Rankings of Marketing Schools

We are a nation consumed with being number one. College programs are no different. Each year, BusinessWeek and U.S. News & World Report release their lists of the Best Colleges and Best Business Programs. Independent groups also generate lists of top programs for popular degrees, including marketing. Of course, each group uses slightly different criteria to determine which school ranks number one in any given year. But regardless of the year, the same schools usually trade the top 10 spots. Wharton, Northwestern, and Duke consistently rank among the top five marketing colleges. So how do they earn these prestigious rankings?

College rankings are determined by a combination of factors. Current business school students may participate in surveys, sharing their thoughts on the strength of the program, how the coursework prepares them for future jobs, and coursework load. Curriculum is reviewed to make sure it is innovative and thought provoking. College statistics like average SAT scores, class size, and ratios of teachers to students are examined. Corporate recruiters for large companies are asked to list which schools turn out the best graduates. The average starting salary for marketing graduates is also examined. The higher the starting salary, the better a program's ranking. Many independent rankings also take into consideration the faculty's body of work outside of the classroom. A faculty is peer reviewed by other top schools. The reviewers also examine any boards a faculty member sits on and the journals to which they contribute.

Many may ask the question, 'If I don't go to one of the top marketing schools, does it mean that I won't get a top marketing job?' The answer is no, it doesn't mean that at all. Do not expect any guarantees just because you attend one of the top schools. Some of the nation's larger companies do go to the top schools to recruit for corporate positions, but many of these same companies also recruit from state universities that aren't ranked high on the list. In fact, many great marketing jobs can be found in regional offices, with excellent opportunities for advancement. Smaller companies with tremendous opportunities also pull from schools not on the list.

Look at the rankings and criteria used to rank the school. But, don't let that be your only reason for attending a particular school in order to earn a marketing diploma.