Best Business Schools in the U.S.

While working towards an MBA is almost always a good bet in boosting one’s future financial security, salaries may vary considerably depending on which school one attends, especially when the ROI is taken into consideration. It’s advised to put serious thought into choosing the right program – beginning with undergrad. While Harvard or Wharton might be out of reach at the moment, there are still plenty of schools with lofty reputations and more realistic tuition costs.

To make the choice a bit easier, we’ve compiled the definitive ranking of the best business schools in the United States based on seven variables:

  1. Proportion of business students to the general student population
  2. Graduation rate
  3. Student-to-faculty ratio
  4. In-state tuition
  5. Out-of-state tuition
  6. Number of business programs available
  7. Enrollment figures

Excellent business schools are located all across the country, with all major regions accounted for within the top 20 of this ranking. The top ten best business schools are not clustered in one particular region of the country, but rather spread all across the nation, with four in the east, three in the south, and three in the Midwest. No West Coast schools made it to the top ten, but the region is better represented in the #11-#20 brackets, which features one California and one Washington state school.

Ultimately, one must take into account personal preferences and considerations, such as state of residency, budget, and preference of small vs. large campuses, but this ranking should provide a good jumping off point towards earning a degree and advancing one’s career in the business world.

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#1. Fox School of Business, Temple University (Philadelphia, PA)

Placing #1 is Temple University’s The Fox School of Business of Philadelphia, PA. A “state-related” school (a private school that receives state financial appropriations so that the school may offer discounts for state residents) founded in 1918 that is the largest business school in the state. For a school of its size, Fox offers a very good student-to-faculty ratio and high graduation rate of 0.71. Tuition at the school (around $21K for in-state students, $36K for out-of-state) is not among the cheapest, but it is not prohibitively expensive compared to other options.

#2. Robert H. Smith School of Business, University of Maryland (College Park, MD)

The Robert H. Smith School of Business at the University of Maryland comes in second place. With around half the students of #1 Fox, Robert H. Smith boasts an excellent student-to-faculty ratio of 16.43 and a very affordable in-state tuition cost of about $10K.

#3. The Zicklin School of Business, Baruch College, CUNY (New York City, NY)

Baruch College is one of the ten senior colleges of The City University of New York, the largest public university in any American urban environment. Fittingly, Baruch is the largest school on this list. Nevertheless, the school does not suffer because of its large number of students and is widely recognized as an excellent school, particularly for its diverse student populace, and excellent value: a rarity for schools in Manhattan.

#4. Graduate School of Business, Bentley University (Waltham, Massachusetts)

The highest ranking fully private university on the list  (and the only in the top ten) is Bentley University (#4) of Waltham, Massachusetts. With one-year tuition costs of $48K for both in-state and out-of-state students, Bentley is not cheap, but the school’s great reputation, excellent student-to-faculty ratio and graduation rate of 91% indicate that attending the school is well worth the price of admission.

#5. J. Mack Robinson College of Business, Georgia State University (Atlanta, GA)

Georgia State University’s J. Mack Robinson College of Business is another state school with over 100 years of history. Mack Robinson offers a great student-to-faculty ratio and is affordable for out-of-staters as well as in-state residents, with one-year out-of-state tuition costs of about $24K a year for the former group.

