IU MBA program ranked 19th by Forbes
By Andrea Balzano
IU’s Kelley School of Business full-time master of business administration program now ranks 19th overall on the Forbes list, an improvement from two years ago when it was ranked 27th. The program is third in the Big Ten and sixth in public institutions.
The ranking benefits students and helps bring in prospective students, said Jonlee Andrews, faculty chairwoman for the full-time MBA program at Indiana University.
“MBA students are focused on the benefit they get financially from getting this degree,” Andrews said. “It means a lot to current students, and prospective students will use it to make their decision.”
Graduates of the Kelley MBA program have the second shortest studentt loan payback period, 3.4 years, of the top 20 schools. Students value the time it takes to make up the difference of tuition and what they are not making in the workforce while they are in school.
“We are one of the very lowest payback periods,” Andrews said. “Getting an MBA is a large investment. It makes you realize the investment is worth it because the payback period is longer for some less expensive schools.”
Ninety-five percent of Kelley MBA students had a full-time job within 90 days of graduation, and their average starting salary was $101,656, with an average signing bonus of $21,228.
The survey looked at 2008 graduates and how they are doing five years later. Andrews said their salaries are increasing every year, and “when salary goes up, you pay the investment in education back.”
Among other schools in the state, Purdue ranked 28th and Notre Dame ranked 29th. The Kelley MBA program is also ranked 15th by Bloomberg Businessweek and 35th overall globally by the Economist.
Said Andrews: “Rankings are a reflection of the good work of our faculty, staff, and students and we’re always pleased to see them do well.”
Editor's note: This story from The Bloomington Herald-Times is being published here as a courtesy for readers of IU in the News.