Message from Dr. Michael Weber | Dean, Barney Barnett School of Business & Free Enterprise
The Barney Barnett School of Business & Free Enterprise continues to advance its mission of delivering transformational, experiential business education grounded in innovation, mentorship, and measurable outcomes. Through dynamic partnerships with alumni, industry leaders, and community organizations, our students engage in real-world consulting, entrepreneurial ventures, and applied research that prepare them to lead in complex and evolving markets.
Our academic portfolio continues to grow in strategic and impactful ways. New and emerging programs in Finance and Horticulture, Land & Resource Management, along with expanding offerings in Real Estate and Business Law, are attracting talented students who are career-focused and opportunity-driven. These efforts are reflected in our exceptional employment outcomes, with 98.6–100% of graduates from the Classes of 2023, 2024, and 2025 employed or enrolled in graduate school within six months of graduation.
Student achievement remains a hallmark of the Barnett School experience. Organizations such as Delta Sigma Pi and Enactus consistently compete and excel at regional and national levels, representing Florida Southern College with distinction. Meanwhile, the Center for Free Enterprise and Entrepreneurship continues to build momentum. Over the past three years, more than 400 students have participated in the Seed-to-Scale program, launching over 100 student-led ventures. These startups have collectively raised more than $275,000 in capital, secured approximately $150,000 in competition funding, and generated over $4 million in revenue. Experiential learning labs, including student-operated ventures such as The Morning Grind coffee cart, provide hands-on leadership and operational experience that distinguish our graduates.
National recognition continues to affirm the strength of our faculty, curriculum, and student outcomes. As we enter the 2026 rankings cycle:
- AACSB accreditation has been extended through 2030, reinforcing our commitment to the highest global standards in business education.
- Our Undergraduate Business Program remains nationally ranked, including #42 in (Poets & Quants), with prior distinctions such as #1 in Teaching Quality, #6 in Faculty-Student Mentoring, and recognition as a Top 10 Undergraduate Business School to Watch.
- Our Online MBA continues to gain national prominence, recently ranked:
- #78 nationally (U.S. News & World Report, 2026)
- #24 (The Princeton Review, 2025)
- #30 Global Online MBA and Top 10 in the U.S. (CEO Magazine, 2025)
- #20 Best Online MBA (Fortune, 2024)
These recognitions reflect more than rankings—they represent a sustained commitment to engaged learning, faculty mentorship, technological innovation, and measurable student success.
We invite you to partner with us as we continue building momentum. Support for the Center for Free Enterprise and Entrepreneurship expands learning labs and community initiatives. Contributions to the Dean’s Excellence Fund enable student travel, national competition participation, and collaborative faculty-student research. The CFEE Plant the Seed Fund provides critical micro-grants to early-stage student ventures. Scholarship support remains essential as we seek to attract and retain the next generation of principled business leaders.
With your continued engagement and generosity, the Barney Barnett School of Business & Free Enterprise will continue to elevate its impact, expand opportunities, and achieve outcomes worthy of national distinction.
