By Rachel Hugenberg

The University of Louisville College of Business is raising the bar on education, and this shows in its recent rankings. According to Bloomberg Businessweek magazine, the College of Business ranked in the top 10 percent for business schools in the United States. The college ranked No. 111 out of roughly 1,500 schools on the list, placing it in the 93rd percentile. Additionally, it was the top-ranked college of business in Kentucky.

“The variables that make up rankings are student quality, faculty quality, community involvement and jobs after graduation,” said Charles Moyer, the dean of the College of Business.

Students at the College of Business are required to keep a 3.0 minimum grade point average, which is higher than the state requirement of 2.5.

“If we raise the benchmark, it becomes an expectation,” said Vernon Foster, director of Business Solutions for the College of Business. Business Solutions helps connect U of L business students with local businesses, providing benefits for both parties involved.

In addition to the Bloomberg Businessweek rankings, the College of Business has also shown success in the latest U.S. News and World Report rankings. In the assessment of part-time MBA programs, U of L placed No. 59 overall and No. 29 among public universities.

College of Business students have also raised the bar for themselves, by participating in study abroad programs and business competitions.

TNG Pharmaceuticals, a business plan developed by U of L business graduate students, has recently won business competitions in both Ohio and Nebraska and qualified for two different international competitions.

A large part of the success of the College of Business is the quality faculty. The faculty members have real-world experience starting and advancing businesses and have won numerous awards for research and teaching.

“We have hired some really terrific scholars,” said Moyer.

These rankings could not be possible without the involvement of the Louisville business community. The College of Business continues to partner with businesses such as Brown-Forman, Walmart, BB&T and Texas Roadhouse.

“We just announced a grant for the PNC Professorship of Banking and Finance,” said Moyer.

Students in the College of Business are often selected for internships, co-ops and study abroad programs. In fact, the new full-time MBA program includes both an 11-month paid internship with a local business and a 10-day international trip.

Resources such as the Ulmer Career Management Center help students obtains jobs – both before and after graduation – as the career center provides everything from résumé assistance to one-on-one career coaching.

“It’s about enhancing communication skills and bringing out the best in the individual,” said Foster.

This kind of personalized attention is what makes the College of Business in the top 10 percent.

“It’s a smaller college, but it’s really closely knit,” said Abby Sperry, a junior accounting major.