Carlson School of Management

Photos provided by the University of Minnesota

By Anne VanderMey

Carlson School of Management

Less than a century ago, it had 14 teachers and 88 students. Today, it has more than 100 tenure-track instructors, thousands of students, and tens of thousands of alumni. The University of Minnesota's Carlson School of Management, founded in 1919, has evolved into an academic powerhouse, drawing the business-minded from a variety of fields to its nine academic institutes and 12 degree programs.

The MBA program itself is fairly small, with just 200 full-time students, but the school as a whole serves more than 4,000. Those students partake in Big Ten football tailgates, study-abroad trips, a rigorous academic curriculum, and a host of real-world consulting projects. In recent years, Carlson has ramped up its focus on experiential learning and international exposure—making both a requirement for graduation for both MBAs and BBAs. However, despite the global focus, more than 90% of graduates find jobs in the Midwest after graduation, leading some students to complain about regional recruiting and a limited national reach.

While some graduates do head overseas or to the coasts, those who stay put often choose the Midwest voluntarily. The Twin Cities have more Fortune 500 companies than all but three single cities in the U.S., and the area's arts, sports, and restaurant offerings will pleasantly surprise anyone who associates the Land of 10,000 Lakes with homey accents and casserole rather than bustling industry and an educated urban population.

Photos provided by the University of Minnesota and taken by Patrick O'Leary. Caption information provided by the school and BusinessWeek research.

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