.75%. Their average SAT scores went back up, nearing the Class of 2021’s score, with an average of 1295 for the Class of 2022. Last year’s score averaged 1234, and the Class of 2021’s averaged 1306. Some 88.52% of the Class of 2022 secured full-time employment within three months of graduation, up from the Class of 2021’s 83.75%. Additionally, internship rates went up slightly, with 56.15% of the Class of 2022 landing a business-focused internship before graduating as compared to 53.30% for the Class of 2021. Houston did best in the Admissions Standards category, where they placed 30th. The B-School and 45th in the Academic Experience category – up from last year’s 48th place. 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 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. 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. 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

University OF HOUSTON Connections are key to business. And at Bauer, students can gain strong experience through connecting with faculty and business professionals in all different experiences such as case competitions. With strong specialty programs and connections that lead to future internship and employment opportunities, Bauer students are wellprepared for any career they choose to pursue.

WHAT ALUMNI SAY “The Credit Analysis case study in the Credit Analysis course (Advanced level course within the Commercial Banking program) is a unique experience in which students put all the skills from the various finance and accounting courses within the Commercial Banking program into practice. Students work in a group of 5-6 on a case study throughout the semester, analyzing the different aspects of credit structuring for a loan request and presenting the recommendations in front of a panel of experienced bankers. This learning experience is highly relevant to the real life work experience of the Commercial Banking industry.” “I worked on a Capstone project for Simulating the initial steps in a project from design to planning through gantt charts. It gives me an opportunity to understand real life business situations and deliverables required in obtaining business from clients.” “UH Finance Specialty track in Personal Financial Planning allows students to obtain the education component needed to get the CFP certification. The Program for Excellence in Selling helped me advance my professional skills and get hands-on experience in selling while still in school. The program is partnered with companies and has a 98% job placement rate - my current employer , Fidelity Investments , is one of the program’s partners. Both experiences played a crucial role in getting me to where I am today in my career today.”

THE BEST UNDERGRADUATE BUSINESS SCHOOLS

5210 OLSEN BLVD, COLLEGE STATION, TX 77843 ADMISSIONS OFFICE: 979-845-4711

Texas A&M University

A $128,557 Total Cost

$63,013 Average Salary

36.2%

Acceptance Rate

1274

Average SAT

0.4%

International Students

24.6%

Underrepresent Minorities

81.2%

Class of 2022 accepting jobs 90 days after graduation

POETSANDQUANTSFORUNDERGRADS.COM

t the Mays Business School at Texas A&M University, the mission is to be a vibrant learning organization that creates impactful knowledge and develops transformational leaders – which ties directly to the school’s values of respect, excellence, leadership, loyalty, integrity, and selfless service. The B-school came in at No. 36 in the 2023 rankings, down only a few spots from last year’s No. 33. Their strongest score of the three methodological categories was Admissions, where they ranked 32nd – down from last year’s 22nd place. The Mays Business School welcomed 36.19% of their applicants this year, slightly more lenient than last year’s rate of 30.54%, and their average SAT score was 1274 – slightly higher than the Class of 2021’s score of 1263. Employment-wise, 81.22% of the Class of 2022 secured a full-time position within three months of graduation – a fraction of a percentage down from last year’s 81.48% for the Class of 2021. A solid 70% of the Class of 2022 landed a business-focused internship before graduating – the same rate as the Class of 2021. “Aggies are encouraged to be optimistic about their education and to believe that they can achieve their goals,” Annie McGowan, associate dean for undergraduate programs at Mays, says. “The spirit of transformational leadership is integrated into coursework and high impact learning experiences.” A CULTURE OF SERVICE Selfless service is heavily integrated both the opportunities available for Mays students as well as the culture at Mays. The Nonprofit and Social Innovation Certificate is one of the ways Mays students can tailor their education towards a career in service. The certificate includes 13 hours of coursework and an internship with a social purpose organization. “Not-for-profit organizations makeup one of the fastest growing employment sectors in the country and are actively looking for graduates who can use their skills to immediately make an impact,” McGowan says. Students can also enroll in the “Strategic Philanthropy” course where they actively engage in entrepreneurial activities and contribute over $100,000 annually to a local non-profit organization. A STRONG NETWORK The values of Mays help contribute to its strong alumni network. That might be because of the number of resources Mays provides its students to connect with alumni. When a recent class of alumni were asked to rate the opportunities given to them in the business program to nurture and improve their soft skills, they ranked the program an 8.9 out of 10.

Texas A&M University Mays career coordinators are specifically dedicated to serving Mays students by offering targeted services and resources. Through career coordinators, Mays students can outline a career management plan based on career goals. HireAggies is another resource available for Mays students to build connections. The online system connects students to job postings for both full-time and internships as well as contact information for thousands of employers to assist in the development of professional networks. The Business Student Council hosts one of the largest business career fairs in the country, attended by more than 700 employing organizations last fall and 500 last spring. The AggiExternship program, hosted by the career center, provides the opportunity for students to participate in multiple oneday visits to companies to gain insight from professionals in their fields of interest. Other opportunities include industry seminar presentations, panel programs, and case competitions.

WHAT ALUMNI SAY “We had a management capstone in which we had multiple case studies on various business issues. This was important because it opened my eyes to business issues other than those specific to my major. It gave me a new perspective on businesses as a whole.” “Freshman Business Initiative program, where freshmen business students learned the basics of business and critical soft skills in large classroom sessions and small group breakouts. I was a small group leader for 2 years mentoring and teaching freshmen business students, something that is a critical development opportunity for my personal and career growth.” “I worked on a capstone project where my team had to consult a real business and offer a solution to a real-life business problem. This gave me exposure to working professionals and challenged me to work towards resolution on a real world example issue.”

THE BEST UNDERGRADUATE BUSINESS SCHOOLS

1 CUNNINGHAM SQUARE, PROVIDENCE, RI 02918 ADMISSIONS OFFICE: 401-865-2535

Providence College

P $282,945 Total Cost

$61,565 Average Salary

52.5%

Acceptance Rate

1318

Average SAT

1.9%

International Students

15.4%

Underrepresent Minorities

95.4%

Class of 2022 accepting jobs 90 days after graduation

POETSANDQUANTSFORUNDERGRADS.COM

rovidence College’s School of Business ranked 37th in this year’s 2023 rankings, and has been trending upwards from last year’s No. 40 and 2021’s No. 47. Providence had a slightly more selective acceptance rate this year, accepting 52.51% of the Class of 2022 as compared to last year’s rate of 58.34%. Another upward trend year after year is the SAT scores – with an average of 1318 for the Class of 2022, 1295 for the Class of 2022, and 1268 for the Class of 2021. 2023 employment rates held strong and improved, with 95.35% of the Class of 2022 securing a full-time position within three months of graduation – way up from the already high rate of 94.59% for the Class of 2021. The Academic Experience category was Providence’s strongest methodological category, as it finished 33rd. The B-School finished 37th in the career outcomes category and 48th 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 large cash 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

Providence College to nurture and improve students’ soft skills relatively high at an 8.9 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. Alumni that we surveyed spoke highly about their experience in marketing elective courses, where they were able to develop relevant work skills. 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. A recent competition asked students to develop a comprehensive marketing plan targeting Generation Z in an effort to increase membership and relevance among American college students. 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. 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 “In MGT401 (Org Theory), we were put into groups and had to plan and execute a fundraising event for a local charity. We put on an event at a bar/restaurant close to campus for a local animal shelter that went very well. The process of planning the event and then executing it was very valuable, especially with the effort going toward a good cause.” “Benjamin Family Social Media Fellowship - I fully experienced handson social media management, campaign building, setting agendas, scheduling and managing meetings, along with analyzing results, networking, peer reviews, the list goes on. I truly do not know where I would be without what that fellowship did for me. I think having that experience to touch on in interviews really puts me a level above. It also gave me an opportunity to network extensively.” “The semester-long project I performed for my Accounting Information Systems (AIS) class was especially important to the interview I had for my current role. I am regularly asked to create standardized operating processes (SOPs) at work, and having that project experience on my resume was helpful for showing I was prepared and qualified for this responsibility.”

THE BEST UNDERGRADUATE BUSINESS SCHOOLS

2101 S. UNIVERSITY BLVD, DENVER, CO 80208 ADMISSIONS OFFICE: 303-871-2036

University of Denver

T $283,191 Total Cost

$67,619

he Daniels College of Business at the University of Denver secured a place at No. 38 in this year’s 2023 rankings – down only one place from last year’s No. 37. This year’s acceptance rate was 61.39%, slightly more selective than last year’s 67.79%. The average SAT score was 1294 for the Class of 2022 – up from last year’s average of 1270. Employment-wise, Daniels students have very strong outcomes, though the rate did decrease slightly, with 91.21% of the class of 2022 securing a full-time position within three months of graduation as compared to 94.32% for the Class of 2021. Daniels held to their trend of hovering in the strong low 90’s for internship rates, with 92.00% of the Class of 2022 securing a business-focused internship before graduating as compared to 93% for the Class of 2021, and 94% for the Class of 2020. This year, Daniels placed 47th in Academic Experience, 43rd in Admissions Standards, and 43rd in Career Outcomes. The success of Daniels graduates is largely tied to the B-school’s innovative and relevant curriculum with strong mentorship and support.

Average Salary

TWO DEGREES

61.4%

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.

Acceptance Rate

1294

Average SAT

3.2%

International Students

26.7%

Underrepresent Minorities

91.2%

Class of 2022 accepting jobs 90 days after graduation

POETSANDQUANTSFORUNDERGRADS.COM

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. 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. 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 2019 alumni giving an 8.6 average rating.

University OF DENVER 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 rated the B-school’s faculty highly for availability for informal discussions and mentoring outside of class, giving this category a 9.2 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. 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.

WHAT ALUMNI SAY “I took part in the Daniels Distinction program with the final presentation at the end. It was important because I was paired with a mentor from the Finance program. With this connection I was able to continuously evaluate my experiences to make the most of my search for post graduation experiences.” “There were several experiential projects that I worked on in the program. Some were just myself working through real life problems and others allowed me to work with real companies to gain pertinent experience for what I was wanting to do. Both were influential in preparing me for post college work.” “I produced an honors Thesis on the impact of Internet Communication Technology prevalence on the likelihood of regime change in Arab nations experiencing Civil Conflict. This allowed me to produce a work of published research prior to my Master’s degree, which was critical in being admitted to my desired programs.”

THE BEST UNDERGRADUATE BUSINESS SCHOOLS

100 CAMPUS DR, ELON, NC 27244 ADMISSIONS OFFICE: 800-334-8448

Elon University

E $212,614 Total Cost

$61,504 Average Salary

74.2%

Acceptance Rate

1256

Average SAT

4.2%

International Students

16.7%

Underrepresent Minorities

97.6%

Class of 2022 accepting jobs 90 days after graduation

POETSANDQUANTSFORUNDERGRADS.COM

lon University’s Martha and Spencer Love School of Business (LSB) landed at No. 39 in the 2023 rankings – only a few places behind last year’s No. 35. The Love School had a slightly more lenient acceptance rate of 74.22% for the Class of 2022 as compared to last year’s 77.39% rate. The average SAT score rose from the Class of 2021’s average of 1243 to an average score of 1256 for the Class of 2022. Students graduate from LSB with strong employment prospects. The Class of 2022 scored a 97.59% rate for full-time employment within three months of graduation – almost identical to that of the Class of 2021’s 97.20%. Additionally, 99% of the Class of 2022 had a business-focused internship before graduating – the same as last year. Elon’s Love School was lifted by a 18th-place finish in the Academic Experience category of the rankings and a 26th place finish in the Career 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 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, to allow sufficient time during a class for students to begin, complete, and debrief on projects. Many alumni we surveyed highlighted projects or experiences that had an element of community service-based values. 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 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

ELON University 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. 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 “I was a member of the Honor program and completed a thesis for completion of the program. Taking on a research project of my choice that studied a worldwide problem felt like I was actually providing something beneficial to the world.” “I had many experiential learning based business programs. I conducted market research for a local nonprofit and presented to their board, participated in a digital marketing simulation to run AB tests and completed CapSim.” “As an Honors Fellow and Economics major I completed my thesis in economics studying the impact of dams on their surrounding area. I am passionate about the environment and being able to complete this project showed that I was able to contribute to something greater than myself.”

THE BEST UNDERGRADUATE BUSINESS SCHOOLS

100 ROCKAFELLER ROAD SUITE 1008, PISCATAWAY, NJ 08854 ADMISSIONS OFFICE: 848-445-3600

Rutgers Business School at New Brunswick

T $141,432 Total Cost

$69,936 Average Salary

47.6%

Acceptance Rate

1401

Average SAT

7.8%

International Students

24%

Underrepresent Minorities

88.2%

Class of 2022 accepting jobs 90 days after graduation

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he Rutgers Business School in New Brunswick placed at No. 40 in the 2023 rankings – up one place from last year’s No.41. The B-school had an acceptance rate of 47.60% for the Class of 2022, nearly to last year’s rate of 47.56% and average SAT score of 1401, up a good amount from the Class of 2022’s score of 1371. The New Brunswick B-school saw an improvement in employment outcomes, with some 88.24% of the Class of 2022 landing full-time employment within three months of graduation compared to 77.21% for the Class of 2020. Internship outcomes dipped a bit, with 73.85% of the Class of 2022 having a business-focused internship before graduating, down from last year’s 78.70%. 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 many 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. 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 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 a high 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 “I participated in Deloitte’s FanTAXtic case competition during one of my college years and my team made it to the nationals located at Deloitte University. This experience was important to me because I learned about teamwork, critical thinking, and collaboration.” “During my freshman year, I was a part of the leadership experiential learning program which taught me communication, teamwork and work ethic. My projects in consumer behavior and marketing strategy were life changing in senior year because they made me realize my dream career field.” “The last class was one of the very few hands-on experiences I had as a business major. These were things I was looking forward to when I started my education at RBS, but unfortunately only came toward the latter years (and last classes). Learning how to make informed group decisions within a time frame is important; students need to practice this more in classes.”

THE BEST UNDERGRADUATE BUSINESS SCHOOLS

1 UNIVERSITY PARK DR, NASHVILLE, TN 37204 ADMISSIONS OFFICE: 1-877-58-BISON

Lipscomb University

L $209,294 Total Cost

$50,385 Average Salary

55.7%

Acceptance Rate

1245

Average SAT

International Students

20.9%

Underrepresent Minorities

97.9%

Class of 2022 accepting jobs 90 days after graduation

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ipscomb University’s College of Business has improved as far as school stats go, climbing to No. 41 in the 2023 rankings – up an impressive ten places from last year’s No. 51 ranking and still up from No. 56 in 2021. Lipscomb had a much more selective acceptance rate than past years, at 55.69% for the Class of 2022 compared to 76.51% for the Class of 2021 and 86.21% for the Class of 2020, and a much higher average SAT score at 1245 compared to the Class of 2021’s 1145 and the Class of 2020’s 1161 average score. Employment rates look good as well and are trending upward, with 97.86% of the Class of 2022 landing full-time employment within three months of graduation, slightly up from 96.93% for the Class of 2021. Internship outcomes held strong, with 95% of the Class of 2022 completing a business-focused internship before graduation – in line with 95% for the Class of 2021. 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, which 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 BA in Management, Marketing, Finance, and Accounting. Additionally, the B-school requires students 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. 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

Lipscomb University the annual Kittrell Pitch Competition, which challenges students to pitch a business idea for a product or service to a panel of professionals. The fall competition is open to undergraduate and graduate students from any major, and winners receive $2,500. 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 and 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. FINANCIAL MARKETS LAB Lipscomb is constantly looking for ways to provide innovative and cutting edge resources for its students. The Financial Markets Lab offers a renovated classroom space for 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. “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 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.

WHAT ALUMNI SAY “The TVA Investment Challenge and capstone course both prepared me for life after school because of the way they mimicked real work I would do in my career.” “Our Senior Capstone course and the work completed in it was crucial in learning how to work with your peers toward a common goal of superior completion while also being under pressure. Professors were there to guide us but we did have to figure it out for ourselves to an extent.” “I was part of the Aspire program, which was a part time internship while still in school throughout my Junior and Senior year. I had to complete 700+ work hours at my internship as well as pass a full course load. This allowed me to get work experience while still in college, and complete my educational courses at the same time. This program prepared me for my first full-time job, and has had a major impact on my career.”

THE BEST UNDERGRADUATE BUSINESS SCHOOLS

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

Worcester Polytechnic Institute

F $283,693 Total Cost

$70,981 Average Salary

41.5%

Acceptance Rate

N/A

Average SAT

21%

International Students

11%

Underrepresent Minorities

90.5%

Class of 2022 accepting jobs 90 days after graduation

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or 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 WPI Business School. The Business School at Worcester Polytechnic Institute rose in this year’s 2023 rankings, landing at No. 42 – up 11 spots from last year’s 2022 ranking at No. 53. This year, WPI had a much more rigid acceptance rate of 41.45% for the Class of 2022 as compared to last year’s 72.58%. The school didn’t report their average SAT score this year, however last year’s score was 1356. Of the three methodological categories, WPI scored best in Admission, landing 44th yet they held a relatively similar score throughout all of the categories, landing 45th in Career Outcomes and 53rd in Academic Experience. Some 75.50% of the Class of 2022 had a business-focused internship before graduation, down slightly from the 79% of the Class of 2021. This year, 90.50% of the Class of 2022 secured a full-time position within three months of graduation, holding nearly the same rate as the Class of 2021, of whom 89.33% secured employment. CURRICULUM Students at The WPI Business School 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 The Business School. Projects are the core of the WPI curriculum. Many courses require students to apply their knowledge from classes and labs to real-world 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, says. Additionally, surveyed alumni viewed their business courses quite positively. When asked to evaluate how well the The WPI Business School business program prepared them for the working world, recent alumni gave an 8.4 average rating. Alumni also rated faculty an 8.4 average rating for their availability for informal discussions about grades, class topics, and expectations outside of class. MAJOR QUALIFYING PROJECT The WPI Business School students all take part in the Major Qualifying Project, a team-based design or research project that culminates their

Worchester polytechnic Institute 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 problem in the real world. And because the project is required by all undergraduates, every student at The Business School graduates with experiential learning experience. Many alumni surveyed highlighted the Major Qualifying Project as a “signature experience” during their time at The Business School and credit the experience as beneficial to their careers today. 70% OF STUDENTS HAVE GLOBAL EXPERIENCE While WPI is based in Massachusetts, The Business School students have a variety of opportunities to travel globally and immerse themselves in different cultures. Roughly 63% of The Business School 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 equal opportunity, WPI offers 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 The WPI Business School stand out.

WHAT ALUMNI SAY “WPI’s project program (humanities seminar, IQP, MQP) is why I chose WPI. It taught me valuable technical and soft skills that I could not have gotten from just another normal class project.” “I appreciated how dedicated the professors were to our learning. We had multiple real world experiences that showed us how our education would actually guide us at work. I loved how my professors would spend time outside of hours to check in and help explain concepts that we needed extra time with. It felt extremely personal.” “For my senior project I did a project to help an organization whose goal is to help those who have been victims of human trafficking or domestic violence. Through my project, I provided the company with a staffing model based on industry best practices, a recommended floor plan for the site using an optimized industrial engineering model and industry best practices, and produced a SWOT and PESTEL analysis to help this facility understand it’s place in the industry and to give them recommendations on how to proceed successfully. This project was important for me because it brought the human aspect of the work to the front. It gave me the ability to help open a facility for those who are at their lowest and most vulnerable points in life and provide them with tools and programs to live meaningful and healthy lives.”

