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Ivy College of Business maintains prestigious accreditation

The college is among the top 2 percent of business schools to be accredited in business and accounting

AACSB-logoThe Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB International) announced the Debbie and Jerry Ivy College of Business at Iowa State University has maintained its business and accounting program accreditations.

The college is among the top 2 percent of business schools in the world to be accredited in both business and accounting.

Executive Vice President and Global Chief Accreditation Officer at AACSB Stephanie Bryant said in a news release, “The commitment to earning accreditation is a true reflection of each school’s dedication—not only to its students, alumni network, and greater business community—but to society as a whole.”

Founded in 1916, AACSB International is the world’s largest network and global standard-setting body for business education. Accreditation is recognized worldwide as the highest standard of quality, with only 6 percent of the world’s leading business schools achieving AACSB accreditation and displaying the prestigious seal. AACSB-accredited schools are trailblazers in teaching, research, and societal impact.

“I am extremely proud of our faculty and staff for their hard work all year and during the entire accreditation process. The accreditation process takes an enormous amount of time and attention,” said Raisbeck Endowed Dean David Spalding. “With the help of our faculty and staff, we are providing the highest quality college experience possible for business students.”

  • Why Accreditation Matters

    • Initial accreditation boosts student enrollment, both in business undergraduate and graduate programs.
    • AACSB accreditation strongly contributes to a business school’s ability to survive in a highly competitive environment. Schools take the opportunity to refine their missions, target markets, and strategies to stand out from the crowd.
    • AACSB-accredited schools generate more research grants and cited works.

During its 40-year history, the college has evolved into a comprehensive business program. For a relatively young college, it has a remarkable string of accomplishments, which are outlined in the article, College celebrates 40th anniversary. Some key achievements during Spalding’s years as dean include:

  • Securing a $50 million gift to name the college in 2017.
  • Completing a 45,000-square-foot addition to the Gerdin Business Building in 2020.
  • Reaching record enrollment (undergraduate and graduate) in 2024.
  • Increasing the number of undergraduate majors from nine to 14.
  • Increasing the number of master’s degrees from four to eight.

February 10, 2025