Top university business programs graduate students who go on to become business leaders.
Each year several business publications release their lists of the top university business programs. These schools usually offer the M.B.A. (Master of Business Administration) degree along with other advanced degrees at the master's and doctoral levels. Most of the schools at the top of these lists remain relatively constant, with only a slight variation among the top 5 year after year. Various lists can help you differentiate the top university business schools as well as the different types of top M.B.A. degrees.
Best Overall: Stanford and Harvard
The top overall university business schools are Stanford University and Harvard University. The 2010 "U.S. News & World Report" rankings placed Stanford in a tie for the top spot with Harvard; Harvard previously held the top position alone. Both programs are well-known for their highly innovative M.B.A. programs and their rigorous academics. Students pursuing advanced research at the doctoral level usually have the opportunity to do so through interdisciplinary research programs offered at both universities. Both schools are highly respected because of their top-tier faculty members and the various joint-degree programs students have the opportunity to pursue.
Stanford University
Graduate School of Business
518 Memorial Way
Stanford, CA 94305
650-723-2766
gsb.stanford.edu
Harvard University
Business School
Soldiers Field
Boston, MA 02163
617-495-6128
hbs.edu
Best Executive MBA: Northwestern University
Northwestern University has the top executive M.B.A. program in the nation, according to "Business Week." An executive M.B.A. program is one developed specifically with the working executive in mind. These executives typically have five to 10 years of experience or more as high-level management for large companies. The M.B.A. program is usually set up in such a way that students can receive their degrees without completely disrupting their work lives. Northwestern University has long been recognized as a top-tier business school and has even been at the top of the list in past years for the best overall program. Part of the reason for the prominence of the executive M.B.A. at Northwestern is its international focus. The program is recognized as a leader in international business education.
Northwestern University
Kellogg School of Management
2001 Sheridan Rd.
Evanston, IL 60208
847-491-3300
kellogg.northwestern.edu
Best Undergraduate Program: University of Notre Dame
"Business Week" ranked the top undergraduate business programs in 2009. The University of Notre Dame's Mendoza College of Business made the list as the top undergraduate program in the nation. The school offers traditional business program studies in areas like finance, but also offers students an opportunity to obtain international business experience and educational opportunities.
204 Mendoza College of Business
University of Notre Dame
Notre Dame, IN 46556
574-631-7236
business.nd.edu/
Top Global MBA: University of Pennsylvania
The top program offering a "global" or "international" M.B.A. degree is the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania. The Wharton program, like Northwestern University's, has been at the top of the overall list several times and still tops various lists from time to time. "Financial Times" ranked it as the program with the top international focus in the U.S. Only the program at London Business School ranked higher worldwide. The international focus is ingrained into the curriculum at the University of Pennsylvania, so much so that if affects the curriculum in nearly every program.
University of Pennsylvania
The Wharton School
420 Jon M. Huntsman Hall
3730 Walnut St.
Philadelphia, PA 19104-6340
215-898-6183
wharton.upenn.edu
Best Distance MBA: Duke University
In today's world of online degrees, any discussion of top M.B.A. programs should include a discussion of the top distance education schools. Duke University, which ranks 14th on the "U.S. News & World Report" rankings list and 6th on the publication's international business school rankings, offers one of the most innovative distance education M.B.A. programs. Students travel to various locations to take seminars while conducting the remainder of their work online.
Duke University
1 Towerview Dr.
Durham, NC 27708
919-660-7700
fuqua.duke.edu
Tags: Northwestern University, Notre Dame, university business, University Pennsylvania, business programs, Duke University, international business