Kelce College of Business Accreditation
AACSB accreditation assures that Pitt State programs in the Kelce College of Business meet the profession's quality standards for which that program prepares graduates. See why accreditation matters
AACSB Accreditation
All degree programs in the Kelce College of Business are accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB). AACSB-accredited schools have the highest-quality faculty, deliver relevant and challenging curriculum, and provide educational and career opportunities that are not found at other business schools.
Learn why AACSB accreditation matters to students.
AACSB Accreditation represents the highest standard of achievement for business schools worldwide. Less than 5% of the more than 16,000 schools worldwide granting business degrees have earned AACSB Accreditation. AACSB-accredited schools produce graduates that are highly skilled and more desirable to employers than other non-accredited schools.
Performance Data
College Enrollment by Degree Program 2023-2025
| Category | 23WF 20th Day | 24WF 20th Day | 25WF 20th Day |
|---|---|---|---|
| Graduate | 262 | 325 | 354 |
| Undergraduate | 566 | 577 | 574 |
| Grand Total | 828 | 902 | 928 |
Enrollment by Degree Program and Gender 2023-2025
|
Category
|
23WF 20th Day | 24WF 20th Day | 25WF 20th Day |
|---|---|---|---|
| Graduate (Female) | 44.56% | 47.12% | 51.86% |
| Undergraduate (Female) | 37.62% | 40.56% | 41.55% |
| Grand Total (Female) | 39.80% | 43.02% | 45.43% |
| Graduate (Male) | 55.44% | 52.88% | 48.14% |
| Undergraduate (Male) | 62.38% | 59.44% | 58.45% |
| Grand Total (Male) | 60.20% | 56.98% | 54.57% |
College Enrollment by Degree Program and Minority Status 2023-2025
Minority defined as domestic African American, Hispanic, Asian, Native American, Native Hawaiian, two or more races, and undeclared. International defined as non-resident alien.
| Undergraduate Category | 23WF 20th Day | 24WF 20th Day | 25WF 20th Day |
|---|---|---|---|
| International | 2.57% | 2.13% | 1.64% |
| Minority | 20.90% | 20.36% | 23.47% |
| White | 72.28% | 74.52% | 75.68% |
| Graduate Category | 23WF 20th Day | 24WF 20th Day | 25WF 20th Day |
|---|---|---|---|
| International | 5.96% | 3.84% | 1.64% |
| Minority | 21.75% | 21.64% | 19.11% |
| White | 72.28% | 74.52% | 75.68% |
Degrees Awarded by Program 2023-2025
|
Program
|
2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
|
BBA
|
257
|
246
|
206 |
|
MBA
|
196
|
123
|
199
|
| MPAcc |
9
|
1
|
7 |
|
MS-HRD
|
n/a
|
n/a | 19 |
|
Grand Total
|
462
|
370 | 431 |
BBA Four Year Retention/Graduation Rate 2019-2022
|
Admission Year
|
Number of Students Admitted to Kelce
|
Number of Admitted Students Graduated
|
Percent of Admitted Students Graduated
|
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021-2022 | 186 | 169 | 91% |
| 2020-2021 | 198 | 173 | 87% |
| 2019-2020 | 203 | 190 | 94% |
Percent of Graduates Employed or Enrolled for Further Study 2023-2025
| Department | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| BBA Accounting | 87% | 96% | 100% |
| BBA Business Economics | 100% | 100% | 50% |
| BBA Data Science & Information Systems | 89% | 78% | 67% |
| BBA Finance | 95% | 100% | 100% |
| BBA International Business | 100% | 100% | 100% |
| BBA Management | 90% | 85% | 100% |
| BBA Marketing | 94% | 100% | 100% |
| BBA Average | 93% | 94% | 88% |
| MBA | 93% | 98% | 99% |
| MPAcc | 88% | 100% | 100% |
| MS-HRD | n/a | n/a | 100% |
Major Field Test (MFT) Scores by Program for Graduating Students
| Year | BBA percentage at or above 50th percentile | MBA percentage at or above 50th percentile |
|---|---|---|
| Spring 2016 | 69% (n=109) | 80% (n=20) |
| Spring 2017 | 58% (n=125) | 50% (n=6) |
| Spring 2018 | 59% (n=117) | 44% (n=16) |
|
Spring 2019 |
n/r (n=0)* | 50% (n=16) |
|
Spring 2020 |
53% (n=88) | 59% (n=17) |
|
Spring 2021 |
50% (n=80) | 38% (n=8) |
|
Spring 2022 |
49% (n=88) | 47% (n=17) |
|
Spring 2023 |
45% (n=89) | 48% (n=46) |
*We were unable to administer the MFT for BBAs in 2019. n/r = no report
Program Objectives
Bachelor of Business Administration
- Professionalism
- Goal: Our students will be professional.
