Oklahoma City University’s Meinders School of Business has been ranked fourth in the country in College Consensus’ Best Business Schools for Women list. Faculty-to-student ratio, number of women enrolled, women-centered events, and number of women in faculty positions were all considered factors in the rankings.
“We are delighted to receive such a high ranking from College Consensus,” said Steve Agee, dean of the business school. “The 11-to-1 student-to-faculty ratio is very well-suited for individual attention between our students and the business school faculty. We also have specific scholarships for women that are not available at other colleges, which certainly differentiates the Meinders School of Business at OCU from other institutions.”
Universities considered for the list were all AACSB-accredited and named by leading ranking systems, including Forbes, The Economist, Bloomberg Businessweek, The Financial Times, and U.S. News & World Report.
The average business school in America has a student population of about 41.2% women, according to College Consensus’ website, but more than 65% of OCU’s business students are women.
The statement published with the rankings noted that while several business schools are reputable, quality institutions, not all of them have taken steps to improve women’s educational experiences.
“This list of the Best Business Schools for Women specifically holds schools that enroll the most women and place women in leadership positions as deans, professors, faculty, or administrators,” the statement said. “We found the top business schools that not only make exceptional business education accessible for women students but also invest in women leadership, research, and guidance by placing women in roles within business schools to impact policies, ideals, and future leaders.”
The Meinders School of Business has made several institutional efforts to ensure educational opportunities for women, such as the creation of the women-exclusive Dortha Dever and Clara Luper scholarships, as well as the annual Women in Leadership conference, a day-long event that brings together more than 400 women from diverse backgrounds. The event is “a unique blend of interactive learning with actionable tips, access to high-level networking, and transformational talks from business leaders,” said Melissa Cory, co-founder of the conference and director of Executive and Professional Education for the business school.
Lauren Snare, a finance and economics junior at OCU, said her opportunities through the school have exceeded her expectations for her college experience. As an institution scholar for the Steven C. Agee Economic Research and Policy Institute, Snare has obtained hands-on experience with research, data visualization, and economic impact reports and has accepted two business internships during her time at OCU.
“I am excited to see more and more female students applying to the program,” Snare said. “Women have several amazing opportunities to become involved on campus to develop new skills, take challenging and rewarding classes, network with highly regarded business professionals, and gain real-world knowledge on and off campus.”
To learn more about OCU’s Meinders School of Business, go to okcu.edu/business.
