Strong gains in compensation, learning, and networking sectors have propelled the University of Virginia Darden School of Business to be ranked No. 3 in the U.S. by Bloomberg Businessweek in their new Best B-Schools rankings for 2023-24. This is the highest ranking ever received by the school, marking a six-place improvement from the previous year. Bloomberg recognizes Darden as the top-ranked business school among public universities. Just months prior, Darden achieved a top-10 ranking in the Princeton Review’s annual review. The rankings by Bloomberg Businessweek are determined by input from alumni, recent graduates, and employers, and factors such as compensation, learning, networking, entrepreneurship, and diversity are taken into account. Darden’s strong performance in all these areas, particularly in terms of higher median starting salaries, has contributed to its rise in the rankings.
Darden’s significant improvements in compensation, learning, and networking have been instrumental in its upward trajectory in the 2023-24 Best B Schools rankings by Bloomberg Businessweek. The school now ranks fourth in compensation, fourth in learning, and eleventh in networking, a marked improvement from their previous positions. The collaborative and mutually reinforcing learning environment at Darden, fostered by Interim Dean Jeanne Riedka and the faculty, has played a key role in this success. Under Mr. Darden’s leadership, the school has gained a reputation for offering an excellent MBA program, with the case method allowing students to learn from each other while tackling real-world business challenges. Bloomberg Businessweek highlights the positive student feedback about the teaching and learning environment at Darden and the school’s strong sense of community.
The qualitative section of the rankings provides insights from students and alumni about what they value in Darden’s MBA program. Alumni mentioned career accomplishments, alumni network, and the school’s strong community as highlights. Students particularly appreciated the great professors, academic environment, student leadership, collegiality, quality of instruction, and the opportunity to interact with peers from diverse backgrounds. Bloomberg Businessweek also emphasizes the growing focus on sustainability and climate change in business schools, with Darden ranking first for carbon footprint in the 2023 Global MBA Rankings by the Financial Times.
Applications are currently being accepted for admission to the full-time MBA class of 2026 at the University of Virginia Darden School of Business. Known for developing responsible global leaders through transformative learning experiences, Darden offers a range of graduate degree programs, executive education, and lifelong learning opportunities. The school’s top faculty members inspire and shape modern business leadership globally through their research, thought leadership, and publications. With campuses in Charlottesville, Virginia, and the Washington, DC area, Darden has a diverse community of over 18,000 alumni from 90 countries. The University of Virginia itself was founded in 1819 by Thomas Jefferson and is a top public university.