The MBA program at the Robert H. Smith School of Business at the University of Maryland ranked No. 20 among all U.S. MBA programs in the Financial Times MBA 2005 rankings, published January 24th. The influential rankings place Smiths MBA program No. 6 among all U.S. public business schools and No. 30 in the world. For the fourth straight year the Smith School has ranked among the top three of the best 25 U.S. business schools in the value for money category scoring No. 3.

I am pleased that the Robert H. Smith School of Business continues to rank as a leader in higher business education worldwide, said Howard Frank, dean of the Smith School. The Financial Times rankings reflect our ability to deliver a first-rate educational experience while maintaining cost and accessibility. Our programs in China and other worldwide initiatives bring unprecedented value to an extremely broad international constituency.

The Financial Times survey found three years after graduating, Smith MBAs saw their salaries increase an average of 147 percent, the 13th highest increase among the top 25 U.S. business schools in the survey. The report also compared the percentage of 2004 MBA graduates who had accepted jobs three months after graduation. The Smith Schools 89 percent placement rate for MBAs was the 12th best among the top 25 U.S. schools, while Smith ranked No. 12 among the top 25 U.S. business schools for aims achieved.

We arm our students with the most relevant tools for success, said Dean Frank. Our impressive placement rate is bolstered by the fact that our alumni are deeply satisfied with the return on their investment as seen by Smiths high marks for aims achieved.

The Financial Times rankings are compiled from two questionnaires one for the business schools and the other for the MBA class of 2001. The value for the money criterion is calculated using the salary earned by alumni three years after graduation and course costs.

Visit the Financial Times Web site for more information.