Sept. 14, 2020
The University of South Carolina Darla Moore School of Business announced today that its undergraduate international business program is ranked No. 1 according to U.S. News & World Report’s 2021 Best Colleges publication released on Monday, Sept. 14. This announcement marks the 22nd consecutive year that the program has been ranked as the top undergraduate international business program in the country.
“To be ranked No. 1 for 22 years is quite an accomplishment,” said Darla Moore School of Business Dean Peter Brews. “The Moore School maintaining the top ranking for the undergraduate international business program, and earlier this year, the No. 1 graduate international business program, highlights our extraordinary faculty and the competitiveness and academic rigor of our international business degrees.”
The Moore School’s undergraduate international business program is selective, admitting no more than 200 students annually. Once admitted, students have the opportunity to select from one of two distinct programs: the global international business program or the international business cohort program. Both programs require students to double-major in a functional area, providing graduates with additional specialized knowledge and skills in fields such as accounting, economics, finance, management, marketing, operations and supply chain, real estate or risk management and insurance. Typically, the first jobs of international business graduates are linked to these other majors, and many also complete the Moore School’s top functional major cohort programs such as the Finance Scholars or Marketing Scholars programs or the business analytics concentration.
The employability of undergraduate international business graduates is evident in the high job placement rates from the 2020 graduating class, which despite a record year of unemployment resulting from a global pandemic, reported a placement rate of 86 percent 90 days after graduation, just 3 percent less than in 2019 with a healthy economy. These reporting graduates had an average starting salary of $65,493, the highest salary ever reported by IB graduates.
“Graduates leave the Moore School with a global perspective and possess a deep understanding of the international context of business,” said Marc van Essen, faculty director of the undergraduate international business program. “Even with tumultuous financial markets and an international pandemic, they are ready to make their mark in international business — able to face complex issues with competence and confidence.”
Study abroad is an important aspect of the international business program with undergraduate students committing to at least one semester abroad as part of the global international business program or several semesters abroad with one of the Moore School’s five international business cohort programs offered jointly with an international partner institution. While study abroad plans were largely canceled or postponed due to COVID-19, the Moore School still found ways to connect students with their international peers through virtual meetings and other innovative online programming.
“The Moore School faculty and senior leadership strive to continually enhance the IB program, developing new international courses, experiential experiences and international partnerships to support the international business major,” said Kendall Roth, senior associate dean of international programs and partnerships. “Ultimately, it is the combination of our top-tier faculty and talented students that sustain our world-class excellence within international business.”
To learn more about the Moore School’s top-ranked international business program, visit the international business webpage.