3rd Consecutive Year of Top Ranking by The Princeton Review

BOSTON, Oct. 14, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Once again, the Simmons School of Management was named by The Princeton Review as the No. 1 MBA program in the United States with the "Greatest Opportunity for Women."  The School of Management is the only AACSB-accredited business school in the world designed specifically for women.

The ranking is part of the newly released "Best 294 Business Schools" guidebook, which includes data from The Princeton Review's survey of 19,000 students attending 294 business schools profiled.

“The Simmons School of Management has a long track record of educating women for power and principled leadership, and we are proud to be recognized among the top MBA programs in the world for our work,” said Dean Cathy Minehan. “Our innovative and rigorous programs prepare women for success in business.”

The Princeton Review editors describe the Simmons School of Management as a program with a "forward thinking agenda" that attracts a "bright, lively, and diverse group of scholars." Simmons MBA students were quoted saying, "They are constantly amazed by the level of intellect in conversation inside and outside the classroom."  They also said the program is supportive of students' need to balance work, home, and school: "the administration goes out of its way to have activities both during the day and during the evening to ensure evening students who work full time have opportunities to be involved."

The editors also noted that the School of Management's LEED-certified "green" building reflects the school's community-based and social responsibility focus, while providing students with "excellent" technology and offering great informal meeting places to connect with colleagues. The editors described the program's Center for Gender in Organizations (CGO), as "an innovative research center that analyzes gender dynamics in organizations and focuses on the conditions required for women's success."

The School of Management also was recently included among the top 20 in the 2011 "Beyond Grey Pinstripes" ranking by the Aspen Institute Center for Business Education. The ranking recognizes the top 100 MBA programs integrating social and environmental stewardship. Simmons is the only school in Massachusetts, and one of only two schools in New England, to make the top-20 list.

The Simmons School of Management is the first business school in the world designed specifically to educate women for power and principled leadership. It is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB), a distinction earned by fewer than 30% of business schools in the United States and fewer than 5% worldwide. Reflecting its commitment to sustainability, the school is housed in a building that received Gold certification by the U.S. Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) rating system.

Simmons College is a nationally recognized private university located in the heart of Boston with a history of visionary thinking, and a focus on leadership and social responsibility. Follow Simmons on Twitter @SimmonsCollege and @SimmonsNews.

SOURCE Simmons College