Princeton Review again honors
MBA program

The master's program in NAU's W.A. Franke College of Business has again earned high marks from the Princeton Review.

In the 2008 Best 290 Business Schools, the MBA program ranked in three top-10 categories: No. 4 for Best Professors, No. 9 for Best Campus Facilities, and No. 10 for Greatest Opportunity for Minority Students.

NAU also was ranked in the 2007 edition. The rankings are based on a three-year survey of about 19,000 students at more than 290 accredited MBA-granting colleges.

"We're honored to be recognized by students and we're pleased with the national exposure this brings," said Mason Gerety, dean of The W.A. Franke College of Business. "This is another piece of evidence to demonstrate how our college invests in excellence."

In surveys taken by Princeton Review, NAU students reported that the MBA program "is intense and fun at the same time," leaving them "better prepared and more knowledgeable in regard to the major business functions, such as marketing, management, finance and accounting."

Another student said, "Professors strive to enrich students' professional and business skills to prepare them for success in the work force."

The rankings in the "Best Professor" category stems from "professors interesting" and "professor accessible" ratings. The ranking for "Best Campus Facilities" is based on student assessment of the quality of the classroom.

The spectacular new Business building opened in January 2006 and it is anticipated that it will be awarded a "Silver" from U.S. Green Building Council's LEED rating system.

The "Greatest Opportunity for Minority Students" is based on the percentage of students from minorities, the percent of faculty from minorities, and student assessment of: resources for minority students, how supportive the culture is of minority students and whether fellow students are ethnically and racially diverse.

"Diversity is a key attribute of our MBA program," said Jane Thompson, director of NAU's program. "We believe it enhances the global perspective of all our students, which is one of our goals."

MBA students also praised NAU's student life and recreational opportunities.

The Princeton Review's Best 290 Business Schools is now available in bookstores and online.