University Headquarters (HQ) is an industry-leading, independent educational organization that provides independent college rankings using a proprietary formula to create first class unbiased rankings. The team at University HQ strives to provide accurate and trustworthy rankings that highlights the best programs for business.
Choosing the right undergraduate business school is crucial for shaping your future career. Whether you're interested in finance, marketing, or entrepreneurship, a business degree from a top-ranked university can open many doors. Attending one of these prestigious colleges can significantly impact your career prospects. For instance, our best undergraduate business programs are often considered based on peer reviews, admission standards, and graduates' success in the job market. These programs offer the foundational knowledge and practical skills needed to excel in the business world.
If you aim for a distinguished business school, it's essential to look at various rankings and evaluations. Factors such as academic experience, tuition costs, and career services should influence your decision. By carefully selecting the right business program, you set yourself up for future success in the competitive business landscape.
While considering an online undergraduate bachelor’s degree in business or a online graduate master’s degree in business, there are many different concentration options and colleges to choose from. If you are looking to enter the business world as an entrepreneur, becoming a leader in a specific industry or obtain a solid career in corporate America, then an online business degree is a good starting point. Whether you are pursuing a business degree online or from a traditional brick and mortar college, the business program you choose can have a big impact on your future career choices.
The following business schools below represent the best college programs for a business major in the U.S. If a school is not on this list, it does not mean that it is not a great school, there are many great colleges and ultimately you need to choose the best college that is the best business school that fits you.
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Top 25 Best Campus Business Schools
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Score: 95.56
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $60,156
- Out-of-State:$60,156
- Net Price: $20,232
- Acceptance Rate: 4%
- Retention Rate: 99%
- Graduation Rate: 95%
- Total Enrollment: 11,858
- Undergrad Students: 4,657
- Graduate Students: 7,201
- Grads Salary: $118,000
- Student-to-faculty: 3:1
Stanford University
Score: 95.1
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $62,484
- Out-of-State:$62,484
- Net Price: $18,279
- Acceptance Rate: 4%
- Retention Rate: 98%
- Graduation Rate: 95%
- Total Enrollment: 18,283
- Undergrad Students: 8,049
- Graduate Students: 10,234
- Grads Salary: $116,000
- Student-to-faculty: 5:1
Yale University
Score: 88.68
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $64,700
- Out-of-State:$64,700
- Net Price: $18,647
- Acceptance Rate: 5%
- Retention Rate: 98%
- Graduation Rate: 98%
- Total Enrollment: 14,776
- Undergrad Students: 6,645
- Graduate Students: 8,131
- Grads Salary: $96,000
- Student-to-faculty: 6:1
Harvard University
Score: 88.27
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $59,076
- Out-of-State:$59,076
- Net Price: $19,491
- Acceptance Rate: 3%
- Retention Rate: 98%
- Graduation Rate: 98%
- Total Enrollment: 30,631
- Undergrad Students: 9,368
- Graduate Students: 21,263
- Grads Salary: $96,000
- Student-to-faculty: 7:1
Dartmouth College
Score: 87.44
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $65,739
- Out-of-State:$65,739
- Net Price: $19,208
- Acceptance Rate: 6%
- Retention Rate: 98%
- Graduation Rate: 95%
- Total Enrollment: 6,744
- Undergrad Students: 4,458
- Graduate Students: 2,286
- Grads Salary: $96,000
- Student-to-faculty: 7:1
Duke University
Score: 86.03
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $65,805
- Out-of-State:$65,805
- Net Price: $23,694
- Acceptance Rate: 6%
- Retention Rate: 97%
- Graduation Rate: 97%
- Total Enrollment: 18,023
- Undergrad Students: 6,640
- Graduate Students: 11,383
- Grads Salary: $95,000
- Student-to-faculty: 6:1
Rice University
Score: 85.6
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $58,128
- Out-of-State:$58,128
- Net Price: $19,902
