UofSC Horseshoe

US News rankings: UofSC tops in International MBA, med school grads in underserved areas



The University of South Carolina’s international business program retained its spot as the best in the country, while the School of Medicine Columbia remained the best school for graduates practicing in underserved areas, according to the latest U.S. News & World Report’s Best Graduate School rankings.

In the U.S. News rankings released Tuesday (March 29), the International MBA program in the Darla Moore School of Business retained its No. 1 ranking for the ninth consecutive year, while it has been ranked in the top three by U.S. News for 33 straight years.

“Our world-class faculty and comprehensive program prepare IMBA candidates for top positions globally — and greatly contribute to this ranking,” says Darla Moore School of Business Dean Peter Brews. “Our students’ preparation and skills speak for themselves with a top job placement rate for our most recent graduates. Our IMBA graduates go on to work and lead Forbes 500 companies and work in a multitude of countries.”

Also in the business school, the professional MBA program was ranked as the 27th best in the country and the top program in South Carolina, showing the university’s commitment to educating working professionals as they advance their careers. The Moore School’s MBA program improved eight spots nationally to No. 47.

“Professional MBA program students not only learn from our distinguished faculty, but they also benefit from each of their colleagues coming from a range of industries and sharing their own experiences,” Brews says. “Most Moore School Professional MBA program graduates see an immediate return on investment and can actually take what they’re learning in their courses and directly apply it to their companies while they’re completing the program.”

The University of South Carolina School of Medicine Columbia also continued its reign as the top medical program in the country for graduates who are practicing in areas where there is a shortage of health care professionals, fulfilling the university’s mission to improve healthcare in underserved areas.

“We are pleased that the UofSC SOM Columbia has once again been recognized for our graduates leading the nation in care provided to underserved areas,” says Les Hall, dean of the SOM Columbia. “Our alumni clearly embody the commitment to service that has characterized the UofSC School of Medicine Columbia since it was founded almost half a century ago.”

In other graduate and professional school rankings, the law school moved up in several categories, the School of Nursing master’s program broke into the rankings this year as No. 33 in the country, while public health improved 10 spots to No. 31.

“Our university continues to maintain its excellence across its graduate offerings through the impactful work of our faculty, staff and students,” says Stephen Cutler, the university’s interim provost. “By offering the nation’s top international MBA and through having the most graduates practicing in medically underserved areas, we continue to demonstrate our commitment to providing a world-class education that betters our state, nation and world.”

The university’s ranked graduate and professional programs include diverse areas of study in the sciences, humanities, technology, engineering, health sciences, law and business. These programs help train graduate students destined to become future leaders in their fields, providing the skilled workforce needed to propel the state’s economy. The University of South Carolina has more nationally ranked programs by U.S. News than any other university in the state.