ADVANCING ECONOMIC MOBILITY
COLES COLLEGE OF BUSINESS ANNUAL REPORT
PREPARING STUDENTS TO THRIVE
Among the presenters in this year’s Tetley Distinguished Leader Lecture Series was Rick Bennett , co-founder of CPA firm Bennett-Thrasher
2,777 Coles College students attended career fairs
Twenty-four students competed in the 3rd annual TK Elevator Pitch Competition , which gave them 60 seconds each to sell their personal brands while traveling 420 feet straight up in Atlanta’s fastest elevator. The finalists later presented directly to TK Elevator executives.
Learning By DOING
From EXPERIENCE to OUTCOMES
$84,789 Average first salary of Coles College graduates
Preparing students for meaningful careers is at the center of the Coles College of Business. That preparation goes beyond coursework. Students are given opportunities to apply what they are learning in environments where expectations are high, and outcomes matter. Through those experiences, students build both skills and confidence. That matters especially for the 38% of Coles students who are the first in their fam - ilies to earn a college degree; for them, these experiences are often the first step toward a career path that wasn’t previously visible. At the center of this approach are programs like the Student Managed Investment Fund. Students are responsible for managing real investment portfolios while working alongside industry mentors. They make decisions, see the outcomes, and adjust. It is a level of accountability that changes how they learn. Many students leave the program with internships or job offers already in place, and the team’s recent win at the CFA Research Challenge Southern Classic reflects the strength of that preparation. Students are also challenged through competitions that mirror real business situa- tions. In events like the Future of Payments Pitch Competition and the TK Elevator Sales Competition, they present ideas, respond to feedback, and think on their feet. These experiences prepare them for high-stakes environments where there is not always a clear answer.
Exposure to industry is a defining part of the student experience. In market - ing and sales alone, more than 120 guest speakers visited classrooms this year, giving students insight into how decisions are made and what different career paths actually look like. Programs like the Tetley Distinguished Speaker Series bring senior leaders into the conversation, giving students a chance to hear directly from people operating at the highest levels. These experiences lead to strong outcomes. According to the College’s most recent career outcomes survey (2023), 75% of graduates report a positive career outcome, reflecting the real-world value of a Coles degree. In the Master of Accounting program, 95% of students passed at least one section of the CPA exam during the program year, the highest rate to date. Across the College, students completed more than 700 credit-bearing internships, gaining experience that helps them step into the workforce with a clearer sense of direction. Just as important are the relationships built along the way. Faculty, mentors, and peers all play a role in helping students grow. Those relationships often continue well beyond graduation and shape the opportunities that follow. These experiences prepare students not just to get started, but to continue growing as their careers take shape and evolve. “Exposure to industry is a defining part of the student experience.”
36% increase in experiential learning courses YoY
68.5% of Coles College
graduates completed internships/co-ops
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