‘ ‘ ‘ Pitt’s graduate business program is one of the best in the world, according to a new… ‘ ‘ ‘ Pitt’s graduate business program is one of the best in the world, according to a new survey. ‘ ‘ ‘ Pitt’s Joseph M. Katz Graduate School of Business ranked ninth’ nationally and 25th’ internationally for its master’s of business administration program. The survey evaluated more than 150 business schools throughout the world. ‘ ‘ ‘ The rankings are based on information the Financial Times,’ a European news organization similar to The Wall Street Journal,’ compiled between July 2008 and the end of last year. ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ Laurie Kirsch, senior associate dean of the Katz Business School, said, ‘We’ve always known we provide a high-quality environment, but it’s nice to have that recognition.’ ‘ ‘ ‘ Other Pennsylvania institutions that have high-ranking master’s of business administration programs include the University of Pennsylvania, which was ranked first’ internationally; Carnegie Mellon’ University, which ranked 24th’ internationally; and Pennsylvania State University, which ranked 34th’ internationally. ‘ ‘ ‘ According to a rankings key published on the Financial Times” Web site, the survey evaluated business schools on the proportion of female and international students enrolled in their programs and the number of business school alumni who got jobs within three months of graduation. ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ The Katz Business School jumped 18 slots from its No. 27 national ranking last year and 31 spots from its No. 56 international ranking last year.’ ‘ ‘ ‘ Kirsch said these jumps might be because of changes Dean John Delaney has implemented over the past three years. ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘He’s been stressing the need to build a program that will attract students and provide them with a high-quality education,’ said Kirsch. ‘ ‘ ‘ The Katz Business School also ranked’ first, for the third consecutive year,’ in the survey’s ‘best value for the money’ category.’ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘The ranking reflects the value that the students get in the MBA program [at Pitt],’ said Kirsch.’ ‘It shows that students in our MBA program are well-positioned for their careers.’ ‘ ‘ ‘ The Financial Times used factors such as program costs and length, the amount of money they lose by choosing to take classes instead of working,’ and the current salaries of business school alumni to determine its rankings for the ‘best value’ category. ‘ ‘ ‘ Kirsch said she thinks it’s possible for Katz’s program to keep increasing its overall ranking.’ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘What we’re really focused on is trying to build the best program that we can build,’ said Kirsch.