Willamette (Atkinson)

Atkinson is number 65 on the overall ranking of US business schools. The Salem-based school is known for its focus on sustainability and its strong ties to the government and non-profit sectors. The school also is recognized for its commitment to social responsibility and for preparing graduates who are passionate about making a positive impact on society. One graduate pointed to the Atkinson’s “incredibly unique non-profit specific courses.”

Of the five indexes this ranking is based on — Compensation, Learning, Networking, Entrepreneurship and Inclusion — Willamette (Atkinson) ranked 16th in Learning, 17th in Entrepreneurship, 35th in Inclusion, 55th in Networking and 68th in Compensation. Index scores are based on student and alumni survey responses as well as salary data the school reports to MBA CSEA.

Index Ranks

Index Scores

Student Population

The breakdown below is compared with other US schools. Collected gender and non-binary data is for all students in the newest class, which for most schools is the Class of 2026. Atkinson reported 69% male and 31% female/non-binary.

Bloomberg also collects data on race and ethnicity from US schools — they provide us with percentages of the first-year class of American students for the following groups: White, Black, Asian, American Indian, Hawaiian/Pacific Islander, and Hispanic (of any race). These groups are categorized as such by the schools when submitting data to the federal government.

Hires by Industry

Atkinson sent the majority of its recent MBA graduates, those with jobs, into Technology Industry, Financial Services and Retail Industry.

Compensation by Industry

The median base salary across all industries reported by Atkinson graduates is $69,000; the median signing/starting bonus is $7,500.

Demographics

Survey respondents weigh in on their school’s population, answering broad questions about what campus life is like for female, LGBTQ, and minority students.