A Look at the Demand Side of the Market for Business School Deans

Recent posts here at Turner Business report that the Turner College will, beginning January 2026, be searching for a new dean. This post provides an examination of the current demand side of the market for business deans, which involves a look at which institutions are currently searching for a business school dean and which of these will be competing with the Turner College. According to The Chronicle of Higher Education, Duke University, Carnegie Mellon University, Babson College, and Michigan Technological University are all currently searching for a business school dean. These institutions are part of a different segment of the market and the decisions they make will not impact the Turner College. Other institutions seeking a business school dean include Misericordia University, University of Alaska – Anchorage, Dakota State University and Holy Family University, and the efforts of these institutions to hire a new business school may intersect with those of the Turner College. According to its job ad, Dakota State University will be offering a salary ranging from $135,000 to $151,000. In Columbus dollars, this is a range of $129,248 to $144,566.

Another trade outlet that posts advertising for business school dean positions is Inside Higher Ed. This trade periodical currently lists an opening for a business school dean at California State University – Los Angeles. There could be some intersection between this search and that of the Turner College. According to its advertisement, it will be offering somewhere between $220,000 and $250,000 to its next business school deans. In Columbus dollars, this is a range of $95,392 to $108,400.

The AACSB also lists advertisements for business school deans. Currently listed are openings for business school deans at Colorado State University, the University of North Dakota, the University of Texas – Arlington, the University of Hawaii, Providence College and Michigan Technological University. According to the ads themselves, Colorado State University will be offering on a range from $400,000 to $475,000 and the University of North Dakota will offer $285,000. Again, these institutions represent a segment of the market that does not include the Turner College. Other openings listed by the AACSB that might intersect with the Turner College's search include Fort Lewis College, the University of Alaska – Anchorage, the University of Tampa, Brooklyn College and California State University – Los Angeles. At Fort Lewis College, the salary range is $173,000 to $192,000, with an additional annual $20,000 endowment salary supplement. In Columbus dollars, this is a range of $123,701 to $135,879, including the private supplement. The Brooklyn College salary offer will lie on a range from $200,000 to $240,000, which in Columbus dollars is $82,729 to $99,274. Based on the above lists of institutions searching for business school deans, and the salaries they plan to offer, the Turner College appears to be in a decent position going into its own search in 2026.