Pitt Business: Joseph M. Katz Graduate School of Business & College of Business Administration

Press Release

August 24, 2006

U.S. News & World Report Ranks Pitt’s College of Business Administration 42nd Overall Among Undergraduate Business Programs

PITTSBURGH—In U.S. News & World Report’s most recent rankings of undergraduate business programs released August 18 the University of Pittsburgh’s College of Business Administration (CBA) was ranked 42nd overall and 25th among public universities. The rankings were based on evaluations provided by deans and senior faculty of Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business-accredited institutions (two individuals per school were surveyed and the response rate was 45 percent). On a scale of one (low) to five (high), CBA’s peer assessment score was 3.3.

“I am proud that we are included among the top 50 undergraduate business programs and top 25 among public universities,” said John T. Delaney, dean of Pitt’s Joseph M. Katz Graduate School of Business and CBA and a professor of business administration. “It puts us in good company. The ranking also is a testament to the steady, quality progress made in the CBA over the past few years.”

According to Delaney, last year—CBA’s 10th year—525 students received the Bachelors of Science in Business Administration degree. Almost 26 percent of the graduates received honors with a cumulative grade point average of 3.5 or higher.

CBA’s progress is being recognized in other ways too, Delaney explained. “Our new freshman class will begin with 286 students, up 11 percent from last year,” he said. “The average SAT® score is 1,245—an improvement of 14 points over last year—and 45 percent of our new recruits graduated in the top 10 percent of their high school class—up from 34 percent last year.”

Rankings are an important indicator of external perceptions of CBA’s progress. In an August 24 message to faculty and staff of CBA and the Katz School, Delaney wrote, “While we should not use them as the sole measure of our success, we cannot ignore them. [Our goal is] to create and provide an outstanding education in business. Our successful efforts to prepare students for their future careers will influence our standing within and outside the University.”