COLUMBIA, Mo. - The University of Missouri College of Business' Crosby MBA Program and undergraduate business program have both earned top-50 status in recent national rankings. The Crosby MBA Program was ranked #46 by Forbes magazine in the September issue. In the recently published U.S. News & World Report rankings, the college's BS BA program is #48 among all programs rated this year.
"This is the first time both our college's MBA and BS BA programs have been ranked in the top 50 at the same time. These rankings provide hard-earned recognition for these programs and also confirm our efforts to ensure that undergraduate and master's students in the College of Business are receiving a world-class education," says Bruce Walker, dean of the MU College of Business.
The Crosby MBA Program has moved up steadily in other national rankings in the last several years; however, this is the first time MU's MBA program has found a place on the Forbes list. "The Forbes ranking, which is based on return on investment (ROI), is particularly gratifying," says Michael Christy, director of the Crosby MBA Program. "After all, ROI is the standard measure of success for business decisions and the Crosby MBA Program obviously compares well on that outcome criterion."
The Forbes ranking is based on the value of this graduate degree on compensation, comparing income levels before and after earning an MBA degree. Opportunity costs, such as tuition and forgone salary while in school, are taken into consideration as well.
The College of Business' BS BA program has been designated as "one of America's best" by U.S. News & World Report. The magazine's rankings are based on a survey of deans and directors at undergraduate business programs accredited by AACSB International - The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business. Of 509 institutions with undergraduate programs, the college's BS BA program ranked #48, placing it in the top 10 percent of AACSB-accredited undergraduate programs.
"It is splendid to see that, again this year, our program is highly regarded, in fact among the top 30 of all undergraduate business programs at public universities," says Mary Beth Marrs, the college's assistant dean for undergraduate programs. "Going forward, we intend to build on our strengths by implementing our strategic priorities, including initiatives that focus on collaboration and professional development."