In search of colleges and universities with strong undergraduate business programs? 

An undergraduate business degree not only opens the door to a wide range of career opportunities in fields like finance, consulting, and marketing, it also builds a versatile skill set, including data analysis, strategic thinking, and effective communications, that employers across industries value very highly. Apart from academic excellence, a good business program also offers early exposure to real-world experiences and challenges through internships, case studies, and networking opportunities, helping students build a strong foundation and professional connections to stand out in competitive job markets.  

To help you get started and explore your options, we have curated a list of around 40 schools from with great business programs

To make the list, we looked for U.S. public and private institutions with high ranking undergraduate business programs based on an analysis of various factors like academic experience and excellence, career opportunities and outcomes, and student surveys from third party sources U.S. News, Niche, Poets&Quants, Hello College, College Advisor, and Road 2 College. 

To help you find the school that best fits your academic interests and goals, we highlighted top business majors and specific programs at each college, as well as the availability and nature of joint MBA programs. Many schools offer a combined Bachelor’s/MBA program that you can finish in just five years, saving you time, money, and the stress of reapplying for an MBA. Some schools, like University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton and Fordham University’s Gabelli School of Business, offer a guaranteed, but deferred MBA spot to allow you to explore career opportunities and gain work experience after your undergraduate graduation. Additionally, we added statistics to show how effectively the featured business programs turn classroom learning into real-world opportunities through employment opportunities and starting salaries after undergraduate education. Many business schools encourage and support students in finding and participating in internships. Some schools like Lipscomb University and Butler University’s Lacy School of Business even require students to complete an internship in order to graduate, leading to high percentages of students employed immediately after graduation. 

Finally, we shared the links to each school’s business school or website to help you explore fit. 

The following fields are included for each entry in the list 

• Academic Profile. The overall admission rate and mid-50th percentile test score breakdowns (ACT/SAT) are provided to help you assess if you're a competitive applicant.
• Percent of Students in Business. The percentage of all undergraduate students that are in the university’s business school or in its business programs reflects how central business is to the school’s identity and strength, likely influencing other factors like course availability, resource accessibility, and peer network. 
• Percent Employed. The percentage of undergraduate business students from the Class of 2024 that found a job within 3 months of graduation provides a clear, data-driven picture of how well the business program sets students up for real-world success. 
• Top Programs: most popular and highly ranked majors/concentrations
• Accelerated/Dual Degree MBA Options: whether and what kind of combined Bachelor’s/MBA program is offered

Author

Kyra Cui is a graduate from The Harker School's Class of 2025 and will be studying at and swimming for MIT this fall.

  

Colleges with Strong Undergraduate Business Programs

College Kickstart LLC