Iona University’s LaPenta School of Business Named Among the “Best Business Schools for 2027” by The Princeton Review
The LaPenta School of Business is among the 6 percent of institutions offering business degrees worldwide that have achieved AACSB accreditation.
New Rochelle, N.Y. – Iona University’s on-campus MBA program has once again earned national recognition as The Princeton Review named the LaPenta School of Business among its outstanding “Best Business Schools for 2027.”
“Being recognized by The Princeton Review is especially meaningful because it reflects the positive experiences and outcomes of our students,” said John DeMelis, dean of the LaPenta School of Business. “At Iona, our MBA students benefit from small classes, faculty with deep industry expertise and a curriculum that evolves alongside the needs of today’s business world. Combined with the strength of our alumni network and our proximity to New York City, we prepare graduates not only to advance their careers, but to lead with integrity.”
The Princeton Review editors weighed more than 60 data points in their selection of best schools for this year’s list, including surveys of administrators across 245 schools and 24,250 students enrolled in the programs. The survey of administrators requested data on the program academics, faculty, career services, and other topics. The survey of students asked them to rate their program’s academics, professors, technology, student body, campus life, and other topics, as well as to report on their satisfaction with their program and their career plans.
In The Princeton Review’s profile of the LaPenta School of Business, the editors note that the school has “a bright and cheerful atmosphere” and “classes are challenging in a way that makes learning exciting.” Significant emphasis is placed upon participation, and small classes facilitate this greatly. The professors are also “very knowledgeable,” faculty members are always available for additional hours, and “all have ‘real-world’ experience, and they share their experiences with the [students].”
Students, meanwhile, describe their classmates as “engaging, willing to help and easy to establish relationships [with]” as well as “self-motivated and focused on acquiring new skills and knowledge to advance their careers.” “I had the pleasure to meet people from all over the world,” said one student. All are “willing to help each other towards a common goal, whether it be completing an assignment or through forming a study team.”
“We congratulate Iona University along with the other institutions that made our Best Business Schools for 2027 lists,” said Rob Franek, The Princeton Review’s editor-in-chief. “They differ importantly in program offerings, specializations and other aspects, but they all met our key criteria for designating them as ‘best.’ We recommend each and every one of them for their excellent academics, robust experiential learning opportunities, outstanding career services, and the positive feedback we received from their very own customers—their on-campus MBA students we surveyed.”
MBA Program Overview
Students, describe their classmates as "engaging, willing to help and easy to establish relationships [with]."
Iona’s 36-credit MBA program helps students develop management skills and business savvy and offers the option to specialize with a concentration or graduate certificate.
Students can complete their degrees fully online, in-person, or by completing a mix of online and in-person courses. Students attending full time can complete their degrees in just 12 months, while part-time students generally finish within 18 months.
Students in the MBA program also have the option to be matched with a dedicated alumni mentor, whose professional experience assists in career development.
Iona’s growing suite of MBA concentrations includes Accounting, Business Analytics, Business Development, Financial Management, Health Care Management, Human Resource Management, Information Systems, Management and Marketing. In addition to these concentrations, any of the LaPenta School of Business graduate certificates can be pursued in lieu of other MBA electives, including AI for Business, Business, Business Continuity and Risk Management, Entrepreneurship & Innovation, Health Care Management and Marketing Analytics.
The LaPenta School of Business remains AACSB-accredited, which is recognized worldwide as the highest standard of quality, with only 6 percent of institutions offering business degrees worldwide that have achieved AACSB accreditation.
Combined with state-of-the-art facilities, experienced faculty, and access to top-tier industry partners, the program offers a truly transformative graduate education.
LEARN MORE
Prospective students are invited to learn more about Iona’s MBA program, schedule a campus visit or apply today! You may also contact Suzana Pavisic, director of graduate admissions for the LaPenta School of Business, at spavisic@iona.edu.
Students can complete their degrees fully online, in-person, or by completing a mix of online and in-person courses.
The Princeton Review notes that “classes are challenging in a way that makes learning exciting” and that small class sizes help to facilitate participation.
Students in the MBA program also have the option to be matched with a dedicated alumni mentor, whose professional experience assists in career development.
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 over 4,000 students and an alumni base of 55,000 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 Nursing & Health Sciences; and Hynes Institute for Entrepreneurship & Innovation. Iona also continues to be recognized in prestigious national rankings. Most recently for 2026, 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 6 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 once again named Iona to its “Best Business Schools for 2025,” recognizing both its on-campus and online MBA programs. 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.