IU Northwest’s School of Business secures AACSB International accreditation

Only 6% of institutions offering business degrees worldwide achieve this standa

The Indiana University Northwest School of Business and Economics has successfully maintained its accreditation from the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) International. This is the fourth consecutive reaccreditation since the school’s initial achievement in 2005.

The AACSB is the world’s longest-serving and most selective global accrediting body for business schools. Accreditation is held by less than 6% of all institutions offering business degrees worldwide.

According to AACSB, 73% of CEOs representing Fortune 100 companies and 75% of the top-paid CEOs at S&P 500 companies have a degree from an AACSB-accredited school. Additionally, 96% of AACSB-accredited business school alumni are employed and most graduate business alumni agree that their education offered them opportunities for quicker career advancement and earning power.
The process for earning accreditation includes an in-depth assessment of internal activities, mentorship with an AACSB advisor and a peer-reviewed evaluation focused on continuous improvement.

This accreditation shows the School of Business and Economics’ commitment to quality, continuous improvement and excellence. To achieve and maintain AACSB accreditation, business programs must satisfy the highest standards related to strategic management and innovation, learner success and thought leadership, engagement and societal impact.

Micah Pollak, Interim Dean of the School of Business and Economics, said the accreditation team pointed out several highlights from the school, which included the development of meaningful external relationships with the City of Gary and the surrounding area, along with the clear priority of student success among faculty and staff, offering co-curricular and other student-related initiatives that lead to personal and professional growth.

“Everything we do is focused on the success of our students both inside and outside the classroom,” Pollak said. “The accreditors saw firsthand how our programs are aimed at providing practical learning experiences to help our students and alumni succeed in the ever-changing business world. Our faculty and staff are committed to continuing to deliver a world-class business education in Northwest Indiana to ensure our graduates are equipped to lead the future business in the region.”

The review team also specifically mentioned the highly engaged advisory board and the growing alumni association. Pollak credited the work of the entire school community —students, faculty, staff, alumni and the advisory board — for earning reaccreditation.

The School of Business and Economics at IU Northwest offers in-person, hybrid and online undergraduate and graduate degrees, along with minors and certifications aimed to serve the needs of full-time and part-time students alike. Its faculty have real-world experience, and the school has resources to serve students and businesses throughout Northwest Indiana.

About IU Northwest

One of nine campuses of Indiana University, IU Northwest is located in metropolitan Northwest Indiana, approximately 30 miles southeast of Chicago and 10 miles from the Indiana Dunes National Park. The campus has a student population of approximately 3,200 degree-seeking students and more than 30,000 alumni, most of whom remain in the Northwest Indiana region, and has been recognized by the Department of Education as a minority and Hispanic serving institution. The campus offers Associate, Baccalaureate, and Master’s degrees from the College of Arts and Sciences, the College of Health and Human Services, the School of Business and Economics, the School of the Arts, and the School of Education. The campus is also home to IU School of Medicine-Northwest-Gary, the region’s only four-year medical doctorate program. As a student-centered campus, IU Northwest is committed to academic excellence characterized by a love of ideas and achievement in learning, discovery, creativity, research and community engagement. Indiana University is an equal opportunity employer and provider of ADA services and prohibits discrimination in hiring .