W.P. Carey School of Business

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Jason Fernando
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Jason Fernando is a professional investor and writer who enjoys tackling and communicating complex business and financial problems.
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Updated September 18, 2023
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W.P. Carey School of Business

Investopedia / Candra Huff

What Is the W.P. Carey School of Business?

The W.P. Carey School of Business is a business school that is part of the Arizona State University System. Previously known as the Arizona State University Department of Commerce, it received its current name following a $50 million donation by the W.P. Carey Foundation.

The school ranks highly in domestic and international university rankings, often scoring in the top 50 among business schools and in the top 100 among schools overall.

Key Takeaways

  • The W.P. Carey School of Business is the business school of Arizona State University.
  • W.P. Carey School of Business is named after one of its significant benefactors, William Polk Carey.
  • The school’s alumni network consists of over 120,000 individuals in 2022 and includes several prominent people.

Understanding the W.P. Carey School of Business

Today, the W.P. Carey School of Business is home to an academic staff of over 300, and is attended by about 20,000 students. Its namesake benefactor, William Polk Carey, was a prominent businessman and philanthropist who founded the New York-based real estate firm, W.P. Carey & Co. Prior to his donation to the W.P. Carey School of Business, he also donated funds to the Carey School of Law at the University of Maryland, and the Carey Business School at Johns Hopkins University.

Originally founded in 1961, the W.P Carey School of Business is located in Tempe, Arizona. It offers a well known Master of Business Administration (MBA) program in different formats, including an online degree. Other Master’s degrees are also offered, in areas such as accounting, data science, finance, logistics, and real estate development.

One unique attribute of the W.P. Carey School of Business is its emphasis on the personal development of its students and alumni. In their first term, students are required to write an “Individual Development Plan”, outlining their approach for developing desired leadership qualities.

Real World Example of the W.P. Carey School of Business

The W.P. Carey School of Business received widespread acclaim in 2015 when it announced a new program to provide tuition-free MBA program for its incoming class of students. The move was part of the university’s efforts to increase diversity in its student body by decreasing the financial barriers faced by incoming students.

The university is also notable for its large alumni community, which is over 120,000 individuals as of 2023. Among them are many prominent figures in a diverse range of industries, such as Michael Ahearn, CEO of First Solar (FSLR); Bill Post , CEO of Pinnacle West Capital Corporation (PNW); and Eric Crown, co-founder of Insight Enterprises (NSIT).

Article Sources
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  1. W. P. Carey School of Business. "W.?P.?Carey Foundation and ASU Announce $50 Million Campaign for W.?P.?Carey School of Business."

  2. W. P. Carey School of Business. "W.?P.?Carey School of Business Rankings."

  3. W. P. Carey School of Business. "Facts and Figures."

  4. W.P. Carey Foundation. "Our Founder."

  5. W.P. Carey Foundation. "Business and Legal Education."

  6. W. P. Carey School of Business. "W.?P.?Carey Master’s Programs."

  7. Bloomberg. "This School Will Give You a Completely Free MBA."

  8. W. P. Carey School of Business. "W.?P.?Carey Alumni Hall of Fame."

  9. W. P. Carey School of Business. "Second Look: Michael Ahearn of First Solar Inc. Says Europe's Energy Policies Leaving U.S. Behind."

  10. Arizona State University, Global Institute of Sustainability and Innovation. "William Post: Chairman of the Board and CEO (Retired), Pinnacle West Capital Corporation."

  11. W. P. Carey School of Business. "Eric Crown: The Swirling Computer Business of the Roaring '90s."

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