West Virginia University’s MBA program has been rated among the top 100 programs in the nation for the third consecutive year, according to rankings released by U.S. News & World Report.

The top 100 ranking of the MBA program, which operates out of the College of Business and Economics, was confirmed by U.S. News & World Report this week.

“Our MBA ranking by U.S. News & World Report is a reflection of the college’s commitment to continuous academic improvement,” said B&E Interim Dean Nancy McIntyre. “Prior to this three-year streak of being ranked in the top 100, we did not submit data and our program had not been ranked, so this serves as a catalyst to continue our hard work and momentum.”

WVU’s program is an accelerated, 14-month program which enables participants to choose from a number of dual degree options or pursue specific concentrations of study. B&E has also bolstered experiential learning opportunities for its MBA students through consulting projects at the BrickStreet Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, and enhanced participation in case competitions. WVU’s MBA program is the defending Big 12 Case Competition Champion from 2015, the first year in which all Big 12 schools participated.

MBA students are also exposed to the world through the program’s international curriculum, with travel opportunities to Germany, France or China. These students, along with all graduate and undergraduate students, have dedicated resources at the business school’s Center for Career Development, which includes professional practicums, networking opportunities, assistance with tailored job searches and tools to build their own “professional brand.”

“Now, more than ever, it is incumbent upon us to ensure that our students are prepared for the global workplace. The past success of our graduates tells us that they are prepared, and this ranking tells us that we’re on the right track in always striving to get better,” McIntyre said.

The MBA program was ranked #97 this year based upon criteria including program quality assessment by peers and recruiters; placement success, including mean starting salary and bonus, and employment rates for MBA graduates; and student selectivity, including mean GMAT and GRE test scores, average undergraduate GPA of students entering the MBA program and the percentage of program applicants who were accepted.

This latest ranking from U.S. News & World Report is for B&E’s full-time MBA program. Earlier this year, the College’s online hybrid MBA program was ranked #36 by U.S. News & World Report, the fourth consecutive year the program has been ranked in the top 40 in the nation. The online hybrid MBA program has been in existence only five years.