Full Ranking of the Best Business Schools

RankNameCityState
1Temple University, The Fox School of BusinessPhiladelphiaPA
2University of Maryland-College ParkCollege ParkMD
3Baruch College-The City University of New York, The Zicklin School of BusinessNew YorkNY
4Bentley UniversityWalthamMA
5Georgia State University, J. Mack Robinson College of BusinessAtlantaGA
6Florida International University, College of BusinessMiamiFL
7University of Cincinnati, Carl H. Lindner College of BusinessCincinnatiOH
8The University of Texas at Austin, Red McCombs School of BusinessAustinTX
9University of Wisconsin-Madison, Wisconsin School of BusinessMadisonWI
10Indiana University-Bloomington, Kelley School of BusinessBloomingtonIN
11University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Gies College of BusinessChampaignIL
12University of Utah, David Eccles School of BusinessSalt Lake CityUT
13The University of Texas at Dallas, Naveen Jindal School of ManagementRichardsonTX
14University of Minnesota-Twin CitiesMinneapolisMN
15University of Washington, Michael G. Foster School of BusinessSeattleWA
16California State University-Fullerton, Steven G. Mihaylo College of Business and EconomicsFullertonCA
17Michigan State University, The Eli Broad College of BusinessEast LansingMI
18Brigham Young University-Provo, Marriott School of ManagementProvoUT
19Texas A & M University-College Station, Mays Business SchoolCollege StationTX
20University of Central Florida, College of Business AdministrationOrlandoFL
21Washington State University, Carson College of BusinessPullmanWA
22Florida Atlantic University, College of BusinessBoca RatonFL
23University of Delaware, Alfred Lerner College of Business and EconomicsNewarkDE
24University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Kenan-Flagler Business SchoolChapel HillNC
25Purdue University, Krannert School of ManagementWest LafayetteIN
26University of Nebraska-Lincoln, College of BusinessLincolnNE
27University of Southern California, Marshall School of BusinessLos AngelesCA
28Old Dominion University, Strome College of BusinessNorfolkVA
29Montclair State University, School of BusinessMontclairNJ
30University of Pittsburgh, The Joseph M. Katz Graduate School of BusinessPittsburghPA
31University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, College of Business and EconomicsWhitewaterWI
32Johns Hopkins University, Carey Business SchoolBaltimoreMD
33Eastern Michigan University, College of BusinessYpsilantiMI
34University of Michigan-Ann ArborAnn ArborMI
35Rochester Institute of Technology, Saunders College of BusinessRochesterNY
36Central Michigan University, College of Business AdministrationMount PleasantMI
37University of California-Irvine, The Paul Merage School of BusinessIrvineCA
38University of South Carolina, Darla Moore School of BusinessColumbiaSC
39University of Florida, Warrington College of Business AdministrationGainesvilleFL
40University of North Carolina at Charlotte, The Belk College of BusinessCharlotteNC
41Georgia Institute of Technology, Ernest Scheller Jr. College of BusinessAtlantaGA
42Louisiana State University, E. J. Ourso College of BusinessBaton RougeLA
43Oregon State University, College of BusinessCorvallisOR
44University of Houston, C.T. Bauer College of BusinessHoustonTX
45University of North Texas, College of BusinessDentonTX
46University of Connecticut, School of BusinessStorrsCT
47Virginia Commonwealth University, School of BusinessRichmondVA
48Kennesaw State University, Coles College of BusinessKennesawGA
49Loyola University Chicago, Quinlan School of BusinessChicagoIL
50Towson University, College of Business and EconomicsTowsonMD
51West Virginia University, John Chambers College of Business and EconomicsMorgantownWV
52Iowa State University, Ivy College of BusinessAmesIA
53University at Buffalo, State University of New York, School of ManagementBuffaloNY
54University of Massachusetts-Amherst, Isenberg School of ManagementAmherstMA
55Appalachian State University, Walker College of BusinessBooneNC
56Babson College, F.W. Olin Graduate SchoolBabson ParkMA
57Rutgers University-NewarkNewarkNJ
58Oklahoma State UniversityStillwaterOK
59University of South Dakota, Beacom School of BusinessVermillionSD
60Kent State University at KentKentOH
61Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Pamplin College of BusinessBlacksburgVA
62Wayne State University, Mike Ilitch School of BusinessDetroitMI
63Florida State University, College of BusinessTallahasseeFL
64University of Georgia, Terry College of BusinessAthensGA
65University of VirginiaCharlottesvilleVA
66Northeastern University, D’Amore-McKim School of BusinessBostonMA
67University of Michigan-FlintFlintMI
