DEFINITION of W.P. Carey School of Business

The W.P Carey School of Business is the business school at Arizona State University. It enrolls approximately 13,500 undergraduate and 1,500 graduate-level students. The W.P. Carey School of Business offers undergraduate and graduate programs in a variety of business disciplines, including accounting, economics, international business, human resources, marketing, management and finance.

BREAKING DOWN W.P. Carey School of Business

Located in Tempe, Ariz., the W.P. Carey School of Business was established in 1961. It is one of the largest business schools in the United States in terms of enrollment. The school began as the Department of Commerce. It changed its name to the W.P. Carey School of Business in 2003 after receiving a $50 million gift from the W.P. Carey Foundation, at the time the second largest donation to an American business school. Being one of the largest business schools in the country means the school has a large alumni base. The W.P. Carey School of Business has more than 60,000 graduates working globally.

W.P. Carey School of Business Programs

The W.P. Carey School of Business offers several online and on-campus undergrad programs. The graduate school offers full-time and part-time master of business administration (MBA) programs, as well as an executive MBA program. Master’s degrees are also offered in accountancy, data and analytics, finance, global logistics, information management, management, real estate development, and taxation. PhD programs and executive education are also offered. Students’ are required in their first term to write an Individual Development Plan, which is a plan to develop qualities as a leader.

W.P. Carey School of Business Mission

According to its website, the W.P. Carey School of Business’s mission is: "The W. P. Carey School of Business educates tomorrow’s business leaders, takes an entrepreneurial approach to learning, and conducts groundbreaking research, in order to create positive change on a global scale."

The school’s trademarked motto is “Where business is personal.”

W.P. Carey School of Business Rankings

The W.P Carey School of Business was ranked the number two online graduate business program by U.S. News and World Report, the number nine online graduate business program by Princeton Review, and the number nine online MBA by the Financial Times.

W.P. Carey School of Business Alumni

The W.P. Carey School of Business has several notable alumni, including:

  • Michael J. Ahearn – CEO, First Solar
  • Eric Crown – co-founder, Insight Enterprises
  • Vince Ferraro – VP of Global Strategy and Marketing, Eastman Kodak
  • Mike Haynes –Vice President for Player Development, NFL
  • Rex Maughan – Founder, president and CEO, Forever Living Products
  • Bill Post – CEO, Pinnacle West
  • Jeff Quinney – professional golfer
  • Pat Tillman –U.S. Army Rangers