Iona University Ranked Among Best Undergraduate Business Schools by Poets&Quants
New Rochelle, N.Y. - Iona University’s LaPenta School of Business (LSB) has been ranked among the nation’s top undergraduate business schools by Poets&Quants, notably earning the #14 spot for Academic Experience.
Accredited by the prestigious AACSB, LSB offers personalized learning experiences, close faculty mentorship and industry partnerships that prepare students to thrive. In part, the ranking is based on feedback from alumni who evaluated the quality of their academic experience and how well their degree prepared them for life after college.
“We are proud to be recognized for what we value most, which is delivering a high-quality education that challenges, supports and prepares our students to succeed in their chosen fields of business,” said Dean John DeMelis, MBA, CPA. “This ranking reflects the dedication of our faculty, the strength of our programs and the student-centered approach that defines Iona.”
#14 for Academic Experience
The Academic Experience category measures several key areas and is determined according to an alumni survey sent to graduates from each school in the ranking.
Surveying the Class of 2022, questions ranged from rating the quality of their professors to evaluating the effectiveness of their school’s career advising services. The ranking also considered the percentage of alumni who took part in a “significant experience” during their undergraduate business education, such as a major consulting project, thesis, professional development or meaningful global immersion.
Finally, the ranking measured the percentage of students whose first jobs after graduation were in their desired industries and companies. Learn more about Iona’s Poets&Quants ranking here.
One example of this academic experience in action comes from Lucas Haddad ’24 ’25MBA, who was drawn to a career in accounting by DeMelis, his first accounting professor at Iona. Haddad built on that foundation with internships at PwC and Ernst & Young (EY) and will be launching his career at EY, where he has secured a full-time position.
“I chose Iona because of the exciting prospects it presented,” said Haddad, who also took part in Iona’s Gaels Go Further Mentoring Program. “The proximity of Iona to New York City opened up potential future opportunities, and after my first visit to campus, I knew it was the perfect fit for me.”
LaPenta School of Business Highlights
The LaPenta School of Business offers undergraduate, graduate, MBA and advanced certificate programs designed to equip students with real-world skills, hands-on experience and a strong professional network. Key highlights include:
- Accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB), awarded to just 6 percent of business schools worldwide.
- An industry-aligned curriculum designed to ensure students graduate career-ready with relevant, real-world skills.
- Strong academic advising, hands-on experiential learning and alumni engagement programs such as Gaels Go Further Mentoring, Career Chats and corporate visits.
- Faculty-led research, academic scholarship and faculty development programs that foster innovation and incorporate AI-driven pedagogy into business education.
At the same time, Iona University also continues to gain recognition as one of the best colleges in the nation.
Most recently for 2025, Iona has been recognized by The Princeton Review, The Wall Street Journal, Forbes and others as one of the nation’s best colleges. Additionally, U.S. News & World Report recognized Iona as one of the top colleges for social mobility in the country, while Georgetown University's Center on Education and the Workforce (CEW) ranked an Iona degree in the top 5 percent nationally for long-term return on investment.
Learn more about the LaPenta School of Business and apply today!
ABOUT IONA
Founded in 1940, Iona University is a master's-granting private, Catholic, coeducational institution of learning in the tradition of the Edmund Rice Christian Brothers. Iona's 45-acre New Rochelle campus and 28-acre Bronxville campus are just 20 miles north of Midtown Manhattan. With a total enrollment of nearly 4,000 students and an alumni base of more than 50,000 around the world, Iona is a diverse community of learners and scholars dedicated to academic excellence and the values of justice, peace and service. Iona is highly accredited, offering undergraduate degrees in liberal arts, science and business administration, as well as Master of Arts, Master of Science and Master of Business Administration degrees and numerous advanced certificate programs. Iona students enjoy small class sizes, engaged professors and a wide array of academic programs across the School of Arts & Science; LaPenta School of Business; NewYork-Presbyterian Iona School of Health Sciences; and Hynes Institute for Entrepreneurship & Innovation. Iona also continues to be recognized in prestigious national rankings. Most recently for 2025, Iona has been named one of the nation’s best colleges by The Princeton Review, The Wall Street Journal, Forbes and others. Additionally, U.S. News & World Report recognized Iona as one of top for social mobility in the country, while Georgetown University's Center on Education and the Workforce (CEW) ranked an Iona degree in the top 5 percent nationally for long-term return on investment. Iona’s LaPenta School of Business, meanwhile, is also accredited by AACSB International, a recognition awarded to just 6 percent of business schools worldwide. In addition, The Princeton Review recognized Iona’s on-campus MBA program as a “Best Business School for 2024.” Iona also offers a fully online MBA program for even greater flexibility. In July 2021, Iona announced the establishment of the NewYork-Presbyterian Iona School of Health Sciences, which is now principally located on Iona’s Bronxville campus in collaboration with one of the nation’s top hospitals. Connecting to its Irish heritage, Iona also opened a new campus in County Mayo, Ireland, located on the historic 400-acre Westport House Estate. A school on the rise, Iona officially changed its status from College to University on July 1, 2022, reflecting the growth of its academic programs and the prestige of an Iona education.