The Kelley School of Business at Indiana University ranked at No. 19 this year. Falling two places behind from last year’s 17th spot and six spots from 2019’s 13th-place finish, Kelley had an acceptance rate of 50.65% this year with an incoming class that had an average SAT score of 1432 and average high school GPA of 3.92.
Like most year’s Kelley placed well in this ranking based on its stellar performance in the alumni survey, or academic experience, portion of the rankings. Kelley alumni boosted the school to a third-place finish in academic experience, falling only behind Bucknell University and the University of Virginia.
Kelley’s undergraduate business education is best characterized as one that emphasizes professional and leadership development through its comprehensive curriculum and industry-specific workshops.
KELLEY COMPASS
Kelley students have access to 18 majors and co-majors including Accounting, Business Analytics, Digital and Social Media Business Applications, Digital Technology Management, Economic Consulting, Entrepreneurship and Corporate Innovation, Finance, Information Systems, International Business, Law, Ethics, and Decision-Making, Management, Marketing, Operations Management, Professional Sales, Public Policy Analysis, Real Estate, Supply Chain Management, and Sustainable Business.
At the core of each of these majors is the Kelley Compass. Often considered the DNA of the Kelley curriculum, Kelley Compass is a set of classes taken once per year during the first three years of the undergraduate education.
The first course is “The Individual,” in which encourages students to better understand themselves by creating a comprehensive and market-ready personal-branding deliverable. The second course is “The Team,” in which students collaborate with teammates to construct strategies for real-world problems. Students also develop professional resumes and cover letters through this course.
The third course is “The Business Professional,” in which students learn important skills such as self-awareness, self-management, and leadership. This final course focuses on emotional intelligence and real-world, practical applications.
The Kelley Compass courses are highly characteristic of the type of education and values that Kelley strives to instill in each of its students: One that nurtures both hard and soft skills to develop a nuanced individual, team, and ultimately, business professional.
And many Kelley alumni agree. Surveyed 2018 alumni rated the quality of teaching at Kelley a strong 9.2 average rating. When asked to rate the opportunities offered at Kelley to nurture and develop their soft skills in business such as verbal and written communication skills, adaptability, delegation, and time management, 2018 alumni gave a strong 9.5 average rating.
WORKSHOPS
The Kelley education places heavy emphasis on specialized skill development. Students can gain industry-specific knowledge and build in-demand skills by applying to one of Kelley’s 13 workshops that range from investment banking to consulting.
“I was a member of the Investment Banking Workshop during my undergraduate years,” one 2018 alumni told us. “I was faculty-selected into an intensive program preparing students to enter the investment banking industry and was trained in fundamental valuation techniques through participation in weekly lectures and Training The Streets seminars.”
Another 2018 alumni highlighted his experience in Kelley’s consulting workshop, where he and a group of 30 students developed the necessary skill sets and network for a career in consulting.
“The experience melded distinctive teaching that provided me a core consulting toolkit, hands-on learning through case studies and case competitions, and access to a network of peers and alumni in the industry I looked to work in,” the alumni told us.
Kelley’s industry-specific workshops are a prime example of how the b-school strategically develops market-ready business professionals for nearly any career. Through these workshops, students can build the necessary skills and knowledge while making meaningful connections in their chosen industry.
“The workshop programs are incredibly unique and valuable at the Kelley School of Business – being part of the Investment Management Workshop not only prepared me for my future career but connected me and put me in front of top employers for internship and full time opportunities,” one 2018 alumni told us. “The rigorous coursework, seminars and networking opportunities as well as the commitment by faculty and upper class-men members to this program made it invaluable to my undergraduate experience.”
EMPLOYMENT OUTCOMES
Kelley students graduate with strong employment outcomes. Some 91% had a business-focused internship before graduation and 93.98% were employed full-time within three months of graduation.
Additionally, an overwhelming 94.25% of surveyed 2018 alumni reported that their first job after graduating was in their desired industry with 85.06% saying that first job was at their desired company.
At Kelley, business education is founded on professional and leadership development. With a comprehensive curriculum and industry-specific workshops, a Kelley undergraduate quickly grows from a business student to become a true business leader.
Alumni say:
“Just about every business class held real world work simulations and projects to some extent. These focused on a real world problem, working with a team to find a solution, and communicating that solution through paper or presentation. Some of the key classes included large capstone projects that require in depth research and problem solving skills.”
“Indiana offered me a life-changing experience allowing me to study abroad at ESADE Business School, a prestigious European University. Additionally, Kelley empowered me with the tools and resources to get my dream job in Silicon Valley working as an analyst at venture-backed startups.”
“Investment Management Workshop does a phenomenal job training and connecting you with alumni/professionals in the capital markets industry and gives you signature experience (i.e. Knall-Cohen Fund) practicing the underlying skills of the industry.”
Where The Class of 2018 Went To Work:
EY – 68
Deloitte – 43
PwC – 39
Grant Thornton LLP – 19
Oracle America Inc. – 19
KPMG, LLP – 17
JPMorgan Chase & Co. – 16
Kohl’s – 14
Macy’s – 14
Cummins Inc. – 12
