Belmont University announced today that its part-time MBA program has achieved a Top 30 first-tier national ranking in BusinessWeek’s 2009 report on “Top Part-Time MBA programs.” Belmont’s Massey School program ranked No. 18 in the U.S. between Richmond University (No. 17) and the University of Southern California (No. 19). Belmont also joined Emory University (No. 11) and Elon University (No. 6) as the top three ranked programs in the South. Nationally, other notable programs in the top 10 included the University of California-Los Angeles, University of California-Berkeley and University of Michigan. BusinessWeek began ranking part-time MBA programs in 2007 in an effort to recognize the best MBA programs designed specifically for working professionals.
“The student satisfaction rankings and teaching quality metrics indicate that our Massey professors are doing an outstanding job in the classroom,” said Dr. J. Patrick Raines, dean of Belmont’s College of Business Administration. “And to be in the company of this group of national peers is simply tremendous.”
Massey School Associate Dean Dr. Joe Alexander added, “Our students and alumni will be very pleased with this recognition. Furthermore, for our business community and employers who long ago embraced Mr. Massey’s vision of a flexible, high-quality part-time MBA program for Nashville, what a way to signify that dream becoming a reality.”
BusinessWeek uses a highly comprehensive methodology for its rankings calculations that includes measures of student satisfaction, academic quality and post-graduation outcomes. The magazine surveyed 12,414 part-time MBA students at participating schools, including those who had recently graduated or were nearing graduation. To assess academic quality, consideration was given to average GMAT score, average student work experience, the percentage of teachers who are tenured, average class size in core business classes, the number of electives available and the percentage of students who ultimately graduate. As for post-graduation outcomes, BusinessWeek determined the percentage of respondents from each school who reported their part-time MBA program was “completely” responsible for them achieving their career goals.
The BusinessWeek report singled out Belmont for highest marks in “quality of teaching” and “curriculum,” and the Nashville program ranked 7th in the U.S. in overall student satisfaction. The school was also rated highest for “career advancer” students, as opposed to “job changers” or “career switchers.”
“This recognition reinforces the quality of a Belmont education,” said Belmont Provost Dr. Marcia McDonald. “The Massey School is delivering on its commitment to students and fulfilling Belmont’s mission to provide an academically challenging education that will empower our students to engage and transform the world.”
BusinessWeek’s complete rankings of the “Best Part-Time MBA Programs” is available on-line (http://www.businessweek.com/bschools/rankings/) and includes expanded content, including the full rankings methodology, interactive tables, in-depth profiles, and a discussion forum.
About Belmont University’s Business Programs
The College of Business Administration offers undergraduate and graduate degree programming through its Undergraduate School of Business Administration and The Jack C. Massey Graduate School of Business. Undergraduate students pursue the bachelor of business administration (B.B.A.) degree, with study options in accounting, economics, entrepreneurship, finance, general business, information systems management, international business, management and marketing. Graduate students choose between a master of business administration (M.B.A.) or master of accountancy (M.Acc.) degree.
The Mike Curb College of Entertainment and Music Business also offers undergraduate and graduate degree programming. Undergraduate students pursue the bachelor of science (B.S.) or bachelor of arts (B.A.) degrees in audio engineering technology, entertainment industry studies or songwriting. The College also offers music business coursework that applies toward the bachelor of business administration (B.B.A) or master of business administration (M.B.A.) degree
