In its 2022-23 ranking of Executive MBA (EMBA) programs, Fortune Magazine has ranked Boise State University’s EMBA program among the best in the nation, with a rank of #15 out of 55 top business schools nationwide. This recognition places Boise State’s EMBA program among those from the best business schools in the United States, with Ivy League Cornell University’s EMBA placed at #17 and Columbia University’s at #18. Furthermore, Fortune’s list also highlights the strength of Boise State’s EMBA program in the region, with the closest listed universities (Brigham Young University, University of Utah and University of Oregon) ranking #32, #38, and #41 respectively.
“The Boise State Executive MBA’s #15 National ranking from Fortune Magazine affirms that this is one of the top programs in the nation and the top Executive MBA in the Northwest,” said Mark Bannister, dean of the College of Business and Economics at Boise State. “This fantastic program is designed to give successful, motivated people the ability to become tomorrow’s leaders in their organizations and their communities.”
To create the list, Fortune evaluated the top 55 EMBA programs in the nation and scored each school in three categories: “Program Score,” “Brand Score” and “Fortune 1,000 Score,” which were then used to create the overall rankings. As a result, half of each program’s overall score is a measure of its participants’ learning experience in their chosen executive MBA. The final two scores reflect each university’s reputation among hiring managers, and the number of their MBA graduates who fill executive roles in Fortune 1000 companies after graduation.
These scores align heavily with the values and philosophies that drive Boise State’s Executive MBA program, which seeks to create flexible, innovative leaders through a practical approach to executive education. Boise State’s EMBA participants are taught effective leadership through real-world scenarios and learning experiences that are gained through the unique factors that set Boise State’s Executive MBA apart.
The Boise State Executive MBA curriculum is unique – even when compared to the high-quality universities on the Fortune list. Unlike other programs where MBA courses are focused on functional disciplines (Accounting, Economics, Marketing), the Boise State Executive MBA curriculum is fully integrated. This means that participants learn through courses like “Creating Competitive Advantage” or “Rescuing Distressed Business Units”. A team of instructors, each from a different discipline, comes together to teach different components of the course in a fully unified manner. By approaching each course as a holistic business problem – rather than a siloed subject – the program builds C-suite leaders who are able to communicate and problem solve across cross-functional teams.
Brian O’Morrow, senior director of MBA Programs for Working Professionals commented on the Fortune ranking: “This validates what we’ve been doing from the beginning. We’re constantly innovating with the Executive MBA program to create great business leaders in our communities.” He went on to say, “It’s a truly integrated and interdisciplinary program. Our faculty, leadership coaches, and participants are always working together to share their knowledge. This open dialog fosters a deeper understanding of business leadership and leads to immense growth for our participants.”