UVA Darden Soars to No. 5 Overall in Poets & Quants MBA Ranking; Retains Spot as Nation’s Top Public B-School

The University of Virginia Darden School of Business has achieved its highest-ever placement in Poets & Quants’ 2024–2025 ranking of full-time U.S. MBA programs, rising to fifth place overall (up from No. 8 last year) among all public and private business schools.

Darden also retained its ranking as the No. 1 public business school in the country.

Poets & Quants’ rankings are a composite of five leading evaluations, including U.S. News & World Report, the Financial Times, Bloomberg Businessweek, LinkedIn and the Princeton Review.

Like other top-ranking schools, Darden benefitted from being ranked in all five of the composite ranking sources. In particular, Poets & Quants reported, Darden excelled with the addition of the Princeton Review in the ranking compilation, a source that provided additional weight to Darden’s longstanding reputation for teaching quality and the student experience.

A Legacy of Teaching Excellence

“At Darden, the story is always the faculty,” Poets & Quants notes. “They are not only masters in the classroom but just as importantly deeply connect with students.” For decades, MBA student surveys have praised Darden’s faculty as among the best in the world, emphasizing the school’s reputation as a global leader in teaching quality.

Second-year MBA student Brianna Huff encapsulates this sentiment in the Poets & Quants article: “The faculty’s commitment to our success was evident in their approach to challenging us. They didn’t just spoon-feed information; instead, they encouraged us to think critically … while providing the necessary support and guidance.”

This dedication to student success has distinguished Darden, reflected by a decade of recognition from The Economist for providing the best educational experience in the U.S.

Transformative Achievements

Darden’s rise in the rankings reflects a period of growth and innovation under Dean Scott Beardsley’s leadership. From the launch of new degree programs like the Part-Time MBA and the business analytics program to major enhancements on Grounds such as The Forum Hotel and a $150 million student residential project, the school has cemented its status as a global leader in business education. Faculty expansion, increased scholarship funding and groundbreaking initiatives, including the LaCross Institute for Ethical Artificial Intelligence in Business, have elevated Darden’s impact and appeal. These transformative efforts not only enhance the student experience but also ensure that Darden continues to compete with MBA programs worldwide, Poets & Quants highlighted.

The new composite ranking top five, in order: Northwestern University Kellogg School of Management; Stanford Graduate School of Business, University of Chicago Booth School of Business; Harvard University Business School; UVA Darden School of Business.

Darden is the only public business school in the Top 10. The second-highest ranked public business school is UCLA’s Anderson School of Management, at No. 14.