CBA Named a "BEST" Business School by The Princeton Review

The College of Business Administration (CBA) at The University of Akron is one of the nation’s most outstanding business schools, according to The Princeton Review. The education services company profiles the CBA in the new 2016 edition of its annual book, "The Best 295 Business Schools" (Penguin Random House / Princeton Review Books, October 6, 2015, $26.99) and on its site.

According to Robert Franek, Princeton Review Senior VP-Publisher, "We recommend the College of Business Administration (CBA) at The University of Akron as one of the best institutions at which to earn an MBA degree. We chose the 295 schools in this book based on our high regard for their academics and our assessment of institutional data we collect from the schools. We also solicited and greatly respect the opinions of 22,000 students attending these schools who reported on their experiences at their schools on our 80-question student survey for the book."

The Princeton Review's survey asked students at the 295 business schools about their school's academics, student body, and campus life as well as about themselves and their career plans. The student surveys that were used for this edition were completed online and conducted in the 2014-15, 2013-14, and 2012-13 academic years.

“We are proud to be recognized as one of the nation’s top business programs,” says Dr. Ravi Krovi, CBA Dean and Professor of Management and Information Systems. “This accolade, in addition to other recent rankings and our status as an accredited business school, reflects our commitment to be a premier business school. The CBA prepares students for success through globally ranked programs, deep connections to industry experiential learning, and expert faculty and thought leaders.”

"The Best 295 Business Schools" has two-page school profiles with sections on academics, student life, admissions information and graduates' employment data, as well as quotes from students. In the profile on the CBA, the Princeton Review editors note that The University of Akron’s business school provides flexible programming, including an evening MBA program which qualifying students can complete in as few as twelve months. They also noted that Akron’s location near Cleveland’s job market is an immediate plus, as is the CBA’s strong connections with major local companies.

Many of the CBA students surveyed commented on the qualifications of the school’s “fantastic” MBA program professors, who “bring real world, practical knowledge that is second to none” and provide a “rewarding” educational experience. They noted that the CBA “really prepares its students to excel in the marketplace”, and, with the school’s “strong network” and “companies in both public accounting and industry heavily recruiting here, it helps make it very easy to land a job in whichever area you prefer.”

The profiles also have five categories of ratings that The Princeton Review tallies based on institutional data it collected during the 2014-15 academic year and/or its student survey for the book. The ratings are scores on a scale of 60 to 99. Rating categories are: Academic Experience, Admissions Selectivity, Career, Professors Interesting, and Professors Accessible. Among the ratings in the CBA’s profile are scores of 84 for Academic Experience, 81 for Admissions Selectivity, and 81 for Professors Interesting. Princeton Review explains the basis for each rating score in the book

The Princeton Review does not rank the schools in the book from 1 to 295, or name one business school best overall. Instead, the book has 11 ranking lists of the top 10 business schools in various categories. Ten of the lists are based entirely or partly on The Princeton Review's surveys of students attending the schools. A few lists, such as "Best Career Prospects," use both student survey and institutional data. The list, "Toughest to Get Into," is based solely on institutional data. The Princeton Review explains the methodology for its ranking lists

The CBA is one of 236 schools in the book (80% of the 295 profiled) that do not appear on any of the book's 11 ranking lists. However, in the "Survey Says…" sidebar on the book's profile of the CBA, the editors list topics on the survey about which CBA students surveyed had the highest consensus. These include “cutting-edge classes” and “solid preparation in doing business in a global economy. Learn more about the CBA’s MBA program.

With institutes for direct marketing, entrepreneurial studies, global business, leadership advancement and professional selling, as well as close collaborations with area businesses and organizations, The University of Akron’s CBA offers unique learning opportunities that pay many dividends for its graduates. Student learning is enhanced by state of the art technology and facilities. The CBA has the largest distance learning computer lab at The University of Akron, as well as the Becky Babcock Business Analytic Lab, the Corbin Finance Laboratory and the Fisher Sales Laboratory. Get information about the many programs and opportunities at The University of Akron’s CBA.

"The Best 295 Business Schools" is one of more than 150 Princeton Review books published by Penguin Random House. The Princeton Review is an education services company known for its tutoring, admission and test-prep services, books, and other student resources. Headquartered in Natick, MA, the company is an operating business of IAC (NASDAQ: IACI). It is not affiliated with Princeton University.

MEDIA CONTACTS:

The University of Akron: Dan Minnich, Director of Media Relations, dminnich@uakron.edu

The Princeton Review: Jeanne Krier, Princeton Review Books, 212-539-1350, pressoffice@review.com