Texas A&M University’s Mays Business School has earned its highest Full-Time MBA national ranking in more than a decade in the 2026 U.S. News & World Report Best Graduate Schools rankings, solidifying Mays’ position among the nation’s leading public business schools.
In the newest rankings, the Mays Full-Time MBA ranked No. 15 among public business schools (No. 36 overall), improving from last year’s placement of 20 among public programs and 43 overall. The rise marks one of the most significant year-over-year gains for the program and underscores the value of a Mays MBA in a highly competitive graduate business landscape.
“These rankings affirm the trajectory of our Full-Time MBA program and the impact it is having on our students and the organizations they serve,” said Dr. Nate Y. Sharp, dean of Mays Business School. “Reaching the highest ranking for our program in at least 10 years reflects the quality of our students and faculty, the strength of our corporate partnerships, and the power of the Aggie Network.”
U.S. News evaluates full-time MBA programs on factors that matter most to students and employers, including employment outcomes, starting salaries, recruiter and peer assessments, and student selectivity. Mays’ rise in the public rankings reflects consistent performance across these measures, including strong career outcomes over time, a more selective admissions profile, and a growing reputation among peer schools and employers. Separately, recent results from the December 2025 cohort underscore the continued strength of the program in a challenging market, with 100% of actively seeking graduates receiving job offers by graduation, highlighting sustained employer demand and competitive starting salaries.
“This recognition reflects years of intentional work to align our Full-Time MBA experience with what employers need and what ambitious professionals expect,” said Jerry Strawser, associate dean for graduate programs. “Our students are choosing Mays because they see a clear return on their investment, rigorous academics, personal attention from faculty and staff, and career outcomes that open doors. Climbing to No. 15 among public business schools affirms that our strategy is working, and it energizes us to keep raising the bar for our graduates.”
The Mays Full-Time MBA is an immersive, cohort-based program designed for early- and mid-career professionals seeking to accelerate or pivot their careers. The curriculum emphasizes data-driven decision making and analytical rigor, leadership development grounded in the Aggie Core Values of Excellence, Integrity, Leadership, Loyalty, Respect, and Selfless Service, and experiential learning through project-based courses, case competitions, and company engagements. Students benefit from personalized career support, including dedicated coaching, professional development programming, and strong employer relationships that connect them with opportunities across the country and around the world.
Faculty who teach in the Full-Time MBA program are scholars and practitioners who bring cutting-edge research and real-world experience into the classroom, ensuring that students can immediately apply what they learn to complex business challenges.
The Full-Time MBA curriculum is continually refined in response to evolving market demands, with a focus on areas such as analytics, strategic thinking, innovation, and responsible leadership. Mays works closely with employers and alumni to ensure that the program remains relevant and that graduates are prepared to lead in a dynamic global business environment.
“At Mays, our vision is building a better future through business,” Sharp said. “That means equipping our MBA students not only with technical and analytical skills, but also with strong values and a commitment to serving others. The recognition from U.S. News is one indicator that this approach is resonating with employers and peers.”
The improved U.S. News ranking reinforces Mays’ momentum in graduate business education and supports the school’s broader strategy to enhance its impact on students, employers, and society. Beyond the Full-Time MBA, Mays’ strong performance in the 2026 U.S. News & World Report rankings extend across many areas of business study, showing the breadth and quality of its programs. Mays also earned top spots among public business schools for its graduate programs in Accounting, Analytics, Executive MBA, and Production and Operations Management. Together with the Full-Time MBA’s rise to No. 15 among public business schools, these results highlight Mays Business School’s wide-ranging strengths and growing reputation across key areas of business.
Prospective students can explore how the Mays Full-Time MBA compares to peers nationwide and learn more about the rankings at USNews.com. For additional information about the program, including curriculum, admissions, and upcoming information sessions, visit mays.tamu.edu/full-time-mba.
