EWU’s College of Business and Public Relations was named one of the top 296 Master of Business Administration (MBA) programs by The Princeton Review.

To compile this list, The Princeton Review gathered data from 2009 to 2012 on each business school. It collects institutional data by surveying students online and by analyzing program information, from admissions requirements to facilities to graduation rates. At the top 296 schools together, more than 19,000 students were surveyed, according to The Princeton Review.

“Among the factors that influenced our choice of EWU’s College of Business and Public Administration for our ‘Best 296 Business Schools’ book was how committed the school is to accommodating the interests and learning styles of its diverse student body,” said Robert Franek, senior vice president of publishing for The Princeton Review.

“We were impressed with the wide range of program offerings for every stage of the students’ careers, from younger students to working professionals. Data from our survey of EWU [business] school students also demonstrated a high consensus of opinion about how cutting-edge their courses are and how accessible their [professors] are.”

Eastern’s MBA program was recognized for “its blend of affordability, convenience and quality,” according to the college’s two-page summary in the 2013 Princeton Review book.

“Students speak highly of the MBA faculty. … Up-to-date facilities, including a 200-seat auditorium, create a great learning environment and there is plenty of nearby parking.”

Martine Duchatelet came on board as the new dean of the College of Business and Public Administration in June 2012. “I am extremely proud of the accomplishment of the college and the recognition the program achieves year after year—because this is not the first year,” said Duchatelet.

Eastern’s MBA program has been recognized by The Princeton Review for two consecutive school years, according to MBA Program Coordinator Cynthia Parker.

The Princeton Review wrote and gathered comments from students about EWU’s MBA program. Students said that the MBA program’s night classes were a good fit for an adult’s standard working schedule and that instructors were understanding and flexible of demands on students’ time and willing to work with students while maintaining high academic standards.

Other favorable student comments included praise for the program’s diversity, its significantly smaller expense yet equal accreditation compared to competitors and instructors’ current business activities and professional activities, which make them well respected academically and in the business community.

The Princeton Review, which also provides test preparation and admissions advice, ranks colleges in several categories with detailed profiles of each college, so there is no “best” school, according to Franek. The company publishes about 150 different types of college guides. It is not affiliated with Princeton University.