TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — U.S. News & World Report has named the on-campus, full-time Manderson MBA at The University of Alabama’s Culverhouse College of Business among the nation’s top graduate business programs in its 2026 Best Graduate Schools rankings.
The Manderson MBA is ranked No. 27 among public MBA programs and No. 53 overall, reflecting a one-place improvement in the overall metric from last year’s rankings. The program is now tied with MBA programs at Chapman University, Tulane University, the University of Kentucky, and the University of South Carolina.
“We are pleased to see the Manderson MBA once again recognized as one of the best programs in the nation,” said Dr. Sharif Melouk, associate dean of the Manderson Graduate School of Business.
“While rankings capture only part of the picture, they reflect the collective commitment we make every day to delivering a comprehensive MBA experience, one that prepares our students to secure strong career outcomes, often before graduation. I’m grateful to our faculty and staff, alumni, and corporate partners for their continued support of the program.”
More information about the Manderson MBA, including application details, is available here.
Students in the Manderson MBA may pursue focused areas of study in business analytics, cybersecurity/management information systems, finance, financial risk, real estate, marketing, strategic management, and supply chain and operations management. A healthcare focused area of study debuts for fall 2026. Furthermore, the program’s real estate concentration is ranked #18 among public programs and 33rd overall, with U.S. News & World Report also recognizing several other Manderson MBA focus areas among the best in the country.
The Manderson MBA may also be completed as a dual degree in combination with a Juris Doctor from The University of Alabama School of Law, a Master of Science in Engineering (civil or mechanical), or a Master of Fine Arts in theater management. Furthermore, the BIZ/STEM/CREATE Path to the MBA allow for high-achieving undergraduate students majoring in select disciplines to complete coursework to earn an MBA from the Manderson Graduate School of Business in only one calendar year beyond the completion of an undergraduate degree.
For prospective students planning their next academic step, the Manderson MBA offers a Round 4 application deadline of April 15 and a Round 5 deadline of May 15, pending available space, for fall 2026 admission.
To determine its annual MBA rankings, U.S. News & World Report evaluates 134 programs nationwide from over 500 AACSB-accredited business schools, using metrics that include starting salary and bonus data, peer and recruiter assessments, incoming student academic profiles, acceptance rates, and employment outcomes at graduation and 90 days post-graduation.
About the Manderson Graduate School of Business
Housed within The University of Alabama’s AACSB-accredited Culverhouse College of Business, the Manderson Graduate School of Business serves more than 900 graduate students and offers nationally ranked specialized master’s degrees, graduate certificates, as well as PhD programs. Manderson is also home to a traditional on-campus two-year MBA and the BIZ/STEM/CREATE Path to the MBA.