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 2023 Best Colleges publication released on Monday, Sept. 12. This announcement marks the 24th consecutive year that the program has been ranked as the top undergraduate international business program in the country.
“Being ranked No. 1 for the 24th consecutive year reflects the bright, ambitious students, world-class faculty and the comprehensive global curriculum our undergraduate international business program has become known for across the country,” said Darla Moore School of Business Dean Peter Brews. “The Moore School is proud of the comprehensive education its undergraduate international business students receive, which includes unmatched coverage of the complexities of global business, significant coursework in a second functional major and mastery of a second language. This outstanding preparation equips graduates for business careers at leading organizations, wherever they may be based.”
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.
“Our students enter the workforce understanding the international context of business and possessing a global perspective that prepare them to immediately contribute to their organizations,” said Marc van Essen, associate dean of international programs and partnerships, chair of the Sonoco International Business Department and faculty director of the undergraduate international business program. “The undergraduate international business program provides the Moore School’s top students who come from all over the world with a holistic view of working across cultures so they can successfully collaborate with colleagues all over the globe.”
The employability of undergraduate international business graduates is evident in the high job placement rates from the 2022 graduating class, reporting a placement rate of 96 percent 90 days after graduation. These IB graduates had a record average starting salary of $76,235. All Moore School students also had an average reported 96 percent job placement rate and an average salary of $66,150; all nine of the school's undergraduate majors had average starting salaries exceeding $60,000 in 2022.
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.
Learn more about the Moore School’s top-ranked international business program.