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Wisconsin MBA Moves Up to 48th in Economist Ranking

September 28, 2007

The University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Business is ranked 48th among all business schools in the world by the Economist Intelligence Unit’s annual MBA ranking. The school advances 12 places from a ranking of 60th in 2006. The School of Business is ranked 26th among schools in the United States and fifth among Big Ten schools.

Now in its sixth year, the Economist Intelligence Unit rankings are based on questionnaires completed by business schools and approximately 20,000 current MBA students and graduates around the globe. Numerical data is combined with subjective views from students and graduates to evaluate how full-time MBA programs deliver on the following areas:

• to open new career opportunities and/or further current career;
• to offer personal development and educational experience;
• to increase salary;
• the potential to network.

The School of Business launched the new Wisconsin MBA program based on career specializations in fall 2004. The first class of students of the new program graduated in May 2006. The new specialized MBA program prepares students to launch careers in highly focused areas.  
 
Based on internal measurements, the school has made progress on key fundamentals:

• Student quality, as measured by average GMAT score, is 656 for this fall’s entering class, compared to 661 for students who enrolled in 2006.
• May 2007 graduates’ overall satisfaction with the quality of program was at 85 percent and  May 2006 graduate satisfaction was also 85 percent.
• Career placement for May 2007 grads was 96 percent within three months of graduation, up from 95 percent for the class of 2006.

“This increase in our ranking reflects the success of the career-focused MBA strategy that we are currently implementing,” said School of Business Dean Michael M. Knetter. “Our students benefit from a unique curriculum and world-class learning environment. They have an opportunity to connect with, and learn from, real-world leaders, and join a strong, close community as part of their UW experience.”

Also in 2007, the Wisconsin MBA was ranked 27th in a national ranking of MBA programs by Forbes magazine, 29th among all business schools in the United States by U.S. News & World Report  and 32nd in the regional category by the Wall Street Journal/Harris Interactive ranking of MBA programs.