Darla Moore School of Business

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Updated January 12, 2023
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Darla Moore School of Business

Investopedia / Jessica Olah

What Is the Darla Moore School of Business?

The Darla Moore School of Business is the business school of the University of South Carolina. Founded in 1919 and located in Columbia, South Carolina, the school offers both undergraduate and graduate programs.

The Darla Moore School of Business is perhaps best known for its undergraduate program in International Business, which has received a #1 rating by U.S. News & World Report for over 20 consecutive years.

Key Takeaways

  • The Darla Moore School of Business is a business school offering both undergraduate and graduate programs.
  • It is well known for its emphasis on international business education, offering programs that have long been featured at or near the top of international rankings in that area.
  • Graduates from the Darla Moore School of Business have traditionally found employment in areas such as finance, accounting, manufacturing, and the technology sector.

How the Darla Moore School of Business Works

Previously known as the University of South Carolina’s School of Commerce, the Darla Moore School of Business received its current name in 1998 following a $25 million naming gift by Darla Moore. A prominent investor and philanthropist, she completed her BA in political science from the University of South Carolina in 1975. In 2005, she made a second major gift to the school, this time for $45 million.

Today, the Darla Moore School of Business offers a wide range of undergraduate programs, including specializations in accounting, economics, finance, international business, and risk management, among others. At the graduate level, it offers a full-time Master of Business Administration (MBA) program, as well as executive MBA and international MBA streams. Additional master’s-level programs include degrees in accounting, economics, human resources (HR), and international business.

In 2016, the school adjusted its undergraduate format from a two-year curriculum to a full four-year program. This was done to ensure that undergraduate students receive a solid foundation of core business skills before moving on to their third and fourth-year specializations. In addition to its highly ranked International Business program, the Darla Moore School of Business is also known for its Operations and Supply Chain and Risk Management and Insurance programs.

Real-World Example of the Darla Moore School of Business

In January 2020, Bloomberg Businessweek rated the Darla Moore School of Business as the 70th-best business school in the United States. Yet arguably the school’s most impressive accolade is the remarkable reputation of its International Business program. In addition to having been ranked first overall by U.S. News & World Report for 22 consecutive years, its International MBA program has also placed in the top 3 positions for each of the last 31 years.

With annual tuition of roughly $41,000—or approximately $36,000 for in-state students—Darla Moore School of Business’s MBA grads saw an average starting salary of roughly $95,000 in 2019, with approximately 84% receiving their job offers within 90 days of graduation. Historically, these grads have found employment in sectors such as financial services, accounting, technology, and manufacturers, with major employers including PricewaterhouseCoopers, Bank of America (BAC), and IBM (IBM.

Article Sources
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  1. University of South Carolina. "International Business." Accessed Feb. 2, 2021.

  2. The New York Times. "Be It Wharton or Darla Moore, Not for Nothing Is a B-School so Named." Accessed Feb. 2, 2021.

  3. The Wall Street Journal. "Groundbreaker in Golf and Business." Accessed Feb. 2, 2021.

  4. Bloomberg. "South Carolina (Darla Moore)." Accessed Feb. 2, 2021.

  5. University of South Carolina. "Academic Rankings." Accessed Feb. 2, 2021.

  6. University of South Carolina. "Tuition and Fees." Accessed Feb. 8, 2021.

  7. University of South Carolina. "Moore School MBA Job Placement, Average Starting Salaries Reach Record High." Accessed Feb. 8, 2021.

  8. University of South Carolina. "Undergraduate Majors Report 2020." Accessed Feb. 8, 2021.