Kelley School of Business at Indiana University

What Is the Kelley School of Business at Indiana University?

The Kelley School of Business, the business college of Indiana University, offers both undergraduate and graduate programs in many fields, including finance, accounting, marketing, and management. It is constantly ranked among the top 25 business schools by U.S. News and World Report.

Key Takeaways

• The Kelley School of Business was founded in 1920. It has locations at the Bloomington and Indianapolis campuses of Indiana University.

• Along with the full-time M.B.A., students can also pursue an online M.B.A. or a Ph.D. or can complete a specialized master’s degree in information systems or accounting.
• The school also offers a distance-learning program, Kelley Direct, which teaches over 1,000 students.

Understanding the Kelley School of Business

The Kelley School of Business has had several notable alumni that have 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. Evan Bayh III became governor of Indiana and a U.S. senator. Richard Lesher was the president of the Chamber of Commerce of the United States. John C. Partee was a governor of the U.S. Federal Reserve. Milton Wilson founded Howard University’s and Texas Southern University’s schools of business.

Corporate headhunters looking for management, financial, and marketing talent heavily recruit students from the school.

Programs

The undergraduate program at the Bloomington campus offers 18 different majors. The online MBA program supplements other online master’s degrees, such as global supply chain management, business analytics, and entrepreneurship and innovation. The graduate accounting program has a placement rate of nearly 100%.

Statistics and Starting Salaries

Indiana University claims its business program has a placement rate of 93% among graduates who enter the workforce or enroll in a post-graduate program. Accounting majors have an average starting salary of $63,093 and a range of $40,000 to $88,000. Graduates who earn a finance major start with an average salary of $67,596, with a range of $30,000 to $100,000. Marketing majors start out at $60,477 and have a range of $35,000 to $91,500.

Among all majors, graduates have an average starting salary of $65,273. Kelley School of Business graduated 1,897 seniors in 2020. Of those, 74% reported their status upon graduation. Of those graduating in 2020, 1,355 students were actively seeking employment or enrollment in graduate school after graduation. This graduating class accepted jobs in 30 states, the District of Columbia, and 12 countries. Some of the top urban areas with Kelley School of Business graduates include Chicago, Indianapolis, New York, San Francisco, and St. Louis.