GSB Full-Time, Evening and Weekend MBA Programs Rank Among Tops on Forbes’ List

Forbes’ fourth biennial ranking of graduate business schools is out and several of Chicago GSB programs scored high. The GSB Full-Time MBA Program continues to hold third place out of the 50 schools ranked. For the first time, this year’s list included part-time programs where the Evening and Weekend Programs placed fourth.

The methodology used to rate schools was return on investment. The formula took a look at compensation five years after graduation minus tuition and the forgone salary during school. It’s this last part of the equation that points up a significant trend—the increased popularity of part-time programs. According to Forbes, 50% of MBA students are in part-time programs.

Forbes profiled several students and their experiences. One was GSB Weekend MBA Program student Sharad Sundaresan, ‘05. He pursued his MBA while working at Microsoft in Redmond, Washington. Even with the cost of tuition and air travel to Chicago, Sundaresan told the magazine he had “no regrets.” He emphasized the program allowed him “to keep my job, and the quality of the education and the networking opportunities were the same as the full-time program."

The business school rankings and article on part-time MBAs can be found at Forbes. Content is free but registration is required.