The B.I. Moody III College of Business Administration at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette makes it on The Princeton Review’s “2024 Best Business Schools” list under “Best On-Campus MBA Programs.” The Princeton Review included 244 institutions, in no particular ranking order.
The Princeton Review is an education services company known for their test-preparation courses and student resources. It is not affiliated with Princeton University.
The Master of Business Administration (MBA) program at UL Lafayette has been established for over 50 years. The program offers high quality graduate education for students with varied educational and professional backgrounds.
The program develops the skills and knowledge necessary for progression in current job positions, qualification for career changes and success in managerial and leadership positions in business and society.
Dr. Linda Nichols, the dean of B.I. Moody III College of Business Administration, shared, “I worked at an energy company one time, I was at the supervisory level and they said I was doing very well, but if you want to go up to VP, which is the next level, you have to get an MBA. So that’s not unusual; it is a minimum for a lot of jobs.” With an MBA, more doors are opened for those looking to advance in their career and move upwards to higher positions in their companies.
The MBA program is designed for students who work full time and an estimate of 86 percent of students in the program continue to work while earning their degree. Since 2017, the MBA program is also offered in a 100 percent online format besides the traditional semester-by-semester format.
The online delivery method includes accelerated 8-week courses. Since it was established, it has allowed out-of-state students and even students who travel for business to still keep up with their classes.
The program also offers nine concentrations in various specialized fields, allowing students the flexibility to choose one that fits their personal ambitions.
According to The Princeton Review, the “Best On-Campus MBA Programs” cohort of business schools were selected using a combination of factors including institutional and student survey data. Data used includes career outcomes, admissions selectivity and academic rigor, among others.
From qualified faculty members and also adjunct professors to the various concentrations offered, the MBA program meets all the standard criteria required to be included on The Princeton Review list. There is, however, one particular factor of The Princeton Review’s evaluation process that sets the program apart and enables it to stand out among the many other institutions with great business programs.
P. Robert Viguerie, Jr. is the director of the MBA program and associate dean of B.I. Moody III College of Business Administration. When asked how he thinks the college was able to accomplish the recognition of The Princeton Review, he shared, “A big part of their evaluation is what the students have to say. And we get some very good student interactions.”
He added, “I think how we got on the first time was when they interviewed our students, this is what we are lauded for, our personal touch. They are amazed that they can call the director of the program and he will talk to them.”
At bigger institutions, it is a tougher feat to have personal interactions with professors since there are large cohorts of students. On the other hand, at UL Lafayette, faculty and staff, in fact, encourage students to have conversations with them. Viguerie stated, “UL is still not so big that you are not just a number.”
Indeed, what makes UL Lafayette special is this culture that is ingrained as part of our university’s identity, where students receive a personalized education experience. Students can feel like the university is a place where they can be noticed and appreciated as a whole individual.
Furthermore, being situated in Southern Louisiana, Viguerie said, “The friendly cajun culture imbues this university.” The cajun culture is an important part of the university’s identity, and it creates a heartwarming atmosphere on campus, not just among students but also the faculty and staff. So besides just receiving quality education, students at UL Lafayette are also able to have a good network of support while doing so.
The recognition by The Princeton Review is significant for the B.I. Moody III College of Business Administration. Louisiana being a small state and Lafayette being a small city, The Princeton Review raises the profile of not just the college but also the university. It signifies that the college has a quality program that is approved of and recognized by a credible and well-known education services company.
The Princeton Review also gives a detailed profile of the program, which provides students the necessary information they would want to consider when choosing a business program that suits them the most.
The B.I. Moody III College of Business Administration is consistently seeking growth and ensuring the best quality education that they can provide for their students. Nichols and Viguerie stated that the college is currently working on increasing the number of concentrations as well as redesigning a few courses to keep them current with the ever-changing technology.
The Princeton Review is just the beginning of many more recognitions to come for The B.I. Moody III College of Business Administration.