December 11, 2008

Krannert's executive MBA ranks 14th in WSJ value poll

Five years after graduation, the value of the Krannert degree ranked 14th when factoring in the cost of education. The WSJ article also noted that for public universities, low tuition and a cost-efficient approach often bring more value than brand names.

"This ranking confirms the quality and value of a Krannert executive MBA," said Richard A. Cosier, Leeds Professor of Management and dean of the Krannert School. "This is especially important during the current economic downturn. Our students know that a Krannert executive MBA is a smart investment in their futures."

Jerry Lynch, academic director of full-time and executive education master's programs, said further analysis of the data also shows that Krannert's executive MBA program ranks as both one of the best in the country as well as one of the best values for the money.

"Five of the schools that placed above Purdue in the return on investment data were not ranked by the Wall Street Journal in its September ratings of the best executive MBAs in the country," Lynch said. "Among those schools that were included in both the high quality and the value rankings, our program placed ninth for the best return on investment."

Texas A&M's Mays School of Business ranked No. 1. The University of Florida, Ohio State University, the University of California at Los Angeles and the University of Texas at Austin rounded out the top five. The University of Notre Dame's Mendoza School of Business was the only other Indiana school included, ranking No. 9.  

The ratings were released Wednesday (Dec. 10) and are based on data collected for The Wall Street Journal's September ranking of executive MBA programs. Working with Management Research Group of Portland, Maine, the newspaper examined responses from its summer 2008 survey of executive MBA graduates for data about salary, raises received after graduation, company sponsorship figures, tuition and out-of-pocket costs.

The information was used to calculate the return on investment for 27 U.S. programs and nine international programs. Costs were calculated by combining tuition payouts and the out-of-pocket expenses reported by graduates.

Krannert's program ranked No. 22 overall and was No. 8 among U.S. public institutions in ratings released by the Wall Street Journal in September. Purdue was the only Indiana college included in the top 25 of those rankings.

The Executive MBA program at Purdue is a two-year degree tailored for mid-career managers who aspire to reach senior executive positions. The format is designed to allow professionals to pursue their degree while maintaining current job responsibilities anywhere in the world. The program includes six concentrated two-week residential sessions over a 22-month period.

In addition to the Executive MBA program, the Krannert School offers the International Master's in Management and the Weekend MBA to working professionals who want to balance the pursuit of their MBA with career and family responsibilities.

Writer: Tanya Brown, (765) 494-2079, tanyabrown@purdue.edu

Sources: Richard Cosier, (765) 494-4366, rcosier@purdue.edu

Jerry Lynch, (765) 494-4388, lynch@purdue.edu

Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu

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