THE BEST UNDERGRADUATE BUSINESS SCHOOLS 101

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

Wake Forest University

W $296,981 Total Cost

$73,322 Average Salary

24.3%

Acceptance Rate

1430

Average SAT

International Students

10%

Underrepresent Minorities

93.7%

Class of 2022 accepting jobs 90 days after graduation

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ake Forest offers a high-quality business education that is characterized by cross-functional learning and strong career advising support. The B-school placed at No. 43 down from No. 2021 in 2022. Wake Forest had an especially selective acceptance rate this year of 24.34%, about a point higher than the 23.34% from the year before. It reported an average SAT score of 1430, compared to 1405 in 2022. In terms of employment outcomes, Wake Forest students are wellprepared for the world of work. Some 98% of the Class of 2022 had a business-focused internship before graduating, the same rate as the Class of 2021 and up from 91% for the Class of 2020. Some 90.12% of the Class of 2022 secured a full-time position within three months of graduation, down from 97.30% of the Class of 2021. Average starting salary for this year’s graduates was $79,688, up significantly from the $66,955 average of the previous class. Average signing bonuses were down just slightly at $7,484 compared to $7,927 the previous year. 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. CROSS-FUNCTIONAL, REAL-WORLD EDUCATION Wake Forest business students can choose from four majors including Accountancy, Business Enterprise Management, Finance, and Mathematical Business. Roughly 84% of 2019 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.

Wake Forest University 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. 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, 2019 alumni rated the effectiveness of Wake Forest’s career advising highly, giving it an 9.3 average rating. When asked to rate Wake Forest faculty availability for informal discussions and mentoring outside of class, 2019 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.

WHAT ALUMNI SAY “All seniors are required to complete a halfsemester course called “The Simulation”. Classes are broken up into smaller teams who compete against one another to launch hypothetical medical devices in a global market. Business decisions are made by the team to influence product growth. Results were presented to a panel of local business owners for review.” “I completed a School of Business study abroad program at our Vienna, Austria location. I lived in a house with 15 other students, our professor, and his wife. The program is exclusive to Wake Forest students. All classes were taught by Wake Forest professors and full credit hours and GPA were accepted. This program allowed me to create deeper connections with business school peers and my professors.” “I studied abroad for 6 months in New Zealand. During this time I took courses and also had an internship, so I was able to build international business connections.”

THE BEST UNDERGRADUATE BUSINESS SCHOOLS 103

ADMISSIONS OFFICE: 1-800-274-4131

Florida Southern College

F $228,800 Total Cost

$56,022 Average Salary

56.2%

Acceptance Rate

1229

Average SAT

International Students

19%

Underrepresent Minorities

98.4%

Class of 2022 accepting jobs 90 days after graduation

POETSANDQUANTSFORUNDERGRADS.COM

or those looking for a tropical getaway and business education, consider Florida Southern College’s School of Business, which sits between Tampa and Orlando. The B-School ranked No. 44th this year, up an impressive 24 places from last year’s ranking, where they landed at No. 68. The B-School had a slightly more selective acceptance rate of 56.22% for the Class of 2022 as compared to last year’s 59.46% for the Class of 2021, and average SAT score of 1229 – up some from last year’s average of 1219. Of the three methodological categories, the B-School ranked highest in the Academic Experience category, landing at No. 41. Florida Southern also excelled in the employment outcomes category this year. The school reported that some 71.50% of the Class of 2022 had at least one business-focused internship by graduation, well up from the Class of 2021’s 55.70%. This year, full-time employment rose more than 20%, with 98.43% of the Class of 2022 accepting a full-time position within three months of graduation as compared to 72.58% for the Class of 2021 – one of the most impressive leaps in this year’s employment outcomes category. 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 47.62% of a recent graduating class 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.

Florida Southern College “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.” 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.

WHAT ALUMNI SAY “I took a capstone for business and sport business. For sport business we put on an event with a semi pro soccer team and had the highest attendance at that game for the year. For business I wrote a paper and presented on docusign and the challenge that face them post covid.” “As an accounting major I am not very social nor a particularly good salesman. The presentations on a created business with supply chains, marketing strategy, and evaluation of the product allowed me to tell a better story in presenting. Growing my social side in addition to my intellectual progress in class.” “We completed a comprehensive review of the operational aspects of a senior living healthcare network and developed a business plan to promote growth and sustainability in the long run. It was beneficial to conduct a macro analysis of the industry I was entering post-graduation to expand my perspective and understand the importance of value-based growth through demographic screening, data analysis, and scope of the continuum of care.”

THE BEST UNDERGRADUATE BUSINESS SCHOOLS 105

MCCLELLAND HALL ROOM 204, TUCSON, AZ 85721 ADMISSIONS OFFICE: 520-621-2505

University of Arizona

T $127,828 Total Cost

$60,570 Average Salary

69.6%

Acceptance Rate

1240

Average SAT

6.8%

International Students

35.3%

Underrepresent Minorities

87.3%

Class of 2022 accepting jobs 90 days after graduation

POETSANDQUANTSFORUNDERGRADS.COM

he University of Arizona’s Eller College of Management ranked No. 45 in the 2023 rankings, down only one place from last year’s rankings. The B-school was more lenient this year, with an acceptance rate of 69.60% for the Class of 2022 as compared to last year’s 59.19%. Eller reported an average SAT score of 1240, a good amount higher than the Class of 2021’s average rate of 1208 and the previous year’s score was 1110. The B-school performed best in the Academic Experience category, where they placed 31st. Eller students have relatively strong employment and internship outcomes. Some 87.29% of the Class of 2022 secured full-time employment within three months of graduation, a slight increase from last year’s 84.21% of the Class of 2021. Internship-wise, 84.00% of the Class of 2022 landed a business-focused internship before graduating — a slight increase from 2021’s 82.00%. 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. 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 important collaboration and presentation skills. Alumni view these experiences positively. When asked to rate the

University of Arizona opportunities given to them at Eller to nurture and improve their soft-skills in business, a recent class of alumni gave a strong 9.25 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 did participate in a capstone project with my capstone course. While it did allow me to look at problem solving in a new light and allowed me to solve real-life issues for a real-life company, I wish I was taught more technical skills in order to assist in a deeper, more meaningful way.” “My senior thesis and capstone was a detailed valuation of a local car company based in Tempe, Carvana. This project involved interviews with Carvana executives, mentorship by seasoned investors, and a competition against other schools. The latter of which, my group won and advanced to the national competition.” “As part of our first semester of Eller we do three core classes that require group work. You have the same group for all three classes for the entire semester. I learned a lot about working as a team and delegating/taking on responsibility where needed. Looking back, this experience was really formative for my ability to work with teams and meet deadlines.”

THE BEST UNDERGRADUATE BUSINESS SCHOOLS 107

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

Carnegie Mellon University

W $318,960 Total Cost

$86,202 Average Salary

8.6%

Acceptance Rate

1506

Average SAT

18.2%

International Students

23%

Underrepresent Minorities

96.2%

Class of 2022 accepting jobs 90 days after graduation

POETSANDQUANTSFORUNDERGRADS.COM

ith 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. Carnegie Mellon University’s Tepper School of Business landed at an impressive 46th place in this year’s 2023 rankings. The Tepper School reported a more selective acceptance rate for the Class of 2022, at 8.62% as compared to last year’s 14.26%. The average SAT score bumped up to an impressive 1506 – a nice increase from last year’s average of 1491. Internship rates were reported at a record high for the B-School, at 98.50% of the Class of 2022 securing a business-focused internship before graduation above the Class of 2020’s 95%. As for employment, 96.16% of the Class of 2022 were employed full-time within three months of graduation as compared to 90.22% for the Class of 2020. 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. 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 top10 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 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. All first-year Tepper students are required to take Business Science, a course that sets the foundation for their Tepper business education. Surveyed alumni have rated the quality of teaching at Tepper very highly. Asked to rate the opportunities to nurture and improve soft skills in business such as verbal and written communication skills, adaptability, and time management, alumni from a recent class gave the Tepper School an 8.3 average score. MANAGEMENT GAME 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 computer-

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

WHAT ALUMNI SAY “We have a capstone team project where we compete with other classmates on selling 2 types of products. We became the c suite and made decisions on vision, goal, prices, production, marketing, and others. We presented to CMU alumni who worked at prestigious roles to be our board and pressure test our strategy. This was an amazing experience as we learned how to create concise decks, make important decisions with data backed reasoning, and present to leadership under pressure to do well.” “Business isn’t just one concept, in the real world it’s a combination of everything you’ve learned. The capstone classes combine everything you learn from the past years.” “Washington Semester Program, Study Abroad in Singapore, Study Abroad in Qatar These experiences exposed me to the world of global business, allowed me to develop lifelong friendships & connections, and has reinforced my belief in and goal to work in an international context cross culturally. A hackathon experience I participated in abroad made me interested in the world of startups and so I joined a startup right out of university instead of accepting a return offer at a larger bank.”

THE BEST UNDERGRADUATE BUSINESS SCHOOLS 109

OLIN HALL 115 5998 ALCALA PARK, SAN DIEGO, CA 92110 ADMISSIONS OFFICE: 619-260-4830

University of San Diego

T $283,723 Total Cost

$65,263 Average Salary

52.6%

Acceptance Rate

N/A

Average SAT

International Students

50%

Underrepresent Minorities

90.9%

Class of 2022 accepting jobs 90 days after graduation

POETSANDQUANTSFORUNDERGRADS.COM

he University of San Diego’s School of Business ranked No. 47 in this year’s 2023 rankings, down only one place from last year’s No. 46 and the previous year’s No. 43. The incoming Class of 2022 had nearly the same acceptance rate as last year’s Class at 52.62% compared to last year’s rate of 52.70%. Although average SAT scores were not reported again this year, the Class of 2021’s score was 1250, and the previous year’s score was 1274. Employment-wise, 90.91% of the Class of 2022 secured full-time employment within three months of graduation, only slightly below the Class of 2021’s 92.10%. Only slightly below their past rates, 71.00% of the Class of 2022 landed a business-focused internship before graduating compared to 73% for the Class of 2021. While San Diego’s School of Business was fairly balanced in two of the three methodological categories, landing in 56th in Career Outcomes and 51st in Admission, they scored highest in the Academic Experience category, placing 36th. 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 recent alumni giving the quality of teaching in business courses a strong average rating and strong marks in terms of business school faculty availability for informal discussions and mentoring outside of class. 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.

University of san diego 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. 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. For many alumni, the senior thesis experience is one that proves valuable and applicable to their careers today. 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 a senior capstone in economics. This was a research based course where I got to apply my knowledge of economics and econometric models to a real world question I had. Having a full semester to develop this capstone was a unique experience at the undergraduate level and this helped me in interviews.” “For the business econ major our senior seminar was an integral part of showing our abilities in data analytics and proper studies. I used this project to show my abilities to future employers. I got my current job because of that project.” “Senior Seminar, a final-semester course required by all students with a major in Economics, prepared me for every challenge post-graduation. I demonstrated a thorough knowledge and understanding of Econometrics through weekly written and verbal presentations of my project’s progress.”

THE BEST UNDERGRADUATE BUSINESS SCHOOLS 111

ADMISSIONS OFFICE: 803-777-1014

University of South Carolina

T $105,729 Total Cost

$62,339 Average Salary

57.6%

Acceptance Rate

1252

Average SAT

1.3%

International Students

12%

Underrepresent Minorities

95.7%

Class of 2022 accepting jobs 90 days after graduation

POETSANDQUANTSFORUNDERGRADS.COM

he Darla Moore School of Business at the University of South Carolina landed at No. 48 in the 2023 rankings this year – 7 places behind their No. 41 place last year. Across the three methodological categories, Darla Moore School had a fairly even score, placing 52nd in Career Outcomes, 45th in Admissions, and 55th in Academic Experience. The B-School had an acceptance rate of 57.61% for the Class of 2022, a tad more selective than last year’s 59.68%, and average SAT score of 1252, slightly up from the Class of 2021’s score of 1248. On the employment front, the Moore School is trending upwards. The B-School saw an impressive 95.65% of the Class of 2022 securing full-time employment within three months of graduation, up from the strong 93.93% for the Class of 2021 and 84.83% for the Class of 2020. As for internships, 69.79% of the Class of 2022 secured a business-focused internship before graduation, up slightly from 65.90% for the Class of 2021. STRONG CURRICULUM FOUNDATION The Moore School continues to garner national recognition for its highly competitive, small, elite program in International Business. The Moore School also offers eight academically demanding programs, a concentration in business analytics that attracts over 800 students annually, project-based coursework, experiential learning opportunities, and a wide array of study abroad options. Moore undergraduates can choose from majors including Accounting, Economics, Finance, International Business, Management (with tracks in Human Resources and Entrepreneurship), Marketing, Operations & Supply Chain, Real Estate, and Risk Management & Insurance. Many students complement their first major with a second major in business and also enhance their degree with a concentration in Business Analytics. GLOBAL BUSINESS IS A FOCUS On top of the core business classes, international business majors also take courses on globalization and business, international financial management, foreign market entry and growth, and more. All international business majors must complete a second business major — a very important choice because it’s this major where first jobs are typically landed. Students can choose the Classic International Business program or one of the Cohort programs including the Chinese business track, European Business track, Global Business track, Middle East and North Africa business track, South American business track, or tracks in Eurasian Business or Global Business Innovation.

University of South Carolina What really makes the international business program at the Moore School strong are the study abroad opportunities it offers. An overwhelming number of alumni we have surveyed in past years highlighted the lasting impact that study abroad had on both their personal and professional lives. QUALITY PROJECT-BASED LEARNING 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 skill sets. “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.

WHAT STUDENTS SAY “We played one simulation game in my junior year that basically tried to teach us ERP planning using software from SAP and it was very helpful in helping me in my data analyst role after college for a few ERP projects I had at work. In my strategic management class we had a simulation software that tried to teach how corporate functions work together to bring a product to market and it has helped me today in consulting and helping others with their technology and business strategy. My best experience is from the capstone project I did for my supply chain major. We had a lean six sigma project to improve a pharmaceutical manufacturing line. I learned many skills in the project and got a green belt in lean six sigma that not only led to me getting a higher wage at work but has given me more opportunities in consulting. I apply all the tools and knowledge I learned from the program today and even reference the slides, worksheets, and books from the classes when I need a refresher. They gave us so many tools to help us be successful in our careers in that capstone project.” “I did an honors thesis that was less relevant to what I do now, but allowed me to explore other interests nonetheless. I also participated in the operations and supply chain capstone project which was an excellent opportunity to gain real world hands-on experience and continues to help me in my current investing role. The finance scholars program had the biggest impact on my career trajectory. The case study environment facilitates deeper learning and the smaller class size with other highly driven individuals allowed us to learn from each other. We pushed ourselves and each other to be the best we could be.”

THE BEST UNDERGRADUATE BUSINESS SCHOOLS 113

1000 VOLUNTEER BLVD, KNOXVILLE, TN 37996 ADMISSIONS OFFICE: 865-974-5061

University of Tennessee

T $137,197 Total Cost

$56,494 Average Salary

73.3%

Acceptance Rate

1270

Average SAT

0.6%

International Students

12.9%

Underrepresent Minorities

94.4%

Class of 2022 accepting jobs 90 days after graduation

POETSANDQUANTSFORUNDERGRADS.COM

he Haslam College of Business at the University of Tennessee Knoxville landed at No. 49 for the Class of 2022 – up three places from last year’s rank of No. 52. The B-School has become increasingly more selective, with an average acceptance rate of 72.83% for the Class of 2022, more selective than last year’s 81.41% and the previous year’s 93.12%. SAT scores have been increasing over the years as well, with this year’s Class of 2022 scoring an average of 1270. Last year’s Class of 2021 held an average of 1226, and the previous year’s score was 1196. Employment-wise, the Haslam College saw a slight increase in numbers – with 94.44% of the Class of 2022 securing full-time employment at the time of graduation as compared to 93.75% for the class of 2022. Internship outcomes also saw a slight increase, with 79.50% of the Class of 2022 landing a business-focused internship before graduating, compared to 76% for the Class of 2021. The Haslam experience is designed around an integrated education with a strong emphasis on global leadership development and realworld learning. Haslam’s highest finish of all the three methodological categories was in the Academic Experience category, where they placed 26th. INTEGRATED EDUCATION Haslam undergraduates can choose from the following business majors: Accounting, Business Analytics, Economics, Finance, Human Resource Management, Management, Marketing, Public Administration, and Supply Chain Management. 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 in recent years have rated the quality of teaching in Haslam courses at a high average; asked if they would recommend the Haslam business program to a close friend or colleague interested in an undergraduate business degree, most give the program high marks.

University of tennessee GLOBAL LEADERSHIP SCHOLARS 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 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. Additionally, the global component allows students to travel and intern in London. 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. 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 “We did a simulation that slowed us to be paired with people of different majors and let us control the area of our project based on our major. This was extremely helpful.” “I was in the inaugural integrated business and engineering cohort program so my academia had real world semester long projects from sophomore-senior year. Each project was unique and I believe the knowledge learned on these really prepared me for what was to come upon graduation.” “I completed a senior thesis. In my research, I conducted an event study on the impact of celebrity social media posts on a company’s stock price. For example, if a celebrity tweeted about Nike, could this influence the stock price of the company? This work was important to me because it was relevant and well-received by the academic audience.”

