Top Procurement and Supply Chain Schools – What’s Changed?

As we all know, procurement is becoming an ever more important, and strategic, function within many companies, with people recognizing the potential to make a diverse, fulfilling and lucrative career for themselves in the space.

This has naturally led to an increasing focus on procurement, and broader supply chain, related qualifications, and it’s fascinating to see how the rankings and offerings of different schools have evolved, and improved, in the past few years. There are lots of lists you can look at, like US News and find-mba.com, as well as Gartner, of course.

Every year there are some interesting shifts, so I’ve taken a look at some of the best options to get you started and pinpointed what’s changed since we discussed this last year.

University of Arkansas

Fayetteville, AY

Why Arkansas? 

A school we didn’t mention last year, but one that has been making waves and was recently ranked as the first-place Supply Chain University Program in North America by Gartner, is the University of Arkansas’ Walton College and its Department of Supply Chain Management. Students at the college benefit from an excellent faculty led by Dean Matthew A. Waller, as well as access to the Supply Chain Management Research Centre, which helps build connections with executives, internships, and job opportunities. Since the college offers this vast amount of practical experience and the chance for students to build out a network before they even enter the working world, it’s one to keep an eye on. You can find out more about their programs here. You can also connect on LinkedIn with a friend of mine, and a distinguished member of the SCM faculty, Remko Van Hoek.

Purdue University

West Lafayette, IN

Why Purdue? 

Another school that draws our attention for 2021 is Purdue University’s Krannert School of Management. It’s climbed the ranks to the top spot on find-mba.com’s listings for supply chain management schools in 2020. This school offers a Global Supply Chain Management Initiative that includes not only an MBA concentration in Supply Chain Management and an MS in Global Supply Chain Management; it also has a great range of supply chain internships, events, and competitions. Purdue is flexible, with opportunities for a weekend MBA and online distance learning—so it’s one to look out for if you are already working and wish to hone your skills. Find out more about their offering here.

Rutgers Business School 

Newark, NJ and New Brunswick

Why Rutgers Business School?

Offering a variety of Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Ph.D. degrees, Rutgers has remained at the top of the MBA rankings for quite some time now. In 2019 over 30% of MBA graduates went into operations or logistics roles. Rutgers’ Supply Chain Management department focuses on offering a multidisciplinary education concentrating equally on practice and theory. The MBA program covers procurement and global sourcing, logistics optimization, marketing models and marketing research, distribution and pricing strategies, product and supply chain innovation, and more, so their graduates can help solve future industry challenges and find top placements in the industry. You can find out more about the program here.

Michigan State University

East Lansing, MI

Why Michigan State?

Public research university Michigan State has topped the US News ranking for Supply Chain Management and Logistics this year, remaining a steady constant atop many industry lists. The school offers a variety of graduate and certificate programs—some of which can be taken online so you can access their programs and award-winning faculty wherever you are. The school has created its own Supply Chain Management Association to allow students to communicate and network with leaders in the industry, letting them further develop their experience and connections outside of the classroom. Find out more about the programs they offer here.

Pennsylvania State University 

University Park, PA

Why Pennsylvania State?

Pennsylvania State University has once again ranked highly for the quality of its MBA course. A big focus of Penn State is building connections—it has more than 1,000 clubs and societies and the largest Alumni Association in the U.S. This is important to bear in mind if you’re seeking to gain a varied and reliable network as well as new knowledge and skills. It’s also a flexible school with many courses, including a Master’s degree offered online. Find out more about their programs here.

Arizona State University—Tempe 

Tempe, AZ

Why Arizona State University—Tempe?

Private research university Arizona State University is one of the largest public universities by enrollment in the U.S. It’s been ranked at #3 this year by US News for its Supply Chain Management offering and remains a steady chart-topper. The school offers a range of degrees in supply chain management, specializing in health-sector supply chain management, logistics management, supply chain sustainability, and more. They also have a student-run organization that helps students network and further develop their skills. This is a particularly great option for those who don’t wish to spend—or go back to—four years in college since it offers 2.5 and 3-year fast-track programs. See the details of their supply chain management program here.