68San Jose State UniversitySan JoseCA
69University of Memphis, Fogelman College of Business and EconomicsMemphisTN
70Baylor University, Hankamer School of BusinessWacoTX
71Fordham University, Gabelli School of BusinessBronxNY
72James Madison University, College of BusinessHarrisonburgVA
73University of Nebraska at Omaha, College of Business AdministrationOmahaNE
74University of Colorado Denver, Business SchoolDenverCO
75The University of Texas at San Antonio, College of BusinessSan AntonioTX
76SUNY at AlbanyAlbanyNY
77Ball State University, The Miller College of BusinessMuncieIN
78George Mason University, School of BusinessFairfaxVA
79Grand Valley State University, Seidman College of BusinessGrand RapidsMI
80Southeast Missouri State University, Donald L. Harrison College of BusinessCape GirardeauMO
81Missouri State University-SpringfieldSpringfieldMO
82University of Illinois at Springfield, College of Business and ManagementSpringfieldIL
83Colorado State University-Fort Collins, College of BusinessFort CollinsCO
84University of North Carolina Wilmington, Cameron School of BusinessWilmingtonNC
85Middle Tennessee State University, Jennings A. Jones College of BusinessMurfreesboroTN
86University of Scranton, The Arthur J. Kania School of ManagementScrantonPA
87American University, Kogod School of BusinessWashingtonDC
88Suffolk University, Sawyer Business SchoolBostonMA
89California State University-Long Beach, College of Business AdministrationLong BeachCA
90SUNY Polytechnic InstituteUticaNY
91Cornell University, College of BusinessIthacaNY
92Hofstra University, Frank G. Zarb School of BusinessHempsteadNY
93Western Carolina University, College of BusinessCullowheeNC
94Oakland University, School of Business AdministrationRochesterMI
95University of Kansas, School of BusinessLawrenceKS
96University of West Florida, College of BusinessPensacolaFL
97Drexel University, Bennett S. LeBow College of BusinessPhiladelphiaPA
98Pace University, Lubin School of BusinessNew YorkNY
99Emory University, Goizueta Business SchoolAtlantaGA
100Saint Joseph’s University, Erivan K. Haub School of BusinessPhiladelphiaPA
101University of Arkansas, Sam M. Walton College of BusinessFayettevilleAR
102California State University-East Bay, College of Business and EconomicsHaywardCA
103University of Tennessee-Knoxville, Haslam College of BusinessKnoxvilleTN
104Sam Houston State University, College of Business AdministrationHuntsvilleTX
105George Washington University, School of BusinessWashingtonDC
106Western Michigan University, Haworth College of BusinessKalamazooMI
107University of St Thomas, Houston, Cameron School of BusinessHoustonTX
108West Texas A&M University, College of BusinessCanyonTX
109University of Michigan-DearbornDearbornMI
110East Carolina University, College of BusinessGreenvilleNC
111Texas State University, McCoy College of BusinessSan MarcosTX
112North Carolina State University at RaleighRaleighNC
113Mississippi State University, College of BusinessMississippi StateMS
114Miami University-OxfordOxfordOH
115Southern Methodist University, Edwin L. Cox School of BusinessDallasTX
116University of Illinois at Chicago, College of Business AdministrationChicagoIL
117Texas A & M University-Commerce, College of Business and EntrepreneurshipCommerceTX
118California State University-Northridge, College of Business and EconomicsNorthridgeCA
119The University of Tampa, John H. Sykes College of BusinessTampaFL
120University of Kentucky, Carol Martin Gatton College of Business and EconomicsLexingtonKY
121University of Hawaii at Manoa, Shidler College of BusinessHonoluluHI
122California State Polytechnic University-Pomona, College of Business AdministrationPomonaCA
123Georgia Southern University, College of Business AdministrationStatesboroGA
124University of Houston-Downtown, Davies College of BusinessHoustonTX
125University of Missouri-Kansas City, Henry W. Bloch School of ManagementKansas CityMO
126Salisbury University, Franklin P. Perdue School of BusinessSalisburyMD
127University of Wyoming, College of BusinessLaramieWY
128Marshall University, Lewis College of BusinessHuntingtonWV
129University of Nebraska at Kearney, College of Business and TechnologyKearneyNE
130New Mexico State UniversityLas CrucesNM
131Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Erie-Behrend CollegeEriePA
132College of William and Mary, Raymond A. Mason School of BusinessWilliamsburgVA
133University of Arkansas at Little Rock, College of BusinessLittle RockAR
134California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo, Orfalea College of BusinessSan Luis ObispoCA
135Santa Clara University, Leavey School of BusinessSanta ClaraCA
136Central Washington University, College of BusinessEllensburgWA
