Top 15 Best Colleges for Business Majors
If you have dreams of starting your own company, becoming a leader of industry, or simply want to transition from college to a traditional corporate job, an undergraduate business degree is worth exploring. With so many opportunities available to students graduating with a business degree, it comes as no surprise that approximately one in five undergrads majors in business. See the complete list of top schools for business. Undergraduates pursuing business degrees are taught foundational skills and begin building professional networks that will carry them into employment or help them work toward a graduate-level degree later. While building core skills is the primary purpose of an undergraduate business degree, many students will concentrate in a particular area. Typical concentrations include subjects such as: Because business is such a wide-ranging degree, programs vary from school to school. Every institution has unique mission statements, course offerings, internship programs, and international opportunities. Students will find variety in how material is taught as well, with some schools prioritizing classroom learning while others focus on experiential learning. Business schools also differ in how they fit with a college’s other programs; for example, Cornell’s Agribusiness Management minor ties in with the school’s world-renowned College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. We feel like the 15 schools listed below represent the gold standard for business majors. With that said, you should not treat this list as the end-all, be-all on the subject. For the 15 incredible schools on our list, tens of others could easily have made it. Furthermore, just because a school is on this list doesn’t make it the best school for you; it’s important to consider your fit factors, like size, location, and selectivity, among others. All that aside, we arrived at our rankings by considering a number of factors: You don’t need to concentrate in marketing to know that graduating from a school like UPenn gives you a leg up when applying to jobs. Along with name recognition, the schools below have robust and active alumni who can help graduates get their foot in the door. Outcome is one of the most easily measured metrics when comparing colleges for business majors. College is expensive, and graduates from the schools listed below find employment at high rates and on average earn salaries well above their peers. From offering a multitude of concentrations to the opportunity to explore areas outside the business world, we looked for schools that graduate intellectually curious, well-rounded students prepared to lead a variety of industries. If all a student has done is read books for the past four years, they’re in trouble when it comes to making real-world decisions. The best business schools give students hands-on experience with real-world decisions, preparing them to be high-functioning employees immediately upon entering the workforce. School Name Location Acceptance Rate Middle 50% SAT Scores Middle 50% ACT Scores Philadelphia, PA 5% 1510-1570 34-36 Ithaca, NY 8% 1510-1560 33-35 Pasadena, CA 3% N/A N/A St. Louis, MO 12% 1500-1570 33-35 Pittsburgh, PA 11% 1500-1560 34-36 Providence, RI 5% 1510-1560 34-35 Notre Dame, IN 11% 1470-1540 33-35 Washington, D.C. 13% 1400-1540 31-35 Charlottesville, VA 17% 1410-1520 32-35 Ann Arbor, MI 16% 1360-1530 31-34 Chapel Hill, NC 15% 1400-1530 28-34 New York, NY 9% 1480-1550 34-35 Los Angeles, CA 10% 1450-1550 32-35 Newton, MA 16% 1460-1520 33-35 Wellesley, MA 17% 1410-1500 31-34 Location: Philadelphia, PA Acceptance Rate: 5% Undergraduate Enrollment: 10,013 Middle 50% SAT: 1510-1570 Middle 50% ACT: 34-35 The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania holds the distinction of being both the nation’s top business school and its first. Founded in 1881, it was the world’s first collegiate school of business and later became home to the first collegiate center for entrepreneurship. Over 30% of Wharton students earn more than one degree, thanks in part to specialized dual-degree programs, like: Learn more about the University of Pennsylvania and what it takes to get accepted. Location: Ithaca, NY Acceptance Rate: 8% Undergraduate Enrollment: 16,128 Middle 50% SAT: 1510-1560 Middle 50% ACT: 33-35 Cornell offers two undergraduate business degrees: a BS in Applied Economics and Management through its Dyson School and a BS in Hotel Administration through its Nolan School—the only Ivy League program of its kind and commonly ranked among the best hospitality and hotel management schools in the world. Experiential learning plays a significant role in Cornell’s undergraduate business programs—98% of students complete an internship and 36% of students study internationally by the time they graduate. Learn more about Cornell University and what it takes to get accepted. Location: Pasadena, CA Acceptance Rate: 3% Undergraduate Enrollment: 987 Middle 50% SAT: N/A Middle 50% ACT: N/A Caltech’s undergraduate business program helps pave the way to careers everywhere from Wall Street to Silicon Valley—integrating computer science and advanced mathematics with insights from economics, finance, psychology, and behavioral sciences. Double majors are a popular option for business students at Caltech, helping students bring business and finance strategy and managerial skills to fields like mechanical engineering, biotechnology, aerospace, and materials science—ultimately creating leaders and innovators. Learn