We just heard some great news from the University Park-based SMU Cox School of Business.

According to the recently-released Bloomberg Businessweek magazine business school rankings, the SMU Cox Executive MBA (EMBA) is the third best business program globally, up from No. 7 in 2011, and the SMU Cox Professional MBA (PMBA) program now ranks No. 3 in the U.S., also up from the seventh spot in 2011. 

The results were compiled from survey responses from more than 10,000 business school grads coming from 138 different schools (grads were asked to rate the business school from which they graduated on teaching quality, career services, curriculum and other aspects of their EMBA experience). Clearly, SMU MBA students, both past and present, have plenty of positive things to say about their alma mater. Additionally, EMBA program directors were asked to rank competing schools as part of the publication's research.

And, as Cox’s Director of Media Relations Anna Martinez noted, “the rankings results make Cox the  No. 1 ranked business school in the Southwest for professional graduate programs.” Not too shabby. 

"Our goal has always been to provide an exceptional educational experience that will yield a lifetime of rewards,” Albert W. Niemi, Jr., dean of the Cox School of Business, said. “Our commitment to our students continues to focus on offering outstanding faculty, innovative programs, forward-thinking research centers and a wonderful global alumni network. We are privileged to be located in one of the greatest business centers in the world, and we are pleased by Bloomberg Businessweek’s recognition of the accomplishments of our faculty, staff and students.”

Here’s how Bloomberg Businessweek determined who ranked highest academically, according to Martinez:

“Six measures are equally weighted: “GMAT scores, average student work experience, the percentage of tenured teachers, the 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.” According to Bloomberg Businessweek, “the student survey contributes 40 percent of the final ranking, with academic quality and post-MBA outcomes contributing 30 percent each.”

Congrats to the Mustangs at Cox, including students current and former, faculty and staff. To see how all the other business schools stacked up, click here.