The Best MBA Programs in the Carolinas
In terms of sheer beauty, there are few regions in the lower 48 that can beat the Carolinas. In North Carolina, one can see the landscape change from rolling hills to rolling waves as they move from west to east. Beautiful lowlands dot the South Carolina landscape.
The regions is also home to many Fortune 500 companies, such as Lowe’s and Bank of America, which makes them an ideal but unsung destination for MBA graduates. The five schools listed below offer many opportunities for MBA students to flex their abilities in real-world situations while living the relaxed Carolina lifestyle.
When one thinks of studying international business, the mind immediately turns to global financial centers like New York, Los Angeles, and Toronto. Another city should be added to that list: Columbia, South Carolina. The International MBA program at the Darla Moore School of Business is the top-ranked program in this field in the U.S. News & World Report rankings, and it has been among the top three schools for the past 30 years. The 22-month program provides students with the skills they need to succeed as well as global immersion opportunities to learn in real-world environments. In addition to the International MBA program, the school offers a fast-track MBA program that can be completed in only ten months.
The Kenan-Flagler Business School at the University of North Carolina is widely regarded as one of the best MBA programs domestically and internationally. The school is ranked in the top 25 of The Economist MBA rankings domestically and in the top 30 internationally. The world-renowned faculty prepare future corporate leaders in the friendly confines of Chapel Hill, a place where Southern hospitality and business opportunity meet. UNC’s curriculum is centered on case studies and small group activities, and the class sizes are kept small to foster learning and camaraderie.
Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business has long been regarded as the home of one of the world’s best MBA programs. Ranked 15th in The Economist MBA rankings, Fuqua students have the opportunities provided to them by the businesses surrounding them in both Durham and the surrounding Research Triangle. The Fuqua program differs from other schools in that it is based on six-week terms. In addition, all first-year students are put into groups of four or five others with whom they will do group work. Both moves allow students to improve their business acumen and broaden their perspective on business.
It would not be right to mention UNC and Duke without mentioning North Carolina State University. The last school to make up the Research Triangle with the aforementioned two, NC State offers students a high-quality, AACSB-accredited program through the Poole College of Management. The two-year program provides students with many opportunities to learn both in the classroom and in the boardroom. In addition, those students can learn without taking on too many loans: NC State is widely considered to be one of the most affordable MBA programs in the United States, being ranked on list for affordability from SoFi and the Princeton Review, among other outlets.
Topping off our top five of the Carolina MBA programs list is the Clemson University College of Business. Located in Greenville, South Carolina, Clemson students learn how to improve their current business skills and better prepare themselves for their futures. Students at the school have multiple MBA options to choose from. Depending on their interest, they can complete an MBA Corporate, an MBA in Entrepreneurship & Innovation, or an MBA in Business Analytics. All three provide students with the practical knowledge they need to be successful leaders in the future.
About the Author
Jonathan Pfeffer
Jonathan Pfeffer joined the Clear Admit and MetroMBA teams in 2015 after spending several years as an arts/culture writer, editor, and radio producer. In addition to his role as contributing writer at MetroMBA and contributing editor at Clear Admit, he is co-founder and lead producer of the Clear Admit MBA Admissions Podcast. He holds a BA in Film/Video, Ethnomusicology, and Media Studies from Oberlin College.
