Though national unemployment soars at nearly 10 percent, school officials predict Washington University’s Class of 2011 will actually have less difficulty finding jobs than did students graduating in previous years.

Business Week ranked the Olin Business School 13th in its fifth annual undergraduate business school rankings, up from 16th last year and 15th in 2008. Notre Dame’s Mendoza College of Business took first place in the rankings, while the University of Virginia’s McIntire School of Commerce came in second.

The Weston Career Center has undergone significant changes in the past few years to combat students’ dissatisfaction with job placement services. In light of BusinessWeek’s latest ranking, however, it appears the center is still lagging compared to the services offered by other top universities. Most notable in the 2009 BusinessWeek article is the “C” Wash. U. receives for job placement. This grade ties Wash. U.

Despite the economic downturn, 91 percent of 2009 Washington University business school graduates who sought employment received at least one job offer.