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If you have decided to pursue a Master of Business Administration degree, choosing where to pursue it is the next step. There are many factors to consider, from the quality of the school to its location and specialties, your financial situation, and what you value in an educational program.
Here are the top business schools in the US. All of these schools have ranked at some point or another on the top 10 list of US News, Bloomberg, and Fortune. In 2023, the business world was surprised when Chicago Booth topped the list, which isn't to say that Booth doesn’t have an amazing MBA program; rather, when given the choice, many admits to Booth and the GSB or Booth and HBS will choose the latter program. For this reason, we have kept Stanford and Harvard at the top of our list.
Regardless, these rankings can give you a good idea of the schools that generally rank among the best in the world. The school that is the best for you is not going to be the same as the school that is best for someone else, and all of the institutions on this list offer a phenomenal education, world-class faculty, and great employment opportunities.
With that, let’s jump in.
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#1 Stanford Graduate School of Business
Based in California, near Silicon Valley, Stanford University sits at the heart of technological innovation. GSB offers many concentrations, including accounting, finance, marketing, general management, healthcare, technology, and nonprofit management. Their curriculum is based on case studies, lectures, small-group seminars, simulations, prototyping, role-playing scenarios, hands-on experiences, project-based courses, and multifunctional scenarios.
General Info
- Tuition: $82,455 per year
- Class Size: 431 Students
- Median GMAT: 732
- Median GPA: 3.77
- Percent Employed 3-Months Post-Graduation: 91%
Demographics
- Percent of Women in the Class: 46%
- Percent International Students: 36%
Post-MBA Employment
- Median Salary of Grads: $182,500
- Popular Industries:
- Finance: 38%
- Technology: 24%
- Consulting: 15%
- Private Equity: 14%
- Enterprise: 10%
2024-2025 Application Deadlines
- Round 1: September 10, 2024
- Decisions Released: December 5, 2024
- Round 2: January 8, 2025
- Decisions Released: April 3, 2025
- Round 3: April 8, 2025
- Decisions Released: May 29, 2025
*Deferred applicants can apply in any round; Round 3 is the most common.
Other MBA Programs
Joint Degree Programs: 20% of students pursue joint or dual-degree programs. They offer many different options including a JD/MBA, an Education MA/MBA, and an MPP/MBA, among others.
MSx: A one-year master’s program in business for mid-career professionals. It offers accelerated core courses on business fundamentals and more than 55% of the curriculum is composed of electives.
Stanford LEAD: A part-time online and distance-learning program for those who would like to take courses while pursuing a career. Participants are awarded a GSB professional certificate.
To learn more, visit Stanford GSB: MBA Program and Application Overview.
#2 Harvard Business School
Harvard Business School is one of the most well-known institutions for getting an MBA. They offer a hands-on education through a case method strategy which gives students real problems that they must tackle as teams. The experiential learning also extends to field study teams, where small groups of students evaluate existing organizations, and through immersion trips, which are intense weeks of international study over winter breaks.
They run on a semester system with a focus on the following subjects: Finance 1 (FIN1), Financial Reporting and Control (FRC), Leadership & Organizational Behavior (LEAD), Marketing, Technology & Operations Management (TOM), and Short Intensive Programs (SIPs).
General Info
- Tuition: $76,410 per year
- Class size: 938 students
- Median GMAT: 740
- Average GPA: 3.73
- Percent Employed 3 Months Post-Graduation: 96%
Demographics
- Percent of Women in the Class: 46%
- Percent International Students: 39%
Pre-MBA Industries
- Venture Capital/Private Equity: 17%
- Consulting: 17%
- Manufacturing/Industrial/Energy: 9%
- Financial Services: 10%
- Consumer Products/Retail/E-Commerce: 10%
Post-MBA Employment
- Median Salary of Grads: $175,000
- Popular Industries:
- Consulting: 25%
- Private Equity: 17%
- Technology 16%
- Investment Management: 6%
- Manufacturing: 6%
Application Deadlines
- Round 1: September 4, 2024
- Decisions Released: December 10, 2024
- Round 2: January 6, 2025
- Decisions Released: March 26, 2025
- *Deferred: Apr. 25, 2024
- Decisions Released: June 27, 2024
* - Harvard Business School has not yet released a date for the deferred program for the 2025 entry.
