SMU Cox undergraduate degree rises to #21

Dallas (SMU) – The SMU Cox School of Business Undergraduate (BBA) Degree program rose to #21 in the nation in Bloomberg Businessweek’s 2014 Ranking of Best Undergraduate Business Schools, released today. The SMU Cox BBA program moved 9 points, up from #30 in 2013 and 2012. 132 business schools are ranked in this year’s survey. The publication has conducted this survey annually since 2006.

In the category of academic quality, which is 30 percent of the overall ranking score, the SMU Cox BBA program earned a #9 ranking. In the student assessment category, SMU Cox ranked #11, which represents another 30 percent of the overall score.  Employer assessment and how the school compares as a feeder to the MBA program are also factored into each school’s total ranking number.

The student survey was sent to 91,604 graduating seniors at 152 business schools in the fall of 2013. Their answers were combined with those from the classes of 2012 and 2013 for the overall student assessment. Twenty schools were eliminated because they didn’t meet Bloomberg Businessweek’s rankings requirements. Of the students who received surveys, 28,842 of them, or 31.5 percent, submitted responses. The survey included 44 questions about teaching quality, access to faculty, school facilities, career services, and more.  Each question recorded responses on a five-point scale.

"We are proud of our students and honored to have the opportunity to provide them with an exceptional educational experience that will benefit them as they graduate, and throughout their careers,” said Albert W. Niemi, Jr., dean of the Cox School of Business. “SMU Cox is located in one of the world’s greatest business centers, where students learn and are mentored by faculty with real-world experience, as well as by seasoned business professionals.  Students who graduate with a BBA from SMU Cox have the comfort of knowing they are part of an extensive global alumni network—the connection to SMU Cox will always be there for them.” 

Bloomberg Businessweek also currently ranks the SMU Cox Executive MBA program #3 in the world; the SMU Cox Professional MBA program #3 in the nation; and the SMU Cox Full-Time MBA program #29 in the nation. The complete list of the publication’s undergraduate business school rankings can be found at: businessweek.com/2014undergradrankings.

About SMU Cox

The Cox School of Business was originally established in 1920 on the campus of Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas and named in honor of benefactor Edwin L. Cox in 1978.  SMU Cox offers a full range of undergraduate and graduate business education programs, including the BBA, Full-Time MBA, Professional MBA (PMBA), Executive MBA (EMBA), Master of Science in Accounting, Master of Science in Business Analytics, Master of Science in Entrepreneurship, Master of Science in Finance, Master of Science in Management, Master of Science in Sport Management and Executive Education.

The school also offers a number of unique resources and activities for students, including the Business Leadership Center (BLC), the Caruth Institute for Entrepreneurship, the Folsom Institute for Real Estate, the Maguire Energy Institute, the Global Leadership Program and the Associate Board Executive Mentoring Program, as well as an international alumni network with chapters in more than 20 countries.