Brigham Young University's Marriott School was listed as one of the top programs for delivering the fastest return on investment by Forbes and as one of the leading international business schools by Financial Times.
In Forbes' upcoming Feb. 4 "The Bottom Line on B-Schools" issue, the Marriott School's MBA program ranked 4th among regional programs providing the "biggest bang for the buck." Marriott School graduates reported an average salary increase of more than $60,000 from the time they entered the program to four years after graduation. The school's 3.6 years-to-break-even ratio competes with other top 50 business schools, including top-ranked Harvard at 3.3 and Stanford at 3.5.
"We're pleased to have performed well on a value basis, which is the right way to think about any business, including a business school," said Henry J. Eyring, director of the Marriott School's MBA program. "We give our students a good return on their investment not just because of low tuition but also because the education we provide prepares them to become effective managers for organizations worldwide."
Instead of comparing starting salaries of recent graduates, the Forbes survey compares the income gained after graduation with the costs of obtaining an MBA. It takes into account the salary graduates were making before entering school, the salary lost during two years of school, the salary received upon graduation and the salary earned four years after graduation.
Financial Times, London's premier financial newspaper, also rated the Marriott School high for its return on investment in a survey comparing business schools covering five continents. The school was listed among the top ten business schools worldwide for its finance program. Overall, the Marriott School was ranked 71st in the world for its international education.
"This ranking is impressive considering that this is the first year we've been considered in the survey," said Ned C. Hill, dean of the Marriott School. "Our ranking demonstrates our move towards developing an international curriculum and attracting international students."
One of the greatest attractions that brings recruiters to the Marriott School is the uncommon number of bilingual students and the number of languages taught at BYU and the MBA program. The university offers training in 62 languages. In addition, the Marriott School offers business-language training in nine languages. Nearly 80 percent of the school's students are bilingual, more than 20 percent speak a third language and most have lived abroad.
The Financial Times also singled out the Marriott School as the most web-friendly school. Nearly 80 percent of alumni returned their surveys via the Internet. The Financial Times survey, released Jan. 24, covered a broad range of categories, including salary percentage increases, value for money, placement success, faculty with PhDs and international focus.
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Writer: Peter Carr