Asked how important the following aspects of education are to long-term success in business, both top and second-tier executives downplayed the value of standardized-test scores, according to a poll of business leaders conducted for the National Urban League. Percentages shown are of those who thought attribute was “extremely important.”
Total |
Top |
2nd-tier | |
| Having advanced degree | 23 | 19 | 26 |
| Taking a lot of business courses, getting an MBA and the like | 23 | 22 | 24 |
| Grades in college and graduate school | 20 | 22 | 17 |
| Taking a liberal arts curriculum | 18 | 16 | 20 |
| Going to a highly selective school, such as an Ivy League or U.S. News & World Report Top 25 school | 12 | 13 | 11 |
| Standardized-test scores, such as SATs, ACTs, Achievement Tests, etc. | 4 | 5 | 3 |
SOURCE: National Urban League, Institute for Opportunity and Excellence.
