Clark University’s MBA degree track has been recognized as one of the best in the nation as the Worcester school has been named to Fortune magazine’s list of Best Business Schools and MBA Programs for 2026.
Clark was the sole Central Massachusetts university to make Fortune’s list, coming in at #56 out of 72 universities ranked throughout the country, according to a Friday press release from the publication.
“We are thrilled that Fortune continues to recognize Clark’s School of Business and MBA program,” Jing Zhang, Clark’s dean of the School of Business, said in a Tuesday press release from the school.
Clark’s #56 ranking marks a 14-spot jump from its previous #70 spot in 2025, according to Clark.
Fortune scored universities based on 10 weighted categories within four variables: student outcomes; academic quality and selectivity; program stability and scale; and cost.
Student outcomes, such as median base salary and employment rates, carried the most rate in Fortune’s scoring methodology, accounting for 55% of each school’s ranking. Academic quality and selectivity, such as average GPAs, accounted for 25% of each score, followed by program stability and scale at 15% and cost at 5%.
Clark’s acceptance rate is 57%, with a $61,200 yearly tuition for an out-of-state student, according to Fortune. The university’s average undergraduate GPA is 3.53, and the median base salary for new graduates sits at $72,234 per year.
“We provide our students with a quality program that provides an excellent return on their investment. Our School of Business continues to add innovative offerings in emerging fields that incorporate new technologies and foster in-demand skills needed to succeed in business today,” Zhang said in the release.
The seven other Massachusetts university business schools to make Fortune’s 2026 list and their rankings are:
- #5: Harvard University in Cambridge
- #6: Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge
- #31: Boston University
- #41: Hult International Business School in Cambridge
- #58: UMass Amherst
- #61: Bentley University in Waltham
- #72: UMass Dartmouth
Mica Kanner-Mascolo is a staff writer at Worcester Business Journal, who primarily covers the healthcare, manufacturing, and higher education industries.
