Methodology: The Best Undergraduate Business Programs

For our undergraduate business school rankings, U.S. News surveyed deans and senior faculty at each undergraduate business program accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB). Business school deans and faculty (two at each AACSB-accredited business program) were surveyed for this ranking in spring 2011. Participants were asked to rate the quality of all programs they were familiar with on a scale of 1 (marginal) to 5 (distinguished). The undergraduate business school rankings are based solely on the results of this peer survey; 41.7 percent of those surveyed responded. 

We also asked those same respondents for nominations of the best programs in business specialty areas; those receiving the most mentions in each area appear ranked in descending order. The rankings of the best undergraduate business programs in a specialty area also are based solely on that same spring 2011 peer survey. Schools offering any courses in a specialty are eligible to be ranked in that specialty. Schools did not have to have a listed program or major in a specialty area in order to be ranked in that specific specialty area.