The college’s graduate management degree was ranked no. 23 nationally last year, but has moved ahead of such schools at Worcester Polytechnic and Florida State in the latest rankings.
“It is exciting that our first — and still-young — graduate program is being so well received,” said Girard School of Business Dean Mark Cordano. “Our program is only beginning its fourth year and we are ranked with other fine programs in the region such as MIT, Boston University, and Worcester Polytechnic Institute.
“For schools with a Catholic mission we are among great company as well, with Notre Dame listed at 10th and Catholic University at 13th.”
The magazine’s methodology factored in such issues as a weighted scoring for the mean GMAT scores, the mean starting salaries and bonuses of graduates, mean undergraduate grade point average, acceptance rates, full-time students who had jobs by the time they graduated, and full-time students who found jobs within three months of graduation.
The MSM program has grown rapidly its first few years, even as the school increased the academic credentials of incoming students, Cordano said.
“Additionally, employers are recognizing the quality of this credential and we have been able to improve placement success,” he said.
The classrooms boast a range of instructors with impressive credentials, from new Ph.D.’s who come from top programs, to veteran professionals with years of high-level executive experience; all combined with a passion for teaching in small classes, Cordano said.
Merrimack’s program has unique features that help it stand out among other programs.
The MSM has a well-designed curriculum that integrates two- and four-credit courses that provide students with a strong grounding in management, while leaving room for electives.
A full time student can complete the coursework in just two semesters. A part-time student can complete in comfortably in two years, or less, depending on their interest in taking classes during the summer.
“This design is both effective and convenient for students,” Cordano said.
The MSM isn’t done evolving, he said. It’s developing stronger connections to Merrimack’s science and technology students.
“MSM programs are very common at strong technology schools — for example among the top 20 are MIT, Rochester Polytechnic Institute, Stevens Tech and WPI,” Cordano said. “Combining our MSM program with our strong undergraduate science and engineering programs would produce graduates industry cannot get enough of.”
