Jindal School Makes Financial Times Top 40 U.S. List
Jindal School Makes Financial Times Top 40 U.S. List

Since 2017 the Naveen Jindal School of Management has moved up 20 spots — from No. 93 to No. 73 — in Financial Times rankings of full-time MBA programs in the world. This year it was ranked among the top 40 U.S. schools for the first time.

The Naveen Jindal School of Management at The University of Texas at Dallas moved up eight spots overall and into the top 40 U.S. schools, both public and private, listed by Financial Times in its new rankings of full-time MBA programs.

The 2021 Financial Times standings rate the top 100 full-time MBA programs around the world. The Jindal School jumped in the overall standings from No. 81 last year to No. 73 this year. That is a 20-spot advancement since the school first appeared on the list at No. 93 in 2017.

Among ranked U.S. public universities, the Jindal School first cracked the top 20 last year, coming in at No. 18. This year, the school moved up to No. 17.

“We have been steadily moving up in the Financial Times rankings since we began participating,” said Dr. Hasan Pirkul, Caruth Chair and Jindal School dean. “We expect that, because we work to get better every year. But a jump of eight places in one year is very gratifying, especially when you consider all the challenges the pandemic has brought our way.”

Moving into the ranks of the top 40 U.S. schools is a milestone, said Dr. Monica Powell, senior associate dean of graduate programs. “And I have to point out that we also are excited by our research ranking this year,” she said.

Hasan Pirkul.

“We have been steadily moving up in the Financial Times rankings since we began participating. We expect that, because we work to get better every year. But a jump of eight places in one year is very gratifying, especially when you consider all the challenges the pandemic has brought our way.”

Dr. Hasan Pirkul, dean of the Naveen Jindal School of Management

Research Reinforced

The Jindal School advanced 12 places in the research ranking, moving from the No. 17 spot last year to No. 5. That position was determined by the number of scholarly articles full-time faculty members published in 50 selected academic and practitioner journals between January 2018 and July 2020. The total was then weighted, relative to each school’s faculty size.

“The research ranking validates the findings of our own UTD Top 100 Business School Research Rankings,” Powell said. The Jindal School stands at No. 4 on that list, based on a database that tracks publications in 24 leading scholarly business journals.

“It is hard to toot your own horn about your standing when results come from your own research tool,” Powell said. “The Financial Times ranking independently speaks to our research strength.”

Methodology

The Financial Times rankings were determined using 20 weighted categories, including research; input from MBA alumni who graduated three years ago; international aspects of MBA programs; the number of women faculty, students and advisory board members; the number of faculty members with doctorates; and corporate social responsibility.

Only programs accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business International or EFMD Quality Improvement System (EQUIS) were eligible to participate. In all, 143 colleges and universities took part.