The Martin J. Whitman School of Management at Syracuse University finished No. 39 on Poets&Quants’ 2025 ranking of the Best Undergraduate Business Programs in the U.S. In our three methodological categories, it finished No. 39 in Admission Standards, No. 41 in Career Outcomes, and No. 63 in Academic Experience (based solely on our alumni survey).
The B-school’s acceptance rate for the fall 2024 incoming class was 42.6%, and the class also reported an average SAT score of 1342. Its six-year graduation rate is 85.5%.
In career data, 100% of Class of 2023 and 2024 grads completed at least one business-specific internship before graduation. Some 90.8% of 2024 grads found jobs within three months, compared to 82.7% of 2023 grads.
Average salary for the most recent graduates was $72,525, with 34% of them reporting an average signing bonus of $6,623. The top employers included PwC, Ernst & Young, Ross Stores, Deloitte, Bank of America, Goldman Sachs, Fidelity Investments, JPMorgan Chase & Co., PepsiCo, and TJX Companies.
Whitman undergraduate business students can choose from 10 different majors including Accounting, Business Analytics, General Accounting, Entrepreneurship, Finance, Marketing, Management Studies, Retail Management, Supply Chain Management, and Real Estate.
IMPRESS PROGRAM
One of the differentiating factors of the Whitman education is its Goodman IMPRESS Program, which focuses on soft-skill development for all Whitman students through extracurricular activities.
Every new Whitman student is delegated to one of four groups, or virtual “houses” – Adams, Harrison, Marshall, and Waverly. Each of these houses has its own insignia and is led by a faculty house mentor who guides students through their first business courses.
Student houses participate in a variety of extracurricular activities for which they will be rewarded with points, and every student is involved in two ongoing challenges – a personal challenge and the house challenge. Like a B-school version of the Harry Potter Hogwarts Houses, Whitman’s IMPRESS program is a creative, fun, and quantifiable way for students to develop and showcase their soft-skill competency.
Whitman also supports first-generation college students through the Whitman First Program, which provides monthly themed programs, mentorship from upperclassmen and faculty, and resources to help students navigate business school.
For career exploration, the Whitman Career Center offers career treks to major business hubs through signature programs such as Whitman on Wall Street (finance), Marketing in Manhattan, Business Analytics in the Big Apple, and Accounting in NYC, as well as industry showcases and career samplers in Boston, NYC, and Washington, D.C.
“SHARK TANK” STYLE CAPSTONE EXPERIENCE
For this senior capstone, student teams enter the pitch competition where they are challenged to come up with an innovative product or service and create a full business plan to successfully bring it to market. Students work in cross-functional teams across all business majors from finance to marketing to supply chain management. At the end, the teams pitch their plan to a panel of local business owners and professionals and are scored, similar to the show “Shark Tank.” Winning teams receive a grant and can put it towards launching their business idea.
“You learn the ins and outs of being an entrepreneur, receive hands-on experience in presenting to executives, communication and team-building skills and the list goes on,” one alumni told us. “Definitely a unique experience, that I can say from speaking with friends who attended other universities, is not one every college student participates in or has the opportunity to.”
“It was a great chance to push ourselves to put all of the business, finance, accounting, supply chain, and marketing knowledge to the test after having taken many of those classes previously,” another alumni said.
RECENT INNOVATIONS
To strengthen students’ career readiness, Whitman introduced the Whitman Industry Readiness & Excellence (WIRE) Initiative, which encourages students to earn professional certifications in high-demand skills such as Microsoft Excel, Google Data Analytics, Google AI, Microsoft Power BI, FINRA, PMP, and Argus.
In Fall 2024, Whitman launched a dual-degree program in Business and Sport Management, providing students with multidisciplinary training in one of the fastest-growing industries.
For students seeking global business experience, the Syracuse Abroad London: Whitman Core program allows sophomores to spend a semester abroad while completing nine credits of required business coursework in London’s vibrant business environment.
ALUMNI SAY
“Capstone project was an incredible learning opportunity to explore and experience the formation of a business plan, even going as far as appointing a board of directors.”
“The capstone project and experience was an incredible process that helped me look at the business world in a wholistic view as well as hone my skills working in a team.”
“My degree encompassed more than a simple business education. My time at school was immersive and held many real world applications. The quality of staff and culture of the student body lends itself to high engagement and a quality education.”
“Syracuse offered exceptional study abroad experiences! I spent a semester in Italy, which allowed me to gain a global perspective. While I chose not to take business classes there, I felt I was able to have a more well rounded education. Additionally, I work with a very global team currently and that experience allowed me to deepen my empathy and understanding of other cultures.”
