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Why Willamette MBA

Earn Oregon’s #1 MBA. Advance your career with Willamette’s accredited programs in Portland and Salem.

A Willamette MBA student in Kaneko Commons sitting at a table with a computer.

An Assurance of Excellence

Why should rankings and accreditation matter to you? Rankings and accreditation help you separate signal from noise. Rankings show how programs perform on things students care about like learning experience, career outcomes, and reputation. Accreditation is the quality seal. It verifies rigorous academics, supports employer and licensure recognition, and helps ensure eligibility for financial aid and international study.

Recognized Among the Best U.S. MBA Programs

Rankings

Willamette’s Atkinson Graduate School of Management is regularly recognized among the Best Business Schools in the U.S. by Bloomberg Businessweek. In the 2025–26 ranking of U.S. full-time MBA programs, Willamette is #1 in Oregon, and #2 in the Pacific Northwest. Within the ranking’s factor scores, Willamette is #1 in the Pacific Northwest for both Learning and Entrepreneurship, categories built from student and alumni surveys about classroom quality, real-world curriculum, problem-solving, and new-venture preparation.

  • Poets & Quants ranks Willamette MBA as one of the Top U.S. MBA programs.
  • Forbes has consistently ranked Willamette MBA as one of the "Best Business Schools" in the US for return on investment (note that Forbes paused its biennial ROI list and this remains the most recent edition).
  • Princeton Review ranks the Willamette MBA as a "Best Business School."
  • Inc. magazine ranked Willamette MBA's entrepreneurship courses "New Ventures to Launch" and "Venture Investing" as among the "10 Best Entrepreneurship Courses" in the U.S.
  • The Aspen Institute's "Beyond Grey Pinstripes" survey ranked Willamette #23 in the world for MBA programs that integrate social, ethical, and environmental stewardship issues throughout their curriculum.
Two MBA graduates at Commencement taking a selfie

Willamette MBA Voices

"These rankings reinforce what we already know: Willamette’s MBA is the best in Oregon and the Atkinson School is a national leader in experiential management education."
Romana Autrey
Dean of the Atkinson Graduate School of Management
Headshot of Romana Autrey

Willamette MBA Stands Out

At Willamette, we believe knowledge should move off the page and into action. That’s why our MBA graduates lead in business, government, and nonprofits across the region. Here’s what makes us different from other programs.

  • From Classroom to Boardroom

    Every Willamette MBA student is provided hands-on experiences that translates directly into career growth. Our signature PACE course pairs you with real organizations to solve real problems. You’ll also have the chance to manage investment and philanthropic funds, work on start-up projects, study abroad, and complete up to three semesters of internships for credit. By graduation, your résumé will tell a compelling story of what you’ve accomplished.

  • Your Career, Your Schedule

    Choose the format that works for you: full-time, part-time, one-year, or dual-degree options. Then specialize in what inspires you with focus areas in marketing, finance, human resources, and more. Our in-person programs keep you connected to faculty, peers, and employers while allowing the flexibility to match your career stage and goals.

  • Faculty Who Know Your Name

    You’re never just a number at Willamette. Our small class sizes encourage collaboration and close faculty mentorship. Professors aren’t just teachers, they’re active contributors in their fields who connect students with opportunities beyond the classroom. And when you graduate, you’ll join a strong alumni community with dedicated support services to keep your career moving forward.

Our Accredited MBA Program

Choosing an accredited MBA program is extremely important when deciding where to attend graduate school. Accredited schools provide the quality, credibility, and reputation you deserve with your degree. They also can impact your networking opportunities, ability to transfer credits, and access to financial aid. Earning and maintaining accreditation requires schools to meet the highest standards of an MBA education.

Willamette is the only MBA program globally accredited in both Business and Public Administration. Our full-time MBA program is accredited by NASPAA and AACSB. Our part-time MBA program and one-year MBA program are also AACSB-accredited MBA programs.

Whether you're interested in business, government, or not-for-profit organizations, Willamette offers a program that fits your needs. Learn more about our programmatic accreditation and rankings.

Business Administration Accreditation

AACSB International (Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business) accredits all Willamette MBA degree programs. AACSB accreditation assures program quality and promotes excellence and continuous improvement in undergraduate and graduate education for business administration worldwide. AACSB accreditation is the most recognized form of professional accreditation an institution and its business programs can earn.

AACSB grants accreditation to business schools that demonstrate exceptional academic standards. This accreditation process involves a thorough review of the school's mission, the qualifications of its faculty, and the content and quality of its curriculum.

Lobby of the Ecotrust building where the Portland MBA program is located.

Public Administration Accreditation

NASPAA (Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs, and Administration) accredits Willamette's full-time MBA program for public administration. NASPAA's mission is to elevate public service education and inspire future public servants to make a positive impact. NASPAA Standards are the global quality benchmark used by graduate public service programs around the world.

Willamette's Salem campus is just steps away from the State Capitol. By building connections with local and state officials, Willamette graduates can make the most of their NASPAA-accredited degrees.

Professor teaching a class.

Willamette MBA Voices

“Accreditation powers us up and improves what we deliver to the student.”
Debra J. Ringold
JELD WEN Professor of Free Enterprise
Headshot of Debra J. Ringold

Learn More about Accreditations

Willamette University

Atkinson Graduate School of Management