Business students outside the Schroeder School of Business

University of Evansville, Schroeder School of Business

Death and taxes.

Those are the two certainties of life wrote Benjamin Franklin. Of course, he penned that quote long before the release of the Schroeder School’s employment report. Here, the school boasted a 100% job placement rate for business majors from the Class of 2019 – topping all 97 undergraduate business programs ranked by Poets&Quants. This percentage also topped Schroeder’s already-impressive 96% placement from the year before.

Placement rate was one reason why the Schroeder School jumped from 71st to 52nd in P&Q’s undergraduate business school rankings. These aren’t just any jobs, either. In P&Q’s 2019 alumni survey, Schroeder ranked #1 for their business degree helping them land their “dream career” – topping highly-decorated programs like the Wharton School and Indiana University’s Kelley School. In the same survey, Schroeder alumni placed their alma mater among the ten-best business programs for alumni help in job hunting.

According to Dr. Ben Johnson, the Interim Schroeder Family Dean, this success is driven by the Office for Career Success (OCS). Housed within the business school itself, the office provides personalized support to each business student.

Ben Johnson

“Since its inception in 2011, starting salaries of Schroeder School graduates have increased almost 40%,” Johnson tells P&Q. “The OCS administers our ACES Passport program, which requires students to have a minimum of 20 high-touch career-focused events such as resume workshops, information sessions, mock interviews, networking events, and industry-focused speaking panels. When employers contact the OCS about a position, the individualized nature of the office allows them to provide a handful of candidates who would be good fits. This achieves positive outcomes for both the employer and student, which in turn strengthens the relationship between the Schroeder School and potential employers.”

A private school in southwest Indiana, Schroeder has traditionally been known for finance and accounting – ranking among the best small schools in these fields according to U.S. News & World Report. One reason: the small class size enables faculty to devote heavy attention to students. In fact, the program ranked 6th for faculty availability and 7th for academic advising according to P&Q’s alumni survey. In other words, Johnson explains, the Schroeder School bridges two worlds: the academic excellence of a large institution with the “personalized experience” and close-knit community inherent to a small school.

“A degree from the University of Evansville is a great investment for prospective students. Families see the sticker price, but do not realize we have generous financial aid and scholarship programs. Every accepted student receives a scholarship, and the average debt for a graduate ends up being less than one year’s tuition. At UE and the Schroeder School, students are more than a number, but the numbers (100% placement rate for the class of 2019, for example) are quite impressive as well.”

The program’s intimacy is reflected in two measures. For one, 100% of Schroeder graduates report completing a “signature experience” (aka project work, simulations, experiential learning, or capstone) that was critical to their learning. At the same time, Schroeder alumni ranked 2nd when asked if business school was a “life-changing experience.” Johnson attributes these high sentiments to experiential learning that is the core of Schroeder’s business programming.

“We strive to provide students with numerous opportunities to connect classroom theories with real-world problems,” Johnson asserts. “Several courses within our curriculum include a consulting project to offer recommendations to local businesses. Through our Institute for Banking and Finance, we offer practicums in wealth management, microfinance lending, and farm credit fellowships. LEAD Forward is an executive-style leadership training and skills development program offered to students on an annual cohort basis. EMBRACE is a student-run marketing agency that provides strategic marketing services to clients for a fee. Finally, almost 70% of our business students study abroad during their college career, many at Harlaxton College, the British Campus of UE located in a Victorian manor house in Grantham, England. These unique experiential programs, study abroad opportunities, and engaged faculty results in a culture that facilitates life-transforming experiences for students.”

Indeed, 2019 was a banner year for the Schroeder, a program with momentum behind it and several new projects in the pipeline for future business majors. In 2018, the school launched a new major,

Logistics and Supply Chain Management (LSCM), which has already gained traction at the school. At the same time, Johnson adds, the school will be expanding its internship capabilities to further enhance prospects for its students.

“Our first graduates of the LSCM program will be entering the job market soon, with plenty of experience gained through our LSCM Club and experiential programs. The LSCM students have completed several site visits, met with numerous guest speakers, and fared well in student case competitions. Over 92% of our students complete an off-campus internship, and in the near future we will be able to offer internships in the UK through our Harlaxton campus for a select number of students.”