Other MBA Programs
Joint Degree Programs: HBS has created 7 joint degree programs with six Harvard University graduate schools to allow students to hone their expertise while learning effective management skills. The programs include MS/MBA in Biotechnology, MBA/MPP and the MBA/MPA-ID, JD/MBA, MD/MBA, DMD/MBA, and the MS/MBA in Engineering.
Program for Leadership Development: The HBS alternative to an Executive MBA, PLD focuses on leadership, change, and innovation. It is targeted toward proven executives who seek to play a greater role in corporate success and is best suited for those with 10 to 15 years of work experience.
HBS does not offer a part-time, online, or one-year MBA program because they believe that to receive the actual HBS experience, a two-year full-time MBA program is required.
Read more here: Harvard Business School—MBA Program and Application Overview and A Guide to the HBS Essay.
#3 The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania
The Wharton School of Business was the United States’ first business school which gave it an expansive alumni network. Wharton’s MBA offers an intensive but flexible curriculum. With 18 major options and 200 electives, each student is able to create their own unique path depending on their goals and aspirations. There are only six required classes, including leadership, marketing, microeconomics, statistics, and management communication.
General Info
- Tuition: $84,830 per year
- Class size: 874 students
- Average GMAT: 728
- Average GPA: 3.6
- Percent Employed 3-Months Post-Graduation: 93.5%
Demographics
- Percent of Women in the Class: 50%
- Percent International Students: 31%
Post-MBA Employment
- Median Salary of Grads: $175,000
- Popular Industries:
- Finance: 37.3%
- Consulting: 28.8%
- Technology: 13.5%
- Banking/Brokerage: 14.2%
- Equity/Buyouts: 14%
Application Deadlines
- Round 1: September 4, 2024
- Interview Invitations: October 24, 2024
- Decisions Released: December 10, 2024
- Round 2: January 3, 2025
- Interview Invitations: February 19, 2025
- Decisions Released: April 1, 2025
- Round 3: April 2, 2025
- Interview Invitations: April 18, 2025
- Decisions Released: May 13, 2025
- Deferred: April 23, 2025
- Interview Invitations: May 28, 2024
- Decisions Released: July 1, 2025
Other MBA Programs
Joint Degree Programs: Wharton offers many different dual degree programs including an MBA/MA in International Studies, JD/MBA, and a specialty MBA in Health Care Management. The school also offers established dual MBA programs with Johns Hopkins University and the Harvard Kennedy School.
Executive MBA Program: Wharton’s MBA for working professionals. Students can choose the Philadelphia or San Francisco campus and get their MBA in 24 months, only 4 months longer than the traditional MBA program.
Find out more at The Wharton School—MBA Program and Application Overview.
#4 University of Chicago Booth
The University of Chicago’s Business School, Booth, is an institution that applies the Chicago approach: rigorous inquiry and questioning to inspire learning and insight. At Chicago Booth, you will learn how to turn any business challenge into an opportunity, think for yourself, challenge the status quo, and make groundbreaking discoveries using data. Their MBA curriculum is rooted in the fundamental fields of business: accounting, economics, psychology, sociology, and statistics. The teaching methods are multifaceted and include collaboration with classmates, case methods, and hands-on learning.
General Info
- Tuition: $80,961 per year
- Class size: 637 students
- Median GMAT: 730
- Average GPA: 3.6
- Percent Employed 3 Months Post-Graduation: 96.8%
Demographics
- Percent of Women in the Class: 42%
- Percent International Students: 36%
Post-MBA Employment Industries
- Median Salary of Grads: $180,000
- Popular Industries:
- Financial Services: 27%
- Consulting: 35.5%
- Technology: 14.9%
- Banking/Brokerage: 10.8%
- Private Equity: 7.1%
Application Deadlines
- *Round 1: Sep. 21, 2023
- Decisions Released: Nov. 30, 2023
- Round 2: Jan. 4, 2024
- Decisions Released: Mar. 21, 2024
- Round 3: Apr. 4, 2024
- Decisions Released: May 23, 2024
- Deferred: Apr. 4, 2024
- Interview Timeline: April-May, 2024
- Decisions Released: June 13, 2024
* - The Chicago Booth School of Business has not yet released a date for the 2024-2025 cycle.
Other MBA Programs
Joint Degree Programs: There are many different joint-degree and certificate programs available through Booth and the University of Chicago. They are open to students in the full-time MBA program. Some of those offered include a JD/MBA, MBA/MA in International Relations, MBA/MA in Middle Eastern Studies, MBA/MD, and an MBA/MPCS.
