Considering a Graduate Business Degree?
Plan Wisely For This Important Step in Your Future.

By AACSB International

In this fast-changing global economy, many business professionals are wondering what is next on the horizon. Currently, those in management level positions may find themselves thinking, “What should I do to increase my own competitive advantage?” Similarly younger professionals find themselves asking “Is management still an attractive career path for me?” The answer for both is yes—with proper preparation.

Invest in your Career. Today’s graduate business degree offers countless opportunities and directions. No matter what your current career goals may be, a graduate business degree will enhance your chances of achieving them. While there may never be a better time to consider attending business school, prospective students should be aware that not all business programs are alike.

As a result of the influx of advertising for graduate business degrees, it is often difficult to identify the important differences of one school to the next. At face value many academic programs sound similar, but in truth, there is one essential difference a prospective student should consider—the business program’s accreditation.

Specifically, accreditation is a review process used by colleges and universities as a way to evaluate and monitor the quality of an institution’s degree programs. For those considering pursuing a business degree at any level, particularly those at the masters or doctoral level, a business school’s accreditation can make a difference in the quality of the degree received, as well as in a graduate’s job prospects, future upward mobility, and overall income potential.

Why is AACSB Accreditation Important? For business schools, the world’s leading authority on quality management education programs is AACSB International (AACSB). As of April 2011, AACSB has granted business accreditation to 620 schools in 38 countries, and within this group of schools are the world’s most respected business programs, each offering diverse approaches to management education.

By choosing an AACSB-accredited school, prospective students can be confident in knowing that their college or university offers a high-quality academic curriculum; that they are taught by the best faculty; there is meaningful interaction between students and professors; that graduates have achieved specified learning goals; and that the school goes through an external continuous improvement and quality assurance review process to ensure it curricula is effectively managed and is consistent with the business school’s overall stated mission.

In addition, students are not the only ones who seek business schools that have earned AACSB accreditation. The world’s best faculty members pursue opportunities to teach at AACSB-accredited institutions, and employers and business recruiters around the globe recognize the value of an education from an AACSB business school. When asked, 83 percent of surveyed schools agreed that accreditation has contributed to an increase in the level of recruiters and employers interested in their graduates, and 69 percent indicated that they have seen an increase in the number of graduates being offered higher or more competitive salaries.

Equally, prospective employers know that graduates from AACSB-accredited schools are prepared to confront the challenges of a global economy, embrace different cultures and values, and welcome diversity in perspectives and among colleagues—all issues that successful business leaders face in the twenty-first century.

Choose wisely.
AACSB understands that the market is flooded with information, and the search for the right school can be difficult. To assist in the search process an online search engine—BestBizSchools.com— that enables prospective students to find AACSB-accredited schools based on their individual preferences.

There are a wide variety of choices out there. While it is up to the individual to carefully evaluate the best fit for their ‘preferred’ graduate business program, there is one factor that does not need to be questioned—AACSB accreditation provides the stamp of quality assurance sought after by students and employers worldwide.

For more information on AACSB accreditation, please visit, http://www.aacsb.edu/accreditation/. To search for an AACSB-accredited institution, please visit www.BestBizSchools.com.