- Acceptance Rate: 9%
- Retention Rate: 98%
- Graduation Rate: 94%
- Total Enrollment: 8,672
- Undergrad Students: 4,494
- Graduate Students: 4,178
- Grads Salary: $92,000
- Student-to-faculty: 6:1
Carnegie Mellon University
Score: 85.4
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $63,829
- Out-of-State:$63,829
- Net Price: $33,499
- Acceptance Rate: 11%
- Retention Rate: 97%
- Graduation Rate: 92%
- Total Enrollment: 16,002
- Undergrad Students: 7,059
- Graduate Students: 8,943
- Grads Salary: $108,000
- Student-to-faculty: 5:1
Columbia University
Score: 85
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $69,045
- Out-of-State:$69,045
- Net Price: $22,058
- Acceptance Rate: 4%
- Retention Rate: 98%
- Graduation Rate: 95%
- Total Enrollment: 34,782
- Undergrad Students: 8,902
- Graduate Students: 25,880
- Grads Salary: $91,000
- Student-to-faculty: 6:1
Johns Hopkins University
Score: 84.74
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $63,340
- Out-of-State:$63,340
- Net Price: $24,034
- Acceptance Rate: 7%
- Retention Rate: 97%
- Graduation Rate: 94%
- Total Enrollment: 31,275
- Undergrad Students: 6,044
- Graduate Students: 25,231
- Grads Salary: $94,000
- Student-to-faculty: 6:1
Northwestern University
Score: 84.64
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $65,997
- Out-of-State:$65,997
- Net Price: $22,095
- Acceptance Rate: 7%
- Retention Rate: 98%
- Graduation Rate: 97%
- Total Enrollment: 23,161
- Undergrad Students: 8,993
- Graduate Students: 14,168
- Grads Salary: $89,000
- Student-to-faculty: 6:1
University of California-Berkeley
Score: 84.52
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $14,850
- Out-of-State:$45,627
- Net Price: $19,257
- Acceptance Rate: 11%
- Retention Rate: 96%
- Graduation Rate: 94%
- Total Enrollment: 45,307
- Undergrad Students: 32,479
- Graduate Students: 12,828
- Grads Salary: $97,000
- Student-to-faculty: 19:1
University of Pennsylvania
Score: 84.15
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $66,104
- Out-of-State:$66,104
- Net Price: $26,123
- Acceptance Rate: 7%
- Retention Rate: 98%
- Graduation Rate: 96%
- Total Enrollment: 28,201
- Undergrad Students: 11,250
- Graduate Students: 16,951
- Grads Salary: $94,000
- Student-to-faculty: 8:1
Georgia Institute of Technology
Score: 84.14
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $11,764
- Out-of-State:$32,876
- Net Price: $17,402
- Acceptance Rate: 17%
- Retention Rate: 98%
- Graduation Rate: 93%
- Total Enrollment: 45,296
- Undergrad Students: 18,415
- Graduate Students: 26,881
- Grads Salary: $95,000
- Student-to-faculty: 19:1
Cornell University
Score: 83.27
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $66,014
- Out-of-State:$66,014
- Net Price: $26,060
- Acceptance Rate: 7%
- Retention Rate: 97%
- Graduation Rate: 95%
- Total Enrollment: 25,898
- Undergrad Students: 15,735
- Graduate Students: 10,163
- Grads Salary: $93,000
- Student-to-faculty: 9:1
University of California-Los Angeles
Score: 82.57
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $13,747
- Out-of-State:$44,524
- Net Price: $16,999
- Acceptance Rate: 9%
- Retention Rate: 97%
- Graduation Rate: 92%
- Total Enrollment: 46,430
- Undergrad Students: 32,423
- Graduate Students: 14,007
- Grads Salary: $89,000
- Student-to-faculty: 18:1
University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
Score: 82.34
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $17,228
- Out-of-State:$58,072
- Net Price: $19,318
- Acceptance Rate: 18%
- Retention Rate: 97%
- Graduation Rate: 93%
- Total Enrollment: 51,225
- Undergrad Students: 32,695
- Graduate Students: 18,530
- Grads Salary: $88,000
- Student-to-faculty: 12:1
Vanderbilt University
Score: 81.89
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $63,946
- Out-of-State:$63,946
- Net Price: $25,606
- Acceptance Rate: 7%
- Retention Rate: 96%
- Graduation Rate: 93%
- Total Enrollment: 13,710
- Undergrad Students: 7,151
- Graduate Students: 6,559
- Grads Salary: $89,000
- Student-to-faculty: 7:1
University of Virginia
Score: 80.76
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $20,986
- Out-of-State:$58,014
- Net Price: $19,469
- Acceptance Rate: 19%
- Retention Rate: 97%
- Graduation Rate: 95%
- Total Enrollment: 26,082
- Undergrad Students: 17,444
- Graduate Students: 8,638
- Grads Salary: $84,000
- Student-to-faculty: 15:1
Washington University in St. Louis
Score: 80.64
