The Isenberg School of Management at University of Massachusetts Amherst finished No. 41 on Poets&Quants’ 2025 ranking of the Best Undergraduate Business Programs in the U.S. In our three methodological categories, it finished No. 30 in Admission Standards, No. 71 in Career Outcomes, and No. 45 in Academic Experience (based solely on our alumni survey).
The B-school’s acceptance rate for the fall 2024 incoming class was 38%, and the class also reported an average SAT score of 1386. Its six-year graduation rate is 92%.
In career data, 80 of Class of 2023 and 2024 graduates completed at least one business-specific internship before graduation. Some 80.5% of 2024 grads found jobs within three months, compared to 77.2% of 2023 grads.
Average salary for the most recent graduates was $71,653, with 14% of them reporting an average signing bonus of $7,378. The top employers included Fidelity, PwC, TJX Companies, EY, Deloitte, Wayfair, Dell, Citigroup, Amazon, and Epsilon.
Isenberg has a comprehensive business education with resources in STEM and leverages its location in the northeast to offer students unique opportunities to work with companies such as Reebok.
CROSS-FUNCTIONAL CURRICULUM
Isenberg students have access to majors including Accounting, Finance, Hospitality & Tourism Management, Management, Marketing, Operations & Information Management, and Sports Management. The B-school recently added a new certificate in Corporate Real Estate that includes certification in Argus software and a new Analytics certificate at the undergraduate level.
Isenberg is a part of UMass Amherst, a major public research university and there are opportunities for Isenberg students to take advantage of resources in Engineering, Computer Science, Public Health, and beyond. Many alumni highlight how cross-functional Isenberg courses are in leveraging knowledge not only in business but also fields such as engineering and computer science.
“I had a financial engineering class where we learned the academic and practical aspects of trading and portfolio management,” one 2018 alumni told us. “We managed an option trading strategy for a semester and actively managed a strategy for the entire semester. This allowed me to apply the academic learnings from class to actual markets. I was also able to use my learnings from computer science classes I took to develop a computer model that allowed me to analyze the market and implement my strategy.”
Over the past decade, Isenberg has seen rapid growth in national rankings while attracting world-class students and faculty. As part of UMass Amherst’s flagship campus, Isenberg students benefit from cross-disciplinary opportunities with Engineering, Computer Science, Public Health, and other top programs.
Students have access to an expansive alumni network of over 48,000, a dedicated Office of Career Success, and a prime location within a two-to-three-hour drive from both New York City and Boston—providing strong networking and internship opportunities in major metropolitan areas while enjoying the beauty of the Northeast region.
RECENT INNOVATIONS
Isenberg has recently expanded experiential learning and career development initiatives to further enhance student success. The school introduced a core curriculum course on Inclusive Leadership for Global Workplaces, along with a required leadership training program for over 40 student clubs. The Dean’s Academy was established to attract top-tier students, while the Office of Career Success expanded its Career Peers and Undergraduate Advising Peers programs to provide more direct student support.
Academic offerings have also grown, with the addition of a business minor, a Corporate Real Estate certificate that includes Argus software certification, and a new undergraduate Analytics certificate. Isenberg has further expanded experiential service-learning opportunities, particularly through the Isenberg Global Citizens program in South Africa, providing students with hands-on international business experience.
This level of support captures the type of education that Isenberg provides. While many B-schools have resources available for students, Isenberg’s faculty appears to go the extra mile to provide students with the resources and support they need.
ALUMNI SAY
“The Semester in the Profession (SIP) was the best experience throughout my time in Isenberg, It helped me not only gain real-life work experience but also helped me to finish my 150 academic credits to sit for the CPA exam.”
“I really appreciate how Isenberg and the OIM program have shaped me, especially the 300-level classes—I took all the OIM 300-level courses for MIS, which were really helpful.”
“All my friends went to big B schools, they’re working the same jobs all my Isenberg friends work, except we have no debt(and better social skills).”
