Academics

Gartner ranks Penn State Smeal No. 1 in undergraduate supply-chain education

The Business Building, home to the Smeal College of Business, on the University Park campus. Credit: Patrick Mansell / Penn StateCreative Commons

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Gartner, Inc. has once again ranked the Penn State Smeal College of Business No. 1 in North American undergraduate supply chain education.

Previous reports on supply chain education providers were released in 2016, 2014, 2011 and 2009, naming Smeal No. 1 each time. The university rankings are part of Gartner’s larger research project identifying skill and talent gaps in the supply chain industry.

To compile its 2018 rankings, released in June, Gartner evaluated three categories: industry value, program size and program scope.

The industry-value measurement considered recruit mentions, “best” mentions in SCM World’s ‘Top Supply Chain Universities,’ undergraduate internship participation, and average starting salary. Gartner highlighted that leaders in this category tend to have large, externally facing supply chain research and experiential learning centers, much like the Center for Supply Chain Research at Smeal.

Program size considered number of full-time professors and number of full-time students. Program scope measured how well a school’s curriculum aligns to the Gartner Talent Attribute Model.

“This ranking is a testament to the shared vision and coordinated efforts of our dedicated faculty and staff, recruiters and alumni that ensure our curriculum remains not only rigorous but also highly relevant to industry needs," said Nicholas C. Petruzzi, chair of the Department of Supply Chain and Information Systems. "It is gratifying to have Gartner’s validation of the excellence in supply chain education at Smeal for which we strive every single day."

Last Updated November 5, 2020

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