U.S. News Ranks Bauer Grad Programs in Top 25

U.S. News & World Report ranks the C. T. Bauer College of Business among the top 25 public business schools in the United States.

The 2026 Best Graduate School ranking includes the Professional MBA at No. 38 overall and No. 25 among public universities in the Best Part-Time MBA Programs list. For the first time, Bauer is also recognized for a range of specialty graduate programs, including entrepreneurship, information systems, real estate, business analytics and more.

“We are also in the top 40 for our specialized graduate program in information systems,” said Bauer Dean Xianjun Geng. “These are vibrant areas that are closely related to the business ecosystem in Houston. That is a testament to our overall strength across all our programs.”

These areas are offered through concentrations and coursework that often award credit toward schools' broader MBA program degrees. In other cases, business schools administered dedicated master's degree programs in these areas.

U.S. News determines MBA rankings each year through expert and peer opinion about program excellence as well as statistical indicators that measure the quality of a school's academic productivity and postgraduate outcomes. The specialty subjects that they’ve introduced to this year’s ranking are based solely on peer assessment data.

“This ranking recognizes the overall excellence of how Bauer educates students and prepares them to succeed in an ever-evolving business world.”

Xianjun Geng, Bauer Dean

Beyond rankings, Bauer strives to celebrate the heart of the college — students, faculty and staff — while making an impact on the Houston business community, Graduate & Professional Programs (GPP) Associate Dean Leiser Silva said.

“This is a testament to the tremendous work our faculty bring to the table in terms of innovation. They are top researchers, great practitioners and dedicated teachers,” Silva said. “It is also a reflection of our staff who help our students through admissions, academic advising and career coaching.”

“It is wonderful that our peers are looking into the quality of our programs,” he said. “That’s what makes this ranking all the more meaningful.”

Part of what makes the graduate programs at Bauer so successful is its constant innovation and consultation with the business community to ensure that the curriculum stays relevant, Silva added.

“The college is always connecting industry innovation, academic research and student success,” Geng said. “This ranking recognizes the overall excellence of how Bauer educates students and prepares them to succeed in an ever-evolving business world.”