more about the California Institute of Technology and what it takes to get accepted. Location: St. Louis, MO Acceptance Rate: 12% Undergraduate Enrollment: 8,220 Middle 50% SAT: 1500-1570 Middle 50% ACT: 33-35 WashU’s Olin Business School has been producing leaders in the field since 1917, with a curriculum focused on creating great outcomes for students and society as a whole. Olin offers eight business majors: Hands-on learning is an important component of the WashU business student experience. Olin’s Center for Experiential Learning connects students with real-world projects, emphasizing hands-on learning and practical application. More than 60% of undergraduates also study or intern abroad, gaining valuable global experience. Learn more about Washington University in St. Louis and what it takes to get accepted. Location: Pittsburgh, PA Acceptance Rate: 11% Undergraduate Enrollment: 7,728 Middle 50% SAT: 1500-1560 Middle 50% ACT: 34-36 Students at Carnegie Mellon’s Tepper School of Business learn to blend creativity and innovation to drive positive change in business and society. The Tepper School offers seven undergraduate business majors: Tepper students put classroom concepts into action through project-based courses, research opportunities, and study abroad experiences that bridge theory and real-world impact. Learn more about Carnegie Mellon University and what it takes to get accepted. Location: Providence, RI Acceptance Rate: 5% Undergraduate Enrollment: 7,910 Middle 50% SAT: 1510-1560 Middle 50% ACT: 34-35 Brown’s undergraduate economics program provides students a pathway to careers in everything from business and finance to non-profit and government organizations. Students build a strong foundation in economic theory while sharpening their quantitative skills and learning to apply statistical methods to real-world economic data. Learn more about Brown University and what it takes to get accepted. Location: Notre Dame, IN Acceptance Rate: 11% Undergraduate Enrollment: 8,880 Middle 50% SAT: 1470-1540 The University of Notre Dame’s Mendoza College of Business equips undergraduates with a strong foundation to launch and grow their careers. Mendoza College’s undergraduate program is known for its flexible curriculum—45% of Mendoza sophomores declare a second major and 46% of Mendoza students have one or more minors. Experiential learning is another important component of the undergraduate experience at the Mendoza College of Business. Half of undergraduates study abroad, gaining a first-hand global perspective and nearly 30 courses allow students to apply classroom lessons to real-world scenarios. Learn more about the University of Notre Dame and what it takes to get accepted. [amp-cta id="9459"] Location: Washington, D.C. Acceptance Rate: 13% Undergraduate Enrollment: 7,833 Middle 50% SAT: 1400-1540 Middle 50% ACT: 31-35 Students at Georgetown’s McDonough School of Business build the knowledge, mindset, and network to address the pressing issues of today and tomorrow and make the world a better place through business. The McDonough School of Business offers three undergraduate programs: Students at McDonough School of Business are taught a values-based approach to business, guided by the Jesuit tradition—educating the whole person, caring for one another, and serving the common good. Learn more about Georgetown University and what it takes to get accepted. Location: Charlottesville, VA Acceptance Rate: 17% Undergraduate Enrollment: 17,901 Middle 50% SAT: 1410-1520 Middle 50% ACT: 32-35 UVA’s McIntire School of Commerce BS in Commerce program provides students with the analytical and real-world skills needed for professional success. Students benefit from McIntire’s extensive resources, tight-knit network of business leaders, and experiential learning experiences, including study abroad and faculty-led January-term courses. Undergraduates leave McIntire set up for success: 88% of the Class of 2024 received a job offer, and the average starting salary was $91,975, significantly higher than the national average. Learn more about the University of Virginia and what it takes to get accepted. Location: Ann Arbor, MI Acceptance Rate: 16% Undergraduate Enrollment: 34,454 Middle 50% SAT: 1360-1530 Middle 50% ACT: 31-34 The University of Michigan Ross School of Business Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) program paves the way to a successful career—last year, 98% of graduates received a job offer by September 30, with a median base salary of $100,000. Ross students are challenged and inspired by peers with exceptional academic credentials. Students admitted in 2024 posted an average GPA of 3.92, an average SAT score of 1490, and an average ACT score of 34. Learn more about the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, and what it takes to get accepted. Location: Chapel Hill, NC Acceptance Rate: 15% Undergraduate Enrollment: 21,075 Middle 50% SAT: 1400-1530 Middle 50% ACT: 28-34 Undergraduates at UNC’s Kenan-Flagler business school develop problem-solving, collaboration, teamwork, and analytical skills that are the foundation of success in fields ranging from finance to nonprofit. Students engage in action-based learning—developing and presenting solutions to real-world business problems. Experiential learning plays an important role in a UNC business education. Students have opportunities for internships and global experience through one of the college’s over 40 study abroad programs. Learn more about the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and