Part-Time MBA: Booth has two different part-time MBA programs: one in the evening and one on weekends. Both are geared towards those who would like to continue working while earning their degree. They take about 2.5 to 3 years to complete and the work experience of the students ranges from about 3 to 9 years.
Global Executive MBA: For experienced professionals, this MBA is offered in Chicago, London, and Hong Kong and takes 21 months to complete. The average years of work experience is 8 to 20.
More details can be found at Chicago Booth—MBA Program and Application Overview.
#5 Northwestern University Kellogg School of Management
Kellogg educates their students through a broader strategy because they believe that well-rounded leaders make better managers. With more than 200 electives to choose from, students can both focus on their niche and diversify their knowledge. They offer majors in Accounting, Economics, Finance, Management Science, Managing Organizations, Marketing, Operations, and Strategy. You can choose among them or choose not to specialize at all. They also offer more than 1,000 experiential learning courses to provide students with degree customization.
General Info
- Tuition: $81,015 per year
- Class size: 529 students
- Average GMAT: 731
- Average GPA: 3.7
- Percent Employed 3 Months Post-Graduation: 94.5%
Demographics
- Percent of Women in the Class: 48%
- Percent International Students: 39%
Pre-MBA Industries
- Financial Services: 29%
- Consulting: 28%
- Technology: 12%
- Government/Education/Nonprofit: 4%
- Consumer Products: 4%
Post-MBA Employment
- Median Salary of Grads: $175,000
- Popular Industries:
- Consulting: 42%
- Financial Services: 22%
- Technology: 17%
- Consumer Goods: 7%
- Healthcare: 3%
Application Deadlines
- Round 1: September 11, 2024
- Decisions Released: December 11, 2024
- Round 2: January 8, 2025
- Decisions Released: March 26, 2025
- Round 3: April 2, 2025
- Decisions Released: May 7, 2025
- *Deferred: Apr. 24, 2024
- Decisions Released By: June 26, 2024
* - The Northwestern University Kellogg School of Management has not yet released a date for the deferred program for the 2025 entry.
Other MBA Programs
Joint Degree Programs: Kellogg offers several prominent joint degree programs. This includes the MBAi program, a joint degree between Kellogg and the McCormick School of Engineering, the JD/MBA in conjunction with the Northwestern School of Law, and the MMM, a dual-degree program after which students will receive an MS in Design Innovation and an MBA from Kellogg.
Part-Time MBA: Kellogg’s Evening and Weekend MBA program allows students to obtain an MBA while continuing working. Those accepted will choose between a weekend or evening schedule to maximize flexibility.
Executive MBA: This program supports the professional goals of senior and mid-career executives who have mastered the fundamentals and are looking to advance their careers. Kellogg has a very large, prestigious, and global Executive MBA network.
One-Year MBA: The fastest path towards an MBA at Kellogg, this program runs from June to June and allows students to immerse themselves in a rigorous curriculum, learning from world-class faculty and a supportive network.
Learn more at Kellogg School of Management—MBA Program and Application Overview.
#6 The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Sloan School of Management
Sloan aims to teach management the concrete way. Since they are part of the world’s leading research institution, they bring together bright minds to solve the world’s complex problems, using the intersection of business and technology.
The mission of the MIT Sloan School of Management is to develop principled, innovative leaders who will improve the world and generate ideas that advance management practices. After admission, you will spend the first semester with a cohort, studying the core curriculum. By the second semester, you will be free to choose your own path through a wide variety of electives.
General Info
- Tuition: $84,350 per year
- Class size: 409 students
- Median GMAT: 730
- Median GPA: 3.61
- Percent Employed 3 Months Post-Graduation: 96%
Demographics
- Percent of Women in the Class: 46%
- Percent International Students: 40%
Pre-MBA Industries
- Consulting: 26%
- Technology: 23%
- Financial Services: 17%
- Government, Education, Nonprofit: 10%
- Pharmaceutical, Healthcare, Biotechnology: 7%
Post-MBA Employment
- Median Salary of Grads: $170,000
- Popular Industries:
- Consulting: 33.7%
- Technology: 24.1%
- Finance: 19.9%
- Healthcare/Pharma/Biotech: 5.8%
- Energy: 2.7%
Application Deadlines
- Round 1: September 30, 2024
- Decisions Released: December 12, 2024
- Round 2: January 14, 2025
- Decisions Released: April 4, 2025
- Round 3: April 7, 2025
- Decisions Released: May 15, 2025
- *Deferred: Apr. 19, 2024 (for non-MIT undergraduate students)
- Decisions Released: June 13, 2024
* - The MIT Sloan School of Management has not yet released a date for the deferred program for the 2025 entry.
