The Carroll School of Management’s part-time MBA program now ranks 25th in the nation, and first among such programs in the Ϲ area, according to an U.S. News & World Report.

The Ϲ College program climbed 21 spots from number 46 in last year’s “Best Part-Time MBA Programs” by U.S. News,which surveyed approximately 300 schools.

The publication based its rankings on several factors. Among these: “peer assessments,” primarily by deans at similar schools; scores on entrance exams along with the average undergraduate GPA of those enrolled; and the amount of work experience gained by students before entering the programs in Fall 2017. These programs are geared to students who continue to work full-time while making progress toward their advanced degrees.

The showing in the latest survey throws light on a number of developments in the Carroll School’s part-time MBA program, said Andy Boynton, the School’s John and Linda Powers Family Dean.

He pointed to an “increased intensity and focus on part-time MBA students.” That has led to substantial curricular changes, including a stronger emphasis on skills such as data analytics, which are heavily in demand by employers.

“We’re building a program around the needs of these students, with much greater flexibility in our offerings,” the dean added. He cited a new array of online courses and other changes that allow students to tailor their degrees to their specific goals and aspirations.

Other Ϲ-area peer schools with part-time MBA programs include Ϲ University (which placed 32nd in the tally), as well as Babson College and Northeastern (which tied at 66).

In the new survey, the Carroll School’s full-time MBA program also ranked number 48, maintaining its position in the top 50 of those programs in the United States.