137Creighton University, Heider College of BusinessOmahaNE
138Boston University, Questrom School of BusinessBostonMA
139University of St ThomasMinneapolisMN
140Seton Hall University, Stillman School of BusinessSouth OrangeNJ
141California State University-San Bernardino, Jack H. Brown College of Business and Public AdministrationSan BernardinoCA
142Rider University, College of Business AdministrationLawrencevilleNJ
143Duquesne University, A.J. Palumbo School of Business AdministrationPittsburghPA
144Western Illinois University, College of Business and TechnologyMacombIL
145University of San Francisco, School of ManagementSan FranciscoCA
146Lehigh University, College of Business and EconomicsBethlehemPA
147University of North Carolina at Pembroke, School of BusinessPembrokeNC
148University of Massachusetts-Lowell, Manning School of BusinessLowellMA
149University of Dallas, Satish & Yasmin Gupta College of BusinessIrvingTX
150Villanova University, Villanova School of BusinessVillanovaPA
151Saint Louis University, Richard A. Chaifetz School of BusinessSt. LouisMO
152Texas A&M International University, A.R. Sanchez, Jr. School of BusinessLaredoTX
153University of Southern Mississippi, College of BusinessHattiesburgMS
154College of Charleston, School of BusinessCharlestonSC
155University of New Orleans, College of Business AdministrationNew OrleansLA
156Bowling Green State University, College of Business AdministrationBowling GreenOH
157University of Central Oklahoma, College of BusinessEdmondOK
158Eastern Washington University, College of Business and Public AdministrationSpokaneWA
159Texas Tech University, Rawls College of Business AdministrationLubbockTX
160The College of New Jersey, School of BusinessEwingNJ
161Arkansas State University-Main CampusState UniversityAR
162Georgetown University, The McDonough School of BusinessWashingtonDC
163University of Louisville, College of BusinessLouisvilleKY
164Clemson University, College of BusinessClemsonSC
165Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania, College of BusinessBloomsburgPA
166University of New Mexico, The Robert O. Anderson School of ManagementAlbuquerqueNM
167Eastern Illinois University, Lumpkin College of Business and Applied SciencesCharlestonIL
168Siena College, School of BusinessLoudonvilleNY
169University of New Haven, College of BusinessWest HavenCT
170Stevens Institute of Technology, School of BusinessHobokenNJ
171Weber State University, John B. Goddard School of Business & EconomicsOgdenUT
172Cleveland State University, Ahuja College of BusinessClevelandOH
173SUNY College at PlattsburghPlattsburghNY
174University of South Florida-St Petersburg, Kate Tiedemann College of BusinessSt. PetersburgFL
175University of Notre Dame, Mendoza College of BusinessNotre DameIN
176University of Oregon, Charles H. Lundquist College of BusinessEugeneOR
177Rowan University, Rohrer College of BusinessGlassboroNJ
178Pepperdine UniversityMalibuCA
179Frostburg State University, College of BusinessFrostburgMD
180University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Sheldon B. Lubar School of BusinessMilwaukeeWI
181Binghamton University, State University of New York, School of ManagementBinghamtonNY
182Elon University, Martha and Spencer Love School of BusinessElonNC
183University of Colorado Colorado Springs, College of Business and AdministrationColorado SpringsCO
184University of Houston-Clear Lake, College of BusinessHoustonTX
185Ramapo College of New Jersey, Anisfield School of BusinessMahwahNJ
186University of Oklahoma, Michael F. Price College of BusinessNormanOK
187Case Western Reserve University, Weatherhead School of ManagementClevelandOH
188University of New Hampshire, Peter T. Paul College of Business and EconomicsDurhamNH
189John Carroll University, John M. and Mary Jo Boler College of BusinessUniversity HeightsOH
190University of Northern Iowa, College of Business AdministrationCedar FallsIA
191Illinois State University, College of BusinessNormalIL
192University of Rochester, William E. Simon Graduate School of BusinessRochesterNY
193Mercer UniversityMaconGA
194University of California-Riverside, School of BusinessRiversideCA
195St John’s University-New YorkQueensNY
196Bradley University, Foster College of BusinessPeoriaIL
197Marquette University, College of Business Administration & Graduate School of ManagementMilwaukeeWI
198Seattle Pacific University, School of Business, Government, and EconomicsSeattleWA
199California State University-Stanislaus, College of Business AdministrationTurlockCA
200Missouri University of Science and TechnologyRollaMO
201West Chester University, College of Business and Public AffairsWest ChesterPA
