October 14, 2016

Darden Again Named the World’s Best Graduate Business Education Experience

David Hendrick | Business & Government

Darden entrance and lawn — UVA’s Darden School of Business offers the best educational experience among the world’s MBA programs, according to The Economist’s annual rankings.

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The Economist has once again – for the sixth consecutive year – named the University of Virginia’s Darden School of Business as the No. 1 graduate business education experience in the world.

The accolade is part of the publication’s annual “Which MBA?” 2016 global rankings, listing the top 100 full-time international MBA programs.

The Economist also named Darden the No. 3 overall MBA program in the world.

“Being named the best education experience in the world is a significant achievement,” Darden Dean Scott Beardsley said. “These rankings continue to validate the hard work and commitment of our students, alumni, faculty and staff as we seek to reach the full potential of our mission to produce global and responsible leaders who change the world.”

The Darden School’s transformational learning environment features faculty renowned for their teaching excellence, a supportive and engaged student body and a dynamic alumni network. Students emerge from Darden as agile, lifelong learners who are uniquely prepared to act decisively and responsibly and to step forward into leadership roles and improve the world.

Other Darden rankings in the Which MBA? list include:

No. 3 for “Personal Development and Educational Experience”
No. 5 for “Open New Career Opportunities”
No. 8 for “Student Rating of Alumni Effectiveness”

The ranking comprises four categories: opening new career opportunities (35 percent), personal development and educational experience (35 percent), increasing salary (20 percent) and the potential to network (10 percent). (See the full methodology here.)

Data collected from the schools also include the number of international students, registered alumni and active alumni branches or chapters.

The top five schools in the Which MBA? 2016 rankings are:

University of Chicago Booth School of Business
Northwestern University Kellogg School of Management
University of Virginia Darden School of Business
Harvard Business School
Stanford University Graduate School of Business