U.S. News: KSU's MBA Program No. 43

The part-time MBA program at Kennesaw State University’s Michael J. Coles College of Business was ranked 43rd nationwide (25th among public universities) by U.S. News & World Report in its annual “Best Graduate Schools 2014” released Tuesday. This is the first time the College earned a top 50 ranking.

Kennesaw State is one of only four Georgia universities to make the list.

“We are proud to be recognized among the nation’s leading business schools,” said Kathy Schwaig, dean of the Coles College. “Our rise in the rankings is a true testament to the quality of our programs, the caliber of our faculty and the hard work and dedication of our staff and students.” 

According to U.S. News, part-time business programs play a vital role for working professionals who are unable to attend business school full time. Coles College enrolls more than 350 part-time MBA students. The flexible, self-paced program offers courses in the evenings and on weekends, with minimesters in May, August and December.   

 “The flexibility of our program enables students to balance family and work demands without sacrificing the rigors of a quality MBA program,” said Sheb True, associate dean for graduate business and executive programs at the Coles College of Business. “The part-time MBA ranking shows our dedication in providing quality business education that is relevant in today’s global marketplace.”

The annual U.S. News ranking is based on five factors: average peer assessment score, average graduate exams (GMAT and GRE) scores of entering part-time MBA students, average undergraduate grade point average (GPA), work experience, and percentage of total MBA enrollment that is part time. This year, 212 graduate programs were ranked.

Coles College continues to be ranked for its MBA programs. In 2011, its part-time MBA program was ranked 29th by Bloomberg Businessweek.

Editor's note: This was prepared by Kennesaw State University.