The Wall Street Journal recently reported that graduates in our MBA@Nebraska program have the fifth-lowest debt-to-income ratio out of 567 schools, providing a high return on investment for students. The WSJ found that not only do we offer a financially competitive online MBA@ Nebraska, but our graduates also end up recouping the cost of their degree sooner than those in other programs.

The report examined graduate degrees across the country using data that displays students' median earnings after graduation compared to their median debt load in earning the degree. Nebraska’s debt-income ratio was .24 while some of our peer institutions were twice as high or more. Compared with other Big Ten business schools, the MBA@Nebraska delivered the lowest debt-income ratio.

You may remember that our MBA@Nebraska also captured three top 20 rankings, including No. 1 in the U.S. for the value for the money in the latest Financial Times (FT) online MBA rankings. Our program also was ranked No. 17 by U.S. News & World Report and No. 13 by The Princeton Review.

Alumni surveyed for the Financial Times ranking reported a 28% increase in salary after earning the degree. We appreciate those of you who took the time to complete the survey.

With our MBA@Nebraska tuition and fees totaling less than $32,000, we also ranked sixth globally for its value in the FT ranking. Also, our competitive price point makes our program widely accessible, which is critical to our university's mission. These rankings and report show that we’re empowering individuals from Nebraska to Nepal to lead the future of business, and we’re doing it at the highest levels of excellence.

Our fully online, eight-week courses provide flexibility for busy working professionals, those serving in the military and those with families. Three application deadlines annually – November 1, April 1 and July 1 – allow those interested in the program to apply when it works in their schedule. Learn about our MBA@Nebraska or register for an upcoming online information session at https://mba.unl.edu.

The latest U.S. News & World Report rankings for undergraduate business programs also reflected the momentum building at the College of Business. Nebraska ranked No. 30 among undergraduate business programs at public institutions – a jump of four spots from last year – and No. 59 among all undergraduate accounting programs. 

The power of our undergraduate business programs comes from the strength of our community. Recently, Erika Casarin, senior management major from Lincoln, hosted a collaborative mural-painting event through her startup The PALETTE Project, which provides murals to nonprofits through team-building volunteer events. Students came to paint The PALETTE Project's first mural commissioned by the Center for Entrepreneurship and learn more about entrepreneurship opportunities on-campus. The mural is now installed in the center in HLH 315. We also just celebrated the grand opening of our Diversity and Inclusion Gathering Space (DIGS) as part of Multicultural Homecoming. DIGS serves as a hub for conversation, inclusive programs and gatherings to help people feel they belong in the Nebraska Business community. 

Please mark your calendars for the Women Lead: Leading Through Change conference on March 4. A partnership between the College of Business and the College of Law, this event features women in law, business, government and philanthropy. Women judges, entrepreneurs, CEOs, professors and more from across the country will share insights to help advance their professions. Keynotes include Connie Collingsworth, CEO of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and Deborah Archer, president of the American Civil Liberties Union. Registration will open in November for this popular event held at Nebraska Innovation Campus.

Also a friendly reminder for those of you ready to reconnect with college classmates and professors in person on campus. Please register to attend our Nebraska Business Alumni Tailgate at Howard L. Hawks Hall on Saturday, November 6. The event will start three hours prior to the Husker football game vs. Ohio State. Register at https://business.unl.edu/alumnitailgate.

We look forward to seeing you and celebrating our Husker Power!

Go Big Red!
Dean Kathy Farrell