Choosing a Business School

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Business school is an excellent resource for managerial and analytical training as well as a stepping stone for numerous career opportunities not only in traditional business fields such as finance, marketing or accounting, but also in every type of industry or organization.

While a business degree is always valuable, getting your degree from the right business school can enhance your value to prospective employers and improve your chances of landing a high-paying, satisfying job after graduation.

Below are some of the questions you should be asking yourself as you go through the process of selecting which business school to attend.

Main Factors to Consider When Choosing a Business School

• Does the school offer the degree you want? (e.g., MBA, MAcc, EMBA)
• Is the tuition affordable?
• Are the school's graduates successful in landing the types of jobs you'd like to land yourself? Often the Office of Career Services will have detailed statistics available.
• Is the curriculum as broadly or as narrowly focused (or as flexible) as you'd like?
• Is the class schedule flexible enough for you to meet your other commitments?
• Do the accommodations (classrooms, media centers, libraries, housing facilities, etc.) meet your needs?

Additional Factors that Make a Business School Desirable

• Is the school known for the high quality of its programs and graduates? Rankings lists can help you determine this, even if a business school isn't top-ranked, it can still have a good reputation.
• Does the faculty possess extensive education? Are the faculty members considered to be leaders in their fields?
• Are the class sizes small? Is the student:teacher ratio low?
• Are the professors committed to teaching? Are they available outside of class?
• Does the school have a Career Placement office that actively works to assist graduates in finding internships and jobs?

How to Evaluate a Business School

• Read though their Web sites or promotional material — or use the tools on this site to browse though business schools, read about their programs, and request information.
• Visit the school.
• Sit in on classes.
• Talk with students and faculty.
• Talk with graduates of the school.
• If you know which companies you're interested in working for, talk to them, or read through their Web sites to find out what business schools and what types of programs they tend to hire from.
• Look over the curriculum of the program you're interested in, then consult the school's catalog to study the relevant course descriptions.