THE BEST UNDERGRADUATE BUSINESS SCHOOLS 115

400 SOUTH ORANGE AVE, SOUTH ORANGE, NJ 07079 ADMISSIONS OFFICE: 800-THE-HALL

Seton Hall University

A $243,292 Total Cost

$60,879 Average Salary

72.8%

Acceptance Rate

1288

Average SAT

1.5%

International Students

38.5%

Underrepresent Minorities

95.1%

Class of 2022 accepting jobs 90 days after graduation

POETSANDQUANTSFORUNDERGRADS.COM

s a private Roman Catholic University in South Orange, New Jersey, Seton Hall University’s Stillman School of Business believes that leaders need to “learn to make a difference,” and this year, the B-school landed at No. 50 in the 2023 rankings. The acceptance rate became a tad more selective, with 72.83% of the Class of 2022 admitted as compared to 73.73% for the Class of 2021. The Class of 2022’s average SAT score was 1288 – up slightly from last year’s score of 1277. As far as career outcomes go, the school shared that 76.50% of the Class of 2022 landed a business-specific internship before graduation – down slightly from 80% for the Class of 2021, yet an impressive 95.06% of the Class of 2022 secured a full-time job within three months of graduation – up ever so slightly from last year’s 94.74%. The B-school had a fairly balanced score within the three methodological categories, landing at No. 50 in Career Outcomes, No. 54 in Admissions, and No. 44 in Academic Experience. CURRICULUM On top of the usual concentration offerings in Accounting, Economics, Business Administration, Entrepreneurship, Legal Studies, Management Information, Management, Marketing, Marketing, and Sport Management, Stillman School of Business also offers a Leadership Development Honors Program, that has consistently ranked No.1 in the nation for four years in the LEAD Awards sponsored by HR.com. The program was specifically named the No. 1 Certificate Program with Emphasis on Leadership/ Organizational Development. As part of the program, students take a course called Ideas & Trends, where junior year students are guided to think about innovative technology, engage in fieldwork, and collaborate to identify ideas and trends and explore how they connect with the future. The experience is intended at preparing students for top-level positions in the business industry, where they should expect disruption, but can fundamentally prepare for it through critical observation and thinking. Previous classes of the Leadership Development Honors Program have worked in the Program’s Code of Conduct, helped out with a funding initiative to improve the Center’s ability to support student and Program development, and helped develop and implement the program’s Study Abroad Program. In addition to the opportunities mentioned above, student leaders are expected to complete 80 hours of community service, since good leaders lead, and great leaders serve. EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES ABOUND Students at Stillman School have plenty of opportunities at experiential learning even if they are not part of the Leadership

Seton Hall University Program. Finance students who have their eyes set on Wall Street will get practice with stock evaluations, take classes in the school’s Center for Securities Trading and Analysis, and even attend the annual Capital Markets Colloquium. At this event, students not only network with industry professionals while discussing market trends and global events, but they also attend sessions on topics including real estate finance and investing in corporate credit, and have their questions on the overall economy answered. Students at Stillman can choose from 16 business-specific student organizations and 5 study abroad opportunities to broaden their business education. From the Accounting Cub, Supply Chain Club, and Entrepreneurship Club, to the Marketing Club, Sport Management Student Association, and Stillman Exchange, there’s no way a business student at Seton Hall can say they are having a hard time meeting like-minded people. The Stillman Exchange is Seton Hall University’s Business Publication. Articles on the site cover everything from tech and innovation, money and investing, and spots, to international news, and international business.

WHAT ALUMNI SAY “One of the best projects I did in undergrad was the Senior Assessment. It allowed me to gain collaborative skills and improve my interpersonal skills as well. It forced me out of my comfort zone and provided a real world simulation of business challenges.” “I worked on a group project and we’re given a scenario on a company stock, do you buy or sell, and why? We had to argue sell/ don’t buy. We researched company ethics and news, revenue, everything and it was really fun. We had to present it to the judges and they decided if we passed or not.” “I was a part of the Sophomore Leadership cohort that was a collection of 15-20 students who were connected to local alumni working in Fortune 500 companies. It was an experience that helped me meet people, work on my networking, and grow the scope of the type of companies I would be interested in being a part of.”

THE BEST UNDERGRADUATE BUSINESS SCHOOLS 117

8000 UTOPIA PARKWAY, QUEENS, NY 11439 ADMISSIONS OFFICE: 718-990-2000

St. John’s University

T $255,431 Total Cost

$63,943 Average Salary

53.8%

Acceptance Rate

1243

Average SAT

International Students

39%

Underrepresent Minorities

84.9%

Class of 2022 accepting jobs 90 days after graduation

POETSANDQUANTSFORUNDERGRADS.COM

he Peter J. Tobin College of Business at St. John’s University ranked No. 51 in the 2023 rankings, down from last year’s No. 38. This ranking is closer to their 2021 and 2020 ranking, where the B-School placed No. 54 and No. 50 respectively. Tobin had a much more lenient acceptance rate this year, accepting 53.75% of the Class of 2022 as compared to 38.51% for the Class of 2022. The Class of 2022 scored an average SAT of 1243 – up slightly from last year’s average of 1238. The B-school’s employment outcomes improved this year. Some 84.90% of the Class of 2022 were employed full-time within three months of graduation, up slightly from 83.05% for the Class of 2021. Internship outcomes rose slightly as well from the Class of 2021’s 78%, with 81.50% of the Class of 2022 landing at least one internship before graduation. Of the three methodological categories, Tobin scored highest in Admissions, coming in 42nd. 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 micro-loan 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. Tobin’s Risk Management and Insurance Program is repeatedly ranked in the top 10 by U.S. News. This program offers an undergraduate major and Tobin is the only bachelor of science in business program in the U.S. to require that all undergraduates take a risk management course. Risk management and insurance is a central part of any organization’s strategic management. Risk managers and insurance professionals help identify, evaluate and manage key risks, including natural disasters and man-made catastrophes. Leveraging St. John’s metropolitan location, students have access to the University’s long standing relationships with leading New York-area financial and insurance organizations as well as to mentoring support from local alumni – who are leading professionals in the field of risk management. EXECUTIVE-IN-RESIDENCE PROGRAM One of the main characteristics of the Tobin education is its focus on experiential learning. EIRP allows selected students to work with partnered organizations as “consultants” to offer them fresh solutions, new product ideas, and more. 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

St. John’s University other B-school consulting programs. Many Tobin alumni highlighted the relevant skills and valuable experience they gained through EIRP. 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. 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. Whether it’s gaining valuable consulting exposure through EIRP or building socially responsible finance skills in GLOBE, Tobi

WHAT ALUMNI SAY “I was part of the Accounting Scholars Program which allowed me to take a two month busy season internship with Deloitte during January and February (within the school year).” “In my Investment Banking class, we did a project simulation where my professor gave us a fake investing account where we had to invest one million dollars into any stocks, bonds, ETF’s, or mutual funds. It showed me how to invest my money wisely now I am in the real world for my retirement or personal funds. It was a great experience to do!” “I was a finalist in a Business Plan Competition, which gave me the opportunity to develop business plans. I was able to apply what I learned in the classroom to real life. This was important to me because I am able to bring this skill back to my community and teach others how to develop business plans.”

THE BEST UNDERGRADUATE BUSINESS SCHOOLS 119

1800 LINCOLN AVE, EVANSVILLE, IN 47722 ADMISSIONS OFFICE: 812-488-2954

University of Evansville

T $217,532 Total Cost

$51,789 Average Salary

72%

Acceptance Rate

1140

Average SAT

10.2%

International Students

23.7%

Underrepresent Minorities

95.4%

Class of 2022 accepting jobs 90 days after graduation

POETSANDQUANTSFORUNDERGRADS.COM

he University of Evansville’s Schroeder School of Business ranked No 52 in the 2023 rankings – rising 13 places from the Class of 2022’s No. 65 rank. Schroeder had an acceptance rate of 72.04% for the Class of 2022 – much more lenient than the Class of 2022’s 59.15% rate, and an average SAT score of 1140 – down slightly from last year’s average of 1169. As for career outcomes, the B-school maintained their 100% internship placement rate for the Class of 2022. A solid 95.39% of the Class of 2022 reported securing full-time employment within three months of graduation, up from the Class of 2020’s rate of 90.48%. Schroeder’s best methodological categories were Career Outcomes and Admissions, where they scored 40 on both. ENGAGING COURSE MATERIAL The Schroeder School offers a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, 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. IMPACTFUL EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING PROGRAMS The Schroeder School has a variety of unique programs that provide opportunities for students to engage in impactful experiential learning. Upon graduation, LEAD Forward fellows have experienced a job placement rate of 100% and a starting salary of 12% higher than their peers. Another experiential learning program is the CFA Institute Research Challenge – an annual global competition with mentoring and intensive training in financial analysis and professional ethics. The competition is structured around local, regional, and global rounds as students are tested on analytic, valuation, and presentation skills. 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. At Schroeder, “learning business isn’t so one-dimensional,” the school declares. “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.”

University of evansville MANY CLUBS STUDENTS CAN JOIN The Schroeder School of Business “provides its students with a world-class education delivered by outstanding faculty. With personal attention and strong career outcomes, we are not only a smart investment, but also a great place to call home.” That includes the opportunity to connect with one another via several student organizations. Currently, organizations exist for several majors within the Schroeder School of Business, alongside a chapter of the national Delta Sigma Pi business honors fraternity. The student organizations currently chartered through the Schroeder School of Business include Accounting Club, Economics Club, Finance Club, and Marketing Club.

WHAT ALUMNI SAY “I completed an honors thesis on Voluntourism as well as a senior seminar analyzing a company. Both helped me enhance my analytical skills, critical thinking and apply the business knowledge I had gained from my courses.” “The LEAD FORWARD program helped with leadership skills, communication and teamwork.” “I participated in two semesters abroad as well as a contemporary European Business Issues course. Both improved my independence and gave me a global perspective.”

THE BEST UNDERGRADUATE BUSINESS SCHOOLS 121

ADMISSIONS OFFICE: 585-475-7935

Rochester Institute of Technology

R $289,416 Total Cost

$63,813 Average Salary

70.9%

Acceptance Rate

1321

Average SAT

5.8%

International Students

21.2%

Underrepresent Minorities

92.6%

Class of 2022 accepting jobs 90 days after graduation

POETSANDQUANTSFORUNDERGRADS.COM

ochester Institute of Technology’s Saunders College of Business has climbed 2-3 places in the rankings for the past three years, landing at No. 53 in the 2023 rankings, No. 55 in 2022, and No. 58 in 2021— all huge leaps from 2020’s ranking of No. 91. Saunders’ acceptance rate had hovered in the mid-70s to low 80s for the past few years, but this year, the B-school was more selective with a 70.96% acceptance rate for the Class of 2022. The Class of 2022 held a rate of 75.46%, and the previous year’s rate was 81%. The average SAT score this year landed at 1321 for the Class of 2022 – the highest reported for the school with last year being 1308. Because of the co-op program, 100% of Saunders students graduate with a business-focused internship each year — 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 whopping 92.64% of the Class of 2022 secured a full-time position within three months of graduation – well up 80% for the Class of 2021. Of the three methodological categories, Saunders scored highest in Career Outcomes, at No. 31. 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 that serves as a valuable foundational reference through the rest of students’ four-year education. While many other B-schools don’t require an experiential learning until the senior year capstone, at Saunders, every student gets a hands-on education starting on day one, giving them a head start on internship opportunities, and ultimately, employment. YEAR BY YEAR REAL-WORLD LEARNING Some 73.08% of surveyed 2019 alumni report engaging in at least one “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. 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.

Rochester Institute of Technology 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, connecting thousands of students with over 1,800 employer partners in thousands of job assignments. 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, Tesla, Amazon, Mozilla, BMW, GM, GE, J&J 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 internship and job interviews.

WHAT ALUMNI SAY “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. 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.” “The co-op program at RIT definitely gave me a ‘leg-up’ in terms of experience to talk about with a potential employer during interviews. Doing a day to day job for 3 months also gave me a sense of what I would be expecting in a corporate environment.” “We collaborated on an international Organizational Behavior paper with the University of Limerick in Ireland. It was a hypothetical proposal for a company’s global expansion. We learned a lot about the experience working with others from different backgrounds, developing timelines to meet misaligned timezones, and other challenges surrounding global business. It has helped me work better when communicating with our international teams and clients in Mexico, Brazil, and the UK.”

THE BEST UNDERGRADUATE BUSINESS SCHOOLS 123

300 COLLEGE PARK, DAYTON, OH 45469 ADMISSIONS OFFICE: 937-229-1000

University Of Dayton

T $257,240 Total Cost

$57,571 Average Salary

76.5%

Acceptance Rate

1240

Average SAT

International Students

12%

Underrepresent Minorities

96.9%

Class of 2022 accepting jobs 90 days after graduation

POETSANDQUANTSFORUNDERGRADS.COM

he University of Dayton landed at 54th in Poets&Quants’ 2023 ranking, down from 49th in 2022. The school ranked 34th for Academic Experience, 38th for Career Outcomes, and 77th for Admissions. Dayton has an acceptance rate of around 76% and over 2,150 enrolled students. Average SAT score for the most recent class is 1240, and average ACT is 26. The class GPA average is 3.76, and more than 13% of the class were in the top 10% of their high school graduating class. According to Dayton, 99% of undergraduate business students are employed, in grad school, or in a full-time service program within six months of graduation, while 91% complete an internship prior to graduation. The school boasts 10 student-focused experiential learning centers or programs, and 100% student participation in what it terms “meaningful experiential learning activities.” The school also has 22 business-sponsored student clubs and organizations “representing every interest.” HOME OF THE INCREDIBLE FLYER FUND Dayton is perhaps most famous for its Flyer Fund, the largest studentmanaged portfolio in the United States. First launched in 1999 as a small, $1 million fund, by 2010 the Flyer Fund was worth more than $11 million. By 2015, the fund was valued at $22 million, with a portion coming from the university’s endowment and a pool of assets for the Dayton Foundation, a local nonprofit. The fund really took off in 2021, gaining 63% in a single year to more than $50 million. Through fall 2021, the fund gained another 13.8% to reach a high of $67.8 million. “It’s a pretty unbelievable group,” says Dayton School of Business Administration Dean Trevor Collier of the dozens of students who work in the Davis Center each year. “Not only are they putting the hours in the Center, but they actually enjoy most of the hours that they’re putting in. If you were in the building right now and we were to walk down into the Center, at least one, maybe two students would jump up, introduce themselves to you, and give you about a two-minute elevator pitch about the center.” AVERAGE DEBT FOR DAYTON GRADS: $19K Four years of tuition at Dayton costs just over $180K, and the total cost for a degree comes to $257,240. Nearly all students — 97% — receive some scholarship assistance, with the average amount exceeding $30K. Graduates of the last two graduating classes (2021 and 2022) make an average $57,571; they also carry an average debt amount of around $19K.

University of Dayton Five percent of the current class are first-generation college students, and 12% are under-represented minorities. Thirty-four percent are women.

WHAT ALUMNI SAY “The Davis Center for Portfolio Management was equally important as in-class curriculum if not more important for my development ahead of entering my career in finance/equity research. You can’t find those hands-on learning opportunities anywhere else and it set me miles ahead of my peers when I entered the professional world. Every day in my career I use skills I originally learned in the Davis center. It also allowed for me to discover my passion in college and have conviction going into my career that this was the right path for me.” “Flyer Enterprises: it was instrumental in my success. I learned how to lead, how to be led, how to work on a team, how to not “play business” but “do business.” That experience was instrumental for my development and was an incredible experience that shaped me and taught me to be humble and teachable and how to go after what I want. Flyer Consulting: tremendous experiential learning platform that allowed me to leave something for the University to bless you guys with something beyond me and my doing. That was one of my most special experiences leaving something greater than me there with you all. The Davis Center: Fin 493 class for Seminar in Investing was important for me in developing my love for financial markets, active portfolio management and investing and taught me so much about due diligence, investment thesis’ and so much more. Incredibly fascinating class in managing millions of the University’s endowment.” “I was involved in the DCPM for 3 years of my college career. The theory/practice we employed has set myself apart at both BlackRock and Blackstone but the alumni network was the most important aspect. Some of my closest mentors and friends who have shaped my career came from the relationships I made during that program.”

THE BEST UNDERGRADUATE BUSINESS SCHOOLS 125

3141 CHESNUT ST, PHILADELPHIA, PA 19104 ADMISSIONS OFFICE: 215-571-3767

Drexel University

D $285,548 Total Cost

$63,777 Average Salary

86.6%

Acceptance Rate

1310

Average SAT

16%

International Students

13%

Underrepresent Minorities

73.5%

Class of 2022 accepting jobs 90 days after graduation

POETSANDQUANTSFORUNDERGRADS.COM

rexel University’s LeBow College of Business dropped slightly in this year’s 2023 rankings to No. 55. The B-School had previously ranked No. 47 in 2022 and No. 51 the year before. LeBow has been increasingly lenient with admissions each year, with an acceptance rate of 86.62% for the Class of 2022 as compared to 82.84% for the Class of 2022, and a rate of 73.08% the year before. The B-school had an average SAT score of 1310 – up a good bit from last year’s score of 1286. LeBow dropped a bit in employment rates, with 73.50% of the Class of 2022 securing a full-time position within three months of graduation, not quite as high as the Class of 2021’s 82.05%. Internship rates however improved, with 90% of the Class of 2022 securing a business-focused internship before graduating — compared to 87% for the Class of 2021. Of the three methodological categories, LeBow scored highest in Academic Experience, landing in 28th place. 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. 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. What makes the LeBow co-op program unique is the duration – six months as opposed to standard internships, which generally last two to three months. LeBow alumni across the board view the co-op program as the “signature experience” that played a key part in their business education. 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.

Drexel university STRONG EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING 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. Many alumni we have surveyed highlighted the strong experiential learning component integrated into LeBow courses. 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.

WHAT ALUMNI SAY “I was a part of Rewriting the Code as a Black Wings leader in which I spent my time working to remove the stigma associated with STEM related fields. Through this opportunity, I was able to provide more opportunity and resources to individuals within my community and empower them to pursue interests they may not have considered before. In addition, I hosted a global Hack-a-thon, hosted monthly Townhalls, panels, and other events or conferences. This is a vital part of my experience as it built my confidence in pursuing a field that I had little or no experience with, and empower women, more specifically, women of color to pursue opportunities that are not usually provided to them. Most importantly, it allowed me to grow as a leader and more determined in ensuring those within my community are aware of the opportunities in STEM and feel supported when pursuing a career within this field. My experience from this position prepared me for my current position as a technology analyst at Accenture and becoming an Inclusion & Diversity lead.” “Three 6 month co-op jobs that allowed me to further my industry experience outside of the classroom and practice what I learned. Incredible in my personal and professional development.” “Most of my classes had real world based applied projects and presentations. I use a lot of my projects and presentations as reference for my business work till today.”

THE BEST UNDERGRADUATE BUSINESS SCHOOLS 127

3674 LINDELL BLVD, ST. LOUIS, MO 63108 ADMISSIONS OFFICE: 314-977-2500

Saint Louis University

T $255,758 Total Cost

$60,405 Average Salary

82.3%

Acceptance Rate

1240

Average SAT

4.2%

International Students

16.8%

Underrepresent Minorities

95.6%

Class of 2022 accepting jobs 90 days after graduation

POETSANDQUANTSFORUNDERGRADS.COM

he 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. The Richard A. Chaifetz School of Business at Saint Louis University landed at No. 56 in the 2023 rankings – up an impressive 15 places up from the Class of 2022’s rank at No. 71. The St. Louis, Missouri-based B-school had a more selective admissions year, with an acceptance rate of 82.29% for the Class of 2022 compared to last year’s 90.34% for the Class of 2021. This year’s Class of 2022 had an average SAT score of 1240 – up from the Class of 2022’s average of 1220. Chaifetz saw a drastic increase in employment rates, with 95.55% of the Class of 2022 securing full-time employment within three months of graduation. Only 74% of the Class of 2021 had secured employment previously. On the contrary, internship declined slightly — with 75.00% of the Class of 2022 securing a business-focused internship before graduating as compared to the previous year’s 82.00%. Of the three methodological categories, the B-School did best in Career Outcomes, where they place 51st. 9 MAJORS Chaifetz undergraduates can choose from 9 different business majors including Accounting, Business Technology Management (available with an Analytics and Enterprise Systems Concentration), Economics, Entrepreneurship, Finance (Financial Analysis Concentration and Real Estate Concentration also available within Finance), International Business, Leadership and Human Resource Management, Marketing, and Sports Business. Chaifetz alumni view their business education relatively well with surveyed alumni recently giving an 8.3 average rating for the quality of teaching in business courses. Faculty support was rated the highest with another recent class giving a 9.4 average rating in terms of faculty availability for informal discussion and mentoring outside of class. 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. 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 22.81% of Chaifetz students from the Class of 2019 graduated with a global experience. Students in the International Business program can take part in a two-

saint louis University 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. 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. 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 “Participated in a senior capstone class that was a company simulator. small groups of students ran simulated companies and had to make business decisions that would affect the success of the virtual company. This was an incredible class that showed the value of teamwork, data analysis, and decision making.” “We were tasked with consulting a real world company on a certain problem statement. We were provided data to analyze and make recommendations to an official panel of company representatives. Having that real world experience helped me easily transition into my current career. It’s helped me in my current career to have had that experience as I am constantly in meetings where I have to analyze data and provide recommendations to my Sr. Managers up to VPs of Supply Chain.” “I was able to study abroad and take courses in Madrid, Spain. It was important to me because I was able to be immersed in Spanish culture while taking courses that went towards my degree.”

