Women earn almost half of all business degrees (46%) awarded annually, meaning a large pool of talented female candidates are continuously entering the workforce. One of the best ways to tap into this pool is to recruit from women’s colleges.
Women’s colleges offer a unique experience where students can learn in a supportive environment focusing on women’s leadership and professional development. Women’s colleges also tend to be more racially diverse, with many student bodies comprising over 50% of women of color. As a result, companies should keep women’s college graduates on their radar for highly qualified business candidates with different perspectives. Here are 10 women’s colleges with top business programs to help guide your search.
Agnes Scott College
Location: Decatur, GA
Size of undergraduate student body: 996
School type: Private
Business majors make up around 6% of graduates at Agnes Scott, making it one of the most popular programs. Their Department of Economics and Business Management provides many resources and offers international education opportunities, a supportive learning environment, and hands-on experiences, aided by the school’s proximity to Atlanta. The college also provides an extensive Bridge to Business program in partnership with Georgia Tech’s Scheller College of Business, helping students prepare to transition to the “real world” after graduation. Agnes Scott has been awarded many impressive rankings by U.S. News, including #1 in Most Innovative Schools, #1 in First-Year Experiences, #7 in Top Performers on Social Mobility, #3 in Study Abroad, and #3 in Learning Communities, to name a few.
Bay Path University
Location: Longmeadow, MA
Size of undergraduate student body: 1,817
School type: Private
Bay Path University offers 14 majors in business-focused areas of study, including Business Administration, Small Business Management, Business Analytics, Digital Marketing Management, Entrepreneurship, and more. Students in the Business Administration major focus on developing important skills like data analysis, leadership, and problem-solving. In the past, the business department also offered exciting opportunities for students to test their skills, like with their “Shark Tank”-style annual Business Pitch Contest. Bay Path ranks #4 in U.S. News & World Report’s Top Performers on Social Mobility.
Catherine University
Location: St. Paul, MN
Size of undergraduate student body: 3,904
School type: Private, Catholic
At St. Catherine University (also referred to as St. Kate’s), business is one of the most popular majors, making up 11% of graduates annually. The majors available in the business program include Business Administration, Business Management, Business-to-Business Sales, Healthcare Management, Healthcare Sales, and more. St. Kate’s has partnerships with top companies like 3M for hands-on research experience and professional development opportunities. The School of Business has also produced the Minnesota Census of Women in Corporate Leadership every year for over a decade, highlighting the state of women in leadership roles.
College of Saint Benedict
Location: Collegeville, MN
Size of undergraduate student body: 1,557
School type: Private, Liberal Arts
Students at Saint Benedict, the sister school to St. John’s University, have access to a great business curriculum. The college offers unique programs like the Global Business Leadership Program, and a CPA Preparation focus through their finance & accounting major, which helps students take the CPA exam after four years instead of five. The Global Business Leadership Program equips students with skills and leadership qualities for 21st-century business by offering global internship opportunities, semester-long applied research projects, and a diverse and international faculty. Students in the program are also offered leadership opportunities through groups like Enactus, Case Study Competition Team (S.A.M.), Mayo Innovation Scholars Program, and the Marketing Club. Plus, Saint Benedict’s boasts an impressive 97% of students either employed, attending grad school, or in full-time service work within one year of graduation.
Hollins University
Location: Roanoke, VA
Size of undergraduate student body: 821
School type: Private, Liberal Arts
Hollins provides a comprehensive approach to business learning as a liberal arts institution. Their business major gives students a choice between numerous tracks, including general business, finance, international business, and entrepreneurship. They have an Entrepreneurial Learning Institute, where students are given the opportunity to foster their business ideas and projects with a group of different support centers and numerous resources. Hollins’ entrepreneurship program goes beyond venture-based business and is meant to help students from all majors. Hollins also is a great option for a cost-effective school, as it has been ranked as the 23rd Top Performer on Social Mobility by U.S. News & World Report.
Meredith College
Location: Raleigh, NC
Size of undergraduate student body: 1,711
School type: Private, Liberal Arts
Meredith’s School of Business is accredited by AACSB International, an accolade less than 5% of business programs worldwide receive. Business majors make up 13% of all graduates at Meredith, who can choose from concentrations including Business Administration, Economics, Hospitality Management, and more. The business school provides valuable resources, such as its Career Toolkit and Business Advisory Board, which provides guidance, advice, and assistance to students and graduates. Students can also apply for Meredith’s Accelerated MBA Program, which allows undergrads to earn an MBA with just one additional year of study.
Mills College at Northeastern University
Location: Oakland, CA
Size of undergraduate student body: 707
School type: Private, Liberal Arts
Recently Merged with Northeastern University, the Business Administration Program is unique because it emphasizes a wide range of management skills and a commitment to social and environmental change. They offer an accelerated MBA program where students can receive their MBA with only one additional year of study post-grad. Before the merger, Mills had ranked #1 in Best Value Schools, #8 in Most Innovative Schools, and #12 in Best Regional Universities (West) by U.S. News.
Saint Mary’s College
Location: Notre Dame, IN
Size of undergraduate student body: 1,527
School type: Private, Catholic
At St. Mary’s College, the business program is one of the most popular majors, making up around 13% of the total graduates every year. The Department of Business Administration and Economics encourages its students to get a global perspective on business to enhance their learning further, leading to an impressive 59% of business students studying abroad. In their rigorous curriculum, students achieve high proficiency levels in all business-related skills, including writing, speaking, and presenting. The business program at St. Mary’s also features a strong commitment to the post-grad success of its students. For example, 100% of accounting students secure jobs before graduating.
Simmons University
Location: Boston, Massachusetts
Size of Undergraduate Student Body: 5,984
School Type: Private Women’s College
Simmons offers a well-rounded curriculum for all its business students, focusing on leadership and a strong alum network. The School of Business offers majors in programs like Accounting, Business Management, Leadership for Social Impact, Finance, Marketing, and more. In addition, students in four complementary majors, Arts Administration, Chemistry Management, Financial Mathematics, and Public Relations and Marketing, draw on classes from the school’s business program. Simmons is ranked #11 on Niche’s list of the Best Women’s Colleges in America.
Wesleyan College
Location: Macon, GA
Size of undergraduate student body: 734
School type: Private, Liberal Arts
Business majors make up about 18% of students at Wesleyan College, making it the most popular major at the school. Business Administration majors can choose from six concentrations to focus their studies, including digital marketing, healthcare administration, human resource management, organizational behavior, sport management, and strategic management. Students interested in working abroad or for multinational companies in the U.S. can also choose to major in International Business. The Department of Business and Economics at Wesleyan College sponsors lectures, conferences, seminars, and research for students to enrich their learning and network with successful women in the business industry. US News currently ranks Wesleyan as #3 in best value schools.
These schools go above the norm to provide comprehensive business education for their students. These great business programs, combined with the unique experience of attending an all-women college, make graduates from these schools great potential candidates for any business-related position.
Download our guide “Beyond The Ivy League” for more information on expanding your recruitment reach and finding students at the top public schools, HBCUs, and HSIs.
