Business School (B School) Rankings 2012

There are thousands of options if you’re interested in a business program as your education path. Business schools that offer MBA programs, often called B Schools or B-Schools, come in all shapes and sizes, and what is right for one person may not be the best choice for you. So how to you determine which business school you should attend? Check out some of the rankings available for these special programs.

BusinessWeek Rankings

One of the best sources for business school rankings is BusinessWeek. This school has been posting their rankings of business schools since 1988, and have expanded their list in the past few years to include a number of categories. Today, you can search not just for traditional full-tie MBA programs, but also for Executive MBA (EMBA) programs, part-time MBA programs, non-degree educational options, undergraduate business programs, and distance learning programs. They talk to schools, program directors, faculty members, and even students to learn more about each program they rank, and they provide detailed information about each school on the list, including characteristics such as length of program, enrollment, admissions information, tuition, accrediting information, acceptance rates, and class profiles.

US News Rankings

US News is known for having one of the most comprehensive college rankings in the world. Although they are most known for doing a general list, they also have another list specifically for MBA programs. This list is compiled based solely on peer review. Two faculty members at each program are asked to rate fellow programs on a scale from one to five, and the opinions are then added to give the school an overall score. Students can read the rankings list or can search by any of the following specialties: accounting, Executive MBA (EMBA), information systems, management, nonprofit, production and operations, entrepreneurship, finance, international marketing, part-time MBA, and supply chain/logistics.

The Princeton Review Rankings

Every year, The Princeton Review published their college rankings, which include a section for business schools. They actually have a number of unique categories, so you can see how business schools rank in relation to different characteristics. These include the following: best administered, best campus environment, best campus facilities, best professors, greatest opportunity for minority students, greatest opportunity for women, most family friendly, best career prospects, most competitive students, toughest to get into, and best classroom experience. They also have “student say” profiles and school statistics for each school so you can learn ore about the programs offered. In 2011, The Princeton Review included over 300 business schools in their rankings.

There are other organizations and publications that rank business schools, so remember to consider as many sources as possible when doing research on educational options in this field. Also, visit as many campuses as possible to get a feel for the environment. You shouldn’t rely solely on rankings to make your decision about which business school to attend.

The Top Online Universities in America

The Internet has revolutionized education so that now you can earn a degree entirely online from the comfort of your home. This is perfect for working professionals or anyone who wants to get ahead in a career without having to go to a physical campus everyday. Use the list of top schools below or the search form to find the right school for you.

	The University of Phoenix is world-renowned for being the largest online university. Phoenix boasts dozens of different degrees at all levels that students can choose from. In the last four years alone, the university produced 80,000 graduates in high-demand fields as nursing, health care, teaching and IT. In addition to its online access, the school has campus locations within 10 miles of 87 million Americans. Learn More About University of Phoenix
	In addition to a host of options for students needing to transfer existing bachelor's and master's coursework into one of its more-than three dozen degree programs, Post University also welcomes military personnel to join its student body. Post offers detailed opportunities for veterans, those participating in active duty, as well as military dependent students. Learn More About Post University
	Kaplan is organized into ten different academic schools, including Arts & Sciences, Business, Criminal Justice, Education, Health Sciences, IS & Technology, Legal Studies, Nursing, Continuing Education, and Concord Law School. All told, Kaplan offers more than 125 degrees and programs both off- and online, with more than 70 campus-based locations nationwide. Learn More About Kaplan University
	Ashford is a private liberal arts university based in Clinton, Iowa. But thanks to the World Wide Web, students from all over the world can access their online coursework. Originally founded in 1918 as Mount St. Clare College, Ashford has Catholic roots and today its NAIA-level athletic teams are known as The Saints, which compete in the Midwest Collegiate Conference in over a dozen sports. Learn More About Ashford University
	Liberty University has the reputation of being the largest online evangelical Christian university in the nation. Founded in 1971 by the late Reverend Jerry Falwell, Liberty's original name was Lynchburg Baptist College. Liberty obtained university status in 1984. In athletics, Liberty is a member of the Big South Conference for 18 sports, including football, hockey, and basketball. Academically, Liberty offers majors in over 70 subjects, including aeronautics, business, nursing, and more. Learn More About Liberty University
	For students looking for flexible and affordable online education, Walden University offers both. As a leading accredited online university for more than 40 years, Walden has more than 42,500 students, from all 50 states and more than 100 countries. Nearly 85 percent of Walden students are satisfied with their university, and would be likely to recommend Walden to others. Learn More About Walden University
	DeVry has dozens of campuses nationwide and delivers its coursework via the Web to thousands of online students studying for their degrees. At DeVry University, all degree programs are career-focused to ensure that proper training is given to students pursuing a specific job or career path. Learn More About DeVry University
	American InterContinental University, also known as AIU, is a private school accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association. Founded in 1970 as the American College of Applied Arts, AIU today has seven campuses in the US and UK and runs its online program out of its Chicago offices. AIU offers degree programs in several subjects, including healthcare, business, education, criminal justice, and more. Learn More About American InterContinental University
	Founded in 1839, Boston University is one of the oldest and most trusted universities that offers online education. At Boston Online, students can study liberal arts, business, science, criminal justice, health, music, nursing, and more to become well-rounded and productive individuals. Moreover, online programs offer a better sense of flexibility and convenience. Learn More About Boston University
	Capella University was founded in 1991 by Stephen Shank, the former CEO of Tonka, who felt that working adults were underserved by traditional brick-and-mortar universities. While their offices are located in downtown Minneapolis, being an online university, the majority of learning takes place outside of campus and instead via the Internet. Their motto: "Knowledge is solving problems no one else can." Learn More About Capella University
	In 1892, S. Irving Strayer founded Strayer's Business College. Today, this is known as Strayer University and has over 70 non-residential campuses with more than 50,000 students nationwide. Strayer is highly regarded as producing as many students with computer science degrees as any other school in the country. Learn More About Strayer University
	Grand Canyon University was founded in 1949 as Grand Canyon College, an Arizona Southern Baptist school. (It reached university status in 1989.) Accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association, GCU is typically featured among the Top 10 online colleges as ranked by The Online Education Database (OEDb). Learn More About Grand Canyon University