THE BEST UNDERGRADUATE BUSINESS SCHOOLS 129

100 HOFSTRA UNIVERSITY, HEMPSTEAD, NY 111549 ADMISSIONS OFFICE: 516-463-6700

Hofstra University

H $239,362 Total Cost

$63,212 Average Salary

86.3%

Acceptance Rate

1242

Average SAT

International Students

30%

Underrepresent Minorities

95.4%

Class of 2022 accepting jobs 90 days after graduation

POETSANDQUANTSFORUNDERGRADS.COM

ofstra University’s Zarb School of Business landed at No. 57 this year, up a few places from last year’s No. 62 – the highest ranking the school has received yet. The Long Island-based B-school had an ever-so-slightly more lenient acceptance rate of 86.31% for the Class of 2022, as compared to 84.07% for the Class of 2021. The average SAT score went down slightly to 1242 for the Class of 2022, just below the Class of 2021’s average of 1256. Employment data was not available last year, however this year, the Class of 2022 reported that 95.36% of the Class secured full-time employment within three months of graduation – well above the Class of 2020’s rates of 70.83% and the Class of 2019’s rates at 68.40%. Internship prospects saw a small increase, with 73.50% of the Class of 2022 landing at least one business-focused internship before graduating, compared to 70% for the Class of 2021. Of the three methodological categories, Zarb scored best in Career outcomes at No. 49. The Zarb School offers nine undergraduate majors including Accounting, Business Analytics, Entrepreneurship, Finance, Information Systems, International Business, Management, Marketing, Sports Management, and Supply Chain Management. Programming addresses critical issues impacting our world and society such as sustainability, healthcare, the role of women in business, diversity and inclusion, and global leadership. STATE-OF-THE-ART TECHNOLOGY At Zarb, students are given an immersive and authentic experience from the start working with the same cutting-edge technology, software, and real-time data used by today’s business professionals. The B-school’s Leo A. Guthart Hall for Innovation and Discovery is a high-tech wonder featuring a behavioral research in business lab for consumer research, a business development incubator, and the Institute of Innovation and Entrepreneurship where students transform their ideas into ventures with support from local entrepreneurs. The Cybersecurity Innovation and Research Center trains students to detect and defend against cybercrime, and the Center for International Financial Services and Markets brings together scholars, top executives, and students to explore global finance and markets through engaging lectures, conferences, and related activities. STRONG BUSINESS COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT 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

hofstra University 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. “I took a January session course called Money and Capital Markets. 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,” said an alum. “[We] went to visit an advertising agency in NYC and got to sit in a meeting room with employees telling their stories to the world of advertising,” another alum said. 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. 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. 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. “I participated in the Dual degree program with Dongbei University of Finance and Economics in Dalian China,” one 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 developed and validated my small business idea, DATIES, into what it has involved today, an artist-focused consultancy seeking to engage and leverage artists’ careers among disadvantaged communities across New York State. This was important to me because we wouldn’t be where we are today without the groundwork built at Hofstra, precisely thanks to Dr. Vickerie. Currently, we are preparing for our initial seed funding round.” “Working together on a real-life business project with my peers gave me a preview of what the workplace would be like. It taught me how essential management skills are in relation to working with different personalities.” “I participated in the NSAC project offered to juniors and seniors in Hofstra’s marketing program. Our placement in the semi-finals, as well as the collateral we as a team developed, served as spec work that helped me find a role as a copywriter during the COVID-19 pandemic, when the industry was shrinking.”

THE BEST UNDERGRADUATE BUSINESS SCHOOLS 131

INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA

Marian University

T $195,645 Total Cost

$55,083 Average Salary

76%

Acceptance Rate

1070

Average SAT

8.3%

International Students

25.6%

Underrepresent Minorities

99.1%

Class of 2022 accepting jobs 90 days after graduation

POETSANDQUANTSFORUNDERGRADS.COM

he Marian University’s Byrum School of Business based in Indianapolis ranked No. 58 in the 2023 rankings, dropping only two places from last year’s No. 56. “It’s great to have the Byrum School of Business be recognized by Poets & Quants as one of the best undergraduate business schools,” said Greg Rawski, dean of the Byrum School of Business, when the school was ranked by P&Q in 2021. “It is particularly heartening to know that our alumni highly value our faculty for their teaching excellence, mentorship and receive a signature experience in career outcome support.” As far as career outcomes go, for three consecutive years now Byrum has reported that 100% of their graduates had at least one businessspecific internship before graduation. This year, an impressive 99.08% of the Class of 2022 found full-time employment within three months of graduation – outstanding, although still lower than the 100% rate the Class of 2022 reported. Marian’s strongest methodological category of the three was in Career Outcomes, where they placed 28th. 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 nontraditional brand name, Marian is a solid choice for students looking to make sure they get a job in the Midwest immediately after graduation. DIVERSITY A MARIAN STRENGTH Driven by its Franciscan values, Marian University ranks No. 6 in first generation student generation with 35.70% of the Class of 2021, and No. 15 for 29.20% of the Class considered a minority. Marian has also gained national attention for its Diversity in Leadership program with the University of Notre Dame, Purdue, and Butler University. Experiential learning is the cornerstone of Marian’s undergraduate business curriculum. About 92% of 2019 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 students are attracting attention on the national stage. Their undergrad student team won the 2022 Chartered Financial Analyst CFA State Championship and Byrum placed second in the Amazon case competition, coming out ahead of Wharton, Foster and Tobin. EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING CURRICULUM The Byrum School of Business offers majors in accounting, business analytics, finance, logistics and supply chain management, management, and marketing as well as minors in accounting, business, and finance. Byrum has a unique structure of two required nine-hour courses that included bundles of courses, including the Business Plan Competition.

marian university 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 similar to Bus109, then pitch those ideas to executives from the companies they’ve created plans for.

WHAT ALUMNI SAY “Business plan competition, which offered me the opportunity as a freshman to work with a team to develop a business plan over the course of a semester. We learned various aspects of a business in a very cohesive manner. We also felt heard and important, as the business school showed immense support during the process. We practiced presentation skills, giving various presentations throughout the semester, and other interpersonal skills while working in a group. I was also a member of the A-Team, which was a semester-long business experience, in which my team of four worked on a project for a charter school client. As a junior, it helped reinforce teamwork and leadership. We had group autonomy, but met once a week with professors to discuss our progress and receive feedback and guidance.” “I did several consulting projects that gave me real world experience and real connections that I used to leverage jobs as well as further my career at subsequent companies. My work in executive reporting, data analytics, and project management has proved an invaluable skill that few other colleagues my age had access to.” “I had participated in a newly created course designing an integrated report for the university. We engaged with key stakeholders and built the report from scratch. It was believed to be the first integrated report created by students for an American university. We presented our findings to the board of trustees as well as the Indiana CPA Society. This was important to me as it provided a more holistic health score for the university covering many areas such as governance, strategy, business model, risks and opportunities, etc. It was a future-oriented outlook for driving key decision-making.”

THE BEST UNDERGRADUATE BUSINESS SCHOOLS 133

2000 PENNINGTON RD, EWING, NJ 08628 ADMISSIONS OFFICE: 609-771-2131

The College of New Jersey

T $143,896 Total Cost

$61,510 Average Salary

64.6%

Acceptance Rate

1230

Average SAT

International Students

37%

Underrepresent Minorities

86.3%

Class of 2022 accepting jobs 90 days after graduation

POETSANDQUANTSFORUNDERGRADS.COM

CNJ described their education like 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. The College of New Jersey’s School of Business climbed to No. 59 in this year’s 2023 rankings – an impressive 20 places above their ranking last year at No. 79. The B-school had an acceptance rate of 64.57% for the Class of 2022 – just slightly more selective than last year’s 65.97%, and an average SAT score of 1230 – nearly the same as the average for the Class of 2021, who averaged 1231. Employment outcomes rose from 81.91% for the Class of 2021 to 86.27% for the Class of 2022 – both up from 2021’s score of 70.21% and 2020’s score of 71.28%. Internship placements skyrocketed to 75.00% for the Class of 2022 since reported at 33.00% for the Class of 2021. The B-school placed steadily across all three methodological categories, scoring 62nd in Career Outcomes, 57th in Admissions, and 61st in Academic Experience. 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

the college of new jersey 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 and staff are there to enhance their intellectual curiosity and guide their development. Surveyed alumni have given TCNJ faculty a strong average rating in terms of availability for informal discussions and mentoring outside of class. Additionally, classes are often discussion-based with an average class size capped at just 25 students. 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 TCNJ students have a variety of opportunities to discover their interests and gain valuable real-world experience. Surveyed alumni have highlighted a number of experiences that they say were valuable in helping them succeed in their careers. 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.

WHAT ALUMNI SAY “Having a capstone project my senior year, made me realize that everything I’ve learned since day 1 at TCNJ finally culminated into one presentation and that all the lessons I’ve learned in class and outside is a stepping stone for success and that I grew in confidence since my freshman year.” “I was the president of the Women in Business club and had the opportunity to create a community of like minded women who sought to better themselves and those around us. It was an incredible experience and I am proud to have been a part of the organization.” “I was able to study abroad for a semester in Heidelberg, Germany. This experience was truly life-changing and rewarding as it exposed myself to European culture and ways of thinking. The opportunity to learn from European professors and travel to different countries has proven to be an incredibly valuable experience post graduation.”

THE BEST UNDERGRADUATE BUSINESS SCHOOLS 135

10 GARRISON AVE, DURHAM, NH 03824 ADMISSIONS OFFICE: 603-862-1981

University of New Hampshire

T $143,532 Total Cost

$55,677 Average Salary

70.8%

Acceptance Rate

1189

Average SAT

1.2%

International Students

4.8%

Underrepresent Minorities

96.9%

Class of 2022 accepting jobs 90 days after graduation

POETSANDQUANTSFORUNDERGRADS.COM

he University of New Hampshire’s Peter T. Paul College of Business and Economics ranked No. 60 this year in the 2023 rankings – moving back only one spot from last year’s rank of No. 59. The Paul College had a more selective acceptance rate of 70.83% for the Class of 2022 as compared to last year’s Class of 2022 with a 74.48% rate. The Class of 2022 reported an average SAT score of 1189 – up ever so slightly from last year’s average of 1184. The B-school reported a steady 79.25% of the Class of 2022 landed a business-focused internship before graduation, up a pinch from the Class of 2021’s rate of 78.00%. Employment outcomes remained similar, with an impressive 96.85% of the Class of 2022 securing full-time employment within three months of graduation — consistent with the Class of 2021’s rates of 96.33%. 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. 40 overall, which was the strongest finish for New Hampshire of the 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, says. “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

University Of new hampshire learning and teamwork early on in their first year. Year by year, Paul 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. 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. 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 “We worked on a real-world marketing capstone where the University reached out to local businesses that needed help marketing or had a marketing problem. We work with a small bed and breakfast company in New Hampshire. This really helped me to get real world experience that is applicable to what I’m doing in my career.” “I was highly involved in the FIRE program as a freshman student. I was also involved as a senior, and greatly enjoyed teaching and mentoring a class of freshmen students. When I was in the program I took full advantage of my opportunities and was able to meet many alumni and engage with other Paul College students who strive for success. I traveled with a select group of students and advisors to Washington DC to meet and network with alums in the area. This was an amazing experience and shows that Paul College cares about investing in its students. As a FIRE advisor during my senior year I was able to give back to students and help provide them with the experience that I got as a freshman. I created strong, professional relationships with my students and still interact with some in my professional network today.” “During our Capstone, we were able to examine a business in extreme detail. Understanding how different departments come together to perform efficiently was important to comprehend. I feel like I have a leg up on my colleagues who were not Business students.”

THE BEST UNDERGRADUATE BUSINESS SCHOOLS 137

865 RESEARCH PARKWAY, OKLAHOMA CITY, OK 73104 ADMISSIONS OFFICE: 405-325-5599

University of Oklahoma

T $132,724 Total Cost

$59,494 Average Salary

78.6%

Acceptance Rate

1210

Average SAT

2.5%

International Students

23.6%

Underrepresent Minorities

89.2%

Class of 2022 accepting jobs 90 days after graduation

POETSANDQUANTSFORUNDERGRADS.COM

he Michael F. Price College of Business at the University of Oklahoma ranked No. 61 this year, down 7 places from 2022’s No. 54. The college remains higher in the rankings still since finishing No. 75 in 2019. The B-school was less strict on admissions this year, with an acceptance rate of 78.69% and an average SAT score of 1210. While Price maintained high employment and internship outcomes in 2022, rates were lower than the previous year. The B-school managed an employment rate of 86.93% for the Class of 2022, falling from 2021’s 91.36% employment rate. 62.98% of the Class of 2022 landed a business-focus internship before graduating, down ever-so-slightly from last year’s 64.51% and down from the other previous year’s 68.58% internship rate. 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 realworld perspective. INTEGRATED BUSINESS CORE PROGRAM One of the cornerstone programs at Price is the First Fidelity Bank Integrated Business Core 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. 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 are able to secure employment. Price does more than just teach its students

University of oklahoma business, it gives them a true competitive edge to excel in the business world.

WHAT ALUMNI SAY “My entrepreneurship capstone along with my IBC experience was enlightening. We had to bring about a product/service and bring it to life essentially. We created marketing plans, presented to investors, worked with production, assembled budgets and timelines, and worked within a team to accomplish our goals. It gave me real-life experience relating to not only being an employee but starting a company. I had to adapt budgets and timelines, overcome obstacles, mediate internal conflict, and become accustomed to communicating with multiple different personalities.” “My capstone experience was much more important than three credits and a requirement. It served as an opportunity to demonstrate knowledge mastery and creative thinking. I learned what I didn’t know and was able to ask questions before entering the professional world.” “Ron Anderson was my capstone teacher. I was really nervous about taking his class due to how rigorous his courses are, but he made it more than just a grade. He brought in real world experiences and pushed me to critically think and ask the right questions. I learned what failure was in his classes, which was not a good feeling at the time, but looking back, it prepared me for real life. Failure as in a bad test score or approaching something the wrong way- this showed me that failure isn’t the end of the world, but an opportunity to do better and learn from it. I hope he is still there because he is a core reason for my confidence in Investment Sales and pushed Price College to be more academically competitive.”

THE BEST UNDERGRADUATE BUSINESS SCHOOLS 139

ADMISSIONS OFFICE: 910-962-3226

University of North Carolina At Wilmington

T $105,608 Total Cost

$52,643 Average Salary

60.1%

Acceptance Rate

1174

Average SAT

1.2%

International Students

7.2%

Underrepresent Minorities

90.3%

Class of 2022 accepting jobs 90 days after graduation

POETSANDQUANTSFORUNDERGRADS.COM

he University of North Carolina-Wilmington’s Cameron School of Business is No. 62 in this year’s rankings — falling from 2022’s No. 57 position, but ultimately stronger than the year prior’s 82-place finish. The Cameron School of Business had an acceptance rate of 60.10% this year, slightly less selective than last year’s 58.35% and an average SAT score of 1174, a lower average than last year’s 1183. The B-School reports strong employment outcomes, with 89.53% of Class of 2022 securing full-time employment within three months of graduation, slightly down from last year’s remarkable 91.10%. But the number is way up from the previous Class of 2020’s 35.37% employment outcome, which is largely attributable to the COVID-19 pandemic. Internship outcomes for the B-school, on the other hand, remain steadily low, with only 55% of the class landing a business-focused internship before graduating, similarly to Class of 2021’s 54% and down from the prior year, the Class of 2020’s, 61%. 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 alumni have repeatedly 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 average rating. 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 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.

University of North Carolina at wilmington 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. 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 did my senior honors thesis project in sports analytics and business management through the Cameron School of Business where I defended my thesis to professors within the program. This project inspired me to pursue a business analytics masters degree from the Cameron School of Business and has led to me working my job as a data analyst which I love.” “Our senior seminar course and project required using all of the skills, knowledge, and experience we had gained throughout our degree in order to be successful. Throughout the project, we fine-tuned these to fully prepare us to use them in the workforce. Additionally, the group projects we worked on in nearly every course helped prepare us for collaborative work environments.” “The projects I completed in my Market Research course were key on my resume for the job I have now. Our capstone projects made me feel very confident in my ability to understand, analyze and write in a business/ corporate context. Also, the job interview simulations were a great experience.”

