Guide to Business Schools

The nation's best business schools offer more than MBA programs and a piece of paper. Top business schools offer experience, as well as education. After all, the best business owners aren't just entrepreneurs, they're also teachers-and students, too. No matter your age, industry or education, learning is a lifelong endeavor, and doing more of it will make both your brain and your bottom line bigger.

Whether you're chasing MBA programs, building your resume or just exercising your cerebral cortex, business schools have programs that will help you build and better your business. Options include:

1. Business schools with undergraduate degrees.
2. Business schools offering graduate degrees.
3. Business schools with MBA programs.
4. Online business schools with distance learning options.
5. Business schools with adult learning programs.
6. Business schools that offer management training.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Get your bachelors in business at the best business schools

Maybe you're a college-aged entrepreneur. Or perhaps you're a seasoned business owner who once chose enterprise over education. Either way, an undergraduate degree in business will give you an invaluable foundation on which to build future learning.

I recommend: Every year, U.S. News & World Report ranks the Best Undergraduate Business Programs; for a small fee, you can browse business schools' profiles. The Princeton Review, meanwhile, offers free access to information about the country's top business schools; visit its Web site to browse undergraduate business programs by major and concentration.

Consider MBA programs at top business schools

The gold standard in business credentials, a masters in business administration can open new doors and attract fresh opportunities. And with so many options -- one- and two-year MBA programs, Executive MBA programs, part-time MBA programs and online MBA programs -- there's absolutely something for everyone at the nation's best business schools.

I recommend: BusinessWeek rates the best business schools and the best MBA programs; on its MBA page you can find school rankings, as well as profiles of full-time programs, part-time programs and distance education programs. In 2006, the top five full-time MBA programs were at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School, Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management, Harvard Business School and the University of Michigan's Ross School of Business.

Pursue a graduate degree in business

MBA programs aren't your only options. A masters degree -- in finance, for instance, or international business -- is the perfect tool for the transitioning professional. Whether you're changing careers or collecting fresh credentials, grad school can take you to a whole new level of scholarly success.

I recommend: At Business.GradSchools.com you can search for graduate programs at business schools by subject area focus, whether human resources or project management. At Monster Learning, meanwhile, you can search for business degree programs in your area by zip code.

Consider online business schools

These days, you don't have to go to school to be a student. Turn your office into your classroom when you take classes from online business schools via certified distance education programs.

I recommend: While for-profit schools such as the University of Phoenix and DeVry are leaders in the online space, more established universities such as Duke University and Syracuse University are also offering online degree programs. Search eLearner.com for a program that's right for you.

Check out after-work business schools

You don't have to put your business on hold in order to be a successful student. That's because business schools have many programs that are flexible enough and affordable enough for working adults.

I recommend: An executive MBA, or EMBA, is the ideal degree for busy professionals, as classes generally meet outside of business hours. The Princeton Review provides a useful overview, as well as a comprehensive list of EMBA programs nationwide.

Try continuing education at business schools

Learning comes in many shapes and sizes, and not always with a degree attached to it. Business schools offer dozens of continuing education opportunities, including management training, leadership workshops and entrepreneurial boot camps for business veterans and newbies alike.

I recommend: Among the country's best entrepreneurial programs are the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton Programs for Working Professionals, UCLA's Management Development for Entrepreneurs and Columbia University's Entrepreneurship Program.

Tips & Tactics
Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• Going to business school isn't necessarily as easy as deciding to go; keep in mind that the top business schools typically have strict admissions requirements, which may include strong GMAT scores, immaculate essays and successful interviews with volunteer alumni.
• Not all business schools are created equal. Before you enroll in a program, review its curriculum to make sure it includes the subjects and focus areas you require. You may need special training, for instance, in marketing or finance, and not all programs give equal emphasis to the same subjects.
• Whether you're an undergraduate, a graduate student or a professional, campus visits are always a good idea. Even if you're looking at online business schools, ppeak with current and former students, as well as faculty, in order to decide if the business schools you're considering are a good fit.
• Schooling of any sort requires a considerable investment of both time and money. Be prepared to spend anywhere from a few hundred dollars and a couple hours for a one-time training course to more than $60,000 and two years for a full-time MBA at the best business schools.
• Understand that school is a serious commitment. It may require valuable time away from your friends and family, so be certain you're up for the challenge before you take the plunge.

The official source of Business Schools is the Business Schools page at Business.com