BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business again has been recognized by the Princeton Review for its efforts to deliver their signature MBA programs online and in-residence through their latest “best business schools” rankings.
For the sixth consecutive year, its Kelley Direct Online MBA Program is ranked No. 1 in the Princeton Review’s “Top 50 Online MBA Programs for 2023.”
IU President Pamela Whitten
While the Princeton Review does not provide a similar overall ranking of “on-campus MBA programs,” it did rank Kelley’s Full-Time MBA Program as a top 10 program in six – or a third — of 18 categories reflecting its quality – both inside and outside of the classroom. The Full-Time MBA program was ranked as the second-best MBA for marketing and the 10th best for consulting. It is the fourth most family-friendly program, is seventh for “best professors” and is ranked ninth for “best classroom experience.” It also is the 10th best administered program.
“These impressive rankings are the latest in a series of global recognitions, continuing a long tradition of excellence at the Kelley School of Business,” said IU President Pamela Whitten. “This latest achievement is a testament to the Kelley School’s unwavering dedication to a world-class business education and the tireless efforts of our faculty, staff and students. It also reinforces our commitment to academic excellence and bolsters Indiana University’s reputation as a leader in business education.”
“These rankings reflect breadth and depth of the dedication and commitment from our faculty and staff in delivering a highly ranked, impactful business education to our students, whatever the modality,” said Ash Soni, dean of the Kelley School of Business and The Sungkyunkwan Professor. “Whether students choose to earn an MBA online, in-residence in Bloomington or part-time in Indianapolis, we provide business professionals with what they need to succeed.”
Celebrating a No. 1 ranking isn’t new for Kelley Direct, as this photo taken in May demonstrates.
A banner year for Kelley Direct, which is celebrating its 25th anniversary
In addition to again being at the top of the Princeton Review’s “Top 50 Online MBA Programs,” Kelley Direct was named the No. 1 program by U.S. News & World Report (for the third consecutive year), Fortune and Poets&Quants (for the third time). QS Quacquarelli Symonds, the world’s leading provider of services, analytics and insight to the global higher education sector, ranked it No. 1 among all programs in the Americas.
Created in 1999, Kelley Direct is the original online MBA program from a top-tier business school. The program is uniquely designed to meet the needs of working professionals.
Will Geoghegan
Will Geoghegan, chair of Kelley Direct, Schuyler F. Otteson Distinguished Fellow for Kelley Direct Leadership and clinical professor of management and entrepreneurship, noted that the No. 1 ranking not only is indicative of the program’s quality, but it also reflects the quality of its students.
“We are grateful for Princeton Review’s recognition for the sixth consecutive year, providing further validation of the Kelley Direct MBA program,” Geoghegan said. “Receiving yet another top ranking this year is incredibly gratifying. We are dedicated to maintaining the high quality of our program, continuously seeking new opportunities for student engagement with peers, faculty, and staff. It’s our mission that our students see that they are learning with the best, in addition to learning from the best.”
In its profile of Kelley Direct, editors wrote that it is “the only top tier program that was affordable and value-adding.”
All Kelley Direct courses are designed and taught by more than 130 dedicated full-time Kelley faculty. This ensures that students receive a unique and personalized education that includes in-person and immersive experiences. They include Kelley On Campus, which involves a live case where students apply what they’re learning in a real-world setting that also benefits a real client; Kelley On Location, which offers optional global and domestic immersions tailored to the students’ goals; and Kelley On Innovation, which allows students to apply their growing knowledge and skill-set to dive deep into an industry, geographic region, or emerging challenge shaping the business landscape today.
Princeton Review’s rankings of online MBA programs are based on data from the company’s surveys in 2024 of administrators at 165 business schools, as well as information requested from each online MBA program’s admissions, selectivity, faculty training and credentials, technological infrastructure, graduation rates, and career outcomes. It also surveyed more than 10,700 students, about their program’s academics, faculty, technology platform and other topics.
Me, Inc., a professional development program that is unique to the Kelley Full-Time MBA Program, enables students to develop an in-depth understanding of their personal story and how it connects to the next steps in their career even before classes begin.
Full-Time MBA Program recognized for outstanding teaching and career preparation, family-friendly community
John D. Hill
“The rankings across so many different areas demonstrate the Kelley Full-Time MBA Program’s commitment to student learning and professional development,” said John D. Hill, faculty chair of the Full-Time MBA Program. “We have the resources to support students regardless of their career goals.”
“Kelley’s faculty are dedicated to delivering outstanding learning experiences in the Core, electives, and our signature career foundation academies,” added Gale Gold Nichols, executive director of the Full-Time MBA Program. “The rankings for classroom experience, faculty, marketing, and consulting reflect that dedication.
Hill points to the success of a foundational program called “Me, Inc,” a professional development program that provides each student with a personal career coach who works with them to think through and identify the right career fit for their skills, personality and values. Me, Inc., also prepares students for internship recruiting, which begins very quickly after beginning their first year in the MBA program. It helps them land the summer position they are looking for and leads to better career outcomes because they know what they want to do.
“Our staff work hard to provide an outstanding student experience, work with academic departments to get students into their chosen classes, and respond quickly to student inquiries and feedback,” Nichols added.
Another example she cited was the program’s active Partners Club, which organizes activities for and builds community among our students, partners, and children. Many events, including holiday and cultural celebrations, tailgates and its annual Little 500 tricycle race, are open to the whole Kelley MBA family.
“And Bloomington is a family-friendly city, with great schools, parks, activities for children,” she said, adding, “and it’s affordable, too.”
In addition to earlier mentioned U.S. News rankings of Kelley Direct and the Full-Time programs, the publication also ranked the Evening MBA Program at the Kelley School at IU Indianapolis 13th. As a part-time program, students attend courses at night and return to work the next day with fresh ideas they can deploy to confront challenges in their organizations.