THE BEST UNDERGRADUATE BUSINESS SCHOOLS 141

20 ORCHARD RD, NEWARK, DE 19716

University of Delaware

T $122,886 Total Cost

$61,294 Average Salary

64.2%

Acceptance Rate

1263

Average SAT

1.2%

International Students

12.8%

Underrepresent Minorities

82%

Class of 2022 accepting jobs 90 days after graduation

POETSANDQUANTSFORUNDERGRADS.COM

he University of Delaware’s Alfred Lerner College of Business & Economics landed at No. 63 in this year’s ranking, dropping some from last year’s ranking of No. 60. The Lerner College had an acceptance rate of 64.21% this year, slightly higher than last year’s 62.30%, and an average SAT score of 1263, higher again slightly from last year’s average score of 1246. Employment wise, the B-school saw a significant drop, with 67.42% of the Class of 2022 landing full-time employment within three months of graduation, roughly 30 percent lower than last year’s 96.59%. Internship outcomes saw a small rise, with 93% of the Class of 2022 landing a businessfocused internship before graduating, up one percent from last year’s 92% of the Class of 2021. While Lerner fell behind a few ranks this year, the B-school still offers a strong undergraduate business program with 96 percent of Lerner students graduating with real-world experience, either from internships, field experiences, research with faculty or study abroad. Lerner offers high quality programs and faculty, many majors and minors, a very personalized approach, and a unique location with close proximity to internships and industries in New York, Philadelphia and D.C. EXPERIENCE-BASED LEARNING, EVIDENCE-BASED ANALYTICS The stated mission of the Lerner College is to deliver an inspirational education and pioneering scholarship, building an inclusive community that beneficially transforms business and society. To do this, Lerner Dean Bruce Weber and the faculty/administration designed a distinctive undergraduate curriculum with experiencedriven learning and evidence-based analytics. Lerner has added two new undergraduate majors over the years in Business Analytics and Global Enterprise Management, bringing the total to 16 majors offered. Some of the most popular majors on UD’s campus include Accounting, Economics, Economics Education, Entrepreneurship, Finance, Financial Planning and Wealth Management, Hospitality Business Management, Hospitality Industry Management, International Business Studies, Management, Management Information Systems, Marketing, Operations Management, and Sport Management. Incoming freshmen also have the opportunity to study as business undeclared. The B-school makes it easy for students to study more than one major, with over 33% of graduates double majoring in the college. Lerner also offers a multitude of minors that allow students to specialize in areas such as Professional Selling and Sales Management, Trust Management and Social Entrepreneurship. In their freshman year, all students take the Business 110 introductory course, which will set the foundation for earning their bachelor’s degree and tailoring their major to fit their professional and personal goals. They work with their advisors and Lerner Career Services on their resume and LinkedIn profile; and sometimes participate in speed-networking events with employers. Each class section is

University of Delaware assigned a Lerner Peer Mentor, to allow students to connect with upperclassmen. Their semester work culminates in the BUAD 110 Pitch Competition. In addition to BUAD 110, Lerner has several programs that help students find success. Lerner Advising Center provides a support network for students, including UDREAM U, (“You” Develop Resources for Excellence in Academic Management). UDREAM is a coaching and mentoring program that helps freshman and sophomore students develop the skills and mindset for success. Depending on their major, students will benefit from several highquality facilities which help enhance their educational experience, such as the Geltzeiler Trading Center, JPMorgan Chase Innovation Center, Vita Nova restaurant, Marriott Courtyard Newark and Horn Venture Development Center. UD Lerner alumni are actively involved in the student experience. Students have the opportunity to connect with members of the Lerner Advisory and Alumni Boards and NYC Dean’s Council for resume and interview support from industry experts. Lerner Career Services offers Lerner Career Expert Panels where alumni from various fields talk about their career development. Lerner’s Careers on Wall Street program provides students interested in finance careers with training, mentoring and access to employment opportunities. Through the Lerner Executive Mentoring Program, students are paired with a mentor from their sophomore year through their senior year. The Lerner College is a proud participant in UD’s storied history of study abroad. Lerner understands the importance of international learning and wants students to expand their global perspective by participating in various study abroad programs. Lerner embraces its diverse community and offers programs through its Lerner Diversity Council and Women’s Leadership Initiative that create opportunities for equity and inclusion throughout all aspects of life at Lerner. Students are also encouraged to share their knowledge, connect with their peers and participate in one Lerner College’s many business fraternities and student organizations.

WHAT ALUMNI SAY “Our final presentation was a culmination of developing a product/service that meets the needs of the customer through a series of many interviews. Ultimately we were going into it recognizing that our proposed idea could branch off into something new, whereas most business-people don’t test their market until after they’ve spent tons of money on design, inventory, trademark, etc. We also used a lot of our skills from Tony Wedo’s class for our presentations which has stuck with me for life.” “The Trust Management minor capstone allowed us to apply our knowledge base to real life case studies and present them in front of industry professionals. It was an amazing learning experience and allowed us to connect with those working in positions we were interested in pursuing.” “I worked on a couple of capstone courses while working full time in the Trust Management industry during my senior year. Specifically, the Capstone course for the Trust Management Minor was extremely helpful to me and provided a lot of real-world skills that I use on a daily basis now for my job.”

THE BEST UNDERGRADUATE BUSINESS SCHOOLS 143

1000 LASALLE AVE, MINNEAPOLIS, MN 55403 ADMISSIONS OFFICE: 651-962-4200

University of St. Thomas

T $250,400 Total Cost

$58,186 Average Salary

90.7%

Acceptance Rate

1210

Average SAT

International Students

26%

Underrepresent Minorities

93.9%

Class of 2022 accepting jobs 90 days after graduation

POETSANDQUANTSFORUNDERGRADS.COM

he University of St. Thomas Opus College of Business ranked No. 64 this year, ranking two places higher from last year’s No. 66 and way up from the previous year’s 88th-place position. Opus College had an acceptance rate of 90.7% this year, down from last year’s rate of 92%, and an average SAT score of 1245, slightly up from last year’s average score of 1236. As for employment, 94% of the class landed full-time employment within three months of graduation, similarly to Class of 2021’s 93% employment outcome. 81% of the Class of 2022 secured a business-focused internship before graduating, higher than the previous year’s internship outcome of 77%. REAL-WORLD APPLICATIONS Opus College offers a quality real-world education that emphasizes team-based project work and service-learning. Opus 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 alumni gave a strong 8.7 average rating. Alumni also gave a good 8.1 average rating in terms of how well the business program prepared them for the world of work. COURSES ‘HELPED PREPARE ME FOR POST-GRAD SITUATIONS’ 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. Among survey responses, entrepreneurship courses received high praise for their real-world components. Additionally, Opus College faculty received positive reviews, with alumni rating the quality of teaching business courses an 8.1 average rating in 2019. Faculty received a strong 8.5 average rating in terms of availability for informal discussions and mentoring outside of class.

University of St. Thomas With quality faculty and coursework that integrates real-world applications, students have a proper foundation for success postgrad. 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. 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.

WHAT ALUMNI SAY “My senior thesis brought me into my community to help a small business and gave me real hands-on experience that I was able to bring to job interviews.” “For our capstone projects in entrepreneurship, we had to create a business and write business plans. It taught me about all the different aspects of business, but most importantly it taught me that taking action is the most important thing someone can do Don’t sit around thinking about what you’re going to do, go and do it!” “We got to do a full marketing evaluation on a local bank. I think this was an excellent opportunity to apply all that I had learned throughout my 3 years of marketing classes. We wrote a 180 page paper which made me realize how much analysis is required in making critical business decisions. My favorite part was that we got to present our research and recommendations to the business leaders at this company. It was a great experience!”

THE BEST UNDERGRADUATE BUSINESS SCHOOLS 145

ADMISSIONS OFFICE: 313-593-5460

University of Michigan at Dearborn

T $109,770 Total Cost

$57,530 Average Salary

55.6%

Acceptance Rate

1092

Average SAT

2.1%

International Students

15.2%

Underrepresent Minorities

84.5%

Class of 2022 accepting jobs 90 days after graduation

POETSANDQUANTSFORUNDERGRADS.COM

he University of Michigan-Dearborn College of Business ranked No. 65 this year — up five spots from last year’s No. 70 and similarly up from the previous year’s rank of 67. Michigan-Dearborn had a 55% acceptance rate and average SAT score of 1092 this year, slightly more strict compared to last year’s acceptance rate of 64.8% and down from last year’s 1124 average SAT score. Employment-wise, the B-school saw a rise in graduates securing full-time positions within three months of graduation, with 87.95% of the Class of 2022 doing so, as compared to last year’s 81%. There was a lower rate of internships secured this year with 53% of the class landing an internship, as compared to last year’s 56%, and the previous year’s 47%. 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 all enter as pre-business majors when they first arrive, however, in their junior year, they select from 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 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. 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. 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

University of MICHIGAN AT DEARBORN 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. 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 “In my Project Management class, we had to work in a collaboration with the College of Engineering to help them develop a pill dispenser and manage their processes. I was the Team Lead for the group and helped assign tasks and kept in contact with both teams to ensure we’re getting all tasks assigned completed. This experience has taught me a lot because after I graduated, the position I accepted with Ford is very similar to this project. I currently work with Engineers to develop and overlook their Bill of Materials to ensure the financials as well as the coding is correct. I was also promoted to a Team Lead position not long after starting my career.” “I was fortunate enough to be involved in many different simulations and work projects, but the most influential experiences during my business program came through iLabs. During my semester with iLabs I had the opportunity to work on a team that first organized and conducted focus groups, and then disseminated the information gathered into a presentation for the Dean and his associates regarding student experiences. This taught me not only how to do effective market research, but how to collect and analyze qualitative data as well as present it in a way that is usable. My chosen career is in the government and managing local municipalities; this iLabs experience gave me more practical knowledge about understanding communities and gathering their input than any single marketing or even political science class was ever able to.”

THE BEST UNDERGRADUATE BUSINESS SCHOOLS 147

8000 YORK RD, TOWSON, MD 21252 ADMISSIONS OFFICE: 410-704-2113

Towson University

owson University’s business school ranked 66th in the 2023 Poets&Quants Undergraduate Business Schools ranking, down two spots from the school’s inaugural place in the 2022 list. The Baltimore-area B-school ranked 76th in academic experience, 74th in admissions standards, and 41st in career outcomes. Towson reports a 67% acceptance rate in 2022, exactly the same as 2021; of 406 applications to the Class of 2026, Towson admitted 272. The school has a current enrollment of 2,798. New Towson students report an average SAT score of 1130 and an average ACT of 22. Thirteen percent of the new class graduated in the top 10% of its high school class. Average GPA for the new Towson class is 3.85.

$111,114 Total Cost

$56,039 Average Salary

67%

Acceptance Rate

1130

Average SAT

International Students

42%

Underrepresent Minorities

96.3%

Class of 2022 accepting jobs 90 days after graduation

POETSANDQUANTSFORUNDERGRADS.COM

TOWSON GRADS GET JOBS Towson’s undergraduate business program is AACSB-certified. It boasts an average class size of 30 “that allows for greater interaction with professors and classmates,” and certifications for high-demand software skills built into its courses. The school also offers abundant experiential learning opportunities such as “case competitions, service learning projects and internships to sharpen your knowledge and skills and enhance your résumé,” as well as “the opportunity to work with industry-leading technology from Bloomberg, SAP, Microsoft and more.” Thirty-one percent of Towson’s latest class are first-generation college students, and 42% are under-represented minorities. Forty percent are women. Scholarship awards, given based on need and merit, were received by 56% of the new class, at an average of just over $11K. Tuition is $40,800 for in-state students and $97,392 for out-of-staters; estimated total cost for the former is $111,114. Fifty percent of Towson grads report having student debt at an average amount of just over $24K. But Towson grads get jobs to help them pay off that debt: The last two classes averaged 88% internships and more than 96% employment, with average salaries for the latter eclipsing $56K. VERSATILE SKILLS & GREAT CAREERS “Business is an integral part of society,” Towson’s website declares, “touching on almost every aspect of our lives. Society needs smart, skilled and ethical individuals in business. You can contribute your talents and energy to solving problems, creating value and having a positive impact on the world through business.” Towson grads contribute to positive growth while also securing great jobs and acquiring versatile skills. “Careers in business are diverse and often highly paid. A bachelor’s degree in business administration gives you a foundation of business knowledge covering principles of accounting, finance, operations,

TOWSON University marketing and management, among others, with the opportunity to specialize in a specific area. Plus, the skills and knowledge you gain with a business degree aren’t limited to business. You’ll find they’re easily transferable to positions in law, nonprofits, media and communications, etc.”

WHAT ALUMNI SAY “We had multiple simulations on real life projects. The most outstanding was a simulation in strategic marketing for a pharmaceutical company. It really allowed us to see the results of our decisions and strategy from an executive point of view and measure its impact.” “Towson provides a business case where students can present in infront of real work businesses and have a chance to have their strategy implemented in real life. This was important because it gave students an opportunity to research and practice presenting.” “We had a capstone project senior year where we had to use all the skills we learned in the business school. This was important to me because it helped us see the importance of all the skills we learned and that all the classes we took will help us in our career.”

THE BEST UNDERGRADUATE BUSINESS SCHOOLS 149

70 S. COURT ST, ATHENS, OH 45701 ADMISSIONS OFFICE: 740-566-6492

Ohio University

T $108,976 Total Cost

$52,015 Average Salary

87.5%

Acceptance Rate

1140

Average SAT

1.5%

International Students

12%

Underrepresent Minorities

86.8%

Class of 2022 accepting jobs 90 days after graduation

POETSANDQUANTSFORUNDERGRADS.COM

he Ohio University College of Business landed at No. 67 this year, ranking in the same spot as last year. The B-school had an acceptance rate of 87.45% and an average SAT score of 1143. Employment-wise, Ohio University showed improvements. 91.71% of the Class of 2022 graduates reported getting a business-focused job within three months of graduation, up nearly 10 percent from the previous year’s class, with 81% employment outcomes. Internship opportunities fared the same; nearly 90 percent of the class reported having a business internship, which was a greater improvement from the Class of 2021’s 67% internship outcomes. Based in Athens in the southwestern portion of the state, Ohio University’s BBA degree features 10 majors: accounting, business analytics, business economics, business pre-law, entrepreneurship, finance, international business, management and strategic leadership, management information systems, and marketing. OU also offers a bachelor of science in business studies degree and a 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 an 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.”

Ohio University 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 2019 gave an impressive average of 9.5. When asked how available business professors were for informal out of class meetings and mentoring, 2019 graduates gave an average of 9.3. We also asked recent graduates if they had a “signature experience,” defined as key project work, experiential learning, or global immersions as part of the business school. Three out of four in a recent graduating class said they did have a signature experience through the business school. 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 “Through the College of Business at Ohio University I was involved in a cross college challenge where my project team was tasked with identifying an on campus opportunity to improve sustainability while also presenting a meaningful ROI case. Through the project, we were tasked to work with individuals outside of the college business and collaborate with stakeholders in the community to navigate the ambiguity of the project. This Outside the classroom Experience challenged me and was a helpful learning experience to build off of during college and as I started my career.” “Bobcat Esports, or now known as OHIO Esports, ideation was done during Cluster in the College of business and is now a fully fledged program at Ohio University with its own facility. I learned a great deal from all of the interactions I had during the development of the club and program, both professionally and interpersonally between members. The amount of leadership experience and mentorship was exceptional.” “The cluster program is a semester-long group project that is half research based and half idea based with bi-weekly presentations in front of the professors that teach each class that semester. It is the only thing you do during the semester you take a cluster and it was one the most difficult yet rewarding things I did during my time at OU.”

THE BEST UNDERGRADUATE BUSINESS SCHOOLS 151

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

William & Mary

T $170,882 Total Cost

$74,268 Average Salary

38.8%

Acceptance Rate

1364

Average SAT

International Students

31%

Underrepresent Minorities

91.3%

Class of 2022 accepting jobs 90 days after graduation

POETSANDQUANTSFORUNDERGRADS.COM

he Mason School of Business at William & Mary ranked in No. 68 this year, rising a remarkable 17 spots compared to last year’s rank at No. 85. The Virginia-based business school had an acceptance rate this year of 38.80%, less selective than prior years, P&Q finds. Mason’s incoming 2022 class had an average SAT score of 1364. Employment-wise, 85% of the Class of 2022 landed a business-oriented job within three months of graduating, down more than 10 percent from 2021’s employment outcomes at a breathtaking 97%. More than 85% of the class reported landing a business internship, similarly to the prior year’s 83% internship outcome. 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. 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. HANDS-ON LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES AND EMPLOYMENT OUTCOMES 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 recent alum told us. “Almost every business school class [at Mason] requires a team project and you learn

William & MAry how to work with others to be able to succeed.” Another 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.” The Mason education proves valuable when looking at the employment outcomes for its graduates. The B-school features a unique education that offers personalized study, a strong community of support, and hands-on learning opportunities with an emphasis on teamwork.

WHAT ALUMNI SAY “We had a team building simulation regarding a climbing trip to Mount Everest. I think it was a really great experience and program and provided a lot of good problem solving experience applicable to the real world.” “We had a simulation week where we had to design and pitch how William and Mary should structure and market its online business program. It was one of many incredible learning experiences which really did simulate a real world working experience.” “I participated in a Global business immersion program in Southeast Asia and I loved the way that they discussed differences between different cultures and economies, including climate disasters and political information prior to going to the countries and interacting with different businesses.”

THE BEST UNDERGRADUATE BUSINESS SCHOOLS 153

1 WASHINGTON PARK SUITE 324, NEWARK, NJ 07102 ADMISSIONS OFFICE: 973-353-5169

Rutgers Business School at Newark

R $139,417 Total Cost

$64,163 Average Salary

80%

Acceptance Rate

1180

Average SAT

4.8%

International Students

49.2%

Underrepresent Minorities

84%

Class of 2022 accepting jobs 90 days after graduation

POETSANDQUANTSFORUNDERGRADS.COM

utgers Business School in Newark, New Jersey landed at No. 69 in this year’s ranking, better than previous years’ rank of No. 75. Rutgers had an acceptance rate this year of 80%, with an average SAT score for the fall Class of 2022 of 1180. Rutgers saw improvement in employment outcomes, with 86.97% of Class of 2022 graduates landing a job in the business field within three months of graduating, increasing from the previous year’s 81%. In terms of internships, 41.20% of the Newark Class of 2022 landed one, a small decline from the previous year’s 46.20% internship outcome. The previous two classes seemed unaffected by the COVID-19 pandemic, with 83.54% of the Class of 2020 and 83.72% of the Class of 2019 securing employment. 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. The accounting department created a new degree requiring Auditing Analytics one recent fall. “This 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, says. “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 five years, Rutgers has added a number of concentrations to its portfolio offering to allow students to add specializations without needing to double major. DIVERSE STUDENT COMMUNITY At the core of Rutgers is its people. The B-school boasts one of the most diverse student body populations in the nation. Some 31% of its incoming Fall of 2021 students are first-generation college students. And 47% of the incoming class are underrepresented minorities. To put those numbers into perspective, at an Ivy League school, like Wharton, only 13% of the incoming class are first-generation college students. At NYU Stern, only 28% of the incoming class are underrepresented minorities.

RUTGERS BUSINESS SCHOOL AT NEWARK 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 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 alumni all spoke to the real-world applications of course content, which often emphasized hands-on learning over theoretical. 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.

WHAT ALUMNI SAY “Going abroad was a brilliant memory, which broadened my horizon, enlarged my social circle, and accumulated experiences for me. The teamwork projects, like the capstone project, exercised time management skills, communication skills, as well as searching materials and learning skills, which were all precious fortunes for me.” “The capstone Project from my Supply Chain Finance class was vital to understand the industry I am part of now. We analyzed 5 top industrial gas companies and their financial records to provide savings opportunities and business improvement ideas. I was hired by a leading industrial gas company and couldn’t be happier about my project experience. Forever grateful for the fantastic job and the positive impact I received from Prof. Impellezeri and the RBS Newark.” “For one of my accounting classes, we were required to read through various companies’ 10-K financial statements and required to think critically as to the accounting that was applied to certain transactions. It was important to me as it introduced me to learning and reading financial statements.”

THE BEST UNDERGRADUATE BUSINESS SCHOOLS 155

1 AVENUE OF THE ARTS, NEWPORT NEWS, VA 23606 ADMISSIONS OFFICE: 757-594-7184

Christopher Newport University

T $126,414 Total Cost

$54,307 Average Salary

77.2%

Acceptance Rate

N/A

Average SAT

0.4%

International Students

28%

Underrepresent Minorities

75.9%

Class of 2022 accepting jobs 90 days after graduation

POETSANDQUANTSFORUNDERGRADS.COM

he Luter School of Business at Christopher Newport University ranked 70th this year, five places behind what it ranked last year, at No. 65, and a decline in seven spots from the previous year’s rank of 63rd. Luter had an acceptance rate of 77.15% this year, similarly to last year’s 79%, but it proved much more selective than the year prior’s rate, at 93.42%. The B-school’s average SAT score was not reported this year, though last year’s score had dropped to 1195 from the prior year’s score of 1213. 59% of Class of 2022 graduates secured a full-time position in a business-related field within three months of graduating, a considerable drop from the prior year’s 92% employment outcome. 76% of Luter graduates secured an internship in 2022, which was up compared to the prior year’s outcome of 67%. While Luter fell slightly 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. 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. 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. CAPSTONE PROJECT 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 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.” Many alumni also spoke highly of the collaboration aspect of the capstone simulation. “I can’t say that the simulation itself was meaningful or practical (ie: a fancier version of Lemonade Tycoon), but the impact came from the group project environment,” another alumni said. “I couldn’t do everyone’s part for them. We all had to trust one another to do our job and really make sure every decision we made was clearly communicated. I’ve thought about that simulation a lot while collaborating on projects at work.”

