Hough’s Executive MBA Program among top 15 in the world

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – UF MBA at the Hough Graduate School of Business’ Executive Program was ranked No. 14 in the world by The Economist’s 2013 “Which MBA?” Executive MBA rankings.

In addition to its impressive global status, Hough’s Executive MBA Program ranked No. 4 in the U.S., and No. 2 among U.S. public business schools excluding consortium programs.

“It’s incredibly rewarding to have The Economist recognize our Executive MBA Program in these prestigious rankings,” said Alex Sevilla, Assistant Dean and Director of UF MBA Programs. “Our Executive Program is celebrating its 20^th anniversary this year, and this recognition is a perfect way to commemorate UF MBA providing an elite, executive business experience for two decades.”

The Economist used two web-based questionnaires to generate its rankings. The first questionnaire was sent to eligible business schools requesting quantitative data such as student, faculty and program details. The second questionnaire surveyed current Executive MBA students and alumni of the program from the past three graduating classes. More than 8,400 questionnaires were completed.

Programs were then ranked on two broad measures: Personal Development/Educational Experience (50 percent) and Career Development (50%). For Personal Development/Educational Experience, programs were equally ranked in four categories: Quality of Students, Student Diversity, Quality of Faculty and Program Quality. For Career Development, programs were ranked on Salary (55%), Career Progression (30%) and Networking (15%).

Hough’s Executive MBA Program attracts executives from Fortune 500 companies as well as innovative, midsize companies for a rigorous experience designed to enhance managerial skills and impart industry knowledge necessary for leadership in today’s global business community. Participants in the program have an average GMAT score of 600 and an average of 14 years of work experience.

The Economist’s rankings mark the second time in three years that a global business publication has recognized the Hough’s Executive MBA Program. In October 2011, the Financial Times ranked the program 11^th among U.S. publics.

The Economist has a history of acknowledging UF MBA and the Hough Graduate School of Business for its quality and innovation. The Economist named UF MBA’s Internet Program as one of the two best online MBA programs in the world in its 2010 “Which MBA?” Distance-Learning Special. In the publication’s 2011 “Which MBA?” 2011 full-time rankings, Hough’s faculty was third among all global universities in faculty quality.

In the past year, UF MBA has been routinely recognized as one of the nation’s top U.S. public MBA programs. UF MBA was ranked 15^th among public programs in U.S. News & World Report’s “Best Graduate Schools” 2014 edition and 20^th among publics by Bloomberg Businessweek in its “2012 Best U.S. Business Schools” rankings.