The School of Business Administration at the University of Dayton finished No. 49 on Poets&Quants’ 2025 ranking of the Best Undergraduate Business Programs in the U.S. In our three methodological categories, it finished No. 62 in Admission Standards, No. 44 in Career Outcomes, and No. 30 in Academic Experience (based solely on our alumni survey).
The B-school’s acceptance rate for the fall 2024 incoming class was 60.2%, and the class also reported an average SAT score of 1240. Its six-year graduation rate is 82.3%.
In career data, 93% of Class of 2024 graduates and 92% of Class of 2023 grads completed at least one business-specific internship before graduation. Some 97.6% of 2024 grads found jobs within three months, compared to 93.1% of 2023 grads.
Average salary for the most recent graduates was $66,689, with 38% of them reporting an average signing bonus of $5,473. The top employers included Fidelity, Reynolds & Reynolds, Cintas Corporation, Bank of America, EY, Amazon, PwC, Plante Moran, Parker Hannifin, and JPMorgan Chase.
THE DAYTON EXPERIENCE
The University of Dayton’s undergraduate business program blends academic rigor, professional development, and values-driven education, preparing students to lead with purpose. The school takes a holistic, student-centered approach, integrating career readiness, hands-on learning, and ethical leadership into every stage of the student experience.
A defining feature of the program is the Career Flight Plan, a progressive series of one-credit career development courses. Beginning in their first year, students take BIZ 103: Develop Your Vocation and Career Flight Plan, which includes mock Zoom interviews, an etiquette dinner, and AI-driven resume reviews. By junior year, students progress to BIZ 301: Successfully Navigating Your Career Flight Plan, where they learn financial literacy, job offer evaluation, and workplace professionalism. These experiences ensure graduates are well-prepared for their careers.
The school also emphasizes early and personalized advising, with students meeting with their dedicated academic advisor at least 28 times during their first year. Business students take 17 business credit hours in their first year, compared to the 10 typically required at other schools, providing early exposure to core business disciplines. Additionally, the Business Wisdom through International, Service, Experiential Education (BWISE) requirement ensures students complete at least two high-impact learning experiences – such as international programs, service projects, or hands-on business applications – before graduation.
HOME OF THE INCREDIBLE FLYER FUND
Dayton is perhaps most famous for its Flyer Fund, first launched in 1999 as a small, $1 million fund, by 2010 the Flyer Fund was worth more than $11 million. By 2015, the fund was valued at $22 million, with a portion coming from the university’s endowment and a pool of assets for the Dayton Foundation, a local nonprofit.
The fund really took off in 2021, gaining 63% in a single year to more than $50 million. Through fall 2021, the fund gained another 13.8% to reach a high of $67.8 million.
To further enhance career preparation and real-world learning, Dayton Business recently restructured its first-year business course, BIZ 201, into Business Cases and Communication, emphasizing professional writing and oral communication skills.
It also updated its Business Core curriculum, increasing first-year business credits from 10 to 17, and adding MGT 101 – Entrepreneurial, Innovative, and Creative Mindsets.
Dayton recently Launched a new Business Analytics major, integrating analytics coursework into the Business Core to ensure all students gain data-driven decision-making skills.
The school also offers first-year integrated study abroad programs, allowing students to develop global business perspectives early in their education, and a senior capstone experience, where students apply their knowledge in real-world consulting projects spanning one to two semesters.
Deeply rooted in Marianist principles, the program cultivates ethical leadership, community engagement, and a commitment to social responsibility, ensuring students graduate as globally minded, compassionate, and career-ready professionals.
ALUMNI SAY
“I was heavily involved in the student run business. This opened up many doors for me and gave me the opportunity to sharpen my communication skills, leadership skills, and learn how to manage a business.”
“Our capstone project was very important to me because it allowed me to have real-world experience but in a setting where feedback was continuously given. It also allowed me to take on a leadership role amongst my peers which is an invaluable experience.”
“Servant Leadership Immersion Weekend – You won’t find a better experience in the industry. While not “textbook” business course, it teaches you how to be a real leader in the world, how to approach humanity and leave a good mark on the world. Amazing life lessons and experiences.”
“Graduation requirements include 2 immersion weekends on campus — a great way to network with others in the class, in-person, but also the set up of the servant leadership immersion was incredible. Hands-on experiences, real-life application, socio-economic impacts, consumer/co-worker/client/human understanding and learning, etc. Made me want to be a better person and forces me to question things in new ways & have more empathy, even today.”
“If you want to learn about business, go to a business school–there are many. But if you want to be a better business leader, be a more well-rounded person, approach business situations in a more wholesome, empathetic, thoughtful, and smart way–go to UD and become a servant leader. It will expand your thinking and allow you to deliver back to the greater good of society. You will get more out of and experience and an education like this than the piece of graduation paper will attest to. Also, Dayton Alum love Dayton Alum. The networking is impeccable, post grad.”
“The professors at UD, particularly within the accounting department, truly care about their students. I always felt like they truly cared about both my growth and development as a student, individual, and young business professional. I feel like UD’s school of business set me up for success in the “real world” and I will always remember all of the faculty and staff who helped me get to where I am today.”