202University of North Dakota, College of Business and Public AdministrationGrand ForksND
203Northern Kentucky University, Haile/US Bank College of BusinessHighland HeightsKY
204Clark University, Graduate School of ManagementWorcesterMA
205Western Kentucky University, Gordon Ford College of BusinessBowling GreenKY
206Longwood University, College of Business and EconomicsFarmvilleVA
207San Diego State University, Fowler College of BusinessSan DiegoCA
208Kansas State University, College of Business AdministrationManhattanKS
209Illinois Institute of Technology, Stuart School of BusinessChicagoIL
210Wake Forest University, Schools of BusinessWinston-SalemNC
211Portland State University, School of Business AdministrationPortlandOR
212North Dakota State UniversityFargoND
213Pennsylvania State University-Penn State HarrisburgMiddletownPA
214Rutgers University-CamdenCamdenNJ
215Louisiana Tech University, College of BusinessRustonLA
216State University of New York at New Paltz, School of BusinessNew PaltzNY
217University of San Diego, School of BusinessSan DiegoCA
218University of Missouri-St Louis, College of Business AdministrationSt. LouisMO
219Monmouth University, Leon Hess Business SchoolWest Long BranchNJ
220Boise State University, College of Business and EconomicsBoiseID
221Northern Illinois University, College of BusinessDeKalbIL
222The University of Texas of the Permian BasinOdessaTX
223University of Tulsa, Collins College of BusinessTulsaOK
224University of Central Arkansas, College of Business AdministrationConwayAR
225The University of Texas at Tyler, Soules College of BusinessTylerTX
226University of Baltimore, Robert G. Merrick School of BusinessBaltimoreMD
227SUNY College at OswegoOswegoNY
228Texas Christian University, Neeley School of BusinessFort WorthTX
229University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, College of Business AdministrationLa CrosseWI
230University of Denver, Daniels College of BusinessDenverCO
231California State University-Chico, College of BusinessChicoCA
232University of Massachusetts-Boston, College of ManagementBostonMA
233Drake University, College of Business and Public AdministrationDes MoinesIA
234The Citadel, Tommy and Victoria Baker School of BusinessCharlestonSC
235Seattle University, Albers School of Business and EconomicsSeattleWA
236Metropolitan State University of Denver, School of BusinessDenverCO
237Georgia College & State University, J. Whitney Bunting College of BusinessMilledgevilleGA
238Carnegie Mellon University, Tepper School of BusinessPittsburghPA
239University of Tennessee-Martin, College of Business and Global AffairsMartinTN
240Iona College, Hagan School of BusinessNew RochelleNY
241University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, School of Business and EconomicsStevens PointWI
242Niagara University, College of Business AdministrationNiagara UniversityNY
243University of Northern Colorado, Kenneth W. Monfort College of BusinessGreeleyCO
244Michigan Technological University, School of Business and EconomicsHoughtonMI
245Western Connecticut State University, Ancell School of BusinessDanburyCT
246Menlo CollegeAthertonCA
247Quinnipiac University, School of BusinessHamdenCT
248University of Louisiana at Monroe, College of Business and Social SciencesMonroeLA
249Butler University, College of Business AdministrationIndianapolisIN
250Universidad Ana G Mendez – GuraboTuraboPR
251Adelphi University, Robert B. Willumstad School of BusinessGarden CityNY
252Minnesota State University Moorhead, College of Business and InnovationMoorheadMN
253University of Toledo, College of Business and InnovationToledoOH
254Washington and Lee University, Williams School of Commerce, Economics, and PoliticsLexingtonVA
255University of West Georgia, Richards College of BusinessCarrolltonGA
256California State University-Fresno, The Craig School of BusinessFresnoCA
257Sacred Heart University, Jack Welch College of BusinessFairfieldCT
258Southern Arkansas University, College of BusinessMagnoliaAR
259University of Richmond, Robins School of BusinessRichmondVA
260Purdue University Northwest, College of BusinessHammondIN
261Morgan State University, Earl G. Graves School of Business and ManagementBaltimoreMD
262St Bonaventure UniversitySt. BonaventureNY
263Lamar University, College of BusinessBeaumontTX
264University of North Carolina at Asheville, Department of Management and AccountancyAshevilleNC
265Oklahoma City University, Meinders School of BusinessOklahoma CityOK
266University of Southern Indiana, Romain College of BusinessEvansvilleIN
267Stockton University, School of BusinessGallowayNJ
268Fairfield University, Charles F. Dolan School of BusinessFairfieldCT