what it takes to get accepted. Location: New York, NY Acceptance Rate: 9% Undergraduate Enrollment: 29,060 Middle 50% SAT: 1480-1550 Middle 50% ACT: 34-35 NYUS’s Stern School of Business offers three undergraduate programs: It also offers two interesting dual-degree programs: While NYU business students study in one of the world’s great cities, they remain global learners. Students are required to complete at least one Global Experience. Learn more about New York University and what it takes to get accepted. Location: Los Angeles, CA Acceptance Rate: 10% Undergraduate Enrollment: 20,630 Middle 50% SAT: 1450-1550 Middle 50% ACT: 32-35 The USC Marshall School of Business prides itself on providing undergraduates with the skills needed to succeed in today’s rapidly evolving marketplace. USC offers a few notable undergraduate joint degree programs, including: In addition to attending a world-class business school, USC Marshall students benefit from the numerous career opportunities in its Los Angeles location, not to mention the cultural and lifestyle advantages of living in LA. Learn more about the University of Southern California and what it takes to get accepted. Location: Newton, MA Acceptance Rate: 16% Undergraduate Enrollment: 9,654 Middle 50% SAT: 1460-1520 Middle 50% ACT: 33-35 Undergraduates at Boston College’s Carroll School of Management learn to think critically, act ethically, and lead boldly. BC challenges its business students to push themselves: Students are rewarded for their effort—90% of the Class of 2024 were employed upon graduation and their average starting salary was $86,306, considerably above the national average. Learn more about Boston College and what it takes to get accepted. Location: Wellesley, MA Acceptance Rate: 17% Undergraduate Enrollment: 2,793 Middle 50% SAT: 1410-1500 Middle 50% ACT: 31-34 Babson College has earned a reputation as one of the nation’s best schools for aspiring entrepreneurs. Students build the skills needed to create a path to success through a curriculum that balances action with experiential learning, creativity, and sustainability. Babson’s signature course, Foundations of Management and Entrepreneurship, is a year-long class, and one of the first courses undergraduates take, that enables students to learn the ins and outs of entrepreneurship from the perspective of a start-up. Learn more about Babson College and what it takes to get accepted. With hundreds of schools offering undergraduate business degrees, finding the right school for you can be challenging. Here are a few characteristics to look for when considering colleges. Whether you’re pursuing a bachelor’s in business or in art, you’ll want to choose a school that meets your specific needs. For example, a student studying business at Cornell’s more rural campus is going to have a different college experience than someone studying at USC’s urban campus. Similarly, a student studying at a school like MIT with approximately 4,000 students will have a very different experience from someone studying among the more than 40,000 students at the University of Texas at Austin. Everyone learns differently, and it’s important to seek out a school that meshes with the way you learn. Do you thrive in small classes and require personal attention from teachers? A small school might make sense. Do you pick up skills better when you get first-hand experience with them, or are you able to simply read about an ability and apply it? Sit in on a few classes to see if a school suits your style. Different schools have different programs and offerings. As mentioned earlier, if you’re interested in agribusiness, Cornell is an excellent choice; however, if you want to break into the film world, you’d be hard-pressed to find a better program than USC’s Business Cinematic Arts. Similarly, if international business is an interest, it’s worth looking into a school’s study abroad program. College is one of the largest investments most people make. Outcome is a reliable way of gauging how that investment will pay off in the future. Many colleges publish the percentage of their graduates who go on to employment or continue on to pursue a higher degree. Many also publish the average earnings of recent graduates. There are many more schools that are great for business! See the complete list of the best colleges for business. Curious about your chances of acceptance to your dream school? Our free chancing engine takes into account your GPA, test scores, extracurriculars, and other data to predict your odds of acceptance at over 1,600 colleges across the U.S. We’ll also let you know how you stack up against other applicants and how you can improve your profile.
What is Business School?
How We Made Our List and Rankings
Prestige
Outcome
Courses
Experience
Check out our video to learn more about the top schools for business!
Top 15 Best Colleges For Business Majors
1. University of Pennsylvania | UPenn
2. Cornell University
3. California Institute of Technology | Caltech
4. Washington University in St. Louis | WashU
5. Carnegie Mellon University
6. Brown University
7. University of Notre Dame
Middle 50% ACT: 33-35
8. Georgetown University
9. University of Virginia | UVA
10. University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
11. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill | UNC
12. New York University | NYU
13. University of Southern California | USC
14. Boston College | BC
15. Babson College
What to Look for in a Business School
Fit
Learning Style
Offerings
Outcome
