Best colleges for business majors

Choosing a college major is one of the most important decisions you’ll make. If you’re leaning toward a career in business or entrepreneurship, we’re here to say it’s a great idea! A Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science in business is a smart, versatile, and high-ROI (return on investment) path. A top-tier business degree opens doors to careers in finance, entrepreneurship, marketing, and technology worldwide.

But which business school is the best? The answer often depends on what you want to specialize in, from the quantitative rigor of finance to the creative strategy of marketing. Here are our picks, pulled from U.S. News & World Report and CollegeAdvisor. 

Before we introduce our list, it’s good to understand the value of a top-ranked business program:

• Networking power: Elite programs offer access to industry leaders, global alumni networks, and influential recruiters.
• Specialized focus: Top schools often have deeper resources in cutting-edge areas like fintech, data analytics, and sustainable business.
• Recruitment: The best firms from Goldman Sachs and McKinsey to Google and Apple often recruit directly from these campuses.

Your goal, as a job applicant, is to show that you have the skills and knowledge to succeed and the drive and curiosity to contribute to these environments.

Top 10 colleges for business majors

These institutions consistently rank at or near the top for their undergraduate business programs, with rigorous coursework, world-class faculty, and solid career opportunities.

University of Pennsylvania (Wharton School)

Massachusetts Institute of Technology (Sloan School of Management)

University of California, Berkeley (Haas School of Business)

University of Michigan, Ann Arbor (Ross School of Business)

New York University (Stern School of Business)

The University of Texas at Austin (McCombs School of Business)

Carnegie Mellon University (Tepper School of Business)

University of Virginia (McIntire School of Commerce)

Cornell University (Dyson School of Applied Economics and Management)

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (Kenan-Flagler Business School)

What top business schools look for

Acceptance into one of these elite programs requires more than high grades; it demands a compelling story about your potential as a future leader. 

Academic excellence provides the baseline. You will need a high GPA and proof that you can handle challenging classes. Top schools expect to see advanced coursework in AP Calculus (AB and BC), AP Statistics, and AP Economics. While many schools are test-optional, a high SAT/ACT score with above-average marks in the math section can significantly strengthen your application, especially for quantitative programs like those at Wharton or Sloan.

Elite business schools seek students who have demonstrated a genuine interest in business. Start or participate in a club (e.g., investment club, DECA, FBLA), manage a school project, or lead a volunteer effort. Business schools love students who can already run a project or a team. Did you start a small online business (selling graphic designs, tutoring, editing video clips)? Highlight that experience! Participating in a pre-college business program or business internship shows initiative and real-world exposure.

The “Why business?” essay is your moment to shine! Don’t write a generic essay about making money. Instead, focus on:

• Specifics: Which major at their school excites you? (e.g., “I’m drawn to McCombs’ MIS program because I want to use data to optimize healthcare logistics.”)
• Intellectual curiosity: Connect a personal experience or current event (the rise of AI, a supply chain crisis) to a specific academic program or faculty member at their school. Show you’ve done your research. 
• Values: Discuss how you plan to use your business skills to create value, solve a global problem, or contribute to society.

Business career pathways

Whether you choose MIT Sloan’s quantitative rigor, Wharton’s financial power, or the entrepreneurial spirit of UC Berkeley Haas, a degree from a top business school provides the best foundation for a lifetime of professional success. For other insights and information, check out our Your Future in Business and Entrepreneurship guide.