269State University of New York College at Oneonta, School of Economics and BusinessOneontaNY
270Tulane University, A. B. Freeman School of BusinessNew OrleansLA
271Manhattan College, School of BusinessRiverdaleNY
272Brandeis University, International Business SchoolWalthamMA
273Ohio Northern University, College of Business AdministrationAdaOH
274Indiana State University, Scott College of BusinessTerre HauteIN
275Valparaiso University, College of BusinessValparaisoIN
276Emporia State University, School of BusinessEmporiaKS
277Simmons University, School of ManagementBostonMA
278University of Dayton, School of Business AdministrationDaytonOH
279Rockhurst University, Helzberg School of ManagementKansas CityMO
280Clarkson University, David D. Reh School of BusinessPotsdamNY
281Shippensburg University of PennsylvaniaShippensburgPA
282Tennessee Technological University, College of BusinessCookevilleTN
283Saint John Fisher CollegeRochesterNY
284Stetson University, School of Business AdministrationDeLandFL
285St. Mary’s University, Greehey School of BusinessSan AntonioTX
286Loyola University Maryland, Sellinger School of Business and ManagementBaltimoreMD
287Millsaps College, Else School of ManagementJacksonMS
288Utah Valley University, Woodbury School of BusinessOremUT
289Morehead State University, College of Business and Public AffairsMoreheadKY
290Pittsburg State University, Gladys A. Kelce College of BusinessPittsburgKS
291Gonzaga University, School of Business AdministrationSpokaneWA
292Central Connecticut State University, School of BusinessNew BritainCT
293Marist College, School of ManagementPoughkeepsieNY
294University of Idaho, College of Business and EconomicsMoscowID
295University of Vermont, School of Business AdministrationBurlingtonVT
296East Tennessee State University, College of Business and TechnologyJohnson CityTN
297Columbus State University, D. Abbott Turner College of BusinessColumbusGA
298Berry College, Campbell School of BusinessMount BerryGA
299Clayton State University, College of BusinessMorrowGA
300Midwestern State University, Dillard College of Business AdministrationWichita FallsTX
301Indiana University-South Bend, Judd Leighton School of Business and EconomicsSouth BendIN
302Dominican University, Brennan School of BusinessRiver ForestIL
303University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh, College of BusinessOshkoshWI
304Saint Cloud State UniversitySaint CloudMN
305University of Houston-Victoria, School of Business AdministrationVictoriaTX
306Louisiana State University-ShreveportShreveportLA
307Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Lally School of ManagementTroyNY
308University of Hartford, Barney School of BusinessWest HartfordCT
309Canisius College, Richard J. Wehle School of BusinessBuffaloNY
310University of Mississippi, School of Business AdministrationOxfordMS
311Washburn University, Washburn School of BusinessTopekaKS
312Christopher Newport University, Joseph W. Luter, III School of BusinessNewport NewsVA
313University of Nevada-Reno, College of Business AdministrationRenoNV
314Robert Morris University, School of BusinessMoon TownshipPA
315Coastal Carolina University, E. Craig Wall Sr. College of Business AdministrationConwaySC
316University of Missouri-ColumbiaColumbiaMO
317Jacksonville University, Davis College of BusinessJacksonvilleFL
318Southern Utah University, School of BusinessCedar CityUT
319Florida Gulf Coast University, Lutgert College of BusinessFort MyersFL
320Roger Williams University, Gabelli School of BusinessBristolRI
321Fort Lewis College, School of Business AdministrationDurangoCO
322University of Minnesota-Duluth, Labovitz School of Business and EconomicsDuluthMN
323Chapman University, The George L. Argyros School of Business and EconomicsOrangeCA
324Florida Southern College, Barney Barnett School of Business and Free EnterpriseLakelandFL
325SUNY College at GeneseoGeneseoNY
326Radford University, College of Business and EconomicsRadfordVA
327Drury University, Breech School of Business Administration and EconomicsSpringfieldMO
328Francis Marion University, School of BusinessFlorenceSC
329Saginaw Valley State University, College of Business and ManagementUniversity CenterMI
330Clarion University of Pennsylvania, College of Business Administration and Information SciencesClarionPA
331Montana State University, College of BusinessBozemanMT
332University of Evansville, The Schroeder Family School of Business AdministrationEvansvilleIN
333Truman State University, School of BusinessKirksvilleMO
334University of Tennessee-Chattanooga, Gary W. Rollins College of BusinessChattanoogaTN
335Missouri Western State University, Steven L. Craig School of BusinessSt. JosephMO
336The University of MontanaMissoulaMT
