MBA list shows Y. gaining strength

PROVO — Brigham Young University's business school moved up 12 spots to land at No. 51 on The Financial Times of London's fifth annual rankings of the world's top 100 business programs.

The newspaper reported that BYU's improvement flies in the face of a weak American economy that has tightened the job market for U.S. business school graduates and depressed the salaries of those who do find jobs.

BYU's Marriott School of Management was ranked 75th in 2001 and 63rd last year.

In addition to the overall ranking, BYU was tied for third in value for money, with alumni earning $3.6 in salary in the first three years after graduation for every $1 spent on a master of business administration degree.

Only Canada's York University and Finland's Helsinki School of Economics produced higher returns on investment.

For the past two years, Business Week magazine has ranked BYU first among U.S. business schools in return on investment.

"We're pleased with the recognition that BYU and the Marriott School continue to receive from The Financial Times and other prominent business school rankings," BYU President Merrill J. Bateman said. "The recognition is evidence of the school's strong academics and our graduates' ability to add value to companies and organizations around the world."

The school's finance program, which emphasizes investments and corporate finance, was ranked ninth in the world based on a survey of satisfaction among BYU alumni.

BYU also placed ninth among North American schools for salary percentage increase. Three years after graduation, Marriott students earn an average of 196 percent more than they did when they started the program.

"This study suggests the value of an MBA degree that exists today, despite economic challenges," said Ron Seamons, assistant dean at the Marriott School. "The time a student invests in a degree will still pay great dividends."

The strength of BYU's job placement — 89 percent of 1999 graduates were employed within three months of graduation — and the salaries earned by graduates was unusual.

Only 18 of the 54 U.S. business schools on the list rose in the rankings. Only Ohio State, which jumped from 55th to 39th, climbed more spots than BYU.

"The majority of schools last year had a very difficult time placing students because corporations weren't hiring as they had in recent years," Seamons said.

The rankings are compiled from two questionnaires and an independent assessment of research. One questionnaire was completed by alumni who graduated in 1999.

A second was completed by each school. The paper evaluated business schools on six continents for its 2003 MBA rankings published Jan. 20.

"One of the greatest attractions to recruiters is the high caliber of our students and their unique international perspective," Marriott dean Ned C. Hill said. "We also attribute our success to wonderful alumni who stepped up their support and help with placement in a difficult economy."

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