The excellence of DePaul University’s part-time MBA program has earned recognition again in U.S.News & World Report’s annual national rankings of the best graduate school programs, released by the magazine April 24. DePaul’s practical, flexible program for working professionals ranked ninth this year, the 14th time it has earned a spot among the top 10 in the influential academic rankings.

"In a very competitive business school market, DePaul’s part-time MBA program consistently ranks high because it offers students a career-focused curriculum featuring a wide range of concentrations and schedules to meet the needs of busy professionals," said Ray Whittington, dean of DePaul’s Kellstadt Graduate School of Business. "These qualities are more important than ever as professionals seek to enhance their credentials to differentiate themselves in the job market and workplace during the economic downturn."

Many working professionals seeking MBA degrees study in part-time programs, which provide students the opportunity to earn degrees while holding full-time jobs. DePaul’s business students can choose to attend an evening, weekend or morning schedule of courses. The university’s multiple Chicago-area campuses and Internet classroom technology add to the flexibility.

DePaul’s part-time MBA program enrolls about 1,500 students in 29 concentrations of study, including entrepreneurship, which ranked 22nd in U.S. News' speciality ranking of entrepreneurship programs this year.

Classes at the business school are taught by faculty members who bring a blend of scholarly achievement and real-world experience into the classroom. To complete their studies, students take 14 to 18 courses, depending on their level of undergraduate business education. Graduates benefit from the College of Commerce’s 51,500-strong alumni network.

DePaul also offers a full-time MBA program that enrolls one cohort of 35 to 40 students each year. In September, DePaul will expand the program to two cohorts with a total of 75 students. "We’re doubling enrollment because of an increase in student demand fueled by DePaul’s growing reputation and the economy," Whittington explained.

Other additions to the business school’s curricula next fall include the launch of the School of Hospitality Leadership, which will offer a new bachelor’s degree, and a new master’s degree in economics and policy analysis. Students in the latter program will have the opportunity to gain valuable experience in economic problem-solving while working for members of the
Illinois Congressional delegation on Capitol Hill for 12 weeks analyzing budgets and economic data.

In other U.S. News rankings, DePaul’s College of Law placed strongly. In the magazine’s first-ever ranking of part-time law programs, DePaul’s program tied for 21st place. The college’s overall ranking also moved up to 87 from 88, and its diverse enrollment was noted by U.S. News.

U.S.News & World Report’s specialty graduate program rankings—such as the part-time MBA and law rankings—were based on survey ratings provided by deans and administrators at peer institutions. Highlights of the graduate school rankings are scheduled for publication in the May 2009 issue of the magazine. The "America’s Best Graduate Schools" guidebook will be available for purchase on April 28. The complete rankings in all disciplines are available online at www.usnews.com/grad.

The U.S. News 2010 top 10 part-time MBA programs were:

1. New York University (Stern)
2. University of Chicago (Booth)
3. Northwestern University (Kellogg)
4. University of California-Los Angeles (Anderson)
5. University of Southern California (Marshall)
6. University of California-Berkeley (Haas)
7. Georgia State University (Robinson)
8. University of Michigan-Ann Arbor (Ross)
9. DEPAUL UNIVERSITY (KELLSTADT)
10. Santa Clara University (Leavey)