Business programs are ranked based on post-graduation employment statistics, academic quality, applicants' test scores and student reviews. Having a respected faculty and small classes can help a university receive a top ranking, because they enable students to learn effectively and know their professors. Because of the widespread access to rankings by Bloomberg Businessweek, colleges previously overlooked are gaining new attention, such as Lehigh University, while many that have always been well respected, such as Wharton and Notre Dame, have stayed high in the rankings.
Business schools have worked to change their curriculum to meet the demands of the real world as well as the students. Training is focused on leadership and management skills, helping graduates know how to deal with groups of people. The programs allow for specialized classes as well, giving students a chance to explore the types of positions they might be interested in upon graduation.
The programs also offer real-world experience through externships during the school years and internships afterward, giving students the opportunity to make connections for future employment.
Business majors can specialize even further. You can choose to focus on accounting, finance, management, marketing, supply chain management or international business. Specializing can help prepare you more thoroughly for a career.
In looking at your future, consider your minor as well. You can choose another area of business or you could expand your horizons and minor in a language. Languages can be helpful when you are working internationally. If you are majoring in finance, having a minor in a specialized math area such as statistics could complement your major. A communications minor can expand your ability to work with others and express yourself clearly with clients and employees. Knowing yourself is the most important part of deciding how best to move through your education to your future.