College of Business Earns Reaffirmation of Accreditation from AACSB

Four people standing outside of a brick building and conversing. The building features a sign that reads "College of Business."

The East Texas A&M University College of Business (COB) has successfully renewed its accreditation with the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB). This reaffirmation highlights the college's commitment to transforming lives through quality education.

Established in 1916, the AACSB is the global standard-setting body for business education, strengthening the world's business schools through accreditation, thought leadership and transformative learning. The COB at East Texas A&M has been consistently accredited with the association since 1976.

Texas is the epicenter for AACSB-accredited colleges and schools in the U.S., boasting 44 programs, the most of any state. The association accredits over 1,000 programs in more than 110 countries worldwide.

AACSB accreditation process

To become accredited, the AACSB reviews business colleges and schools on three main principles, which are then broken into nine standards:

  • Strategic Management and Innovation. Standards include strategic planning, physical, virtual, financial, and faculty/staff resources.
  • Learner Success. Standards include curriculum structure, assurances of learning, learner progression and teacher impact.
  • Thought Leadership, Engagement, and Societal Impact. Standards Include the impact of scholarship, engagement and societal impact.

Dr. Nancy Albers, incoming dean of the College of Business, stressed that the AACSB accreditation process is rigorous, signifying the high quality of East Texas A&M’s COB degree programs.

“AACSB is the most prestigious accreditation for business programs requiring demonstration of high-quality standards, relevant curriculum, societal impact, and transformative experiences,” she said. “This achievement confirms the commitment to excellence by the College of Business faculty and staff.”

Benefits of accreditation

An education from an AACSB-accredited program can have many benefits for graduates. According to a 2024 analysis of Fortune 500 and S&P 500 company data, 73% of CEOS representing Fortune 100 companies graduate from an AACSB-accredited school and 75% of the top-paid CEOs.

In addition, a 2011 study by Jalbert et al. in the Journal of Applied Business Research found that graduates from AACSB-accredited schools are more satisfied with their career choices, leading to higher job retention levels.

Dr. Guclu Atinc, professor of management and head of the COB’s accreditation committee at East Texas A&M, stated that this reaffirmation validates the strength of the college's programs.

“Successfully completing the AACSB accreditation review cycle reaffirms our commitment to excellence in business education,” Atinc said. “As the global gold standard, AACSB accreditation validates the strength of our programs, the expertise of our faculty and our dedication to student success.”

Atinc explained that this accomplishment strengthens the college's reputation for delivering high-quality, relevant education that prepares students for success in today's evolving business world. It also demonstrates the institution's continued dedication to academic excellence, industry collaboration and impactful learning experiences.

The COB's reaffirmation is valid for the next five years. Beginning in 2026, the accreditation period will be extended to six years.