BOONE, N.C. — The latest rankings of several notable publications affirm that Appalachian State University’s Walker College of Business is a national — and international — leader in preparing the business executives of tomorrow, today.
Walker College and its Master of Business Administration program have received 2022–23 and 2023–24 accolades from The Princeton Review, U.S. News & World Report, CEO Magazine and Fortune magazine, all of which recognized the program’s high quality and return on investment for graduates.
The accolades:
- “The Best Business Schools” list for 2023 — The Princeton Review.
- “2023–24 Best Business Schools” — U.S. News & World Report.
- “2023 Global MBA Rankings” list for 2023 — CEO Magazine.
- “Best MBA Programs” rankings for 2022–23 — Fortune magazine.
“These acknowledgements are a testament to the dedication of our faculty, students and alumni,” said Walker College Dean Sandra Vannoy. “Our current students have outstanding career prospects, and program graduates are making significant contributions in our state and region — and beyond. The rankings indicate a high return on investment for an App State business education.”
App State’s MBA program — available full and part time at the Boone campus, as well as through App State Online — offers flexible class options so that students can shape their educational experience to both fit their lifestyle and meet their personal and professional goals. Students receive individualized attention through dedicated career services and academic advising, as well as soft skills and professional development.
Read on to learn more about these accolades.
App State business students participate in the spring 2023 Business Connections event, organized by App State’s Walker College of Business. During Business Connections, students have the opportunity to practice their interview skills, attend workshops on current industry trends, meet with recruiters regarding job opportunities and network with faculty and industry experts. Photo by Chase Reynolds
A ‘Best Business School’ for 2023 — The Princeton Review
The Princeton Review has named App State’s Walker College of Business in its “Best Business Schools for 2023” list, which recognizes a total of 242 national colleges and universities for having the best on-campus MBA degree programs. Schools included in the list, released in January, are unranked.
Additionally, Walker College and its MBA program were recognized among the best in the Southeast for 2023, and the MBA concentration in leading and managing human resources ranked among the country’s top 10, coming in as No. 6 on The Princeton Review’s 2023 “Best MBA for Human Resources” list.
“We recommend these schools highly and with great regard for the MBA programs they offer,” said Rob Franek, editor-in-chief of The Princeton Review. “Every MBA program — on-campus as well as online — that made our lists for 2023 offers outstanding academics, superb experiential components and impressive career services.”
Schools were chosen for 2023 lists based on data from the publication’s surveys of administrators at 397 business schools during the 2021-22 academic year, as well as surveys of 29,900 students enrolled in the schools over the past three academic years. More than 60 data points were considered, including career outcomes, admissions selectivity and academic rigor, among others.
Access The Princeton Review’s 2023 list of best on-campus MBA schools.
A ‘Best Business School’ and a ‘Best’ online MBA for 2023–24 — U.S. News
In its “2023–24 Best Business Schools” list — released in April as part of the “2023–24 Best Graduate Schools” rankings — U.S. News & World Report ranked App State’s full-time MBA program among the top 150 programs in the nation. Additionally, the university’s part-time MBA option was recognized among the nation’s top 300 programs.
The university’s online MBA program received the No. 110 position in U.S. News’ “Best Online MBA Programs” rankings list, released in January, which places the university within the top 32% of recognized schools.
U.S. News’ “Best Business Schools” rankings are based on career placement success, student excellence and qualitative assessments by experts. For its “2023 Best Online Programs” rankings, the publication considered student engagement, services and technologies available to students, faculty credentials and training, as well as peer reputation and student excellence.
Access U.S. News’ “2023–24 Best Graduate Schools” and “2023 Best Online Programs” lists.
Students in App State’s Walker College of Business take in a lecture in a Department of Management class. Photo by Chase Reynolds
A top-tier MBA program for 2023 — CEO Magazine
App State’s on-campus MBA program ranks among the world’s top programs for 2023, according to CEO Magazine, which designated the university’s MBA as a Tier Two program in its “2023 Global MBA Rankings” list, released in April. This marks the 11th consecutive year that App State has been recognized in the magazine’s annual rankings.
App State’s online MBA advanced 14 positions over its 2022 ranking, earning the No. 49 spot among 76 internationally recognized programs in CEO Magazine’s “Online MBA Rankings 2023” list. The online MBA placed as No. 34 among North American programs named to the list.
According to the magazine, the rankings “identify schools that marry exceptional quality with great return on investment.”
The 2023 rankings featured 239 online, executive, full-time and part-time MBA programs from 121 schools in 24 countries. Rankings were determined using a scoring system with metrics that included faculty qualifications, class size, international diversity, accreditation, faculty-to-student ratio and cost, among other factors.
Access the complete CEO Magazine “2023 Global MBA Rankings.”
A ‘Best’ MBA program for 2022–23 — Fortune magazine
For the second year in a row, Fortune Education — a branch of Fortune magazine — has named App State’s MBA program to its “Best MBA Programs” list, released in April 2022. The list recognizes the university’s MBA program alongside 76 full-time MBA programs across the nation that are ranked the best for 2022–23.
According to Fortune Education, schools included in its “Best MBA Programs” list “not only offer comprehensive curricula, but also see their students achieve competitive salaries after graduation.”
For its rankings methodology, Fortune considered these criteria: graduates’ starting salaries, job placement rates, the schools’ brand strength — as assessed by business professionals and hiring managers, and the number of MBA alumni who are senior executives at Fortune 1000 companies.
Access Fortune’s 2022–23 “Best MBA Programs” list.
App State’s Walker College is among 36 business schools internationally that earned extended global accreditation this spring through the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) International. AACSB accreditation confirms a commitment to quality and continuous improvement through a rigorous and comprehensive peer review. Walker College has been AACSB accredited since 1976.
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About the Walker College of Business
The Walker College of Business at Appalachian State University delivers transformational educational experiences that prepare and inspire students to be ethical, innovative and engaged business leaders who positively impact their communities, both locally and globally. The college places emphasis on international experiences, sustainable business practices, entrepreneurial programs and real-world applications with industry. Enrolling more than 4,000 undergraduates in 11 majors, Walker College has the highest enrollment of full-time undergraduate students in the University of North Carolina System, and more than 250 graduate students are enrolled in the college’s three master’s programs. App State’s Walker College is accredited by AACSB International — the premier global accrediting body for business schools. Learn more at https://business.appstate.edu.
About Appalachian State University
As a premier public institution, Appalachian State University prepares students to lead purposeful lives. App State is one of 17 campuses in the University of North Carolina System, with a national reputation for innovative teaching and opening access to a high-quality, affordable education for all. The university enrolls more than 21,000 students, has a low student-to-faculty ratio and offers more than 150 undergraduate and 80 graduate majors at its Boone and Hickory campuses and through App State Online. Learn more at https://www.appstate.edu.
