Morgan MBA Team Wins National Case Competition, Showcasing Excellence on the Biggest Stage

Graves School MBA Program Climbs to #54 in Bloomberg BusinessWeek Top MBA Rankings  

Morgan State University’s Earl G. Graves School of Business and Management (Graves School) MBA Case Competition Team secured a commanding first-place victory at the prestigious National Black MBA Association® (NBMBAA) Graduate Case Competition, earning a $25,000 grand prize and national recognition as the top team in the country.

Competing against 27 elite institutions, including Carnegie Mellon University, Georgia Tech, Howard University, and the University of South Carolina, the Graves team—comprised of Bryson Boston, Imani Dews, Marvellous Ododoh, and Scott Purnell Saunders—emerged as champions after advancing to the final round of seven schools. Morgan triumphed over Georgia State University (2nd place) and Howard University (3rd place), reaffirming Graves’ position among the nation’s most competitive MBA programs.

The NBMBAA Graduate Case Competition, widely regarded as a premier graduate-level case competition in the country, challenges teams of MBA students to analyze complex, real-world business problems and present their solutions before a panel of senior executives from Fortune 500 companies and leading academic institutions. This year’s victory marks a defining milestone for Morgan, demonstrating both the caliber of its students and the enduring strength of its program.

“This win is more than just a victory—it’s a statement about the legacy we are building at Graves,” said Joseph I. Wells, director of Masters Programs at the Graves School of Business. “It shows what is achievable when purpose aligns with preparation.”

Momentum Reflected in National MBA Rankings

The Graves School’s recent student triumph is matched by another measure of excellence: a rise in the Bloomberg BusinessWeek 2025–2026 Top MBA Programs rankings. For the second consecutive year, Graves secured its place among the nation’s best, advancing six spots from #60 to #54.

Significantly, Morgan’s MBA program is the only program from an HBCU included in the rankings, underscoring its growing influence and impact on graduate business education.

The program’s standout improvements include:

• Learning: up 59 places to #10 nationally
• Networking: up 37 places to #16
• Entrepreneurship: up 40 places to an impressive #5
• Inclusion: maintaining a top-tier national position at #2

Although compensation metrics slipped slightly, Graves’ overall rise reflects the program’s dynamic growth and increasing value to its students and alumni.

“This remarkable victory by our MBA students, coupled with the Graves School’s rise in the Bloomberg BusinessWeek rankings, affirms what we have always known—Morgan produces business leaders of the highest caliber,” said Royce D. Burnett, Ph.D., dean of the Earl G. Graves School of Business and Management. “Seeing our students outperform teams from some of the nation’s most storied institutions on a national stage is inspiring and deeply validating. As the only HBCU represented among the top MBA programs, we are demonstrating academic and professional excellence and expanding opportunities for diverse voices to lead in business and society.”

A Defining Moment for Morgan

Together, the national case competition victory and the climb in Bloomberg rankings signal a powerful trajectory for the Graves MBA program. With student teams excelling on national stages and rankings affirming its academic and professional impact, Morgan’s Graves School of Business continues to distinguish itself as a leader in cultivating the next generation of business innovators and executives.