Thursday, June 5, 2025
Media Contact:
Stephen Howard | Director of Marketing & Communications | 405-744-4363 | stephen.howard@okstate.edu
At the Spears School of Business, excellence isn’t just an aspiration — it’s becoming a tradition.
Thanks to its industrious faculty, engaged alumni, and the unwavering dedication of leadership and staff, the business programs at Oklahoma State University (OSU) have soared in both national and global rankings.
This remarkable trajectory was recently highlighted when U.S. News & World Report recognized Spears Business, ranking it No. 8 on its list of the Best Online Bachelor’s in Business Programs. This marks the highest placement in the rankings’ history for the college.
“This historic ranking reflects the extraordinary commitment of our entire Spears Business community,” noted Dr. Marlys Mason, Spears Business associate dean for undergraduate programs. “From our dedicated faculty and staff to our engaged alumni and generous donors, each has played a vital role in elevating our online undergraduate programs. The Michael and Anne Greenwood Center for Online Excellence has been particularly instrumental in transforming how we deliver exceptional business education to students wherever they are.”
As highlighted by Dr. Mason, the top 10 ranking owes much of its success to the Michael and Anne Greenwood Center for Online Excellence, offering students a high-quality business education that honors the personal touch Spears Business is renowned for, irrespective of their geographical constraints.
In total, U.S. News & World Report evaluated 219 schools for its list of top online undergraduate business programs, with Spears Business ranking seventh among public institutions. OSU proudly stands as the top-rated business school in Oklahoma and holds the second spot behind Arizona State University among its Big 12 Conference peers.
But it’s not just the undergraduate programs climbing the ranks. OSU’s online MBA surged five spots in the 2025 U.S. News & World Report Best Online MBA Programs list, tying at No. 11 nationally, marking the school’s best-ever ranking in this category. Additionally, the Spears Business MBA ranked ninth among public universities.
OSU’s online MBA has experienced a steady ascent from No. 40 in 2020 to a remarkable No. 11 in 2025, reflecting a consistent commitment to academic excellence and student success.
Moreover, U.S. News & World Report recognized OSU’s MBA program as No. 8 nationally for veterans, highlighting the university’s commitment to serving those who have served our nation. The online MBA specialization in business analytics also made impressive strides, jumping five spots into a tie for No. 15.
Not to be overlooked, OSU’s in-person MBA program also experienced a significant jump, climbing 18 spots to reach No. 58 in the U.S. News & World Report ranking of the best full-time MBA programs, underscoring the widespread recognition of the program’s quality.
Spears Business takes pride in its top-ranked Master’s in Data Science program as well. OSU’s in-person master’s in business analytics and data science (MS BAnDS) was ranked No. 2 in Fortune.com’s Best Master’s in Data Science for 2025, trailing only Harvard University. The MS BAnDS program rocketed up 11 spots since last year, achieving its highest ranking yet.
With an acceptance rate of 31.48% and a remarkable retention rate of 100%, the MS BAnDS program utilizes cutting-edge enterprise-level analytics software. Students engage with real-world business problems, frequently clinching awards in national and global competitions.
Over the past four years, nearly all MS BAnDS graduates have secured full-time jobs within six months of graduation, a testament to the program’s effectiveness and the efforts of its award-winning director, Dr. Goutam Chakraborty.
“While our program has been consistently ranked in the top 20 in the last three years by Fortune and others, this is the first time we are in the No. 2 spot,” Chakraborty stated. “We are humbled by this outstanding achievement, which is made possible because of the quality and hard work of our students and our dedicated faculty and staff.”
The School of Hospitality and Tourism Management (HTM) also recently celebrated a significant achievement. It has attained a top 10 program status in the U.S., being ranked No. 8 nationally and No. 22 globally according to ShanghaiRanking’s Global Ranking of Academic Subjects.
This impressive global ranking gives HTM the highest international recognition of any program at OSU.
“The program is committed to the tradition of excellence and continues to be one of the premier academic units in the world,” said Dr. Brij Thapa, professor and Carl and Marilynn Thoma Distinguished Chair, who leads HTM. “Integrating high-quality publications and compelling practical insights, faculty focus on identifying solutions to pressing challenges while expanding the knowledge base for industry, governments, communities, and academia.”
These remarkable rankings coincide with record enrollment figures for Spears Business, which grew to 6,582 undergraduate and graduate students in fall 2024, marking it as the largest college on OSU’s campus. This includes the largest freshman class in school history, with 1,034 first-year students.
The upward trajectory of OSU’s MBA program continues, with an astounding 124% increase in online enrollment since 2020. In the 2024-25 academic year, 418 students participated in online MBA classes through OSU.
Story By:
Stephen Howard | stephen.howard@okstate.edu
