St. Cloud State University’s Herberger Business School (HBS) is celebrating a significant milestone this year.
2026 marks 50 years since their undergraduate business programs were first accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB). HBS was only the second university in the state to earn the honor when they were first accredited in 1976.
“AACSB accreditation signifies strong, high-quality programs,” said Dr. Christine Lepkowski, interim dean of the College of Business, Engineering & Technology. “It is the most prestigious and internationally recognized accreditation in our field.”
The Master of Business Administration (MBA) graduate program received accreditation in 1982. SCSU is currently one of only seven AACSB accredited business schools in Minnesota.
To achieve accreditation, a business school must meet a wide range of quality standards relating to curriculum, faculty resources, admissions, degree requirements, library and computer facilities, financial resources and intellectual climate.
“We communicate to our students that it’s a badge of honor to graduate from an AACSB accredited program,” Lepkowski added. “About 97 percent of our graduates are employed in a related field within one year of graduation.”
AACSB was established in 1916 and is the longest-serving accrediting body for business schools globally. Only about 6 percent of business schools worldwide have achieved AACSB accreditation.
HBS was reaccredited in 2024 and is on a six-year reaccreditation cycle.