Are you interested in studying undergraduate business? If so, we encourage you to check out the 2025 US News & World Report ranking for “Best Undergraduate Business Programs.”

But it’s not for the reason you might think — to see which universities appear at or near the top of the list. Instead, it’s to see which universities are not listed among our nation’s finest for undergraduate business. After all, many of America’s highly selective universities don’t offer undergraduate business — for reasons we will unpack below!

2025 US News 10 Best Undergraduate Business Programs

School	2025 US News Ranking for Undergraduate Business	Description
University of Pennsylvania	#1	The Wharton School is widely regarded as the country’s most prestigious undergraduate business school. Wharton students focus on both business and liberal arts, taking advantage of the immense facilities of this Ivy League school.
Massachusetts Institute of Technology	#2	MIT’s Sloan School of Business has incubated countless startups and innovations that have revolutionized the tech sector.
University of California, Berkeley	#2	Berkeley’s Haas School is the country’s top public undergraduate business school. Its teaching model focuses on data analytics, climate change, and diversity.
University of Michigan—Ann Arbor	#4	The Ross School of Business has strong ties to many of America’s most prominent corporations and offers some of the best post-grad outcomes for its undergraduates.
New York University	#5	NYU Stern is home to unique dual-degree programs that allow students to pursue everything from an M.S. in Accounting to a BFA in Film and Television while on campus.
Carnegie Mellon University	#6	With its focus on the intersections of Business with STEM, the Tepper School of Business is a leader in innovation and entrepreneurship.
University of North Carolina—Chapel Hill	#6	UNC’s Kenan Flagler School focuses on global business partnerships and encourages its students to study abroad as part of their undergraduate experience.
The University of Texas—Austin	#6	UNC’s Kenan Flagler School focuses on global business partnerships and encourages its students to study abroad as part of their undergraduate experience.
The University of Texas—Austin	#6	The McCombs School of Business has the #1 undergraduate Accounting program, according to US News.
Cornell University	#9	The SC Johnson College of Business at Cornell has a unique Hotel Administration program that has attracted some of the hospitality industry’s brightest minds.
Indiana University—Bloomington	#9	The Kelley School of Business focuses on cultivating the professional talents of its undergraduates to optimize their performance on the job market.
University of Southern California	#9	The USC Marshall School of Business has a unique affinity for turning out prominent members of Hollywood’s entertainment industry.

Most Top & Ivy League Schools Don’t Offer Undergraduate Business

We hope you’ll note the glaring omissions from the top undergraduate business programs list. While you’ll see some top public universities, you won’t see many top private universities, like Harvard University, Stanford University, Yale University, Princeton University, Dartmouth College, etc.

The reason? These schools don’t offer undergraduate business as a major. Most of America’s highly selective universities offer liberal arts curriculums instead. Business is a trade, not a liberal art. A liberal arts curriculum typically focuses on a broad range of subjects, encouraging critical thinking and problem-solving skills, while a business major is more specialized and practical, preparing students for specific careers in a highly competitive job market. Depending on the year, these schools not on this list might offer some undergraduate business coursework, often through the university’s graduate school, but not an undergraduate business major.

Expressing An Interest in Business to Schools Without Undergraduate Business Programs Hurts Your Chances of Admission

When students apply for undergraduate admission to schools like Harvard, Stanford, Yale, Princeton, Dartmouth, and other top institutions, it’s crucial that they express interest in the programs these schools actually offer when writing the “Why This College” portion of their applications. Admissions officers expect students to have done their homework and understand each institution’s unique academic focus. 

Ivy Coach’s Assistance for Undergraduate Business Applicants

If you’re not deterred by our advice and are still interested in studying undergraduate business, we at Ivy Coach commend your determination, which will get you far in your chosen industry. So, fill out Ivy Coach’s complimentary consultation form, and we’ll contact you with an outline of our services to help optimize your odds of admission to a highly selective undergraduate business school.