2009 Top 10 America’s Undergraduate Business Program

Here’s the  results of BusinessWeek's fourth annual ranking of undergraduate business programs. It reflect the job market's uncertainty. With 54% of responding seniors lacking an offer as of January (compared with 44% in 2008), the schools that excelled in their survey have put an intense focus on guiding students through the career search. Leading the way is No. 1-ranked McIntire School of Commerce at the University of Virginia, where nearly three of four seniors have job offers, thanks largely to the school's innovative efforts to build student-recruiter relationships. The same applies to second-ranked Notre Dame, where administrators tap the school's well-connected alumni network to scout jobs and offer advice to students. Both overtook the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School, which fell to third place after three years at the top.

To rank these programs, BusinessWeek uses nine measures, including surveys of 85,000 senior business majors and nearly 600 corporate recruiters, median starting salaries for graduates, and the number of graduates each program sends to top MBA programs. They also calculate an academic quality rating for each program by combining SAT scores, student-faculty ratios, class size, the percentage of students with internships, and the number of hours students devote to class work.

In general, student satisfaction was down, with more than half of the 101 ranked schools taking a hit. Institutions that succeeded in helping students navigate the difficult job market improved their standings the most. Ohio State University's Fisher College of Business rose 17 spots, to No. 42, in large part because of a recruiting focus centered on regional banks and such large local companies as Procter & Gamble (PG) and Limited Brands (LTD). Others, including No. 29 University of San Diego School of Business Administration, saw their fortunes rise due to a strong focus on accounting, where jobs are still plentiful. New York University's Stern School of Business didn't fare as well, falling to No. 15 from No. 8 after some students returned from summer internships on Wall Street without the job offers they had expected. Some who did receive offers are seeing start dates delayed and are now wondering if the jobs will be there when they graduate—and if the $38,686 a year they spent was worth it. "Stern's steep price tag makes it difficult to realize the value in an education that doesn't lead to any job prospects," one finance student complained.

 

No. 1 University of Virginia (McIntire) Charlottesville, Va. 2008 Rank: 2 Annual Cost: $9,490 Full-Time Enrollment: 655 The Undergrad View: McIntire claims top spot thanks to involved faculty, innovative curriculum, and strong career services. Business Exchange: McIntire School of Commerce School Profile: McIntire School of Commerce

No. 2 University of Notre Dame (Mendoza) South Bend, Ind. 2008 Rank: 3 Annual Cost: $36,847 Full-Time Enrollment: 1,669 The Undergrad View: Focus on ethics and strong alumni network set Mendoza apart. Business Exchange: Mendoza College of Business School Profile: Mendoza College of Business

No. 3 University of Pennsylvania (Wharton) Philadelphia 2008 Rank: 1 Annual Cost: $37,526 Full-Time Enrollment: 2,528 The Undergrad View: Intense, competitive program isn't for the faint of heart; top-flight faculty and alumni are big pluses. Business Exchange: Wharton School School Profile: Wharton School

No. 4 University of Michigan (Ross) Ann Arbor, Mich. 2008 Rank: 6 Annual Cost: $10,848 Full-Time Enrollment: 1,050 The Undergrad View: Close-knit student body and strong alumni presence prove to be invaluable in the tough job market. Business Exchange: Ross School of Business School Profile: Ross School of Business

No. 5 Brigham Young University (Marriott) Provo, Utah 2008 Rank: 7 Annual Cost: $4,110 Full-Time Enrollment: 1,783 The Undergrad View: Students like the school's high-quality professors, strong alumni base, and emphasis on ethics. Business Exchange: Marriott School of Management School Profile: Marriott School of Management

No. 6 University of California at Berkeley (Haas) Berkeley, Calif. 2008 Rank: 11 Annual Cost: $8,932 Full-Time Enrollment: 668 The Undergrad View: Haas wins accolades for programs, less so the steep grading curves and fierce competition. Business Exchange: Haas School of Business School Profile: Haas School of Business

No. 7 Massachusetts Institute of Technology (Sloan) Cambridge, Mass. 2008 Rank: 9 Annual Cost: $36,390 Full-Time Enrollment: 225 The Undergrad View: Rigorous coursework and tech resources make for an MBA-caliber program. Business Exchange: Sloan School of Management School Profile: Sloan School of Management

No. 8 Cornell University Ithaca, N.Y. 2008 Rank: 4 Annual Cost: $20,364 Full-Time Enrollment: 712 The Undergrad View: Students praise Cornell's collegial atmosphere and diverse course options. Business Exchange: Cornell University School Profile: Cornell University

No. 9 Emory University (Goizueta) Atlanta 2008 Rank: 5 Annual Cost: $36,336 Full-Time Enrollment: 622 The Undergrad View: One-on-one advising and strong community focus have students gushing about Goizueta. Business Exchange: Goizueta Business School School Profile: Goizueta Business School

No. 10 University of Texas (McCombs) Austin, Tex. 2008 Rank: 10 Annual Cost: $9,354 Full-Time Enrollment: 3,942 The Undergrad View: McCombs wins rave reviews for accounting, honors programs, and recruiting. Business Exchange: McCombs School of Business School Profile: McCombs School of Business

For the complete ranking, plus slide shows, video, tables, and profiles of each of the 101 ranked undergraduate programs, go to businessweek.com/bschools/