WHAT ALUMNI SAY “As part of my Marketing Senior Seminar, I worked on group projects for 3 local businesses. We created Marketing plans and were given creative control throughout the process. Those projects gave me the chance to embrace the creative side of Marketing, which I have been using in my career and creative endeavors outside of the workplace.” “We had to do a group project capstone which was helpful to encapsulate everything that we had learned in our business core classes. We also had to do a concentration senior thesis, which I did for management which was helpful to hone in on your speciality.” “I had a semester-long capstone presentation that simulated running a large manufacturing firm over a span of 7 (seven) years. Our team was formed the year prior to capstone, as my teammates, and best friends, sought each other out early to capitalize on our individual strengths for the best possible team. This project taught us the importance of accurate forecasting, how to effectively troubleshoot to work around bottlenecks, and how to rely on various SBUs to make a true production powerhouse.”

THE BEST UNDERGRADUATE BUSINESS SCHOOLS 157

800 WEST CAMPBELL RD, RICHARDSON, TX 75080 ADMISSIONS OFFICE: 972-883-2750

University of Texas At Dallas

O $130,690 Total Cost

$64,350 Average Salary

72.2%

Acceptance Rate

1167

Average SAT

4.5%

International Students

36%

Underrepresent Minorities

63.7%

Class of 2022 accepting jobs 90 days after graduation

POETSANDQUANTSFORUNDERGRADS.COM

ver the recent years, a lot has been happening at the Naveen Jindal School of Management at the University of Texas at Dallas. No. 71 in the ranking this year, the four-year undergraduate business program, where students earn Bachelor of Science degrees and not BBA degrees, has made it compulsory not only to engage in a community engagement experience, but also to have at least one internship during their undergraduate studies. It sounds like a lot to add on top of schoolwork, but it isn’t. 92% of the Class of 2022 completed at least one business-focused internship before graduation, and many were involved in a consulting project with an external organization. The program accepted 72% of the 5262 applications for Fall of 2022. The average SAT score of students entering the undergraduate business program was 1167, down ever-soslightly from Class of 2021’s score of 1188. Other ways in which Jindal shows it cares is through the Jindal Young Scholars Program, where current Jindal students mentor high school students towards college admittance, and upon completion, they can apply to the School of Management and earn a full ride scholarship if admitted. “There are many smart kids out there who, for one reason or another, feel like they cannot attend college,” Marilyn Kaplan, associate dean for Undergraduate Programs, says. ”When our students give back and help younger students in need think about the majors they are interested in and get prepared in high school, they become more mature themselves, and prepare for leadership through service.” The school shared that 70% of the Class of 2022 found full-time jobs just months after graduation, a decent increase from the prior year’s 57% employment outcome. JINDAL GIVING OPPORTUNITIES TO FIRST-GENERATION, MINORITY STUDENTS At Jindal School of management, students can choose to major in Accounting, Business Administration, Finance, Global Business, Healthcare Management, Human Resource Management, Information Technology and Systems, Marketing, and Supply Chain Management. Double majors are also available in Finance and Economics, Global Business and International Political Economy, Healthcare Management and Biology, and Healthcare Management and Molecular Biology. Their degree program is quantitatively based, with two of the nine degree programs (Information Systems and Technology, and Supply Chain Management) being STEM designated. There is also significant emphasis on out-of-classroom experiences with required business communications courses, professional development, and an internship. Diversity is highly valued at Jindal, and everyone is expected to care.

University of texas at dallas And while going to college is already a stressful time for many students, their unique student makeup means many students are leaving their families and homes for the first time, with no family member to tell or show them where to go next. To provide students with multiple avenues of support, the school has a three-prong mentoring method, where every student can be mentored by a peer, a faculty member, and an alumni member, if they choose. Jindal alumni also continue to be involved in many other ways with their alma mater. Kaplan shared that in the school’s business communications course that students take as soon as they are admitted, they are assigned to interview a professional in the field they want to go into, to compel them to reach out to alumni members and create relationships. “We want them to practice reaching out and looking for advice to make the right career choices, and most alums are prepared to mentor someone younger because they received the mentorship themselves,” Kaplan says. “The alums are excited to work with someone new at things, and they don’t have to remain committed beyond the course assignment, but we’ve seen most maintain the relationship.” JINDAL YOUNG SCHOLARS PROGRAM CONNECTS WITH DALLAS COMMUNITY To continue building diversity at Jindal, the Jindal Young Scholars Program was set up to nurture young businesspeople from the time they are in high school. The school shared that while the Dallas Independent School District is among the nation’s largest, about 88% come from economically disadvantaged homes, and though about half continue their education beyond high school, about 25% would not stay for a second year in college. The program currently targets five high schools in the area where the rates of graduation and matriculation are low. Current Jindal students mentor selected students from these high schools and even provide their parents with information on what it means to send their kids to college. These students attend special events on campus to help them feel comfortable in the space and give them the promise of a debt-free college career if they complete the program. In addition, there are other programs in place once they join Jindal, such as the student-led Comet Closet, that provides necessities such as professional clothing items to students who need a little help making that first impression. Students can receive a full, professional outfit for free, including a blazer, pants or skirt, button-down shirt or blouse, shoes, tie, and an accessory, once they have attended three required workshops relating to interviewing, resume writing, and branding.

WHAT ALUMNI SAY “In my Entrepreneurship class, my company, EPIQ, was chosen as one of the companies that would be our semester project for a faux pitch competition. I ran into my professor a couple years later and was so excited to let him know that I started 2 companies after school and the names are Epiq Business Ventures, LLC and Epiq Properties, LLC!” “Presentations under a given format and guideline are fun and all, but without injecting your knowledge and inherent skills that have some remote semblance to the career you want, it gets stupid. The capstone project I did, I was able to sing the chorus line for Circle of Life because our theme allowed it.” “The business school allowed me to study abroad as part of my degree program, which opened the opportunity for me to get an international internship that helped me land my first job.”

THE BEST UNDERGRADUATE BUSINESS SCHOOLS 159

632 BOGUE ST, EAST LANSING, MI 48825 ADMISSIONS OFFICE: 517-355-7605

Michigan State University

T $130,330 Total Cost

$56,490 Average Salary

48.3%

Acceptance Rate

1277

Average SAT

3.1%

International Students

10.7%

Underrepresent Minorities

95.3%

Class of 2022 accepting jobs 90 days after graduation

POETSANDQUANTSFORUNDERGRADS.COM

he Eli Broad College of Business at Michigan State University ranked No. 72 this year, dropping considerably behind from last year’s 48th-place rank. Broad’s admissions process this year was slightly more selective, with an acceptance rate of 48.30% compared to last year’s 55.36%. Its average SAT score was a tad higher, though, at 1277, compared to Class of 2021’s 1208 and the previous year’s score of 1225. Employment and internship opportunities at the B-school remain strong. 95% of Broad graduates secured a full-time position within months of graduating, and the school reported the same numbers for the prior year. 87% of students completed an internship before the time they graduated, a metric which has drastically risen compared to last year’s 27% internship outcome. While lower in the ranking this year, 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. 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, says. “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

mIcghian state University 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. LEADERSHIP PROGRAMMING 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. 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 “For our capstone project, we got to work and implement solutions with real companies & employees. It was very beneficial for us to see our solutions implemented in real life.” “We participated in an MBA level debt and money markets program in which we deconstructed CMBSs as part of a case study. This was important in showing how seemingly complex things in the business world can be understood if a person takes the time and right approach.” “I was able to use my passion for sustainability and supply chain to research the effects of manufacturing textiles on water supply and provide alternative options - this excelled me in my career as well as I helped start responsible sourcing at PwC.”

THOROUGH CAPSTONE EXPERIENCES The capstone courses at Broad are the signature learning experience. Regardless of what major they chose, an overwhelming number of alumni we surveyed spoke highly about the thoroughness of their capstone experience. 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 161

ADMISSIONS OFFICE: 419-372-2531

Bowling Green State University

T $99,384 Total Cost

$53,715 Average Salary

86.2%

Acceptance Rate

1125

Average SAT

2.6%

International Students

7.9%

Underrepresent Minorities

76.1%

Class of 2022 accepting jobs 90 days after graduation

POETSANDQUANTSFORUNDERGRADS.COM

he Schmidthorst College of Business at Bowling Green State University came in at No. 73 in this year’s Poets&Quants ranking, falling four places from last year’s No. 69. The school ranked best in academic experience, 30th, while it was 80th in admissions and 84th in career outcomes. The BGSU Class of 2022 saw higher employment outcomes than last year, with just over 76% landing full-time employment within three months of graduation, as compared to last year’s 74.6%. Both years were far lower than the previous year’s 89.87%. Internships averaged 69%, up from 64% for the Class of 2021, which was down 10 points from 2020’s 74% and 8 points from 2019’s 72%. Originally referred to as simply the College of Business, Bowling Green’s 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 in the last few years. 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 from the Classes of 2020 and 2021, which placed the school 30th overall in the academic experience methodological category, up from 34th two years ago. LIFE DESIGN 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, says. Additionally, through a new Signature Work initiative, students apply their learnings to a project report.

Bowling Green State University “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 explains. “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 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. Faculty were rated a 9.2 by the Class of 2019 alumni 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 many, the capstone project is through Capism, 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. 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 had a registered internship that was the hands-on experience I believe every undergraduate needs to bring them into post graduation life. It helped me take the principles and concepts we learned in class to life as I enacted them everyday through project work. We also had a simulation where a team of us ran a business department by department together and competed with other teams in the capstone class. This was a fun and interactive way to practice our business knowledge.” “As part of our accounting program we ran a capsim simulation multiple times throughout our time at the school to help us gain a better understanding of how an industry works. Overall this prepared me for my career by teaching me to always see the bigger picture.” “I was in a simulation that ran an insurance company. We made decisions and competed against other students to try to have the best results. It’s important to me because I now work in the insurance industry and it was invaluable in helping me obtain skills needed post graduation.”

THE BEST UNDERGRADUATE BUSINESS SCHOOLS 163

901 12TH AVE, SEATTLE, WA 98122 ADMISSIONS OFFICE: 206-220-8040

Seattle University

S $223,896 Total Cost

$61,902 Average Salary

78.2%

Acceptance Rate

N/a

Average SAT

18%

International Students

22.3%

Underrepresent Minorities

89.7%

Class of 2022 accepting jobs 90 days after graduation

POETSANDQUANTSFORUNDERGRADS.COM

eattle University’s Albers School of Business and Economics secured a spot at No. 74 in this year’s rankings — down two spots from last year’s ranking of No.72 and 12 spots since landing at No. 62 two years ago. Albers had an acceptance rate of 78.2% this year, down significantly from 88.09% and even from the rate two years ago of 82.12% and the previous year’s 78%. The school did not provide an average SAT score after reporting a 1203 in 2021, which was up from the previous year’s score of 1184. The lack of a score partly explains why Albers dropped to 84th in the admissions category of the P&Q ranking. Albers performed well once again in career outcomes, with nearly 90% of its last two classes securing full-time employment within three months of graduation, down only slightly from 91.6% last year. Internship rates rebounded as well, with 52.5% securing summer jobs in a business field, up from 44% of the previous classes. Still, that remained down significantly from the 76% of the Class of 2020 who secured an internship. The Albers undergraduate program is best characterized by its ethicsfocused curriculum, real-world learning component, and strong studyabroad 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. 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 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. 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.

WHAT ALUMNI SAY “The small class size really helped us to know peers in the same school/majors and our professors. The professors were knowledgeable and always available to help. The placement center helps us improve our interview skills, resume, and cover letter. The placement center also helps us connect with professionals and companies that we would love to work for. The school also provides various programs/opportunities to help us get experience, improve skills, and expand networks. The school provided everything to help me succeed academically and find the job I wanted.” “I went on a two week ‘business trip’ where we visited 6 different countries across Europe. We met with PNW companies that were in Europe and learned about the cultural differences.” “I was in a two-week Europe study program where 20 of us were selected to go to 5 countries in Europe to improve business communication skills, learn about business data analytics, and accounting governance. We were able to meet with top management at headquarters of Fortune 500 companies, Big 4 accounting firms, and European governing entities. I was able to improve my business communication skills, become more confident, expand my network, and have a deeper understanding of the subjects we learned about.”

THE BEST UNDERGRADUATE BUSINESS SCHOOLS 165

5401 PARK AVE, FAIRFIELD, CT 06825 ADMISSIONS OFFICE: 203-371-7880

Sacred Heart University

T $239,820 Total Cost

$60,061 Average Salary

60.8%

Acceptance Rate

1215

Average SAT

1.4%

International Students

23.5%

Underrepresent Minorities

74%

Class of 2022 accepting jobs 90 days after graduation

POETSANDQUANTSFORUNDERGRADS.COM

he Jack Welch College of Business & Technology at Sacred Heart University landed at No. 75 this year, up two places from last year’s 77th and three from 78th two rankings past. The Jack Welch College had an acceptance rate of 60.84%, down exactly 2 points from 62.84% last year, and an average SAT score of 1215.19, up from 1197.70 last year and the previous year’s score of 1208. Employment and internship outcomes at Jack Welch took a significant hit in 2020, in large part due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and there still seems to be a lingering effect. While more than 90% of the Class of 2021 was able to secure a full-time position within three months of graduation, the school reported that only 57% of its Class of 2022 did, for a two-year average of 74%. Internship outcomes are trending downward, too, with only about 50% reporting that they secured a business-focused summer job. 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. In recent years the B-school 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 stateof-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

SACRED HEART UNIVERSITY 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 availability for informal discussions and mentoring outside of class. 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. 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. 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.

WHAT ALUMNI SAY “Project work including case studies my senior year in my marketing research class were great. Group projects helped me feel connected to my peers in a way other than socially, sometimes feeling professional and engaged academically. The business school was great overall. Only complaint would be the career advising.” “Sacred Heart did an amazing job at preparing me-as an accounting student. All of the professors were very hands-on. The projects they provided were very helpful in having a successful experience. One thing I will not do that I wish SHU did was to better prepare us for the CPA. I think it is extremely important for undergraduates, specifically your sophomore and junior year to have more fundamental classes towards certain sections of the CPA. Senior year there should be an elective where you complete a tax return or an audit engagement. So you actually have real experience. It’s really important to know the walkthroughs of an engagement and what the purpose of each workpaper is for. And it’s important to know early on in your career what you are doing, why you’re doing it and how to do it. This will also help those undecided accounting students who don’t know what they would rather go into.” “The four week learning experience in Tianjin, China that was offered by the College of Business was a key moment during my time at SHU. It opened me to many different cultural and business oriented perspectives that I have not been aware of before.”

THE BEST UNDERGRADUATE BUSINESS SCHOOLS 167

3601 PACIFIC AVE, STOCKTON, CA 95211 ADMISSIONS OFFICE: 209-946-2211

University of the Pacific

L $275,360

anding at No. 76 is the University of the Pacific’s Eberhardt School of Business in Stockton, California, down 18 spots from last year’s ranking of No. 58, and six points above its No. 70 spot in the 2021 ranking. Eberhardt placed 63rd in Admissions (down from 38th), 87th in Career Outcomes (for the second straight year), and 70th in Academic Experience, down from 33rd. 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.

Total Cost

MULTI-MILLION DOLLAR STUDENT-RUN INVESTMENT FUND ONE OF THE MOST POPULAR ASPECTS OF THE PROGRAM

$62,728

As part of the alumni survey included in the ranking process, we asked Class of 2019 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 76.92% 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 has reached well into the millions in years past. Students manage the fund with the help of 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.

Average Salary

94%

Acceptance Rate

1160

Average SAT

2.2%

International Students

47.1%

Underrepresent Minorities

70.5%

Class of 2022 accepting jobs 90 days after graduation

POETSANDQUANTSFORUNDERGRADS.COM

EMPLOYMENT OUTCOMES According to the school, about 38.5% of the Class of 2022 graduates had at least one business-focused internship before graduating, as compared to 41.5% for Class of 2020 and 2021 graduates combined. That number is relatively low compared to other participating schools. The Class of 2022 also reported a job acceptance rate of 70.5% within three months of graduation, up from 67.69% last year but still down from the previous year’s rate of 77.12%. Those who accepted jobs reported an average starting salary of $62,728. Within the alumni survey, we asked recent alumni if their first jobs were in a desired industry and at a desired company. A remarkably high 92.31% of 2019 graduates from Pacific reported taking a position in their desired industry immediately after graduation, and 69.23% reported their first jobs were at one of their desired companies.

University of the Pacific 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 recent alum told us. “It was engaging.”

WHAT ALUMNI SAY “I was able to do research surrounding a topic of my interest that would help me better understand the topic and field I’m trying to get into while allowing me to plead my case on why I would be an asset to be in this field from the research I found and my applied knowledge.” “The Eberhardt Student Investment Fund provides hands-on experience and valuable exposure to the financial industry.”

THE BEST UNDERGRADUATE BUSINESS SCHOOLS 169

ADMISSIONS OFFICE: 412-396-6222

Duquesne University

T $254,880 Total Cost

$54,254 Average Salary

94%

Acceptance Rate

1219

Average SAT

3.7%

International Students

15.8%

Underrepresent Minorities

75%

Class of 2022 accepting jobs 90 days after graduation

POETSANDQUANTSFORUNDERGRADS.COM

he Palumbo-Donahue School of Business at Duquesne University landed at No. 77 in this year’s rankings — down only one place from last year’s No. 76. Of the three methodological categories, Duquesne placed highest in Academic Experience, landing at 35th. Admissions-wise, the Pittsburgh-based B-school had an acceptance rate of 93.95% for this year’s incoming class, slightly more selective than last year’s 96.74%. The average SAT score was 1219 for the Class of 2022. SAT scores weren’t reported last year, but the previous year, the B-School had an average of 1177, so the B-School has improved since then. From a tight-knit, supportive community to highly relevant course material and capstone experiences, Duquesne offers a comprehensive business education that prepares students well for the real world of business. EMPLOYMENT OUTCOMES The Class of 2021 had better outcomes than last year, with 75.02% of the Class of 2022 securing a full-time position within three months of graduation as compared to their 2021 ranking at 61.84%. Internship-wise, Duquesne also performed a bit better than last year, with 73.00% of the Class of 2022 landing a business-focused internship before graduating as compared to 72.00% for the Class of 2021. 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. SMALL COMMUNITY, BIG CITY 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 Duquesne business alumni gave a strong 9.5 average rating in terms of the B-school faculty’s availability for informal discussions and mentoring outside of class. Recent 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 9.0 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 real-world scenarios and emphasizes valuable soft skills such as teamwork and

Duquesne University communication. Nearly every Duquesne alum that we surveyed spoke highly about their capstone experience, with many saying that it provided them with skills that they use to this day in their career.

