GREELEY - Graduating seniors at the University of Northern Colorado's Monfort College of Business have scored in the top 5 percent collectively on a nationally-administered standardized test for the 2008-09 academic year.

It's the sixth consecutive year Monfort's seniors have scored at or above the top 10 percent of those taking the Educational Testing Service Major Field Test in Business. The test is the most widely used standardized instrument to assess core business knowledge at undergraduate business programs nationwide. Approximately 560 business schools administered the exam, including the U.S. Air Force Academy, University of Denver, Belmont University, Georgia State University, University of Missouri, Radford University, Rutgers Business School, University of Nebraska, and Xavier University.

"Collective scores in the top 5 percent in the nation is a great accomplishment and speaks very highly of our students and program," said Don Gudmundson, dean of the college. "This level of excellence has become a tradition at Monfort, and one we hope to continue."

Students are tested in areas including accounting, finance, quantitative business analysis, management, marketing, legal/social environment, international business and economics. All Monfort students must complete the online exam in their final year of study.

The college was the first and only business program to receive the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award in 2004, and the only undergraduate-only program worldwide to be accredited by AACSB International in both business and accounting.