What Is the Kelley School of Business at Indiana University?

The Kelley School of Business is the business college of Indiana University. The school offers both undergraduate and graduate programs in many fields, including finance, accounting, marketing, and management. Kelley School of Business also offers master of business administration (MBA) programs, along with courses for working executives. It is constantly ranked among the top 25 business schools by U.S. News & World Report.

Overview

The Kelley School of Business at Indiana University is a high-ranking business school with campuses in Bloomington, Indiana, and Indianapolis, Indiana. The school was established in 1920 out of the School of Commerce and Finance, which offered students business courses since 1916.

The school aims to uphold and pass on its values to its students. These include ethics, professionalism, innovation, collaboration, diversity, and inclusiveness. Its mission statement is to:

1. "Develop a diverse body of students who are citizens of the world and who have a positive impact on their organizations and the communities in which they live,
2. Conduct and disseminate high-quality research that advances both business theory and practice, and
3. Serve, directly and indirectly, through instructional and research efforts, constituents and communities at all levels of society—local, national, and international."

The Kelley School of Business offers undergraduate, graduate, and doctorate programs, along with part- and full-time MBA and certificate programs and executive education for working professionals. Students have the option to take classes on campus or online. There are more than 14,000 students enrolled in programs at both campuses. The school boasts more than 130,000 alumni across the globe.

Notable Alumni

The business school has several notable alumni members who achieved success in the corporate world:

• Marshall Armstrong chaired the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB)
• John Chambers was the chief executive officer (CEO) of Cisco Systems, one of the largest computer software companies in the world
• Mark Cuban, owner of the Dallas Mavericks, graduated from the school in 1981
• Cheryl A. Bachelder once presided over KFC, the fast-food chain that specializes in fried chicken dishes

Several distinguished public servants also graduated from the Kelley School of Business. They include:

• Evan Bayh III, former governor of Indiana and former U.S. senator
• John C. Partee, governor of the U.S. Federal Reserve
• Milton Wilson founder of the business schools of Howard University and Texas Southern University

Programs Offered

The Kelley School of Business offers students 30 different programs on its Bloomington and Indianapolis campuses as well as online at the undergraduate, graduate, and doctorate levels. MBA and certificate programs are also offered, including those for working executives and professionals. The table below highlights some of the key disciplines offered to students.

Kelley School of Business at Indiana University Degree and Certificate Programs
	Bloomington	Indianapolis	Online
Undergraduate	Accounting, Economic Consulting, Finance, Management, Real Estate, Sustainable Business	Accounting, Human Resource Management, Supply Chain Management,
MBA	Business Analytics, Marketing, Supply Chain and Operations	Finance, Management and Entrepreneurship, Marketing, Supply Chain Management, Business of Medicine	Kelley Direct
Graduate	Accounting, MS Finance, MS Healthcare Management	MS Accounting, MS Taxation
Doctorate	Accounting, Finance, Marketing, Organizational Behavior and HR Management
Certificate	Entrepreneurship, Business Foundations,	Real Estate, Venture Creation

Executives can earn certificates and degrees in business analytics, business management, and cyber security management among others.

Rankings

As noted above, the Kelley School of Business at Indiana University consistently ranks among the top business schools in the United States.

According to U.S. News & World Report, the school comes in the 22nd spot of best business schools in the United States. It ties with UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. The school ties with Fisher College of Business at Ohio State University for 15th place in the part-time MBA category. It also ranks among the top 10 schools for accounting, business analytics, entrepreneurship, and information systems.

Statistics and Starting Salaries

Each year, the business school also releases statistics for select programs. As of January 2024, the most recent information available was the graduating class between July 2022 and June 2023.

Out of 2,391 Kelley seniors enrolled during this period, 1,750 actively sought employment. Three months after graduating, 98% of those students who were actively seeking students reported securing a full-time job or gaining acceptance into graduate school.

The school gives detailed salary information by major, including average starting salary, median starting salary, salary range, and median signing bonus by business function. These functions include the positions below.

Kelley School of Business, Graduate Salary Information (2023)
Position	Average	Median
Accounting	$73,630	$72,300
Business Economics	$83,874	$83,200
Entrepreneurship	$69,893	$70,000
Finance	$81,898	$78,000
Information Systems	$79,646	$80,000
Management	$63,514	$62,750
Marketing	$66,983	$65,000
Supply Chain	$74,625	$72,000

The average starting salary for all majors combined is $76,705, with a median starting salary of $74,000. The salary range varies from $30,000 to $180,000, and the median signing bonus across majors is $6,000.

The Bottom Line

Indiana University's Kelley School of Business has been around for more than a century and has produced CEOs of major companies, Federal Reserve governors, and a U.S. senator, It is one of the highest-ranked business schools in the country, coming in the 22nd spot on U.S. News & World Report's list of the best business schools. Its online counterpart, Kelley Direct, is tied for first place with UNC's program in Chapel Hill on U.S. News's list of the best online MBA programs.