Financial Times names Wake Forest among world's best MBA programs

The MBA program in the Wake Forest University Schools of Business again ranks among the best 100 globally and among the top 50 in the U.S, according to the Financial Times of London.

Overall, the Wake Forest Schools of Business ranked 79th in the world and 47th among U.S. graduate business programs in the Times’ 2010 global 100. In 2009, the program ranked 86th and 49th, respectively. For graduates of the Wake Forest MBA program, the weighted three-year average salary increase was 113 percent, leading to ranking of 11th in the U.S. The data for the rankings was provided by the MBA Class of 2006. The increase in salary is calculated using the graduates’ pre-MBA salary and their salary three years after graduation.

“It’s rewarding to see the Wake Forest MBA program gain recognition in the international arena,” said Dr. Sherry Moss, Director of Full-time MBA Program and Associate Professor of Organizational Studies. “This ranking is particularly significant for us because the bulk of the data is provided by our alumni. Their success improved our global standing in this survey.”

The school also was 24th among U.S. schools and 68th globally for “value for money,” determined by taking alumni salaries three years after graduation and subtracting course costs in addition to the opportunity cost of not working while attending MBA school, and ranked 21st in the U.S. in regard to graduates securing a full-time job within three months of graduation.

For the past 12 years, the Financial Times has produced a ranking of full-time MBA programs. European or U.S. schools must be accredited by an international accreditation body such as AACSB, Equis or Amba; it must have a full-time MBA program that has been running for at least four years; and it must have graduated its first class at least three years ago, according to the Times.

The rankings are based on data collected from two main sources, alumni and business schools. This year a total of 156 business schools met the criteria for participation and completed the school survey provided. Some 21,328 alumni, of the graduating class of 2006, were then asked to complete an alumni survey and just over 8,000 responses were submitted.

The Times always surveys graduates three years after they have completed the degree to assess the effect of the MBA on their subsequent career progression and salary growth.

For a complete list, visit http://rankings.ft.com/businessschoolrankings/global-mba-rankings.