Every other year since 2008, the analysts at Gartner release their ranking of the top university supply chain programs, both graduate and undergraduate. The list of top undergraduate programs for 2022 was unveiled last week.
The undergraduate program in supply chain the University of Arkansas topped the list for the second straight time, while universities in Texas dominated the full list, amid many changes in the rankings from 2020.
Supply Chain Digest Says...
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Interestingly, for the first time this year, 100% on-line programs were included in the ratings. It is not clear if any in the top 25 are all on-line. |
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The programs are ranked by three main evaluation categories, largely based on a detailed questionnaire, this year submitted by 55 undergraduate programs in the US and Canada. Those criteria are:
• Program scope (40%)
• Industry value (40%)
• Program size (20%)
Program scope is evaluated in terms of how well a program offers a "diverse, balanced curriculum," with the reference point for that being what Gartner calls its Supply Chain Talent Attribute Model.
That model starts with "foundational business skills," then layers on functional supply chain skills, enabling skills in areas such as supply chain technology and project management, followed by cross functional skills (integrated supply chain).
Those programs that have courses that well match up with this Gartner framework score more highly than those that don't. Extra points were also given to programs that had international supply chain courses and opportunities.
To evaluate industry value, Gartner looks at numbers for average starting salaries for program graduates plus the number of internships placed. They also surveyed supply chain professionals on which programs they believe were tops in the industry.
Added to those evaluations are scores for diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI), determined by looking at the gender and ethnicity breakouts of both the faculty and the student population of each program.
The third category for the rankings, program size, is straightforward, determined by the number of full- and part-time supply chain students as well as full-time faculty in each program.
Put the numbers for each of three categories, and voila, out comes a top 25.
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The list for this year is shown below, along with where each school ranked in the last list in 2020.

Source: Gartner
Interestingly, for the first time this year, 100% on-line programs were included in the ratings. It is not clear if any in the top 25 are all on-line.
Perhaps surprisingly, six schools in the top 25 come from Texas, up from four in 2020.
There were six schools on this year's list (NA in 2020 rank) and obviously an equal number that dropped off this year.
"Curricula in the Top 25 have standardized," Gatner notes, adding that "Supply chain leaders must use other criteria, such as experiential learning, DEI initiatives, location, or cost to determine best education partner for their organization."
SCDigest will review the ranking of top supply chain graduate programs when it is released.
What are your thoughts on this Gartner list of top undergraduate programs? Let us know your thoughts at the Feedback section below.
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