Nearly all MBA programs and business schools will say that they are accredited. However, not all accreditations are the same. Most schools have institutional accreditation. This is not the same as accreditation of an MBA program by a business professional organization. While many specialized accreditations for business are available, AACSB is considered the “gold standard” or the benchmark because it has the most stringent requirements. Of the more than 16,000 schools worldwide granting business degrees, about 5 percent have earned AACSB accreditation.
It means something to be an AACSB accredited business school…We have objective evidence that shows that it makes a difference if you graduate from an AACSB accredited school.
– Stephanie Bryant, Chief Accreditation Officer, AACSB International
Earning your MBA is a big investment. In addition to the monetary cost, you will spend many hours studying, writing papers, taking exams, and working on projects. It is important to choose a school that will provide you a quality education. Your efforts should lead to enhanced knowledge, skills, and abilities needed for a successful career in business.
The fundamental purpose of AACSB accreditation is to encourage business schools and MBA programs to hold themselves accountable for improving business practice through a commitment to strategic management and innovation; learner success, and thought leadership, engagement, and societal impact. AACSB-accredited schools must demonstrate quality in each of these areas. As a result of AACSB’s mission-driven peer review process, accredited schools’ students receive assurance that the school aligns with AACSB quality standards, and that their business school is part of an international network of business thought leaders.
When students select a school, one of the things they should always look at is accreditation…It means something to be an AACSB accredited business school…You know going in, as a student, you’re going to get a certain level of quality. It kind of means the same thing for employers, on the other side, that the students who graduate from an AACSB school are going to be a different level, a different quality, both technically, and with soft skills, than if they didn’t have that accreditation background, as a school.
-Stephanie Bryant, Chief Accreditation Officer, AACSB International
Learn more about AACSB accreditation.
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