The Daniels full-time MBA and part-time Professional MBA programs both rose in the 2026 Best Business Schools rankings
Quality career outcomes, strong starting salaries and high-caliber students pushed the Daniels College of Business higher on U.S. News & World Report’s 2026 list of Best Business Schools. The full-time Denver MBA (DMBA) rose four spots to No. 93. The Part-time Professional MBA (PMBA) climbed five spots to No. 105. The Daniels Executive MBA (EMBA) came in at No. 59 on a new list of best executive programs.
“Our MBA programs push students to confront challenges businesses are currently facing—requiring them to act as consultants to companies all over the world,” said Naomi Boyd, dean of the Daniels College of Business. “It’s just one example of what we call it ‘The Daniels Effect.’ Our graduates are innovative problem solvers who benefit from the connections they build throughout their program.”
Daniels is committed to becoming the most market-connected business school in the United States, thanks to a curriculum that is developed hand in hand with industry partners. More than 500 companies visit campus each year and, as a result, 97% of DMBA students participated in an internship, according to the most recent data.
Half of the formula used to create the Best Business Schools rankings is based on attainment success (employment rates, starting salary, salary by profession). A quarter is the quality assessment, split 12.5% each to peer assessment and recruiter assessments. The final 25% is student selectivity looking at GMAT/GRE, Undergraduate GPA and Acceptance rate. (Daniels MBA programs are GMAT/GRE test-optional.)
“We have a long list of corporate partners that know the Daniels name and are eager to work with our students,” said Suzy Lindley, senior director of MBA programs. “Companies trust them to take on some of their most pressing problems and know they will get usable results.”
The full-time Denver MBA takes students outside the classroom and immerses them in the real world. The curriculum is centered on four core business challenges—entrepreneurship, social good, corporate and global—each completed by small student teams, alongside a faculty advisor.
Each challenge hones adaptive techniques and builds leadership skills, as students work to deliver real-world results for corporate clients, local organizations or global partners. Accordingly, 94% of graduates say the degree helped them prepare for their job, according to the most recent data.
The PMBA shines in the U.S. News & World Report list of top part-time MBA programs, which relies on peer assessment, enrollment and the quality of students, things Daniels is well-known for.
The PMBA, DMBA and EMBA all feature tight-knit cohorts, who complete the degree together, resulting in a network of contacts that lasts well beyond graduation. Plus, half of PMBA alumni made more than $100,000 in their first year after graduation, according to the most recent data.
The Daniels Executive MBA program has a well-established reputation for well-connected expert faculty and a commitment to experiential learning. Whether its on a boat in San Diego or a boardroom in South Africa, EMBA students take on real-world challenges, shaped by issues they are facing in their workplace right now, in a curriculum tailored to the needs of established professionals.