William Paterson University’s Cotsakos College of Business Maintains Prestigious AACSB Accreditation

Cotsakos College of Business is one of 6 percent of business schools worldwide to carry accreditation considered the “hallmark of excellence” in business education


William Paterson University’s Cotsakos College of Business and the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business International (AACSB) have announced that a recent peer review panel has reaffirmed the College’s status as an AACSB-accredited undergraduate and master’s-level business program for the next five years.

This is the fourth time the programs of the Cotsakos College of Business have been reaccredited since initial accreditation in 2005.

The reaccreditation builds on the recent momentum of the Cotsakos College of Business, which now ranks second in the state in both the number of MBA graduates and in MBA program enrollment and offers the most affordable online program in New Jersey.

“We are honored to be among only 6 percent of schools worldwide to earn accreditation in business by the AACSB, which exemplifies the highest standards around the world in business education,” says Joshua B. Powers, provost and senior vice president for academic affairs at William Paterson University. “For our students, graduating from AACSB-accredited programs in the Cotsakos College of Business provides them with top credentials in their education and future careers.”

“Our continued AACSB accreditation validates the excellence of our teaching, research, curricula, and student learning outcomes,” says Anthony Bowrin, dean of the Cotsakos College of Business. “It’s a testament to our commitment to offer a high-quality and affordable business education to our students that provides them with the skills they need to excel in today’s competitive business market—and contribute meaningfully to their communities. It also reflects our continuing success at enhancing the academic experience, via initiatives such as our required Professional Enrichment Program and revitalized student clubs, as well as career outcomes for undergraduate students that are significantly above the national average.”

William Paterson’s Cotsakos College of Business offers a range of undergraduate programs and master of business administration (MBA) programs in accounting, business analytics, entrepreneurship, finance, healthcare economics and management, human resource management, general MBA, marketing, and sales strategy, including fully online degree programs through the University’s WP Online platform. The College also offers an MS in applied business analytics, an MS in finance and financial services, and fully online graduate certificate programs in business foundations, digital marketing, financial reporting and analysis, human resource management, international risk management, and strategic human resource management. Students gain real-world experience through internships, credit-earning practica, job shadowing, and mentoring programs.

Located at 1600 Valley Road in Wayne, the College offers sophisticated resources including the Global Business and Finance Institute’s Financial Learning Center, an active trading room that brings the world financial markets to campus, and the Russ Berrie Institute for Professional Sales with its state-of-the-art professional sales laboratory.

For more than a century, AACSB accreditation has been synonymous with the highest standards in business education and has been earned by only 6 percent of the world's schools offering business degrees at the bachelor's level or higher. Today, there are 1,037 business schools in more than 65 countries and territories that maintain AACSB accreditation.

  02/14/25