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10 Grad Schools with the Best Corporate Partnerships

Written by Grad School Center Team We are a passionate team of experienced educators and advisors at GradSchoolCenter.com, dedicated to guiding students through their graduate education journey. Our experts, with advanced degrees across various disciplines, offer personalized advice, up-to-date program information, and practical insights into application processes.

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Updated: January 25, 2025, Reading time: 6 minutes

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According to the Department of Education, school-business partnerships are important because they enhance students’ educational experiences. Such partnerships are essential to student learning as they provide various benefits, including increasing school capacity. 

Grad Schools with the Best Corporate Partnerships - fact

Moreover, partnerships between grad schools and local businesses add value to both parties. Corporations have both a vested interest and stake in the schools’ effectiveness.

Businesses want to partner with graduate schools to provide more than just sponsorships. They want to create learning experiences to connect academic content to a real-world context. In other words, students will have plenty of opportunities to use problem-based learning to solve real-world challenges. 

As for graduate schools, corporate partnerships add more value to the academic institution. They also pave the way for funding, internships, and experiential learning that can prepare them for life after graduate school.

As a result, students will be able to gain and demonstrate their expertise while obtaining industry-recognized credentials that these university-corporate partnerships offer. 

University of South Carolina

University of South Carolina - Darla Moore School of Business

Columbia, South Carolina

The University of South Carolina’s Darla Moore School of Business is one of the highest-ranking business schools not only in America but also in the rest of the world. It is quite renowned for its commitment to producing the best graduates and emphasis on experiential learning. 

USC offers strategic thinking and a range of analytical and research tools that help companies uncover their full potential. Some of its corporate partners include small companies and Fortune 500 businesses, including:


Chapman University

Chapman University

Irvine, California

Through Chapman University’s Industry Partner Program, companies will be able to increase their ability to bring in top talent through customized engagement, marketing, and enhanced connections. This program is designed to help corporations improve their recruitment experience through its vast and strong pool of qualified and professional applications.

Aside from that, being a part of the Chapman Family means you’ll have access to philanthropy, networking, and professional development opportunities. 

These are some of the top Industry Partners of Chapman University:


Johns Hopkins University

Johns Hopkins University - Carey Business School

Baltimore, Maryland / Washington, D.C.

Johns Hopkins University partners with local businesses to create a pool of qualified talents and address various internship and full-time employment needs. Its students have gained practical experiences and valuable knowledge to ensure the university will be able to help corporate partners face new challenges in the evolving marketplace. 

Some of its corporate partners include:


Rowan University

Rowan University

Glassboro, New Jersey

Rowan University’s Rohrer College of Business partners with businesses to allow them to offer professional development programs to their employees. Aside from that, the academic institution invites leaders to special panels, webinars, speaking engagements, and other academic activities.

Employees of corporate partners can take advantage of advanced degree programs, such as MBA and professional certificates in specialized areas. By helping businesses offer these opportunities to their employees, they are able to retain top talents. 

Rowan University’s corporate partners include:


Louisiana State University

Louisiana State University - E.J. Ourso College of Business

Baton Rouge, Louisiana

Louisiana State University’s E.J. Ourso College of Business has become a catalyst for community development, economic growth, and innovation by preparing future business leaders and partnering with local businesses. Through such collaborations, the school is able to provide students with practical learning experiences and allow them to build and expand their professional networks.

Similarly, corporations will also gain industry-specific knowledge from top instructors and get access to innovative solutions to reach their target markets. All this makes such industry partnerships beneficial for both parties.


Georgia College & State University

Georgia College & State University

Milledgeville, Georgia

By partnering with Georgia College & State University, companies will have the power to grow the knowledge of and retain their best workers. This is because this school is the state’s leader in workforce development for employers and professionals.

The university also helps strengthen the community through innovative and relative programs that help businesses improve. The school conducts training to help develop and educate employees. It can even tailor-fit courses to suit a partner organization’s needs. 


University of Florida

University of Florida

Gainesville, Florida

The University of Florida is a world leader in tech transfer and industry collaboration. Businesses that partner with the university can take advantage of its research innovations and vast pool of talented graduate students and alumni for internship and full-time employment needs.

Aside from that, they can get access to cutting-edge research across various academic disciplines, from arts to physical sciences. The school welcomes companies of all sizes seeking business and industry collaborations. 

Some of the companies they collaborate with include: 


Syracuse University

Syracuse University

Syracuse, New York

The Center for Advanced Systems and Engineering (CASE), a NYSTAR-designated Center for Advanced Technology (CAT) at Syracuse University, provides organizations from various industries with expertise in different aspects of “big data,” from analytics to predictive analysis. It serves as the avenue for local companies to engage with Syracuse University.

CASE collaborates with businesses to help them realize their research and development goals, connect with experts in information-related disciplines, and get access to the latest technologies in the market.

The companies CASE partners with include:


Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Boston, Massachusetts

Massachusetts Institute of Technology has an Industrial Liaison Program designed for big corporations seeking a long-term, strategic partnership with MIT. This program helps bridge industry and MIT cultures and manages significant social interactions that maximize the impact of research outcomes.

Through this collaboration, businesses will develop activity plans with their designed working contacts to prioritize interest areas, provide ongoing assessment and action plans, and develop MIT interaction objectives. 


Bradley University

Bradley University

Peoria, Illinois

Bradley University partners with businesses and non-profit organizations to provide a coordinated and collaborative structure to advance students’ educational needs, foster impactful scholarship, provide consulting, and offer opportunities for staff and faculty members. Industry partners will be able to get access to professional expertise, amazing talent, and specialized knowledge.

Indeed, such collaborations help develop mutually beneficial partnerships with organizations outside the university. Businesses that are interested in such a program will be able to leverage the talent and specialized education of students through internships, job placements, and special projects.

Corporate partnerships are mutually beneficial for both graduate schools and businesses! These professional relationships help organizations get access to a vast pool of talent to achieve their internship and full-time employment goals.

Employers that partner with business schools also help their employees achieve personal growth, ensuring they retain top talents within the organization. 


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