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Best Undergraduate Business Schools (2024 Rankings)

Best Undergraduate Business Schools (2024 Rankings)
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Interested in studying business in college but don't know where to start your higher education journey? We've got you. Whether you want to launch your startup after graduating, get hired by your favorite company, or pursue an MBA program, going to one of the best undergraduate business schools can help get you there. 

It's no secret that recruiters want to hire candidates from the best undergrad business schools. Plus, business jobs will always be around - with employment projected to grow faster than other occupations through 2031. 

Here, we provide info on the top schools in the U.S. where you can get a bachelor's degree in business. These are listed in no particular order.

10 best undergraduate business schools in 2024

What makes these schools the best? We reviewed each school's program offerings, location, size, and scholarship opportunities to find the best options. 

This school ranking also includes various acceptance rates, so whether you're looking for a selective school or a safety school, we've got you covered.

Note that the cost of attendance listed for each school is for one full-time, on-campus year and doesn't take financial aid into account. Many first-year students receive scholarships, grants, loans, and other financial aid to lower costs. You won't know your final cost of attendance until after you're accepted. 

MIT Sloan School of Management

Location: Cambridge, Massachusetts 

Undergraduate enrollment: 4,638 

Admission rate: 4% 

6-year graduation rate: 96% 

Tuition and fees: $55,878 

The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) might not come to mind when you think of business due to its well-known science and technology programs. But the Sloan School of Management offers highly rated undergraduate business programs.

Are you intrigued by real-world testing of the scientific method? MIT might be the right fit for you. Its "Course 15" program is about learning about management and business in the real world. This program could be right for you if you're interested in the quantitative, scientific, and mathematical elements of business analytics and management.

MIT's location in Cambridge puts it in proximity to many other colleges. Plus, with over 500 student organizations - including one dedicated to chocolate science - you'll never get bored.

The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania

Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 

Undergraduate enrollment: 11,292 

Admission rate: 6% 

6-year graduation rate: 96% 

Tuition and fees: $61,710 

Want to join the ranks of business people like Google CEO Sundar Pichai and Tesla founder (and chaotic Twitter owner) Elon Musk? The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania could be your ticket.

The Wharton School offers undergraduate programs in economics, international studies and business, management and technology, life sciences and management, and nursing and health care management. But the school also offers dual degrees if you can't choose just one specialization.

Haas School of Business, University of California, Berkeley

Location: Berkeley, California 

Undergraduate enrollment: 31,814 

Admission rate: 14% 

6-year graduation rate: 93% 

Tuition and fees: $14,226 (in-state), $43,980 (out-of-state)

Students at Haas School of Business at the University of California Berkeley - also known as Berkeley Haas - can choose from four undergraduate degree programs:

  • Business Administration Management
  • Entrepreneurship & Technology
  • Global Management
  • Robinson Life Sciences, Business, and Entrepreneurship

Some programs allow you to enter as a freshman, while others require admittance later in your schooling at Berkeley.

Ross School of Business, University of Michigan

Location: Ann Arbor, Michigan 

Undergraduate enrollment: 32,282 

Admission rate: 20% 

6-year graduation rate: 94% 

Tuition and fees: $16,178 (in-state), $53,232 (out-of-state)

The Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan (also known as Michigan Ross) offers three undergraduate programs: a Bachelor's of Business Administration, a business minor, and an entrepreneurship minor.

Hoping to work for a big company like Nike, Google, Microsoft, or Disney? Michigan Ross might be the place. Graduates regularly get jobs at these big-name companies, plus countless others.

No need to worry about your degree going to waste: 99.1% of Ross graduates accept a job offer by the end of September after graduation. The median base salary of $100,000 doesn't hurt either.

Tepper School of Business, Carnegie Mellon University

Location: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 

Undergraduate enrollment: 6,932 

Admission rate: 14% 

6-year graduation rate: 93% 

Tuition and fees: $58,924 

The Tepper School of Business at Carnegie Mellon University offers undergraduate business and economics programs.

Tepper's program could be right if you want to level up our country's politics or economics in your future career. Or, if you're a bigger fan of numbers, you could opt for Tepper's degree programs in economics and statistics, computational finance, or economics and mathematical sciences.

Whether you dream of working on Wall Street or creating the next big social media app (something has to replace TikTok, right?), Tepper's specializations can help you use your business education to get there.

McCombs School of Business, University of Texas

Location: Austin, Texas

Undergraduate enrollment: 40,916

Admission rate: 29%

6-year graduation rate: 88%

Tuition and fees: $11,752 (in-state), $40,996 (out-of-state)

The McCombs School of Business at the University of Texas at Austin is a top-ranked business school that offers 10 business majors, including supply chain management, business analytics, marketing, international business, and finance.

McCombs requires all grads to complete a hands-on learning component like an internship to graduate with experience under their belt. And with so many big businesses headquartered in Austin - like Dell, Whole Foods, and Vrbo - you're sure to find great opportunities.

What else will you find in Austin? General weirdness, warm weather, breakfast tacos, music festivals, and much more.

