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Robins School of Business jumps to No. 12 among America's top undergraduate programs in 2009 BusinessWeek rankings

March 2, 2009

BusinessWeek ranks the Robins School of Business at the University of Richmond No. 12 among America's top undergraduate business programs, in the 2009 annual rankings released Feb. 26.

The Robins School moved up from No. 20 on last year's list, No. 23 in 2007 and No. 25 in 2006—the first year that BusinessWeek published rankings.

To identify the top programs, BusinessWeek used nine measures of student satisfaction, post-graduation outcomes and academic quality. The Robins School tied the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School and Wake Forest University's Calloway School for No. 1 in academic quality.

Robins scored the highest-possible mark—A-plus—in both teaching quality and facilities and services. Other standout factors included a faculty-student ratio among the lowest of the top 50; high rank as an MBA feeder school (sending the most graduates on to the top 35 MBA programs); strong student engagement in academic activity; a jump in reputation among recruiters and student satisfaction; and a continuing increase in graduate's median starting salaries.

Jorge Haddock, the school's dean, said that high-quality faculty and students, strong corporate support and alumni backing continue to drive Richmond's rise.

“The generosity of alumni and friends enables us to provide students with a small-class
environment that is conducive to high-quality education. And the median starting salary of our graduates has increased again this year, continuing the upward trend of the past several years,” Haddock said.

The Robins School of Business is the only fully accredited, top-ranked undergraduate business school that also is part of a top-ranked liberal arts university. BusinessWeek also recognizes the school as having one of the top 15 part-time MBA programs in the country. Its executive education division offers open enrollment courses and customized leadership development programs for individuals and businesses.