COBI’s undergraduate program nationally ranked by Businessweek

The University of Toledo College of Business and Innovation’s undergraduate program  has been ranked by Businessweek for the first time in the just released Businessweek’s Top Undergraduate Business Schools ranking for 2013.

“It is a tremendous recognition for the College of Business and Innovation (COBI) to be ranked #116 in the nation by Businessweek,” noted Dr. Thomas Sharkey, COBI Interim Dean.  “This is the first time COBI has been ranked by Businessweek, and this ranking reflects the remarkable work performed by the COBI faculty, advisors, students and staff, day after day, year after year.”

“There are a total of 1,654 schools in the United States offering business programs,” noted Dr. Terribeth Gordon Moore, COBI Senior Associate Dean. “To identify the top undergraduate business programs Bloomberg BusinessWeek uses a methodology that includes nine measures of student satisfaction, post-graduation outcomes, and academic quality. During the ranking process, seven new colleges of business were invited to participate this year and we were one of the seven.   The student survey portion ranked us 95^th within the student satisfaction segment, which we believe is outstanding.”

Founded in 1929, Bloomberg Businessweek magazine is a market leader, with more than 4.7 million readers each week in 140 countries.

Sharkey said.  “It is particularly rewarding to obtain this ranking so recently after our continuing recognition by U.S. News and World Report and Eduniversal.”

U.S. News and World report ranked COBI as the only Ohio program in the top 50 in their 2013 Best Online Graduate Business Programs.

Eduniversal, an international higher education ranking agency, rated COBI Excellent and included it as the only Northwest Ohio business school in its list of 180 schools in North America in its fifth edition of the Best 1000 Business Schools in 154 Countries, 2012. Earlier this year Eduniversal also ranked COBI’s Human Resources Management program #37 in North America and one of the top 200 HR masters programs worldwide.

“This recognition by a series of prestigious publications and organizations validates what we have long known; that COBI is a premier provider of business education programs, not only in Northwest Ohio, but throughout the United States and around the world,” Sharkey said.  

COBI students surveyed by Businessweek for the ranking echoed that sentiment as they identified what makes COBI unique.  Their comments included:

“The collaboration between local business and the college really helps students network and take part in internships.”

“Real life experience, great selection of professional business organizations to help you network, and plenty of knowledgeable teachers that are willing to help. “

"They provide us with so much knowledge and skills relating to the real world - - group projects, resume writing sessions, daily e-mails about job opportunities and scholarships, etiquette dinners, mock interviews, sales role plays, etc.  They put a lot of effort into making us successful and marketable.”

“Role plays, required internship, virtual programs, group projects, and the ability to participate in regional and national competitions.”

“Our Professional Sales program went above and beyond. One of the major worries of students these days is finding a job after graduation.  I had to turn down job offers that were being thrown at me.”

“UT COBI program stands out from the rest because of how student centered they are. The interactions they have with the students is far and beyond what they have to do. They want to prepare you in the best way possible and they continue to do that every year.”