UM College of Business Ranks Among Nation’s Top Public Undergraduate Programs
UM students act as buyers and sellers in a professional sales course offered through the College of Business. (UM photo by Ryan Brennecke)
MISSOULA – The University of Montana College of Business ranks among the top 15% of public undergraduate business programs in the nation, according to the 2027 U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges Rankings.
UM tied for No. 89 among undergraduate business programs at public universities and tied for No. 149 among all undergraduate business programs nationwide, public and private. The overall ranking places the UM College of Business first among Big Sky Conference institutions.
"This ranking reflects what our faculty, staff and students accomplish every day," said Suzanne Tilleman, the Sprunk and Burnham Endowed Dean of the UM College of Business. "Being recognized among the top public business programs in the country, and first in the Big Sky Conference, shows that a UM business education stands up against the best in the nation. We're proud of that, and we're just getting started."
The ranking among public institutions carries weight for Montana families. It places UM alongside some of the country’s largest and best-known public research universities while offering students the close faculty connections of a mid-sized campus.
“Montana students do not need to leave the state to earn a nationally recognized business degree, and out-of-state students are finding that Missoula offers both quality and a place they want to live,” Tilleman said.
Student interest in the College of Business continues to climb. Enrollment in the college has increased each year for the past five years, a trend that reflects growing demand for the college’s programs and the career outcomes they support.
Business students at UM have access to experiential learning opportunities, student organizations, and advising and career support designed to help them move from the classroom into the workforce. Currently, 94% of College of Business alumni are working or in graduate school within six months of graduation.
The College of Business offers eight undergraduate majors: accounting, business management, cybersecurity, entertainment, events and sports management, finance, international business, management information systems, and marketing.
Two of those majors have launched within the past two years. The cybersecurity major gives students both the technical and managerial skills organizations need to protect their data and systems. Students explore cybersecurity management topics and apply that knowledge through hands-on projects, preparing them for one of the fastest-growing fields in the workforce.
The entertainment, events and sports management major is an interdisciplinary program grounded in a comprehensive business foundation. Students study the future of the entertainment, event and sport industries and gain real-world experience working alongside industry professionals, with an emphasis on community engagement, ethical business practices and career readiness.
For more information on enrolling at the College of Business, visit the UM admissions website.
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Contact: Garrett Finke, UM College of Business director of marketing and communications, 406-243-4436, garrett.finke@umontana.edu