UW law, business schools rate among Princeton Review’s best

The University of Wisconsin’s law and business schools were included among the nation’s best programs in Princeton Review’s annual guidebooks, with the Wisconsin School of Business being noted for its graduate entrepreneurial program and facilities.

The Princeton Review says it doesn’t rank the schools academically or hierarchically, but recognizes schools that offer outstanding academic programs. Its assessments are based on data provided by the schools, as well surveys of 18,000 students at the 172 law schools and 19,000 students at the 300 business schools.

The graduate entrepreneurial program in the School of Business ranked 19th, and the school was listed among the best business schools in the Midwest.

It ranked 8th on a list of business schools with the best facilities. The review notes that “at this famous university, the business school is located ‘in the middle of campus with the 42,000 other students, so there is a constant buzz of activity.’”

The review also recognizes that the master’s of business administration program offers 10 career specializations, including eight that have endowed centers of expertise, such as arts administration, brand and product management, and real estate.

“Wisconsin has a well-earned reputation for academic excellence, and preparing our students to enter the business world with deep applied learning,” said Joan Schmit, interim dean at the Wisconsin School of Business. “We are proud of the many dedicated alumni and friends, faculty and staff who help us provide a world-class learning environment for our students.”

The Princeton Review noted surveys of students who said the law school offers “a great legal education” and has some of “the best and brightest legal minds” teaching on its respected faculty.

“It’s exciting taking criminal law courses with professors who wrote the criminal code in Wisconsin and have an ongoing impact on criminal law in the state,” wrote one student surveyed. Another calls the school “accessible for all kinds of students, [whether they’re] right out of college or in their 30s married with kids.”

“We’re very pleased to have been included among the nation’s best law schools,” says University of Wisconsin Law School Dean Kenneth B. Davis Jr. “We work very hard to meet the public mission of our law school, and in recent years have focused on aggressively recruiting top students and enhancing skill-based training throughout the curriculum.”

In recent years, the law school has focused on its “Preeminent and Public” initiative, which encouraged those at the school to consider how to advance its national stature and influence while being true to its mission as Wisconsin’s only public law school.

The initiative has contributed to enhanced standards for faculty accountability and productivity, a more merit-based compensation system and expanded student learning opportunities in areas such as business law and professional skills.