The College of Business Administration improved its ranking in the 2014 edition of the U.S. News & World Report’s listing of the best undergraduate business programs.

Cathy DuBois, associate dean of the College of Business Administration said the college rose by seven ranks from the 2013 edition’s position of 166 to 159 out of 342.

According to the report, undergraduate business programs were ranked on a survey of each college’s peers in the spring.

Sergey Anokhin, interim director of the Center for Entrepreneurship and Business Innovation said the report’s ranking also helped the college’s global recognition.

Anokhin said the college’s rankings should attract applicants and make graduates more appealing to employers.

“If you look at us, what we do is that we try to create one of the best programs in the country by making things experiential,” Anokhin said.

Anokhin said practicality in the curriculum, such as Kent State’s managerial marketing and entrepreneurship programs helped in its recognition.

Brock Bernholtz, a junior entrepreneurship major, said he has noticed changes in the the college’s reputation over time.

“When I first came here not a lot of people knew about Kent,” Bernholtz said. “But it’s getting bigger and bigger, which is helping because usually when you’re a young entrepreneur or anyone trying to start a business, what you do is name drop.”

Bernholtz said graduating from Kent State helps students get a foot in the door for employers. Now that Kent State is receiving more recognition, it will make putting his foot in the door easier.

DuBois said the college will continue to make improvements to the school’s undergraduate programs. He also said the college’s most recent project is the new career services satellite office located in the Business Administration Building and is the the first one at Kent State. Thanks to donor sponsorship, the office opened in fall 2013 and its director begins work Nov. 4.

DuBois hopes to rise high in the rankings. She said strengthening the college’s programs and services helps their recognition and ranks. She hopes it continues to grow stronger.

For more information about the U.S. News & World Report ranking, visit www.usnews.com/colleges. And for more information about the College of Business Administration, visit www.kent.edu/business.

Contact Bruce Walton at [email protected].