FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
FROM: Clark McCann (206) 543-1806
cnmccann@u.washington.edu

DATE: January 30, 2006

The London-based Financial Times released its new global rankings for MBA programs on January 30, with the UW Business School moving up from 93 to 61 among the world's top 100 business schools. "This gain is substantial," said Dean James Jiambalvo, "and reflects our growing reputation in this country and abroad as a premier center for business education."

Of the 21 factors considered by the Financial Times, the largest weight is given to alumni success (salary increase and career advance of graduates three years out) and by a survey of the perceptions of that same class. About 50 percent of these 2006 rankings are based on survey data from the MBA class of 2002.

"The key reason for our rise in this ranking is that our class of 2002 had more career success, and a more positive view of the school than prior classes," said Dan Poston, assistant dean for graduate programs. "That clearly shows our ongoing efforts to improve the MBA curriculum and enhance career services are paying dividends." Poston said the increase in the percentage of international and female students also contributed to the UW's move up 32 places.

"While every ranking system uses a different methodology and each is an imperfect measure of true quality, we're very gratified by the consistently upward trend in recent years of our national and international rankings," added Jiambalvo.