WHAT ALUMNI SAY “Our Capstone Projects bring you into the real world and immerse you in what your future will really be like. All of my Capstone Courses were beneficial to my real world work life.” “There were many projects I completed that were important to my education, but one that sticks out the most is the capstone project. We had to analyze different businesses and determine what we would do to help them improve sales, marketing, suppliers, etc. To this day, I still think back to the different charts and graphs created when working with clients in various industries. That project helped form a knowledge on how to look at businesses and determine favorable and unfavorable trends.” “We performed an audit simulation during our auditing class. It gave us hands-on learning from inventory counts to interviewing client personnel. This experience was hands-on and not solely done on a computer to simulate real life work.”

THE BEST UNDERGRADUATE BUSINESS SCHOOLS 171

953 DANBY RD, ITHACA, NY 14850 ADMISSIONS OFFICE: 607-274-3940

Ithaca College

I $257,984 Total Cost

$47,618 Average Salary

82.8%

Acceptance Rate

1261

Average SAT

International Students

22%

Underrepresent Minorities

82.4%

Class of 2022 accepting jobs 90 days after graduation

POETSANDQUANTSFORUNDERGRADS.COM

thaca College’s School of Business landed at No. 78 in this year’s 2023 rankings, up three places from last year’s No. 81. The B-school had an acceptance rate of 82.81% for the Class of 2022, slightly more selective than last year’s 87.33%, and an average SAT score of 1261, up a good amount from last year’s 1226. Internships experienced jumped up, with 84% of the Class of 2022 landing an internship, whereas only 75% of the Class of 2021 had before. Employment outcomes for the Class of 2022 improved as well, with 82.36% of the Class securing full-time employment within three months of graduation, while the Class of 2021 had 71% of graduates securing employment. Of the three methodological categories, Ithaca scored best in Academic Experience, landing at No. 66. Ithaca College School of Business 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. The Management concentration now offers two tracks; one in Analytics and one in Strategic Leadership. 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).

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. 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 “I was a co- founder of the club Women in Sports. This opportunity gave me exceptional leadership experience which has helped me tremendously in my current position. It put me in a “mentor” position during my senior year which allowed me to meet underclassmen in the business school. I also went to the Super Bowl in Miami in 2020. This was an experience I will never forget. It gave me excellent hands-on experience in the sports world and to get a glimpse of what my future career would look like.” “The Business Professions Program enabled me to do a career exploration in my field of study which solidified my choice in major.” “I was able to go to the Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea during my sophomore year in 2018. It was the best academic experience that I had while in business school.”

CUTTING-EDGE RESOURCES Within the B-school, students have access to a number of state-ofthe-art facilities and resources to utilize. Ithaca has two technology labs; the Neeson Business Analytics Lab and the Neeson Digital Marketing Lab, as well as a trading room. 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. 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 173

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

University of Georgia

A $109,742 Total Cost

$64,970 Average Salary

48%

Acceptance Rate

1287

Average SAT

1.5%

International Students

15.3%

Underrepresent Minorities

96.3%

Class of 2022 accepting jobs 90 days after graduation

POETSANDQUANTSFORUNDERGRADS.COM

t more than 100 years old, the University of Georgia’s Terry College of Business has a deep history steeped in innovation and highquality undergraduate business education. This year, the B-School placed No. 79 in the 2023 rankings. Terry had an acceptance rate of 48.02% for their incoming class, and the average SAT score for the Class of 2022 stood at 1287. As far as employment outcomes go, the B-School had a solid 79.00% of the Class of 2022 land at least one business focused internship before graduation, and an impressive 96.27% of the Class of 2022 secured employment within three months of graduation. Of the three methodological categories, Terry scored highest in Admissions, landing at No. 37. Founded as the School of Commerce in 1912 and awarding its first bachelor of science in commerce in 1915, Terry was the first business school founded in the southern United States. While the school’s age is dated, the innovation coming from the school is not. “We’ve had some dedication to some smaller programs,” says Henry Munneke, the associate dean of undergraduate programs at Georgia Terry, noting the school’s Music Business Certificate. “Those are ways students can come in and be a traditional finance major but, hey, if they have an interest in music or the music business, they can use their electives to go through and out the Music Business Certificate.” EVERY STUDENT ATTENDING UGA MUST COMPLETE AN EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING PROJECT After being accepted to the University of Georgia, students may enter the Terry College as juniors. The school says students “self-select” on if they should apply to the college or not, which requires a minimum 2.6 GPA at the University of Georgia, three required pre-requisite courses, a purpose statement, and passing a proficiency profile exam. Once in the program, all students must complete Financial Management, Principles of Marketing, and Principles of Management in their first semester. By the end of the second semester, they must also complete Predictive Modeling and Optimization, the school’s required course in business analytics. Students may also choose their major upon entrance and begin working towards the 30 required hours of Terry-specific courses to graduate. Interestingly, Munneke notes, the University of Georgia is the largest university to require all undergraduate students to complete an experiential learning requirement. “That’s bringing the classroom to the world,” he insists. “We are the largest university to require that of all of its students.” While Munneke was quick to praise the school’s strengths in specific majors such as Risk Management and Insurance and Real Estate, he also noted newer initiatives the school’s leadership is particularly pleased with. “Right now the entrepreneurship certificate is something we’re excited about because we just revamped it,” he points out. Munneke says the program used to sit within the management department —

University of Georgia typical to entrepreneurship programs across B-schools — but part of the revamp was to move it outside of that umbrella. The result has been students from across disciplines, like the sciences and engineering, in particular, pursuing the certificate or at least taking entrepreneurship courses. “We’re trying to get those students who may not traditionally be business students to come out and see that they do need some background in business,” Munneke adds. NEW ONLINE BBA COURSES ‘WILDLY’ POPULAR AMONG STUDENTS Another substantial addition is the online BBA. Designed as a “finishing degree,” Munneke says it has “been a great way to meet military needs.” Faculty teaching online are the same residential Terry faculty, and the program has also significantly increased the number of online courses available for traditional students. “If the students are doing a summer abroad or something away from campus, they can take a course if they want,” Munneke says, noting the online courses have been “wildly” popular for the traditional students. “Our enrollment numbers are increasing substantially by giving students the opportunity to go out and do what they normally would during the summer like a part-time internship, and allow them to keep taking courses and moving through their coursework to graduation,” Munneke explains. “I’m sure you’re going to see other schools doing this if they don’t already.” To be expected from a public university, Terry offers an elite business degree on the cheap. Georgia residents pay less than $45,000 in tuition total for all four years. With a cost of living estimate under $52,000, Georgia residents can live on-campus for four years and earn the degree for just over $100K. If students chose to live off-campus, the entire expected cost is under $100K. Considering some 84% of students received scholarship support at an average of $7,058, the degree is one of the best deals in Poets&Quants’ top business programs.

WHAT ALUMNI SAY “A final project in my Music Business involved coordinating the release of a band’s newest music project. It greatly helped me prepare for working in the music industry.” “Through the Institute for Leadership Advancement (ILA), we worked with real nonprofits who were looking for some assistance! Without the ILA program I do not believe I would have been prepared for the real world.” “Participating in stock pitches and market discussion through the student managed investment fund was an important experience for me. These activities allowed me to develop my presentation skills, business acumen, and critical thinking skills.”

A FOCUSED, PROFESSIONAL STUDENT POPULATION In terms of student culture, Munneke says the students are mainly excited to focus on a major once they enter the school and then they are very engaged in finding jobs. “When the students get here, they are excited to focus on what they want to study. They are professional and focused on their education,” Munneke says, also noting the school’s Student Service and Corporate Relations office, which provides a robust employer engagement and mentoring program that taps into nearby Atlanta. “Our message is, yes our alumni are Terry, yes the faculty are Terry, but we want you to know from the first day in the college, you are the Terry College of Business,” Munneke says. “And together, we want to build a strong program that reflects what the business world wants and what makes you successful.”

THE BEST UNDERGRADUATE BUSINESS SCHOOLS 175

ADMISSIONS OFFICE: 859-257-6539

University of Kentucky

T $132,596 Total Cost

$54,211 Average Salary

91.1%

Acceptance Rate

1175

Average SAT

1.3%

International Students

12.2%

Underrepresent Minorities

73.7%

Class of 2022 accepting jobs 90 days after graduation

POETSANDQUANTSFORUNDERGRADS.COM

he University of Kentucky’s Gatton College of Business and Economics landed at No. 80 in the 2023 rankings – down six places from last year’s No. 74. The B-School has hovered around this range for years in the rankings, at No. 81 in 2021 and No. 77 in 2020. Gatton had a far more lenient acceptance rate than last year’s 49.50%, at 91.09% for the Class of 2022 – more in line with the previous year’s rate of 84.54%. The average SAT score rose significantly for the Class of 2022 and went up to 1175 – up from the previous score of 981. Gatton saw a rise in employment outcomes, with 73.68% of the Class of 2022 securing full-time employment within three months of graduation, up from 67.65% for the Class of 2021. Internship rates only rose a bit, with 65.50% of the Class of 2022 landing a business-focused internship before graduating as compared to 61.00% for the Class of 2021. The highest score of the three methodological categories was a No.74 place in Academic Experience. 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, recent 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. 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. 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.

University of Kentucky 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. 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 Gatton alumni highlighted a variety of projects — from specialized research to capstones — that they say were significant to their undergraduate education. 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 “I participated in our college’s stock pitch competition which provided valuable experience in equity research and presenting under pressure to a panel of experts. I also had the opportunity to participate in equity research projects for a research fellowship I was a part of. This experience provided me with valuable modeling, research, and presentation skills.” “I was invited as one of 8 students to participate in an invitation-only course where we managed a multi-million endowment fund under the supervision and guidance of our professor. We conducted market research, performed a stock pitch and learned financial modeling for the purposes of portfolio management. My performance in that class played a large role in obtaining the job position I have today, and I am beyond pleased. Additionally, our professor stays in contact with me, and has offered to coach my husband and I quarterly in efforts to help us attain our life, career and personal goals.” “Women in Business Leaders and Gatton Ambassadors were two programs I was in that shaped my time in college. I met some amazing business leaders, got to work with prospective students, and gained the most influential mentor I could have ever asked for through those two programs. Being able to speak about these programs and the confidence, knowledge, and experiences I gained through being a part of them was crucial in my job search experience.”

THE BEST UNDERGRADUATE BUSINESS SCHOOLS 177

740 GARDEN RD, DEKALB, IL 60115 ADMISSIONS OFFICE: 815-753-1000

Northern Illinois University

T $116,488 Total Cost

$54,731 Average Salary

68.8%

Acceptance Rate

n/a

Average SAT

1.7%

International Students

59.6%

Underrepresent Minorities

35.9%

Class of 2022 accepting jobs 90 days after graduation

POETSANDQUANTSFORUNDERGRADS.COM

he Northern Illinois University College of Business ranked No. 81 in this year’s 2023 rankings – down only a few spots from last year’s No. 78 place. The College of Business had an acceptance rate of 68.75%, just slightly more lenient than last year’s 67.47% for the Class of 2021. The B-school didn’t report their SAT scores this year, however last year’s score was an average of 1029, and the previous year’s score was 1023. Employment-wise, the B-school’s Class of 2022 saw a drop from 43.33% for the Class of 2021 to just 35.91% of this year’s class landing a full-time position within three months of graduation. Internship outcomes were only slightly lower, with 43.50% of the Class of 2022 landing an internship before graduating compared to 45.00% for the Class of 2021. Of the three methodological categories, the B-School scored highest in Academic Experience, ranking 60th. 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. The Business in Action course 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 alumni highlighted the learning-bydoing 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 recent alum told us. “In the same course, we also had simulations

Northern Illinois University of executive business meetings where we discussed the future of real-world 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.” 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. 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 participated in a class that coincided with my internship over the summer at PwC. The recruiting efforts that NIU makes to make sure that their accountancy scholars will be placed in a job is incredible. Weaving this interview process and how important these experiences are into the curriculum made me confident come time for an interview, and I was able to write about my successful experiences that lead to a job offer at my preferred company.” “Our capstone project of running our own simulated company with different aspects of control over the company was important to me. Having majors across the business spectrum on my team, it helped build collaboration skills as well as learn the importance of specifics in the fields that my concentration wasn’t in.” “I was able to be part of a group of students that completed consulting work for a non-profit in Mexico. We were able to live and work there for about a month. Moreover, I had a couple classes where the whole semester was about creating a product with a business plan. Both of these experiences were very important to me because they gave me the opportunity to be exposed to various things and discover what are some of the things I am good at and that I see myself potentially doing.”

THE BEST UNDERGRADUATE BUSINESS SCHOOLS 179

1655 CAMPUS CENTER DR, SALT LAKE CITY, UT 84112 ADMISSIONS OFFICE: 801-581-8761

University of Utah

he Eccles experience is centered around an integrated business and liberal arts curriculum with plenty of opportunities for students to travel globally. Previously ranking No. 66, The David Eccles School of Business at the University of Utah dropped in this year’s 2023 rankings to No. 82. The B-School held near their acceptance rate of 73.77% as compared to last year’s 71.57%, with an average SAT score of 1210 for the Class of 2022 – down from their previous average of 1257. Utah had a balanced finish in this year’s ranking for two of the three methodological categories, placing 60th in Admissions and 61st in Career Outcomes, yet they dropped to 83rd in Academic Experience.

$128,122 Total Cost

$58,763 Average Salary

73.8%

Acceptance Rate

1210

Average SAT

International Students

19%

Underrepresent Minorities

91.8%

Class of 2022 accepting jobs 90 days after graduation

POETSANDQUANTSFORUNDERGRADS.COM

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 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. 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. “The Business Scholars Program would definitely be considered a ‘signature experience’ during my time at the David Eccles School of Business,” one recent alumni says. “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. EMPLOYMENT OUTCOMES Eccles students have relatively strong employment outcomes. Some 92% of graduates of the Classes of 2021 and 2022 secured full-time employment within three months of graduation, up from around 87% in the Covid-19 year of 2020. Internship outcomes saw a significant increase with 67.5% of the two classes landing a businessfocused internship before graduating, up from 61% in 2020 and just 48.5% in 2019. 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.

WHAT ALUMNI SAY “There were some classes that had “capstone” projects, but not an overarching simulation. The best experience I had was in my Contract Law class. The tests were actually funny. The teacher was amazing. I will never forget that class. The capstone was a one-on-one discussion with the professor in front of the class. It was intimidating, but educational. I deal with basic Contract Law everyday in my job, so this class prepared me for the real world. The Accounting capstone was the most challenging. I met several times with my group to run financials for a particular company. There was a lot of calculations and interpretation. I was proud of the finished financials, but I was glad I was not in this industry. I have had to use it and I am glad for the experience.” “I was in the MSIS and MSF programs. The MSIS capstone project was extremely influential on my growth as a professional and on the skills necessary to succeed after the program.” “My involvement in non-accounting, yet technical business classes, including marketing projects, operations classes, and finance classes, have complimented my core accounting education very well.”

THE BEST UNDERGRADUATE BUSINESS SCHOOLS 181

ADMISSIONS OFFICE: 202-885-1968

American University

A $283,918 Total Cost

$65,262 Average Salary

30.3%

Acceptance Rate

1315

Average SAT

7.3%

International Students

27%

Underrepresent Minorities

79.9%

Class of 2022 accepting jobs 90 days after graduation

POETSANDQUANTSFORUNDERGRADS.COM

merican University’s Kogod School of Business came in at No. 83 in the 2023 rankings, dropping only one place behind last year’s No. 82. The school has hovered in the 80’s for a few years now, down from their past place in the 50’s – placing No. 59 in 2021 and No. 53 in 2020. The B-school had a much more selective acceptance rate, at 30.34% for the Class of 2022 compared to 58.17% for the Class of 2021. This year’s average SAT score also increased from 1304 for the Class of 2021, to 1315 for the Class of 2022. The Kogod Class saw quite a positive increase in employment outcomes, with this year’s class reporting 79.86% of their class secured full-time positions within three months of graduation – up from 69.35% for the Class of 2021. Business-focused internship rates shot up to 63.50% for the Class of 2022 – nearly doubled from the Class of 2021’s 39%. Of the three methodological categories, the B-school placed highest in Admissions, where they landed at No. 52. 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 hands-on learning. The B-school’s capstone experience features a real-world client

American University and focuses on valuable soft-skills such as teamwork and time management. 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 recent alumni said. OUT-OF-CLASSROOM OPPORTUNITIES 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 around $1 million 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 recent 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 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 “I was an intern at a music venue and it helped open my eyes to life in the music industry.” “My capstone was very important because it was my first chance to make a real change at a real company.” “I did the marketing trip to NYC - great experience. We got insider tips on companies, working at agencies, and how to apply. Very well planned.”

THE BEST UNDERGRADUATE BUSINESS SCHOOLS 183

ADMISSIONS OFFICE: 806-834-3179

Texas Tech University

T $109,256 Total Cost

$56,161 Average Salary

86.4%

Acceptance Rate

1168

Average SAT

1.7%

International Students

40.2%

Underrepresent Minorities

92.8%

Class of 2022 accepting jobs 90 days after graduation

POETSANDQUANTSFORUNDERGRADS.COM

he Rawls College of Business at Texas Tech University dropped to No. 84 in the 2023 rankings this year, down from last year’s No. 73 place. The movement was largely buoyed by lower scores in the three methodological categories, where the B-school placed 75th in Career Outcomes, 85th in Academic Experience, and 87th in Admissions. Rawls College saw much lenient acceptance rates, with a reported 86.37% for the Classes of 2021 and 2022 – about a 20% from the previous year’s rate of 65.78%. SAT scores improved for the B-school, with an average of 1168 for the Class of 2022, up from 1096 average. This year, 92.79% of the Classes of 2021 and 2022 secured full-time employment within three months of graduation compared to 90.83% for the Rawls Class of 2020. Impressively, internship rates more than doubled, with 44% of the Class of 2022 landing a business-focused internship at or before graduation compared to the previous year’s 20%. 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. 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 skillsets. 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

Texas Tech University 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. 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. 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.

WHAT ALUMNI SAY “The data analytics class at Texas Tech was pivotal in my understanding of manipulating data through Idea and Tableau. Using Idea so effectively was the first opportunity I had to impress my team in my first job after graduating.” “In my Financial Statement Valuation and Analysis Course, in groups of 4, we had to complete a 30 page financial analysis over Noble Energy. We had to comb through the 4 main financial statements and use forecasting to estimate what their statements would be for the next 5 years.” “I participated in the Rawls Global Exchange Program at the University of New York - Prague. This experience was incredibly eye opening and life changing. It further prepared me for my Global Internship Program with KPMG in Moscow, Russia found through sponsored events by the Rawls.”