337Shenandoah University, Harry F. Byrd, Jr. School of BusinessWinchesterVA
338Ouachita Baptist University, Frank D. Hickingbotham School of BusinessArkadelphiaAR
339Pennsylvania State University-World CampusUniversity ParkPA
340Ithaca College, School of BusinessIthacaNY
341University of Wisconsin-Parkside, School of Business and TechnologyKenoshaWI
342Southern Illinois University-CarbondaleCarbondaleIL
343Lawrence Technological University, College of ManagementSouthfieldMI
344Stonehill College, Leo J. Meehan School of BusinessEastonMA
345Black Hills State University, College of Business and Natural SciencesSpearfishSD
346Prairie View A & M UniversityPrairie ViewTX
347Providence College, School of BusinessProvidenceRI
348Susquehanna University, Sigmund Weis School of BusinessSelinsgrovePA
349University of South Carolina-Upstate, George Dean Johnson, Jr. College of Business and EconomicsSpartanburgSC
350Stephen F Austin State UniversityNacogdochesTX
351Elizabeth City State University, Walter R. Davis School of Business and EconomicsElizabeth CityNC
352University of Maryland Eastern Shore, School of Business and TechnologyPrincess AnneMD
353Northern Michigan University, College of BusinessMarquetteMI
354Valdosta State University, Harley Langdale, Jr. College of Business AdministrationValdostaGA
355Bellarmine University, W. Fielding Rubel School of BusinessLouisvilleKY
356University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, College of BusinessEau ClaireWI
357University of Detroit Mercy, College of Business AdministrationDetroitMI
358Abilene Christian University, College of Business AdministrationAbileneTX
359North Carolina Central University, School of BusinessDurhamNC
360Bucknell University, College of ManagementLewisburgPA
361Arkansas Tech University, College of BusinessRussellvilleAR
362McNeese State University, College of BusinessLake CharlesLA
363Minnesota State University-MankatoMankatoMN
364Northwestern State University of Louisiana, School of BusinessNatchitochesLA
365Pacific Lutheran University, School of BusinessTacomaWA
366Indiana University-Kokomo, School of BusinessKokomoIN
367University of Southern Maine, College of Management and Human ServicePortlandME
368Virginia State University, Reginald F. Lewis College of BusinessPetersburgVA
369Alfred University, College of BusinessAlfredNY
370Sonoma State University, School of Business and EconomicsRohnert ParkCA
371University of South Carolina-Aiken, School of Business AdministrationAikenSC
372Barry University, D. Inez Andreas School of BusinessMiami ShoresFL
373Henderson State University, School of BusinessArkadelphiaAR
374King’s College, The William G. McGowan School of BusinessWilkes-BarrePA
375Saint Xavier University, Graham School of ManagementChicagoIL
376Governors State University, College of BusinessUniversity ParkIL
377SUNY at FredoniaFredoniaNY
378Grambling State University, College of BusinessGramblingLA
379Clark Atlanta University, School of BusinessAtlantaGA
380Texas A & M University-Kingsville, College of Business AdministrationKingsvilleTX
381Queens University of Charlotte, McColl School of BusinessCharlotteNC
382Norfolk State University, School of BusinessNorfolkVA
383Southeastern Louisiana University, College of BusinessHammondLA
384Indiana University-Northwest, School of Business and EconomicsGaryIN
385University of Wisconsin-River Falls, College of Business and EconomicsRiver FallsWI
386Texas Wesleyan University, School of Business Administration and Professional ProgramsFort WorthTX
387Lander University, College of BusinessGreenwoodSC
388Loyola University New Orleans, College of BusinessNew OrleansLA
389Augusta University, James M. Hull College of BusinessAugustaGA
390Southern University at New Orleans, College of Business and Public AdministrationNew OrleansLA
391University of Maine, The Maine Business SchoolOronoME
392Kutztown University, College of BusinessKutztownPA
393California State University-Bakersfield, School of BusinessBakersfieldCA
394Dalton State College, School of BusinessDaltonGA
395University of South Florida-Sarasota-Manatee, College of BusinessSarasotaFL
396Southern University and A & M CollegeBaton RougeLA
397Hult International Business SchoolCambridgeMA
398University of Arkansas-Fort Smith, College of BusinessFort SmithAR
399Rollins College, College of Arts and Sciences and College of Professional StudiesWinter ParkFL
400University of Hawaii at Hilo, College of Business and EconomicsHiloHI
401Murray State University, The Arthur J. Bauernfeind College of BusinessMurrayKY
402Texas Southern University, Jesse H. Jones School of BusinessHoustonTX
403Georgia Gwinnett College, School of BusinessLawrencevilleGA

