Best Schools for Business Majors

These top U.S. business schools all offer high-quality classes for undergraduates pursing a business degree, plus opportunities for hands-on learning, and a focus on the global and social impacts of business.

Our top picks in each category stood out for unique offerings and creative opportunities to gain real-world experience in business.

Best Schools for Business

These ten business schools consistently rank among the very best business schools, and offer highly-regarded bachelor's and master's programs for undergrads and graduate students pursing business degrees.

1. Marshall School of Business, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA
2. The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
3. MIT Sloan School of Management, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Boston MA
4. Olin Business School, Washington University in St. Louis, MO
5. Jones Graduate School of Business, Rice University, Houston, TX
6. Michigan Ross, University of Michigan Ann Arbor, MI
7. Cornell SC Johnson College of Business, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY
8. Texas McCoombs Schools of Business, University of Texas Austin, TX
9. McDonough School of Business, Georgetown University, Washington, DC
10. Columbia Business School, Columbia University, New York, NY

Why USC Marshall is Our Pick For Top Business School

USC Marshall's World Bachelor Business program is a one-of-a-kind program that allows students to study business on three different continents in three different cities: Los Angeles, Milan, and Hong Kong. Students spend one year in each of the three metropolis, and can choose where they want to finish out the program during their fourth year.

Marshall's Experiential Learning Center (ELC) enables students to apply their knowledge and refine their skills by simulating life-like business scenarios that involve problem solving, negotiation, and decision making.

And if that's not enough, USC Marshall is also the only undergraduate business program that pairs a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with an emphasis in Cinematic Arts for students who are interested in working in film and interested.

The John H. Mitchell Business of Cinematic Arts Program (BCA) combines USC Marshall's core classes, with 24 units from USC's School of Cinematic Arts. Students are also given opportunities to network and intern at places like Paramount Pictures, FOX, and William Morris Endeavor Entertainment.

Best Liberal Arts Colleges for Business

Liberals arts schools aren't usually associated with business, but these ten schools offer the chance to pair a high-quality liberal arts education with versatile and useful business major. 

1. Muhlenberg College, Allentown, PA
2. Washington & Lee University, The Williams School, Lexington Virginia
3. Rhodes College, Memphis, TN
4. Bucknell University, Lewisburg, PA
5. Muhlenberg College, Allentown, PA
6. Skidmore College, Saratoga Springs, NY
7. Hillsdale College, Hillsdale, MI
8. Dickinson College, Carlisle, PA
9. Wheaton College, Wheaton, IL
10. Franklin & Marshall College, Lancaster, PA

Why Muhlenberg is Our Pick For Top Liberal Arts School for Business

Muhlenberg takes the class business degree and gives it a liberal arts flair. All business majors start with a course called Business & Society, that examines the "positive and negative effects [businesses] have on individuals, groups, and social institutions...including both legal and ethical considerations related to wealth creation, social responsibility, philanthropy, environmental action and governmental regulation."

All business majors must choose a concentration in Management & Organization Studies, Marketing, Arts Administration, International Business. Or, they can design their own concentration within the business major. All majors are required to maintain a portfolio throughout their time in the program, so they graduate with something tangible to show future employers.

Muhlenberg combines the small, intimate class sizes that are typical of the liberal arts with study abroad, internships and research opportunities.

Best State Schools for Business

These ten university stand out as the best 4-year public universities for students who want to study business.

1. Ross School of Business, University of Michigan Ann Arbor, MI
2. Marshall School of Business, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA
3. Texas McCoombs Schools of Business, University of Texas Austin, TX
4. Kenan-Flagler School of Business, University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, NC
5. Warrington College of Business, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL
6. Hass Business School, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, CA
7. Leeds School of Business, University of Colorado Boulder, CO
8. Wisconsin School of Business, University of Wisconsin Madison, WI
9. Terry College of Business, University of Georgia, Athens, GA
10. Penn State Smeal College of Business, Penn State Smeal College of Business, College Park, PA 

Why U-M's Ross School of Business Stands Out As the Top State School For Business

University of Michigan Ann Arbor's Ross School of Business consistently ranks in the top 10 for best business schools, but we ranked it first for it's creative hands-on learning opportunities, reputation for making a positive impact.

U-M's business school also stood out for a high job placement rate and starting salary. Ninety-eight percent of students have a job offer within three-months of graduation, and and the average starting salary for a graduate from Michigan Ross' bachelor's program is $85,000.

Michigan Ross also offers the Magnify program, a 7-week immersive course that focuses on preparing students to "manage and lead organizations that flourish and help employees thrive." The course include a mini-consulting project that pairs students with an organization to provide insights on how they could incorporate more positive business practices.

The Living Business Leadership Experience Course enables students to be part of the research and analysis that real companies do before making important decision. Students with an interest in investment have opportunities to run on of several student-run investment funds, including a Social Venture Fund focused on investments that benefit society as well as investors.

It's easy to see why U-M's Ross School of Business was chosen as on only five U.S. schools to make the 2020 list of 30 business school's worldwide that are making a positive impact on the world.

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