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 vital for shaping your career, whether you're interested in finance, marketing, or entrepreneurship. A degree from a top-ranked program can open many doors, offering foundational knowledge and practical skills to thrive in the business world. The best programs are often ranked based on peer reviews, admission standards, and graduates' success in the job market.
When selecting a business school, consider factors like academic quality, tuition costs, and career services. Whether pursuing an online bachelor’s or master’s degree in business or attending a traditional college, your choice of program can significantly impact your future. For aspiring entrepreneurs, industry leaders, or corporate professionals, a business degree provides a strong foundation.
The schools listed below represent some of the best US programs for business majors. However, many great schools exist, so focus on finding the one that best fits your goals and needs.
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 following criteria.
Rankings and ReputationRankings 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 MajorsWhen 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 ExcellenceUnderstanding 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 CurriculumThe 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.