- Objective: Our students will demonstrate professional behavior.
- Critical Thinking
- Goal: Our students will be critical thinkers.
- Objective: Our students will solve business problems using critical thinking skills.
- Knowledge-Base
- Goal: Our students will possess core business knowledge.
- Objective: Our students will demonstrate knowledge of core business concepts.
- Ethics
- Goal: Our students will understand ethical standards in business.
- Objective: Our students will articulate ethical standards in business.
- Accounting Major: Program Guide (PDF)
- Business Economics Major: Program Guide (PDF)
- Business Studies Major: Program Guide (PDF)
- Data Science and Information Systems Major: Program Guide (PDF)
- Finance Major: Program Guide (PDF)
- Human Resource Development: Program Guide (PDF)
- Management Major: Program Guide (PDF)
- Marketing Major: Program Guide (PDF)
- Supply Chain Management: Program Guide (PDF)
Master of Business Administration
- Business Function Knowledge
- Goal: Our students will acquire comprehensive knowledge of business principles.
- Objective: Our students will demonstrate knowledge of business concepts from the MBA core curriculum.
- Critical Thinking
- Goal: Our students will be critical thinkers.
- Objective: Our students can analyze business problems using critical thinking skills.
- Ethical Decision Making
- Goal: Our students will be ethical decision-makers.
- Objective: Our students will apply ethical standards in their decision-making process.
- Communication
- Goal: Our students will communicate effectively.
- Objective 1: Our students will demonstrate professional written communication.
- Objective 2: Our students will demonstrate professional oral communication.
- MBA - All Emphases: Program Guide (PDF)
- MBA - Accounting Emphasis: Program Guide (PDF)
- MBA - Data Science and Information Systems: Program Guide (PDF)
- MBA - General Administration Emphasis: Program Guide (PDF)
- MBA - Healthcare Administration Emphasis: Program Guide (PDF)
- MBA - HRD Leadership and Organization Development: Program Guide (PDF)
- MBA - HRD Learning and Development: Program Guide (PDF)
- MBA - Human Resources Emphasis: Program Guide (PDF)
- MBA - International Business Emphasis: Program Guide (PDF)
- MBA - International Dual Degree Emphasis: Program Guide (PDF)
- MBA - Marketing Emphasis: Program Guide (PDF)
Master of Professional Accountancy
- Accounting Knowledge
- Goal: Our students will acquire comprehensive knowledge of accounting principles.
- Objective: Our students will demonstrate accounting knowledge.
- Critical Thinking
- Goal: Our students will be critical thinkers.
- Objective: Our students can analyze problems using critical thinking skills.
- Ethical Decision Making
- Goal: Our students will be ethical decision-makers.
- Objective: Our students will apply ethical standards in their decision-making process.
- Communication
- Goal: Our students will communicate effectively.
- Objective: Our students will demonstrate professional written communication.
Master of Human Resource Development
- Knowledge of Human Resource Development Competencies
- Goal: Our students will acquire comprehensive knowledge of human resource development competencies.
- Objective: Our students will demonstrate knowledge of human resource development competencies from the MS HRD core curriculum.
- Critical Thinking
- Goal: Our students will be critical thinkers.
- Objective: Our students can assess training needs using critical thinking skills.
- Ethical Decision Making
- Goal: Our students will be ethical decision-makers.
- Objective: Our students will apply ethical standards in their decision-making process.
- Communication
- Goal: Our students will communicate effectively.
- Objective 1: Our students will demonstrate professional written communication.
- Objective 2: Our students will demonstrate professional oral communication.
- MS HRD Leadership and Organization Development Emphasis: Program Guide
- MS HRD Learning and Development Emphasis: Program Guide
Rankings and Recognitions
The Princeton Review
Pittsburg State University is an outstanding business school, according to The Princeton Review. The New York-based education services company features the school in the 2024 edition of its "Best Business Schools". KCOB has recently been named to The Princeton Review Best Business Schools for 2024/On-Campus MBA Programs list.
Entrepreneur Magazine
The Gladys A. Kelce College of Business at Pittsburg State University was named one of the top business colleges in the nation by Entrepreneur Magazine, a leading publication for and about entrepreneurs. In its April issue, the magazine listed the MBA programs most highly rated by their students in six areas key to a successful career in business.
In 2018, the Accounting Degree Review ranked the Kelce College #6 in the nation for programs offering degrees with forensic accounting. Accounting majors may choose to earn a minor in Fraud Examination. This innovative interdisciplinary minor is composed of a curriculum that is patterned after the requirements for the nationally recognized Certificate in Fraud Examination. Additionally, accounting students may choose to earn a minor or certificate in internal auditing. The college is one of only 50 schools worldwide offering a curriculum sanctioned by the Institute of Internal Auditors.