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $62,982
- Out-of-State:$62,982
- Net Price: $23,432
- Acceptance Rate: 12%
- Retention Rate: 96%
- Graduation Rate: 94%
- Total Enrollment: 17,012
- Undergrad Students: 8,132
- Graduate Students: 8,880
- Grads Salary: $83,000
- Student-to-faculty: 7:1
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Score: 80.29
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $8,989
- Out-of-State:$39,330
- Net Price: $10,614
- Acceptance Rate: 17%
- Retention Rate: 96%
- Graduation Rate: 91%
- Total Enrollment: 31,705
- Undergrad Students: 20,029
- Graduate Students: 11,676
- Grads Salary: $77,000
- Student-to-faculty: 17:1
University of Florida
Score: 80.25
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $6,381
- Out-of-State:$28,659
- Net Price: $11,740
- Acceptance Rate: 23%
- Retention Rate: 97%
- Graduation Rate: 90%
- Total Enrollment: 55,211
- Undergrad Students: 34,552
- Graduate Students: 20,659
- Grads Salary: $79,000
- Student-to-faculty: 16:1
University of Notre Dame
Score: 80.24
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $62,693
- Out-of-State:$62,693
- Net Price: $28,474
- Acceptance Rate: 13%
- Retention Rate: 97%
- Graduation Rate: 96%
- Total Enrollment: 13,105
- Undergrad Students: 8,971
- Graduate Students: 4,134
- Grads Salary: $87,000
- Student-to-faculty: 9:1
University of Washington
Score: 79.08
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $12,643
- Out-of-State:$41,997
- Net Price: $10,603
- Acceptance Rate: 48%
- Retention Rate: 94%
- Graduation Rate: 84%
- Total Enrollment: 52,319
- Undergrad Students: 36,213
- Graduate Students: 16,106
- Grads Salary: $87,000
- Student-to-faculty: 21:1
University of California-Santa Barbara
Score: 78.45
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $14,965
- Out-of-State:$45,742
- Net Price: $16,874
- Acceptance Rate: 26%
- Retention Rate: 92%
- Graduation Rate: 86%
- Total Enrollment: 26,420
- Undergrad Students: 23,459
- Graduate Students: 2,961
- Grads Salary: $85,000
- Student-to-faculty: 17:1
Evaluating Business Schools
To evaluate undergraduate business schools effectively, you should consider several key factors. These include the school's reputation and ranking, the academic programs and majors offered, the admissions criteria, and the quality of the faculty and curriculum.
Rankings and Reputation
Rankings and reputation are crucial when evaluating business schools. These rankings are typically based on metrics such as graduation rates, hire rates, and average starting salaries. Attention to alumni success and the school's brand name in the corporate world can also influence your decision. Having a degree from a highly ranked institution can enhance your career prospects.
Academic Programs and Majors
When considering an undergraduate business school, it is essential to examine the academic programs and majors available. Look for schools offering a variety of majors such as finance, marketing, accounting, economics, and human resources.
The breadth and depth of these programs can significantly impact your education. For instance, programs that integrate technology, ethics, and management skills provide a comprehensive education that prepares you for various roles in the business field. Research whether the school offers opportunities for hands-on experience, such as internships or co-op programs.
Admissions Criteria and Academic Excellence
Understanding the admissions criteria is critical to determining the academic excellence of a business school. Look for schools that emphasize high academic standards, including GPA, standardized test scores, and other achievements. Top schools often expect a strong academic background and may require essays, recommendation letters, and interviews to assess candidates' skills and potential.
Faculty and Curriculum
The quality of the faculty and curriculum is another critical factor in evaluating business schools. Renowned professors with substantial industry experience can provide valuable insights and mentorship. Schools like the University of Michigan often boast impressive faculties.
Examine the school's curriculum to see if it includes essential skills like communication and problem-solving. A curriculum that evolves with industry trends ensures that you gain relevant knowledge and skills. Look for programs that balance theoretical study with practical application, preparing you for real-world challenges.