Leeds Achieves #21 on Best Undergraduate Business Schools List for Public Universities

The Leeds School of Business at the University of Colorado Boulder placed at No. 21 among public universities (and No. 32 overall) in the most recent release of the 2017 US News & World Report rankings of the nation’s best undergraduate business schools. Leeds out performed schools such as Tulane and Pepperdine on the list, which consists of 184 business schools.

The rankings were based on seven weighted areas: graduation and retention rates (22.5%), assessment of excellence (22.5%), faculty resources (20%), student selectivity (12.5%), financial resources (10%), graduation rate performance (7.5%) and alumni giving (5%).

Leeds high placement on the Best Business School list is the result of a five-year undergraduate strategy developed by Associate Dean of Undergraduate Affairs, Al Smith, and successfully implemented across multiple staff and faculty departments. The strategy revolves around an initiative called the “whole student experience”, which is a holistic educational approach designed to prepare students for success in the 21^st century. The approach focuses development of all programs and experiences to build and challenge student capabilities inside and outside the classroom in six core areas ranging from globalization and ethics to innovation and leadership.

Retention, often considered a key benchmark of overall student success and program effectiveness, is a key outcome of the whole student experience. Leeds has a first-year retention rate above 90 percent, a key factor in the retention calculation used by U.S. News & World Report. Another reason why Leeds lands at 21st among public universities and 32nd overall for best undergraduate business schools.