Ithaca College's School of Business has reaffirmed its position among the world's elite business schools, earning reaccreditation from The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB). The distinction recognizes the school's commitment to strategic management, student success, thought leadership, and societal impact.
Ithaca College’s School of Business Earns Prestigious AACSB Reaccreditation
By Sloan MacRae, February 10, 2025
Reaccreditation affirms School of Business's position among world's premier institutions.
IC's School of Business professors serve as mentors across curricular, co-curricular, and extra-curricular activities, creating organic learning communities centered around shared interests and disciplines. (Photo by Allison Usavage '11)
IC's School of Business professors serve as mentors across curricular, co-curricular, and extra-curricular activities, creating organic learning communities centered around shared interests and disciplines. (Photo by Allison Usavage '11)
A Mark of Excellence
According to AACSB, accredited schools are "trailblazers in teaching, research, and societal impact." Since first earning accreditation in 2005, Ithaca College has maintained this elite status through rigorous five-year evaluations examining the institution's mission, faculty qualifications, curriculum, strategic direction, and student learning outcomes.
Congratulating Ithaca College and the other schools receiving accreditation this year, Stephanie Bryant, Executive Vice President and Global Chief Accreditation Officer at AACSB, remarked: "The commitment to earning accreditation is a true reflection of each school's dedication—not only to its students, alumni network, and greater business community—but to society as a whole."
"AACSB reaccreditation validates Ithaca College’s School of Business as a distinctive force in business education," said Michael Johnson-Cramer, Dean of the School of Business. "This recognition strengthens our competitive position and affirms our specialized approach: hands-on experiences, mentorship, and real-world learning that prepare our students for their journeys, wherever they may lead. It demonstrates the measurable value we deliver to students who seek not just skills, but transformative ways of thinking."
Distinguished Programs and Initiatives
Ithaca College's campus, with the Park Center for Business and Sustainable Enterprise in the background at left. (Photo by Andrew Frasz)
The AACSB review committee commended the school on several exceptional elements that distinguish business education at IC:
Innovative Alumni Engagement. The Bomber Professional Networks (BPNs) represent a groundbreaking approach to alumni connection. These strategic affinity groups, starting with the Bomber Entrepreneurship Network (BEN), create powerful bridges between current students and successful alumni.
Reimagined First-Year Experience. The newly revised World of Business course transforms the traditional first-year experience through an innovative required course. Students engage in hands-on learning through a dynamic three-event pitch competition and gain direct access to industry leaders through the "Find Your Passion" speaker series, featuring accomplished alumni who share real-world insights and inspiration.
"A Community that Learns Together." The school has cultivated a unique learning environment where faculty engagement extends far beyond the classroom. Professors serve as mentors across curricular, co-curricular, and extra-curricular activities, creating organic learning communities centered around shared interests and disciplines.
Comprehensive Career Development. Students benefit from an extensive professional development ecosystem including the Professions Program, Career Connections events, Meet the Firms trips, Professions Week, and personalized career counseling. This comprehensive approach ensures students graduate ready to succeed in their chosen fields.
"This recognition strengthens our competitive position and affirms our specialized approach: hands-on experiences, mentorship, and real-world learning that prepare our students for their journeys, wherever they may lead. It demonstrates the measurable value we deliver to students who seek not just skills, but transformative ways of thinking."
Michael Johnson-Cramer, Dean of the School of Business
The Impact of AACSB Accreditation
AACSB accreditation significantly enhances the value of an Ithaca College business degree. Employers actively seek graduates from AACSB-accredited institutions, recognizing that these programs deliver comprehensive, rigorous education aligned with industry standards. The reaccreditation strengthens the school’s ability to attract outstanding faculty, forge strategic partnerships with leading organizations, and draw enterprising students who seek to make their mark in the business world.
Embark on your enterprise at Ithaca College.
The School of Business offers an MS program in accounting, an MBA in entertainment and media, and undergraduate majors in accounting, business analytics, finance, marketing, sport management, and strategic leadership.