Rutgers Part-Time MBA is ranked No. 23 in the U.S. by U.S. News and World Report

Rutgers Business School demonstrates that it can continuously adapt to evolving business needs, offering flexible, affordable, and relevant MBA programs.

NEWARK, N.J., June 11, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Rutgers Business School's Part-Time MBA Program was ranked No. 23 among more than 200 similar MBA programs in the U.S., according to U.S. News and World Report's annual Best Business Schools Report.

When you consider the ranking among public business schools only, the Rutgers Part-Time MBA is No. 13 in the U.S.

Rutgers Business School Dean Lei Lei said the new ranking reflects a growing recognition of the quality of the Rutgers MBA Program. The Part-Time MBA Program was No. 83 when it was first ranked by U.S. News in 2010. The latest ranking represents a jump of 60 places since that first listing.

Dean Lei said graduate programs in U.S. business schools are facing many challenges including the ever-increasing demand for flexibility, quality services, program innovation, and meaningful return-on-investment for a master's degree.

 "The latest ranking from U.S. News and World Report demonstrates that Rutgers Business School is embracing and meeting the challenges of today and tomorrow," Lei said.

U.S. News ranked the Rutgers Full-Time MBA No. 53, making it No. 26 among public business schools in the U.S. Rutgers Business School's strength in supply chain management was also recognized: The MBA concentration in supply chain management ranked No. 15 across all U.S. business schools. Among Big Ten business schools, Rutgers ranked No. 5 for its MBA supply chain program. 

There's still time to apply to begin a Part-Time MBA in the fall. Learn more here. Also starting this fall, Rutgers Business School will begin offering a 45-credit Full-Time MBA Program that students may complete in 12 months. Attend an online information session on Tuesday, June 17 at noon to learn more.

Jessica Soltys started the Rutgers Part-Time MBA Program while working as a facility management coordinator in the commercial real estate field. She wanted to supplement her technical skills with the business acumen that an MBA could provide. She focused her studies on strategy and leadership and later added a second concentration in supply chain management.

Soltys, who completed the program in May, said one of the biggest return-on-investments for her is the confidence she gained as a result of learning more about business and developing soft skill needed in management positions.

"The quality of my decision-making has changed," she said. "Because of my accounting for managers class, I understand balance sheets so I can have better conversations with my finance team. Because of my supply chain classes, I have a deeper understanding of procurement."

"The MBA makes it possible for me to make better decisions and to think strategically," she said.

Soltys is taking a new job in the commercial real estate field, a manager of data center operations. It's a position she was offered, she said, because of her "elevated education."

Weiwei Chen, senior director of the Rutgers MBA Program, echoed Dean Lei's pride in the Part-Time MBA Program's "remarkable growth."

"This achievement is a testament to our continuous adaptation to evolving business needs, offering a flexible, affordable, relevant, and innovative curriculum," Chen said. "The strength and quality of our program, students, faculty, and staff, combined with a significant return on investment for many of our graduates –– underscore the value of our MBA."

"Our proximity to New York City and the diversity of our student body create the perfect combination for a life-changing, worthwhile experience," Chen said.

Soltys said she benefited from the program's flexibility and the in-person classes where she was able to build relationships with classmates and learn from their experiences. As part of her strategy and leadership studies, she took three classes with Professor Zeki Pagda: management consulting, organizational behavior and executive leadership.

"I learned so much about emotional intelligence, influence and leading as a team," she said. "Those classes were game changers."

In its evaluation of Part-Time or Flexible MBAs, U.S. News and World Report considered a variety of factors, including a peer assessment from other business school deans and MBA program directors. (The peer assessment represents 50% of the ranking formula.) Some of the other factors included enrollment, characteristics of the student body, including test scores, and the ratio of part-time students in a school's MBA program. The ranking included 239 Part-Time MBA programs. See the full report.

SOURCE Rutgers Business School