SC Johnson College of Business, Cornell University

Location: Ithaca, New York

Undergraduate enrollment: 15,503

Admission rate: 9%

6-year graduation rate: 94%

Tuition and fees: $61,015 

The SC Johnson College of Business at Cornell University has two undergraduate schools: the Charles H. Dyson School of Applied Economics and Management and the Cornell Peter and Stephanie Nolan School of Hotel Administration.

If you envision a career in hospitality, you'll struggle to find a better school than Cornell Nolan School, which was ranked 2022's No. 1 hotel management school in the world.

Don't know what you want to study yet? No problem. Each school offers specializations and business degrees in everything from information systems management to agribusiness management.

But studying might be the last thing you want to do between attending Ivy League sports games, rock climbing at the gym, hitting the Cornell Dairy Bar, and wandering the Cornell Botanic Gardens.

Stern School of Business, New York University

Location: New York, New York

Undergraduate enrollment: 28,772

Admission rate: 13%

6-year graduation rate: 87%

Tuition and fees: $56,500 

The Stern School of Business at New York University - often shortened to NYU Stern - offers many undergraduate and graduate business degrees. Don't want to move to New York City? NYU has some online programs, too.

High school students can apply to Stern's BS in Business program, BS in Business and Political Economy program, or the BS in Business, Technology, and Entrepreneurship program.

If you want a master's degree (props for your decisiveness!), you can apply for the BS in Business/MS in Accounting dual degree program. Or, if you dream of working in TV and film, NYU has a unique BS in Business/BFA in Film and Television.

Eli Broad College of Business, Michigan State University

Location: East Lansing, Michigan

Undergraduate enrollment: 38,574

Admission rate: 83%

6-year graduation rate: 82%

Tuition and fees: $14,750 (in-state), $40,562 (out-of-state)

At the Eli Broad College of Business at Michigan State University, you can choose from seven majors and nine minors - including a highly ranked supply chain management program - to create an option right for you.

MSU has the highest acceptance rate on our list, making MSU an especially great choice.

MSU has the best of both worlds: It's considered the second-best party school in Michigan (if that's your thing) and has Big Ten sports teams sure to make your weekends great. But its academics are pretty awesome, too, with an honors college, world-class faculty, and numerous research opportunities.

McIntire School of Commerce, University of Virginia

Location: Charlottesville, Virginia

Undergraduate enrollment: 17,294

Admission rate: 21%

6-year graduation rate: 94%

Tuition and fees: $19,244 (in-state), $53,626 (out-of-state)

Live in Virginia and want to graduate with little to no debt? UVA students graduate with less student debt compared to state and national averages. Its McIntire School of Commerce at the University of Virginia is a great public school that draws many non-Virginians to Charlottesville.

While pursuing a BS in Commerce, you can choose from five concentrations and three minors, including real estate and entrepreneurship.

UVA students must complete two years in the liberal arts before they begin their BS at McIntire, so you're sure to have a well-rounded education and meet a lot of Cavaliers outside your major.

Odd team name aside, UVA is a great choice if you want the sports of a big school, the close-knit community of a small school, and the perks of living in a top-tier city.

Other universities to consider

While these schools might not make it to the Top 10 list, the next six schools have similar outcomes and could be less competitive for you to apply. Remember, it doesn't matter where a school ranks; what matters is your hard work and dedication to succeed in college. So, put in the effort, and you'll get there!

Why should you choose an undergrad business school?

There are plenty of majors and courses, so why should you attend an undergrad business school?

While it's possible to wait to attend a business school until graduate school, getting a business degree at an undergraduate business school can help you get a leg up in your business career.

Undergraduate business schools often offer more than just one type of business major, unlike many colleges with an overarching "business" major. The best undergrad business schools allow you to specialize in an area of your choice, such as real estate, supply chain management, and entrepreneurship.

What are the most sought-after business majors?

Companies are always looking to hire students with business experience. The top three most sought-after business majors in 2024 are:

  • Finance
  • Accounting
  • Business administration/management

Finance and accounting majors delve into the monetary side of business and can pursue jobs like financial adviser, risk manager, and financial manager. If you like numbers, this path is for you.

Business administration and management are for those who want to take charge. These grads have a wide range of skills related to running a business and often seek consultant or sales manager roles.

Easily compare your top business school choices with College Rover

Applying to colleges and choosing a school to attend can be a lengthy and stressful process. Thankfully, College Rover can help make the experience easier and - dare we say it - fun.

College Rover's suite of search tools can help you make the best college decision. Check out our college search feature, which lets you filter schools by size, location, majors, and more.

If you're a fan of pro/con lists, you'll love our tool for comparing colleges.

College Rover gets the majority of its data directly from the U.S. Department of Education (DOE). The DOE publishing schedule "lags" the most current data which some colleges post on their official websites. This may cause there to be a difference in the data you see on College Rover and an individual college website. College Rover's website is updated as the DOE data becomes available and is configured for the College Rover website.