Rankings and accreditation
No. 1 in the world for International trade
For the third consecutive year, Thunderbird has been recognized as the world leader in international trade, a distinction awarded by Quacquarelli Symonds, the prestigious global authority on higher education rankings, in its 2025 International Trade Rankings. This esteemed recognition positions Thunderbird at ASU as the No. 1 school in the world, ranking ahead of renowned institutions such as Columbia University, the University of Michigan–Ann Arbor (Ross) and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (Kenan-Flagler) in the U.S., as well as the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom, IMD in Switzerland and Tsinghua University in China, internationally.
Financial Times Ranking for Custom Programs in Executive Education
In the 2025 Financial Times Executive Education rankings, released June 1, Thunderbird’s custom Executive Education programs were ranked in the top 25 globally and No. 2 among U.S.-based institutions — ahead of prestigious peers such as the University of Cambridge (Judge), Rutgers University and Georgetown University.
No. 20 in the world and No. 7 in the U.S. for global reach and impact of case writing
Ranking ahead of University of Michigan Ross School of Business, The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, and University of Cambridge Judge Business School in the United Kingdom.
Accreditation
Thunderbird has been recognized with the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) accreditation for over 30 years. This accreditation is a recognition of Thunderbird's dedication to academic excellence, innovative research, and global impact. Achieving accreditation involves a rigorous evaluation process, emphasizing strategic management, innovation, and societal impact, with Thunderbird's success attributed to its transdisciplinary partnerships and global engagement. Additionally, all ASU graduate and undergraduate academic programs are fully accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.