The Cornell SC Johnson College’s undergraduate business programs received national recognition for their excellence today from U.S. News & World Report’s Best Undergraduate Business Programs Ranking 2025-26, with programs advancing to No. 8, up from No. 9 last year.
“This recognition affirms the strength of our academic reputation and the impact of our curriculum across key disciplines, from finance and analytics to marketing and operations,” said Jinhua Zhao, David J. Nolan Dean of the Charles H. Dyson School of Applied Economics and Management. “The Dyson School’s continued presence among the top business programs reflects the rigor, relevance, and innovation of our faculty, students and alumni.”
The U.S. News & World Report rankings are based on peer assessment surveys from deans and senior faculty members at 532 undergraduate business programs. The peer reputation score of 4.2 is consistent with last year’s score and represents continued respect for the Dyson School’s program within the academic community.
“We’re constantly evolving our approach to education to deliver a dynamic, future-focused curriculum, as well as pioneering teaching methods,” said Dean Zhao. “Our guiding principle, ‘Our Business is a Better World,’ inspires us to prepare tomorrow’s business leaders to make thoughtful, impactful decisions that drive meaningful change in society.”
As part of the U.S. News ranking, respondents were asked to nominate programs in specialty areas, and Cornell received strong placement in the areas of accounting, analytics, finance, management, marketing, quantitative analysis, production/operations management, and real estate.
“We’re pleased to see our undergraduate business programs continue to be recognized for their excellence,” said Andrew Karolyi, the Charles Field Knight Dean of the Cornell SC Johnson College of Business. “Our committed community delivers incredible, valuable educational programs and experiences thanks to their dedication and hard work.”
In related news, last week the Johnson School saw a significant rise in Bloomberg Businessweek’s MBA rankings 2025-26, moving into the top 10, at No. 8, up from No. 11 last year. The impressive increase in survey participation and engagement from students, alumni, and employers is an affirmation of the value placed on the Johnson School experience, noted Dean Karolyi.