College of Management Soars to Full Six-Year AACSB Accreditation
The College of Management at UMass Boston is thrilled to announce that it has earned full reaccreditation from the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) for an impressive six-year term.
This prestigious achievement is a resounding celebration of the college’s remarkable transformation and unwavering commitment to excellence in business education. As Boston’s only public AACSB-accredited business school, the College of Management continues to set the standard for accessible, high-impact learning that launches careers and strengthens communities.
AACSB accreditation is the highest honor and “gold standard” in business education, held by fewer than 6% of business schools worldwide. It assures students, families, and employers that the college delivers a rigorous, relevant, and career-ready education backed by outstanding faculty, innovative programs, and a relentless focus on student success. Graduates from AACSB-accredited schools are highly sought after because they are proven to be well-prepared leaders ready to make an immediate impact.
This milestone highlights the college’s outstanding achievements in thought leadership, impactful research, societal engagement, student success, social mobility, and sustainability. The Peer-Review Team praised the college’s dynamic momentum and dedication to delivering transformative business education.
A Story of Extraordinary Growth and Momentum
Recent breakthroughs played a pivotal role in this success, including:
- BEST Boston’s explosive growth: The college’s flagship experiential learning and consulting program has skyrocketed - expanding from just 5 businesses and 10 students in its 2023 pilot to 40 businesses and 80 students in 2026. Students are now tackling real-world challenges for Greater Boston organizations, gaining invaluable hands-on experience while delivering real economic impact.
- Bold academic expansion: Launch of 10 new undergraduate majors and 10 new minors, dramatically broadening opportunities for students in high-demand fields like business analytics, entrepreneurship, finance, and more.
- Investment in research, faculty excellence, and innovation, including expanded fully online graduate programs that increase access for working professionals.
- A historic milestone: The college proudly celebrated its 50th Anniversary in 2025, honoring five decades of excellence and a powerful legacy of more than 21,000 alumni driving change across Boston and beyond.
“We are absolutely ecstatic to receive full AACSB reaccreditation for another six years!” said Venky Venkatachalam, Dean of the College of Management. “This is a triumphant moment that reflects the passion, creativity, and dedication of our entire community - faculty, staff, students, and alumni. It underscores our commitment to academic excellence, groundbreaking experiential learning like BEST Boston, innovative scholarship, and creating life-changing opportunities for student success and social mobility. We are deeply grateful to Provost Berger and Chancellor Suárez-Orozco for their inspiring leadership and support.”
Chancellor Marcelo Suárez-Orozco shared: “The College of Management’s full six-year AACSB accreditation is a powerful testament to the exceptional quality of its programs and its vital role in our university. We proudly celebrate this milestone and the college’s leadership in business education, sustainability, and student-centered success. This achievement energizes our shared mission to transform lives and communities.”
The positive outcome followed engaging and productive conversations between the Peer-Review Team and the dean, associate deans, faculty, staff, students, provost, and chancellor.
This accreditation reaffirms the College of Management’s position as a dynamic leader in business education and its deep dedication to fostering an innovative, inclusive, and high-impact learning environment that empowers the next generation of Boston’s business leaders.
ABOUT UMASS BOSTON COLLEGE OF MANAGEMENT
As Boston's only public accredited business school, the College of Management is dedicated to educating the region’s next generation of business and community leaders. Recognized for its first-rate faculty and diverse, high-achieving student body, the College offers exceptional learning experiences in collaboration with local businesses. For more information, visit busines.umb.edu and connect with us on LinkedIn.