The Ross School of Business is the business school of the University of Michigan, a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States. Officially known as the Stephen M. Ross School of Business, it offers undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral programs in business and management.
History
The school was founded in 1924 as the College of Business Administration. In 2004, it was renamed after alumnus and real‑estate developer Stephen M. Ross following a $100 million donation, the largest ever to a public business school at that time.
Academic Programs
- Undergraduate: The Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) provides a general business education with concentrations such as finance, marketing, operations, and entrepreneurship.
- Graduate: The full‑time MBA, part‑time MBA, Executive MBA, and various dual‑degree programs (e.g., MBA/JD, MBA/MS) are offered. Specialized master’s degrees include the Master of Supply Chain Management and the Master of Business Analytics.
- Doctoral: Ph.D. programs are available in fields including Accounting, Finance, Management, Marketing, and Strategy.
Pedagogical Approach
Ross is noted for its action‑based learning methodology, particularly the Multidisciplinary Action Projects (MAP) program, which places students in real‑world consulting engagements with external organizations.
Rankings and Reputation
According to U.S. News & World Report, Ross consistently ranks among the top ten business schools in the United States for its undergraduate and MBA programs. It also appears frequently in global rankings published by the Financial Times and The Economist.
Campus and Facilities
The school occupies several buildings on the University of Michigan’s central campus, including the Business Administration Building (BABL) and the William S. White Building. Facilities feature modern classrooms, a trading floor simulation lab, and dedicated research centers such as the Center for Positive Organizations and the Zell/Lurie Institute for Executive Education.
Notable Alumni
Prominent graduates include former U.S. Secretary of Labor Thomas J. Jenkins, former CEO of Kellogg Company Jeffrey H. Zins, and entrepreneur Bridgid C. Liu. The alumni network comprises more than 70,000 members worldwide.
Affiliations
Ross is a member of the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) and participates in numerous academic and professional partnerships with corporations, nonprofit organizations, and other higher‑education institutions.
Research and Publications
Faculty at Ross conduct research across a broad spectrum of business disciplines, contributing to peer‑reviewed journals, working papers, and conference proceedings. The school also publishes the Ross School of Business Working Paper Series and the Center for Positive Organizations' Research Reports.
Admission
Admission to Ross’s programs is competitive, employing a holistic review of academic performance, standardized test scores (e.g., GMAT or GRE for graduate programs), professional experience, essays, and interviews.
Community and Outreach
Ross engages in community service and outreach through initiatives such as the Center for Social Impact, which supports socially responsible business practices, and the Michigan Business Challenge, a statewide competition for high‑school students.