KENNESAW, Ga. | Mar 27, 2026

Kennesaw State University's Executive Master of Business Administration in the Michael J. Coles College of Business ranked first in Georgia by CEO Magazine's 2026 Global Executive MBA Rankings.

CEO Magazine also ranked the program as tied for No. 1 in the United States and tied for No. 5 in the world.

The recognition continues a decade-long streak of Georgia dominance for the Coles College EMBA and marks a leap in national and global standing from ranking No. 3 in the U.S. and No. 10 in the world last year.

"This ranking from CEO Magazine is a milestone we're incredibly proud of,” said Robin Cheramie, dean of the Coles College of Business. “For ten consecutive years, the Kennesaw State EMBA has set the standard in Georgia. To now stand tied for the best program in the country is a testament to how deeply committed we are to preparing the next generation of business leaders."

Now in its 12th consecutive year as a designated Global Tier One EMBA program, KSU's EMBA continues to meet the magazine's rigorous standards across faculty quality, faculty-to-student ratio, international exposure, class size, accreditation, professional development, work experience, and instruction methods.

The Coles College has about 40 working professionals enrolled this year in the 18-month program, which brings students together one weekend per month. Designed for executives, mid-level managers, and entrepreneurs, the curriculum emphasizes collaboration, decision-making, resourcefulness, ingenuity, and entrepreneurship. Distinguishing features include program-long executive coaching, cutting-edge global teaming, and an international consulting education abroad experience.

"The EMBA program is built around the idea that the right education, at the right stage of a career, can be transformational," said Richard James, Executive Director of MBA Programs for Kennesaw State University. "Our students come in as strong performers and leave as confident, capable leaders, ready to drive change in their organizations and their industries. From day one, the curriculum is designed to be immediately applicable. That relevance is what helps our graduates move forward with purpose and confidence."

CEO Magazine's 2026 rankings also recognized additional Coles College programs, ranking the online MBA among the top 50 in the world and naming the college a premier provider in its global Doctor of Business Administration listings based on accreditation, faculty quality, geography, and international standing.

Kennesaw State’s DBA program transitioned eight years ago to a Ph.D. in Business Administration in which students can pursue concentrations in accounting, information systems, management, marketing, and risk and decision analytics.

The Michael J. Coles College of Business ranks among the largest business schools in Georgia, with more than 10,000 students and 170 faculty members. The college offers bachelor's degrees in 10 majors with 19 minors, seven graduate degree programs, dual-degree options, and executive education programs.

For its 2026 Global MBA Rankings, CEO Magazine looked at business schools across the world and ranked data from 153 schools offering 340 different programs in 24 countries.