Butler University’s Lacy School of Business (LSB) has been recognized as one of the nation’s leading institutions for graduate business education in the 2026 U.S. News & World Report Best Online Programs rankings. The newly released rankings place the Lacy School of Business No. 21 nationally for Best Online MBA Programs. These distinctions highlight the school’s growing national visibility and underscore its commitment to flexible, high-quality business education that meets the needs of working professionals.
The new rankings build on LSB’s No. 1 national ranking for effectiveness of career advising from Poets&Quants (2025), which includes No. 2 for quality of teaching and No. 8 for undergraduate academic experience. While this recognition reflects the strength of LSB’s undergraduate programs, it also underscores the school’s broader culture of student-centered learning, faculty excellence, and career readiness that extends across its graduate offerings.
“At the Lacy School of Business, we measure success by the transformation our students experience – professionally and personally,” said Lacy School of Business Dean Craig Caldwell. “This ranking reflects not only academic excellence, but the strength of our learning community designed for working professionals who want to lead with purpose. We are honored to support students as they elevate their careers and contribute meaningfully to their organizations.”
LSB has distinguished itself through graduate programs designed specifically for professionals balancing career advancement with real-world responsibilities. Flexible online, on-campus, and hybrid formats—offered at the same competitive tuition rate—allow students to integrate graduate study seamlessly with full-time work. That flexibility is paired with a deeply experiential approach to learning, a defining feature of the Butler MBA and a key contributor to its national reputation.
The Butler MBA remains one of the most competitively priced programs among nationally ranked business schools. Alumni consistently report strong return on investment, citing personalized leadership coaching, hands-on learning, and immediate career impact. Many students receive promotions or expanded responsibilities before even completing the program.
The Butler MBA blends classroom rigor with real-world application through experiences such as the three-day Impact Practicum, a consulting engagement that applies classroom concepts to real organizational challenges. Students also benefit from the program’s Executive Leadership Coaching program—one of the few of its kind nationally—providing one-on-one mentorship throughout their degree program. Optional Global Business Experiences, including travel to markets such as Vietnam, London/Paris, and Malaysia, further expand students’ global perspective and understanding of international business.
Small class sizes capped at 30 students ensure meaningful faculty engagement and personalized mentorship—hallmarks of the graduate student experience at LSB.
In addition to the MBA, the Lacy School of Business offers several specialized graduate programs, including the Master of Professional Accounting (MPAcc), Master of Science in Business Analytics (MSBA), and Master of Science in Risk and Insurance (MSRI). Each program is developed in partnership with industry leaders to meet market demand and prepare graduates for high-growth career paths.
Graduates leave LSB with advanced expertise, industry-driven skillsets, and access to a strong alumni and employer network that accelerates career progression across sectors.
Driven by flexible delivery models, academic excellence, and measurable career outcomes, Butler University’s Lacy School of Business continues to rise in national prominence for graduate business education. The 2026 U.S. News rankings reflect a school that prepares professionals to lead, adapt, and succeed through mentorship, applied learning, and industry relevance.
For more information about the Lacy School of Business and its top-ranked graduate programs, visit butler.edu/lsb.