THE BEST UNDERGRADUATE BUSINESS SCHOOLS 185

2167 UNION DR, AMES, IA 50011 ADMISSIONS OFFICE: 515-294-8300

Iowa State University

T $97,884 Total Cost

$54,750 Average Salary

87.5%

Acceptance Rate

1157

Average SAT

International Students

19%

Underrepresent Minorities

89.4%

Class of 2022 accepting jobs 90 days after graduation

POETSANDQUANTSFORUNDERGRADS.COM

he undergraduate business experience at Ivy College is best characterized by its flexible curriculum structure and relevant course material. Iowa State University’s Ivy College of Business ranked No. 85 in this year’s 2023 rankings, jumping four spots from last year’s No. 89. The school has been slowly climbing from the previous year’s 97th-place finish. Of the three methodological categories, the school placed highest in Career Outcomes, landing at No. 63. The B-school reported an acceptance rate of 87.53% for the Class of 2022 – slightly less selective than last year’s 84.15%. Their average SAT score was a solid 1157 for the Class of 2022. Employment outcomes saw a bit of an increase this year, with 89.40% of the Classes of 2021 and 2022 landing full-time employment at the time of graduation, up from the Class of 2020’s rate of 82.22%. 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, says. 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

Iowa State University alumni who gave it an 8.3 average rating in terms of how well 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 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 alum says. “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,” a recent alum says. “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 of what an industry is really like — from end-to-end. 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 “I worked on a group to provide improvements to the food bank of Iowa distribution center/warehouse. We collaborated with the staff there to improve processes, storage, funding and more. It was great to do work in an industry that requires outside the box thinking, as a student.” “I was involved in multiple sales scenarios/ competitions through a couple different classes where I got to work with companies outside of Iowa State that provided excellent feedback and opportunities for growth.” “I participated in not only one, but many class projects that I believe not only taught me information I didn’t know, but better prepared me for the real world. I still use that information taught in all those class projects today in my current role, as well as in my previous role.”

THE BEST UNDERGRADUATE BUSINESS SCHOOLS 187

11200 S. W. 8TH ST CBC 301, MIAMI, FL 33199 ADMISSIONS OFFICE: 305-348-2751

Florida International University

F $51,836 Total Cost

$58,189 Average Salary

44.6%

Acceptance Rate

1287

Average SAT

7.4%

International Students

74.4%

Underrepresent Minorities

90.4%

Class of 2022 accepting jobs 90 days after graduation

POETSANDQUANTSFORUNDERGRADS.COM

lorida International University’s College of Business held strong in this year’s 2023 rankings — remaining at No. 86, same as last year. Of the three methodological categories, the B-school scored highest in Admissions, where they placed 72nd. The B-school had an average acceptance rate of 44.63% for the Class of 2022, slightly less selective than 2021’s 41.17%, and they reported an average SAT score of 1287 – a huge jump from the previous average of 1204. Employment outcomes have shot up since the Class of 2020 reported a 78.76% rate – at a high 90.43% for the Classes of 2021 and 2022 securing full-time employment within three months of graduation. Internship rates dropped from 29% to only 3%. 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. 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. 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

Florida International University 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 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. 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. 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.

WHAT ALUMNI SAY “The sales program prepared me for actual consultative sales approaches through the role plays. Attempt to sell to consumers sitting across the table, goal to close or get to a decision maker. Great practice.” “The Honors College in combination with the business school offered me many opportunities to explore passions and take part in business projects.” “Projects that involved bridging the gap between financial analytics and rationale for these numbers was the most important activity. These skills and practices are what I use on a daily basis. Being able to reason why a number is a certain why or what behaviors drive a certain statistic or value.”

THE BEST UNDERGRADUATE BUSINESS SCHOOLS 189

ADMISSIONS OFFICE: 619-594-3983

San Diego State University

S $213,970 Total Cost

$58,209 Average Salary

41.2%

Acceptance Rate

1221

Average SAT

4.6%

International Students

31.5%

Underrepresent Minorities

83.2%

Class of 2022 accepting jobs 90 days after graduation

POETSANDQUANTSFORUNDERGRADS.COM

an Diego State University ranked 87th out of 93 schools this year, its first appearance in Poets&Quants‘ annual ranking of undergraduate business schools. The Southern California school was 47th in admissions standards, 91st in academic experience, and 79th in career outcomes. Of 18,390 applications to the Class of 2026, San Diego State admitted 7,581, or 41.22%. The total entering class was 2,362, and the school’s total current enrollment is 7,033. New San Diego students averaged 1221 on the SAT and 25.1 on the ACT. Thirty-six percent were in the top 10% of their high school graduating class. The average GPA for the class is 3.87. First-generation college students comprise 17.8% of the class, while just 4.6% are international. Nearly one-third — 31.5% — are under-represented minorities, and nearly half — 44.5% — are women. TOP EMPLOYERS INCLUDE AMAZON, MICROSOFT, DELOITTE San Diego State’s Fowler College of Business offers undergraduate students a choice of nine majors with four areas of specialization and nine minors. Among the options are Finance, Accountancy, Management, Marketing, and International Business. The school was ranked No. 6 by U.S. News in 2023 for one of its majors: International Business. Tuition is $123,416, and total cost is estimated at $213,970, which explains why 38% have received scholarships, though the amount is low in comparison to similar schools, at an average of $10,408. Thirty-one percent of the Class of 2022 reported graduating with debt, at an average amount of $19,439. Around half of San Diego State’s graduating classes in 2021 and 2022 performed summer internships related to their field of study, and each year’s class topped 80% employment upon leaving school. The Class of 2022 reported 84.7% employment, with an average salary over $62,000. Among the top employers of Fowler graduates: Amazon, Bank of America, Deloitte, Microsoft, and PepsiCo. PERSONAL MENTORSHIP KEY TO FOWLER’S APPEAL Top employers of Fowler grads include Disney, Apple, Boeing, and Adobe. Heather Doyle, a 2016 Marketing grad and current Sales Senior Zone Supervisor for Frito Lay, says the school’s personal mentorship from professors “not only helped me discover the correct career path but also better prepared me for the business industry long term. Whether it is the campus career fairs or various networking events, the Fowler College of Business sets its students up for success by connecting them with the right people. I will forever value the relationships I gained as a student and now as a proud alumni.”

San Diego State University DISTINCTIONS & HONORS San Diego State Fowler was named a Top Veteran Friendly School in 2022 by U.S. Veterans Magazine, but that is not the only distinction the school has recently garnered. It is also the No. 35 public part-time MBA program according to U.S. News, including No. 11 for entrepreneurship and No. 6 for undergraduate international business.

WHAT ALUMNI SAY *No alumni quotes were submitted

Gilbran Mims, creator and host of the Speak Your Mind podcast who graduated from Fowler in 2020, says he chose to major in entrepreneurship “because I’ve always had a goal that one day I want to ‘be my own boss.’ While I do believe, as an entrepreneur, there’s a lot of things that you have to learn from real-world experience, I thought that the opportunity to get a degree focusing on business and entrepreneurship could help me get closer to achieving my goal.” And Heather Doyle, a 2016 marketing graduate, says personal mentorship was a real difference-maker for her, which “not only helped me discover the correct career path but also better prepared me for the business industry long term. Whether it is the campus career fairs or various networking events, the Fowler College of Business sets its students up for success by connecting them with the right people. I will forever value the relationships I gained as a student and now as a proud alumni.”

THE BEST UNDERGRADUATE BUSINESS SCHOOLS 191

259 SOUTH BROADWAY ST, AKRON, OH 44325 ADMISSIONS OFFICE: 330-972-7042

University of Akron

T $105,104 Total Cost

$48,648 Average Salary

97%

Acceptance Rate

1055

Average SAT

International Students

23.7%

Underrepresent Minorities

92.4%

Class of 2022 accepting jobs 90 days after graduation

POETSANDQUANTSFORUNDERGRADS.COM

he University of Akron’s College of Business Administration ranked No. 88 in this year’s 2023 rankings, dropping 12 places from last year’s No. 76. Of the three methodological categories, Akron scored best in Career Outcomes, where they placed 67th. They scored the lowest in Academic Experience and Admissions, placing 91st and 90th, respectively. The Akron CBA had an extremely lenient acceptance rate this year, at 96.98% for the Class of 2022 as compared to last year’s 40.00%, and an average SAT score of 1055, dropping from last year’s score of 1096. Despite lower scores, 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. 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. EXPERIENTIAL 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.” 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. Both in the classroom and out, Akron business students are actively involved in real-world learning. While business theory is an important part of the 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

University of Akron set of tangible skills. 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 in the real world.

WHAT ALUMNI SAY “Completed both an HR Capstone Project and an Honors Business Project. Both gave me the opportunity to apply my classroom knowledge to a real-world scenario and to work with local companies.” “I participated in the Honors Project capstone project. I did learn a lot about cross functional teamwork during the project. However, the project was very HR focused, so it has little to do with my Accounting degree.” “At the University of Akron all business students take a Capstone class. This class is project-based and allows students to work together and do a deep dive on a specific company. Each group of students will then share their findings with the rest of the class.”

THE BEST UNDERGRADUATE BUSINESS SCHOOLS 193

CORVALLIS, OR 97331

Oregon State University

O N/A

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N/A

Average Salary

N/A

Acceptance Rate

N/A

Average SAT

n/A

International Students

N/A

Underrepresent Minorities

N/A

Class of 2022 accepting jobs 90 days after graduation

POETSANDQUANTSFORUNDERGRADS.COM

regon State University’s College of Business ranked No. 89 in this year’s 2023 rankings – dropping 9 places from the Class of 2021’s No. 80 finish. Of the three methodological categories, the B-School scored highest in Academic Experience, where they placed 75th. The B-school didn’t report their acceptance rate or average SAT scores this year, but they reported an acceptance rate of 88.39% and an average SAT score of 1108 for the Class of 2021. Employment outcomes and internship rates also weren’t reported this year, but in 2021, Oregon State reported 73.26% of the class securing fulltime employment within three months of graduation and 80.5% of the Class of 2021 landing a business-focused internship before graduating. At Oregon State’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 14 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. 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 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.

Oregon State University “Through it all, we had the support of excellent professors, and they fostered an outstanding sense of teamwork amongst all students,” a recent 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,” another recent alum said. 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. 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 “My capstone project was evaluating my summer internship. It was important because it helped me maintain focus during the internship and reflect after the internship. I graduated almost 3 years ago and still work for this company!” “We worked on a 6 month project to automate a manual process for the City of Portland HR department. We mapped the process, designed the schema of a database, and built software for the submission process and querying of the data. It opened my eyes to being a leader as well as the real world approach to automating business processes. This has helped more than I can say in my career growth and outlook as a BIS graduate in the technology industry.” “I was the Program Assistant major for my major (Business Information Systems) and I was also the club president for a period of time. There were several projects that I took up for various professors, including web scraping, data analysis, and surveying.”

THE BEST UNDERGRADUATE BUSINESS SCHOOLS 195

701 S W ST., ARLINGTON, TX 76010 ADMISSIONS OFFICE: 817-272-2090

University of Texas At Arlington

T $118,288 Total Cost

N/A

Average Salary

82.1%

Acceptance Rate

1061

Average SAT

4.5%

International Students

61.3%

Underrepresent Minorities

32.1%

Class of 2022 accepting jobs 90 days after graduation

POETSANDQUANTSFORUNDERGRADS.COM

he University of Texas at Arlington (UTA) College of Business landed at No. 90 in this year’s 2023 rankings – gaining one place above last year’s ranking at No. 91. The UTA College of Business reported an acceptance rate of 82.13 – slightly more selective than last year’s 87.34%, and an average SAT score of 1061 – down a bit from last year’s average of 1090. Employment-wise, numbers have gone down, with only 32.12% of the Class of 2022 securing full-time employment within three months of graduation, as compared to the Class of 2020’s rate of 74.07%. Internship outcomes weren’t reported for 2022, but 48.40% of the Class of 2020 reported having at least one business-focused internship before graduation. The B-School had a fairly even score over all three of the methodological categories, placing 89th in Career Outcomes, 86th in Admissions, and 89th in Academic Experience. Despite the lower ranking, 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 several 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 recent 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. GOOLSBY LEADERSHIP ACADEMY One of the cornerstone offerings at UTA College of Business is its 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

University of Texas At Arlington 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 “We had to make decisions for a simulated business. It showed how all of the aspects of business worked together (marketing, economics, finance, accounting, etc.).” “They taught us a lot about Networking, and what we need to know to land a job.”

THE BEST UNDERGRADUATE BUSINESS SCHOOLS 197

2100 E. KENWOOD BLVD, MILWAUKEE, WI 53211 ADMISSIONS OFFICE: 414-229-2222

University of Wisconsin at milwaukee

T $85,224 Total Cost

$51,523 Average Salary

71.4%

Acceptance Rate

N/A

Average SAT

International Students

27.7%

Underrepresent Minorities

N/A

Class of 2022 accepting jobs 90 days after graduation

POETSANDQUANTSFORUNDERGRADS.COM

he Lubar College is Wisconsin’s only public metropolitan business school. The school ranked 91st in Poets&Quants’ 2023 ranking, including 90th in Career Outcomes, 88th in Admission, and 92nd in Academic Experience. Tuition at the Lubar College is just over $38,000, and with additional expenses of about $47,000, total cost comes to $85,224. The school has an enrollment of more than 2,700, including 422 new students in 2022; its acceptance rate was just over 71%. Forty-one percent of new students at Lubar are first-generation college students, and 27.7% are underrepresented minorities. Women comprise 37.4% of the undergraduate class. Lubar did not provide Class of 2022 employment data but the Class of 2021 reported an average base salary of $51,523. Among the majors within the college available to undergraduate students are Human Resources Management, General Business, Information Technology Management, Finance, and Accounting. FUTURE PANTHERS ARE ‘MOTIVATED SELF-STARTERS’ “Great ideas,” the Lubar School website declares, “driven by innovative thinking and data analytics. At the Lubar College, everything we do is infused with this mindset — in the classroom, in the cuttingedge research of our talented faculty, and in our partnerships with organizations around the region. It’s our commitment to advancing business and developing the next generation of business leaders.” Notably, through the generosity of alumni, faculty, and friends of the school, over $1,000,000 in merit- and need-based scholarship support was awarded to Lubar College of Business students in 2022-23. “Without the scholarship… I would have never known what it was like to be a UWM Panther,” one current student says. “Proud of my university and in love with the city of Milwaukee. I would have never had the chance to find a marketing internship, and be on the road to accomplishing my goals.” What do future Business Panthers look like? The school describes them as “Motivated self-starters. Smart, hard workers. Job ready,” adding: “Choosing the right business school is one of the first steps you’ll take toward building your career. As a major metropolitan business school with great connections to industry, the Lubar College of Business will not only provide you with the opportunity to learn business — but the opportunity to experience business. “There is so much to look forward to as a future Lubar Business Panther: great friends, business connections, clubs and business student organizations, internships, part-time work, and great support throughout your studies and academic life — from your freshman year through graduation.”

University of Wisconsin At Milwaukee LUBAR PLAYS HOST TO MANY CAMPUS EVENTS Among the school’s most popular events is the La Macchia New Venture Business Plan Competition, which features student entrepreneurs presenting their plans and responding to questions from a panel of expert judges. The competition is sponsored by longtime supporter Bill La Macchia, founder of Mark Travel Corporation and Trisept Solutions, global leaders in travel services and travel technology (now with Apple Leisure Group). This year’s top honors and $10K first prize went to Counterpart 360°, owned by Ross Younger, a 2022 graduate of the Lubar MBA program. The company helps architects and construction professionals create accurate “digital twins” of built structures. By combining 360° imagery and Lidar laser capture, it can create highly accurate 3D models in a fraction of the time and cost of traditional documentation methods. The Lubar School also hosts a Business Research Seminar Series as a forum for discussion of scholarly topics by faculty and doctoral students. Lubar faculty, Ph.D. candidates, and invited guests present their current research for feedback and engaging dialogue, and members of the campus community and other interested visitors are welcome to attend.

WHAT ALUMNI SAY “During my education in UWM, I have met lots of people who some I may call friends which aid me in successfully learning and achieving only higher results; so that have helped me in my career where I have been rated as star employee with 1 rating for consecutive years which allowed me to get the highest bonus offered by my current employer.”

THE BEST UNDERGRADUATE BUSINESS SCHOOLS 199

953 DANBY ROAD, ITHACA, NY 14850 ADMISSIONS OFFICE: 607-274-3940

Temple University

t Temple University’s Fox School of Business, every student that walks through the doors is prepared for leadership. The Fox School placed 92nd in P&Q’s 2023 rankings. Regarding the three methodological categories, they placed 88th in Academic Experience, and 92nd in both Admissions and Career Outcomes. CURRICULUM

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Class of 2022 accepting jobs 90 days after graduation

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Throughout their first year at the Fox School, students take part in activities to earn points that strengthen competencies that companies and recruiters look for in potential employees. As part of the FLDP, students at Fox can kick off their community engagement efforts at the school by attending a school fair where they learn more about the available majors and minors. The school offers a wide variety of majors, from the traditional accounting, marketing, economics, finance, financial planning, business management, human resource management, economics, and real estate, to the less common majors like entrepreneurship and innovation management, legal studies in business, risk, insurance and healthcare management, actuarial science, healthcare risk management, supply chain management, international business administration, management information systems, and statistical science & data analytics. SCHOOL BOASTS ENTREPRENEURSHIP, INTERNSHIP OPPORTUNITIES Under the leadership of Porat, students at the Fox School begin working on their personal and professional development with the FDLP from the get-go. By engaging in human resource workshops, healthcare workshops, university career fairs, or attending the new student networking night, they jump into learning how to meet new people and talk about the value they bring to businesses. As students progress through the program and move into higher-level activities, they can choose to attend conferences, join a case competition, take on an ongoing internship, or report a job offer. At Temple University, all students can gain real-world experience through the Fox School of Business Entrepreneurship Internship Program. However, only Fox School students have access to the International Business Internship Program. At the core of the Entrepreneurial Internship Program is a 100-hour onsite internship that is usually unpaid. The course is required of all entrepreneurship majors but can also be taken as a business or free elective for other majors throughout Temple. They may also choose to take it more than once. The course is designed for the student to work on a project for a partner company that can be completed within 10 to 15 weeks.

Temple University PHILADELPHIA IS AN EMERGING TECH HUB AND HOME TO 14 FORTUNE 500 COMPANIES The Fox School has its own small business development center where entrepreneurs can sign up to receive consulting on how to start or bring their businesses to the next level. The incubator also organizes events that teach people how to market to government agencies and understand the process of acquiring contracts and seminars on exporting and importing to expand your business internationally. Besides the startup and tech potential, being at Temple University is to already be in the midst of opportunities. Greater Philadelphia is home to 14 Fortune 500 companies, including real estate company Toll Brothers, AmerisourceBergen, Comcast, DuPont, and Campbell Soup. What’s more, Philadelphia’s location between New York City and Washington, D.C., allows students at the Fox School to easily travel to meet with alums and potential employers. Choosing Temple University doesn’t have to be all about the business when you’re living in a city with one of the nation’s top ten public transportation systems. The Alliance for Biking and Walking also ranked Philadelphia seventh in the country among large American cities whose populations walk or bike to work. Living off campus won’t cost students an arm and a leg either, with a relatively low cost of living. However, that may be set to change as it was recently ranked third best metro for Amazon’s new headquarters.

WHAT ALUMNI SAY “We worked with a real client outside of the university to deliver a technology solution to them. This class and project gave us real world experience in UX design, client management, and business analysis.”

THE BEST UNDERGRADUATE BUSINESS SCHOOLS 201

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POETSANDQUANTSFORUNDERGRADS.COM

The Best Undergraduate Business Schools 2023

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