March 5, 2010
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Dave Christy
Orfalea College of Business
805-756-2705; dchristy@calpoly.edu

Cal Poly’s Orfalea College of Business Moves Up
On Business Week’s Top B-School List

SAN LUIS OBISPO – Cal Poly’s Orfalea College of Business once again has been named to Business Week magazine’s list of the nation’s top undergraduate business colleges, moving up to No. 64 on the 2010 list.

The magazine ranked 111 schools this year. Cal Poly jumped up from No. 70 on the 2009 list and is again one of only two public universities in California – along with UC Berkeley, which is ranked No. 6 – to make the list.

Only three other California colleges were named to the list: USC (24), University of San Diego (28) and Santa Clara University (39).

Business Week bases its rankings on a recruiter survey, median starting salaries for graduates, the number of grads admitted to 35 top MBA programs, and an academic quality measure that consists of SAT/ACT test scores, faculty-student ratios, average size of core classes, percentage of students with internships, and the number of hours students spend preparing for class each week.

Dave Christy, dean of the Orfalea College of Business, said Cal Poly’s ascension up the Business Week list is proof that the program is achieving its goal of preparing graduates who are ready to contribute to the workforce on Day One.

“Our hands-on, comprehensive curriculum produces well-rounded, experienced graduates who can make an immediate impact in the world,” Christy said. “These rankings consider satisfaction by both employers and students, which confirms that our faculty members are well connected with the needs of business.”

In addition to its overall ranking, the Orfalea College of Business scored well in individual areas examined in the Business Week listing, including:

  • No. 11 in positive responses from corporate recruiters asked to rank schools on best grads, most innovative curricula and most effective career services
  • No. 14 for lowest annual cost, at $6,498
  • No. 30 for graduates’ median starting salary, at $52,000
  • No. 36 for students’ average ACT score, at 26.5

To read more about the Business Week list, visit: http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/toc/10_11/B4170best_undergrad_bschools.htm?campaign_id=magazine_related.

For the comprehensive list, log on to: http://bwnt.businessweek.com/bschools/undergraduate/10rankings/index.asp?sortCol=rankid&sortOrder=1&pageNum=1&resultNum=50.

# # #