IE University Announces US Expansion With College Based In New York City

Home of the world’s top-ranked Online MBA program, IE recently announced it had acquired a New York City-based campus formerly belonging to the UK’s Glasgow Caledonian University, where it plans to begin offering degrees focused on business and sustainability. 

Dubbed ‘IE New York College’ (IENYC), once it receives accreditation the new college—which will operate independently of Madrid-based IE Business School—will begin offering graduate degree programs, including a Master in Business for Social Impact and Sustainability scheduled to welcome students from January 2025. 

Gaining accreditation will allow IENYC the ability to offer students from countries outside the US the chance to avail of a highly coveted post-study work visa. This ensures students  can remain in the US under employment for two years after completing their degrees, with further options to extend their stays via other visa routes.  

Applications from international students to the US have rebounded in recent years after a lull between 2017 and 2019, when around half of business schools were reporting declines. This was influenced by the Covid pandemic and hostility toward international students under the Trump administration. 

The US has, however, faced increased competition recently from other regions such as the UK, which are perceived as offering more affordable alternatives.

“This is a unique opportunity which brings with it an injection of energy and also an enormous responsibility. IENYC will work to generate positive impact not only in the higher education global scene, but directly in the city,” sais Diego del Alcázar, IE Business School’s executive vice-president. 

IE’s announcement revealed plans to invest $18 million in teaching, outreach, and research at the new college over the next five years. Programs are set to host classes of up to 60 students, with tuition fees expected to cost between $50k and $60k.

The announcement also highlighted that IENYC will collaborate closely with IE Business School moving forward. Students studying in Madrid will be able to make use of transfer links to spend time studying abroad at the new college, located in the desirable area of SoHo, Manhattan. 

“IE University and the future IENYC have a complementary academic purpose with a focus on driving positive change through education, research and innovation,” Alcázar added. 

The move has been made possible due to Glasgow Caledonian University’s struggles to make worthwhile use of the campus, which it bought in 2013. Difficulty with acquiring accreditation and recruiting students mean the institution will vacate the campus at no cost to IE. 

While partnerships between business schools have long meant that students can avail of opportunities to spend time in the US during their studies—IE offers such partnerships with Yale School of Management and Brown University—independently offering degrees in the US is less common among international business schools. 

IE will join the growing ranks of business schools establishing global links to offer students new international opportunities. NYU Stern, for example, teaches an MBA in the Middle East via its NYU Abu Dhabi campus. 

However, entering the business school market in New York will also pose challenges for IE, with several top institutions already operating there, including highly-ranked schools such as NYU Stern and Columbia Business School.