Drexel University’s LeBow College of Business Part-Time MBA program has been named No. 1 in the nation for academic quality by BusinessWeek’s 2009 rankings of part-time MBA programs. The Drexel Part-Time MBA ranked No. 10 in the nation overall. No other part-time MBA program in the Philadelphia region was ranked among the nation’s top 30 by BusinessWeek.

The overall ranking was based on three factors: academic quality, post-MBA outcomes, and a survey of MBA student satisfaction. In ranking LeBow College of Business No.1 in academic quality, BusinessWeek combined six equally weighted measures: average GMAT score, average student work experience, the percentage of instructors who are tenured, average class size in core business classes, the number of business electives available to part-timers, and the percentage of students who ultimately complete the program.

“The Drexel Part-Time MBA is committed to exceeding the needs of our students and alumni and is a key factor in their upward mobility, as evidenced by the achievements of our MBA students and alumni,” said LeBow College of Business Dean George P. Tsetsekos, Ph.D. “And to be ranked No. 1 in academic quality by BusinessWeek is a testament to our growing stature as one of the world’s leading resources for business education. This ranking validates the rigorous experiential education, leadership assessment, and global perspective that LeBow provides for MBA candidates.”

In the student satisfaction survey, LeBow College of Business graduates reported that the Part-Time MBA program is rigorous, and that “the business principles learned are worth the hard work.”

BusinessWeek says that part-time MBA programs at schools that ranked highly, such as LeBow College, “were able to help students navigate the downturn with career support tailored to their particular circumstances, while the top executive-education programs were able to convince corporate clients that their courses are critical, even in today's tough financial climate.”