What do the best business schools on our list have in common?

Since we used tuition costs as a variable in our ranking, it’s no surprise that the overwhelming majority of schools higher up on the list are public, rather than private schools, as tuition costs of private institutions dwarf those of their public counterparts. In fact, of the top 25 in the list, only two are private schools. While one may consider this an unnecessary slight against some of the most heralded business schools in the nation, the reality is that the vast majority of business school hopefuls cannot afford these schools.

What are the most important factors in choosing a business school?

Obviously, the reputation of a school should be a serious consideration when choosing a school, but beyond that, the location should play into everyone’s minds when they send their application letters. For one, receiving a degree from a school in the proximity of the area that one wishes to establish their career will grant a higher chance of local businesses recognizing the program. What’s more, in-state tuition costs are dramatically lower than tuition for out-of-state students. A quick look at the list shows that this difference is often $10,000 or even $20,000 in some cases. Therefore, unless living in a business desert, it’s best to opt for an in-state school.

Methodology

Three public data sources were used:

  • Carnegie classification: The dataset lists 4,322 universities/colleges.
  • AACSB: Profiles of 533 AACSB accredited colleges were downloaded from the website of AACSB International using a custom script. Of the 519 universities, 518 were matched with universities in the Carnegie list.
  • National Center for Education Statistics: Data sets for each state and every territory were collected. The criterion used: a 4-year degree-granting university that has one or more of the 94 business majors/programs. The resulting list provided 2,022 entries, of these, 1,994 were matched with entries in the Carnegie list.  

After merging the three datasets above, 503 records remained. It was then decided to include the number of programs each AACSB University offers in the Business field. Another script was written to read the 540+ web pages and count the number of programs (undergraduate, graduate, doctoral programs; full time or part time; traditional or online program). A total of 12,570 programs were found among the 443 AACSB colleges. We then selected only those records that had no missing values. We also eliminated schools that did not have data on any of the below variables. The resulting recordset contained 403 universities.  

The resulting list of variables used in our ranking:

  1. Business students proportion in student population
  2. Graduation rate
  3. Student to faculty ratio
  4. Tuition – out of state
  5. Tuition – in state
  6. Number of business programs
  7. Enrollment figures

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