Y. MBA program 16th on Forbes' 'best business schools' list

PROVO, Utah — Brigham Young University is among the top schools to offer MBA students the most bang for their buck, according to Forbes Magazine's biennial list of best business schools. The BYU program placed 16th for return on investment in the publication's Aug. 24 issue, two spots ahead of its position in 2007, the last time Forbes published the list."Our students are known for having a rock-solid ethical foundation and an understanding of the value of work," said Gary Cornia, dean of the Marriott School of Management at BYU. "Our program combines those valuable characteristics with the technical skills needed to succeed. As a result, businesses and firms respond in increasingly positive ways in terms of opportunities and compensation."BYU MBA graduates gained $41,000 over five years by attending graduate school, breaking even after 3.9 years. Their average salary five years after graduating was $105,000, compared to $45,000 before entering the program. The BYU program had the lowest tuition of any school in the top 20.Forbes compiles the rankings by comparing the salaries of MBA students before school and five years after graduation. The magazine reports the total return on investment after subtracting what a student's salary would have been and the total cost of attending, including tuition and foregone compensation.Stanford ranked first on the list, with a $85,000 return on investment, followed by Dartmouth at $80,000 and Harvard at $79,000.Approximately 3,000 students are enrolled in the Marriott School's graduate and undergraduate programs.