9/17/01

Bob Lowry

AU'S COLLEGE OF BUSINESS MAKES U.S. NEWS TOP 50 RANKING

AUBURN -- Auburn University's College of Business for the first time has cracked the top 50 overall among the nation's business schools public and private -- as evaluated by U.S. News & World Report.

AU's College of Business was ranked No. 49, up eight spots from No. 57 a year ago. Auburn's business college was one of only 16 schools whose rankings improved annually over the past three years.

And Auburn was ranked No. 30 nationally among public business schools in providing the "Best Undergraduate Business Programs" by U.S. News.

Earlier, Auburn University was ranked as the nation's 44th-best public university the ninth consecutive year AU has made the top 50 ranking.

The nation's top-ranked business school is the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School of Business. Among Southeastern Conference-member institutions, only the University of Florida, ranked No. 23; and the University of Georgia, ranked No. 30, were ahead of Auburn. The University of Alabama moved up one spot from 50th to No. 49 to tie Auburn.

"We are very pleased with the continued recognition of the College of Business as one of the leading providers of business education today," said John Jahera, interim dean. "It is a tribute to the hard work of our students, faculty, staff and alumni and friends that we have earned the top 50 ranking.

"To be ranked 49th overall and 30th among public universities for undergraduate business attests to our efforts to provide the highest quality programs that provide outstanding graduates to assume leading positions in business and industry. While we are pleased with the recognition as a highly ranked College of Business, we will continue to work hard to improve the overall quality of our programs."

The College of Business is Auburn's largest college, enrolling more than 4,500 undergraduate students and more than 500 graduate students.

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CONTACT: Jahera, 334/844-5344.