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The 91��Ƭ��’s has for the second year in a row earned the highest ranking for academic experience and career outcomes among New England public business schools in the rankings.

91��Ƭ�� Paul College of Business and Economics earned a No. 63 overall national ranking and was ranked among the top 50 universities in the country for academic experience (No. 43) and ranked No. 62 in career outcomes.

Punching above its weight

Academic experience is a direct measure of alumni satisfaction with their education and experience, including the quality of the faculty, access to resources, hands-on learning opportunities, and career outcomes.

Compared with some of the nation’s best business schools, 91��Ƭ�� ranked higher for academic experience than Purdue (Krannert), Syracuse (Whittman), and Carnegie Mellon. 91��Ƭ�� ranked ahead of nearly all regional peers including Boston University (Questrom), Northeastern University (D’Amore-McKim), the University of Connecticut, and UMass Amherst (Isenberg).

When it comes to career outcomes, 91��Ƭ�� Paul College outpaced both UMass and UConn. Three metrics are used to calculate the career outcomes category: employment rate of job-seeking graduates three months after graduation, percentage of graduates who had a business-focused internship during their college experience, and the average total first-year compensation for recent graduates.

“At 91��Ƭ��, Paul College values all students who work hard to get here, and we are committed to providing them with an outstanding education and experience that will ensure they are work-ready upon graduation,” says Lucy Gilson, dean of the 91��Ƭ�� Paul College of Business and Economics. “Setting our students up for professional success is a priority from day one.”

The Poets&Quants rankings are widely considered one of the most comprehensive assessments of undergraduate business programs. The rankings evaluate admissions standards, academic experience, and career outcomes using a combination of institutional data and alumni feedback on faculty access, extracurricular opportunities, and career preparation. Experience data comes entirely from the alumni survey, which this year was made up of students from the Class of 2023.

“From the start, our goal was to build a ranking that reflected what actually matters to students: how selective a program is, what students experience once they arrive, and what outcomes they achieve after graduation,” says Kristy Bleizeffer, Poets&Quants ranking editor.  

Bleizeffer said a record number of business programs were ranked this year and all “are at the leading edge of business education, delivering a learning experience that transforms students’ sense of who they are and what they can do in the world.”

Paul shines in alumni survey

As part of the , the Class of 2023 rated various aspects of their experience on a scale of 1 to 10. When asked if they would recommend Paul College to a close friend, colleague or family member, alumni gave an average score of 9.6, placing the score among the top five nationwide.

Paul College also placed among top universities for preparation for the world of work (9.2), faculty mentoring outside the classroom (9.1), satisfaction with first job (9.0), opportunities to improve “soft” business skills (9.1), and extracurricular opportunities (9.1).

Paul College is a national leader in experience-based education. Its signature first-year program, FIRE (First-Year Innovation and Research Experience), helps students build community and explore the university through a supportive, team-based approach. The Business in Practice (BiP) program connects students with industry professionals in interactive, skills-focused courses. Students apply their learning through student-run investment funds, industry-focused organizations, and capstone and consulting projects that address real-world business challenges.

“These results reflect the intentional way we design the student experience at Paul College,” says Lu Echazú, associate dean for undergraduate education. “From the moment students arrive, they are immersed in hands-on learning opportunities that connect directly to the workplace. By the time they graduate, they’re not just prepared academically — they’ve already built the skills, confidence, and real-world experience needed to succeed in their careers.”