Aug. 24, 2009

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - The College of Business at Florida State University ranked No. 35 among the nation's best public universities offering undergraduate business programs, according to U.S. News and World Report's 2010 edition of "America's Best Colleges" available on newsstands today.

"Florida State University's College of Business has excellent faculty and some of the top programs in the country," said Caryn L. Beck-Dudley, dean of the college. "We are very pleased that we continue to receive national recognition for the quality of our programs and faculty, especially in light of our budget crisis over the past year."

Continuing to secure spots within the top 10 public universities, the college's undergraduate programs in risk management/insurance and real estate were once again recognized. The risk management/insurance program ranked sixth among public universities, while the real estate program tied Indiana University-Bloomington for ninth place among public institutions.

"We are very pleased to be ranked among the nation's premier programs," said Joan Gabel, Carl DeSantis Professor of Business Administration and chair of FSU's department of risk management/insurance, real estate and business law. She credited the recognition to the faculty's hard work and the support of alumni, friends and colleagues that enables the department to recruit exceptional faculty and students.

Florida State ranked 48th, among the top 50 public "national" universities, moving up from last year's ranking of 50th.

"The Florida State University strives for excellence and that is reflected in the upward movement in the U.S. News and World Report rankings," said FSU Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs Lawrence G. Abele. "There are many funding issues that affect our rankings that are out of our control during this budget crisis, but our focus has always been on our students, and it shows in their success."

The U.S. News individual program rankings are based on surveys of deans and senior faculty at undergraduate business programs accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business.

About the FSU College of Business
Founded in 1950, the Florida State University College of Business is one of the nation's youngest business schools, yet it has become one of the 10 largest in the United States. It is the second largest academic unit on the Florida State campus with an enrollment of 6,107 students and boasts a distinguished full-time faculty of 100, including one Francis Eppes professorship, eight eminent scholar chairs, three university-named professorships and 26 endowed professorships.

For more information about the College of Business, please go to www.cob.fsu.edu.