EMU Today

YPSILANTI – Eastern Michigan University's MBA program has been named among the nation's "Best Graduate Schools" by U.S. News & World Report in its 2020 ranking of part-time MBA programs, announced on March 12.  

Eastern is ranked 168th nationally and among the top six programs in the state of Michigan. It’s the first time Eastern has been ranked in the prestigious national listings, which are regarded as the gold standard of such comparative recognition.

“This first-time numerical listing in the U.S. News & World Report is a tribute to our faculty for the great programs and personal instruction they offer,” said Kenneth Lord, dean of the College of Business. “This listing highlights our focus on preparing graduates to perform effectively in the local and global business community. Our award-winning faculty have developed and refined distinct and innovative ways to educate tomorrow’s business leaders. This ranking also recognizes the quality and relevance of our curriculum, along with the excellence of those teaching it.”

US News & World Report says it bases the annual ranking of part-time MBA programs on quality evaluations provided by peer institutions and the organizations recruiting its students, along with job placement success and student selectivity.

The ranking is the latest of among a variety of honors accorded the College of Business (COB). The college, one of Eastern’s five colleges, has been ranked one of the nation’s best business schools for 15 consecutive years, according to The Princeton Review. The education services company featured Eastern as one of the 252 schools featured in the new 2019 edition of its book, “The Best Business Schools 2019."

The college’s other recent recognition has included:

•The online program in Integrated Marketing Communications was ranked 53rd in the country this year, a rise of nine spots from last year, by U.S. News & World Report in its annual list of top online graduate school business programs.

The rankings included hundreds of colleges out of the nation’s more than 2,000 four-year degree-granting institutions. Only two other Michigan universities were listed in the rankings.

Schools’ online programs were ranked on a variety of factors, including student and faculty engagement, student excellence, outside expert opinions, faculty credentials and training, and student services and technologies.

• The MBA with international business specialization was designated one of the nation’s best in terms of its global emphasis by a national website that serves as a resource for potential MBA students around the world. Onlinembapage.com cited Eastern in its listing of top MBA programs with a global business focus that are online or have a large online component. Eastern was the only Michigan university included in the global business category.

Among the factors considered in the ranking were Eastern’s specialized accreditation, its core business curriculum, online content and connection to the international business community. The website also looks for schools that have overseas partner schools. The EMU College of Business has partnerships with universities in China, France, Germany, India and South Korea.

 • This winter, the COB’s finance program was named to the CFA (Certified Financial Analyst) Institute's College Affiliation Program. An affiliated university signals to its students and to employers that the curriculum is closely tied to the practice of investment management and is helpful to students preparing for the CFA® Program exams.

About the College of Business

The College of Business emphasizes a global-based approach to educating students, who can choose from a wide variety of disciplines. The college offers graduate programs that are appropriate to students at every stage of their career, and classes may be taken full-time or part-time, and in some cases online or through a hybrid of online and in-class coursework.

The college has more than 2,500 students pursuing one of 14 majors or an MBA, Masters of Information Systems, Masters of Integrated Marketing Communications, Masters of Human Resources and Organizational Development, Masters of Accounting, Masters of Taxation or a graduate certificate. Next fall the COB is launching a Master of Science in Finance program, tailored to developing students for a variety of high-demand, well-paying careers.

To learn more about the College of Business, please visit the COB website.

About Eastern Michigan University

Founded in 1849, Eastern is the second oldest public university in Michigan. It currently serves more than 19,000 students pursuing undergraduate, graduate, specialist, doctoral and certificate degrees in the arts, sciences and professions. In all, more than 300 majors, minors and concentrations are delivered through the University's Colleges of Arts and Sciences; Business; Education; Health and Human Services; Technology, and its graduate school. EMU is regularly recognized by national publications for its excellence, diversity, and commitment to applied education. For more information about Eastern Michigan University, visit the University's website.