The Naveen Jindal School of Management at The University of Texas at Dallas moved up eight spots overall and into the top 40 U.S. schools listed in new full-time global MBA rankings from Financial Times.
Released Feb. 8, the 2021 FT standings rate the top 100 full-time MBA programs around the world. The Jindal School jumped in the overall standings from No. 81 (tied) last year to No. 73 this year. That is a 20-spot advancement in the five years since JSOM first appeared on the list at No. 93 in 2017.
Among ranked U.S. public schools, the Jindal School first cracked the top 20 last year, coming in at No. 18. This year, the school moved up one spot, to No. 17.
“We have been steadily moving up in the Financial Times rankings since we began participating,” said Dr. Hasan Pirkul, Caruth Chair and Jindal School dean. “We expect that, because we work to get better every year. But a jump of eight places in one year is very gratifying, especially when you consider all the challenges the pandemic has brought our way.”
Moving into the ranks of the top 40 U.S. schools is a milestone, JSOM Senior Associate Dean and Dean of Graduate Programs Monica Powell said, “and I have to point out that we also are excited by our research ranking this year.”
Research Reinforced
The Jindal School advanced 12 places in the research ranking, moving from the No. 17 spot last year to No. 5. That position was determined by the number of scholarly articles full-time faculty members published in 50 selected academic and practitioner journals between January 2018 and July 2020. Then the total was weighted, relative to each school’s faculty size.
“The research ranking validates the findings of our own UTD Top 100 Business School Research Rankings™,” Powell said. There, the Jindal School stands at No. 4, based on a database that tracks publications in 24 leading scholarly business journals.
“It is hard to toot your own horn about your standing when results come from your own research tool,” Powell said. “The Financial Times ranking independently speaks to our research strength.”
Methodology
The Financial Times rankings were determined using 20 weighted categories. The research rank accounts for 10% of each school’s total score. Eight categories, accounting for 57% of the total, are devoted to answers from MBA alumni who graduated three years ago. Six categories, weighted for 20% of the rankings total are devoted to international aspects of MBA programs, including course experience and extra languages. Three categories about women — faculty, students and women on advisory boards — are weighted for 5% of the total. Faculty with doctorates (5%) and corporate social responsibility (3%) complete the categories.
Only programs accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business International (AACSB) or EFMD Quality Improvement System (EQUIS) were eligible to participate. (The Jindal School has AACSB accreditation). In all, 143 colleges and universities took part.