Other MBA Programs
Dual-Degree Programs: MIT Sloan offers three dual degree options designed to prepare students for complex leadership challenges that combine industry expertise with management skills. These include an MBA/MS in Engineering, MIT/MCP with the MIT Department of Urban Studies, and an MBA/MPA in partnership with the Harvard Kennedy School of Government.
Executive MBA: A rigorous 20-month executive-schedule MBA for mid-career executives, this program teaches advanced management practices to broaden perspectives and increase impact.
Learn more here: MIT Sloan—MBA Program and Application Overview.
#7 Columbia University Business School (Tied)
Columbia Business School is tied at 7th place. It is one of the oldest business schools in the world with over 100 student organizations, an accessible alumni network, top-of-the-line research centers, and countless events. Their core curriculum consists of two full-term courses and eight half-term courses. They have six different academic divisions: Accounting, Decision, Risk, and Operations, Economics, Finance, Management, and Marketing.
General Info
- Tuition: $84,496 per year
- Class size: 900 students (January and August classes combined)
- Average GMAT: 730
- Average GPA: 3.5
- Percent Employed 3 Months Post-Graduation: 94%
Demographics
- Percent of Women in the Class: 44%
- Percent International Students: 47%
Pre-MBA Industries
- Marketing/Media: 12%
- Consulting: 21%
- Technology: 11%
- Financial Services: 29%
- Real Estate: 5%
Post-MBA Employment
- Median Salary of Grads: $175,000
- Popular Industries:
- Consulting: 36.3%
- Investment Banking: 16.4%
- Internet Services / E-Commerce: 6.8%
- Private Equity: 5.6%
- Real Estate: 3.3%
Application Deadlines
- Round 1: September 10, 2024
- Interview Decisions Released: By November 15
- Final Decisions Released: By December 20
- Round 2: January 7, 2025
- Interview Decisions Released: By February 20
- Final Decisions Released: By March 26
- Round 3: April 1, 2025
- Interview Decisions Released: By May 1
- Final Decisions Released: By May 15
- *Deferred: Apr. 15, 2024
- Decisions Released: Rolling basis
* - Columbia University Business School has not yet released a date for the deferred program for the 2025 entry.
Other MBA Programs
Joint Degree Programs: There are 11 other professional degrees that can be combined with a Columbia MBA including law, engineering, medicine, international affairs, or social work. Interested applicants must apply separately to the business school and the second program and decisions are made independently.
Executive MBA: Columbia offers a world-class Executive MBA program designed to help leaders grow while staying connected to their full-time work environment.
Check more information at Columbia Business School—MBA Program and Application Overview.
#7 University of California Berkeley Haas School of Business (Tied)
Tied with Columbia at seventh, the Haas School of Business is located in California, situated near major business headquarters like Google and Visa. Because of this, it is convenient to find internships and jobs to supplement your business education. They have an established program called Haas@Work where students are assigned to projects with both local and global companies. Full-time MBA students take 14 required courses and then tailor their degree with the choice of electives.
General Info
- Tuition:
- CA Resident: $69,814 per year
- Non-Resident: $82,059 per year
- Class size: 244 students
- Median GMAT: 740
- Average GPA: 3.64
- Percent Employed 3 Months Post-Graduation: 89.9%
Demographics
- Percent of Women in the Class: 41%
- Percent International Students: 47%
Pre-MBA Industries
- High Technology/Electronics: 20%
- Consulting: 24%
- Health/Pharma/Biotech: 5%
- Financial Services: 16%
- Consumer Products/Retail: 6%
Post-MBA Employment
- Median Salary of Grads: $166,650
- Popular Industries:
- Technology/Telecom: 29.8%
- Consulting: 27.6%
- Financial Services: 14.5%
- Health/Pharma/Biotech: 7.5%
- Energy: 6.6%
Application Deadlines
- Round 1: September 12, 2024
- Decisions Released: December 12, 2024
- Round 2: January 9, 2025
- Decisions Released: March 27, 2025
- Round 3: April 3, 2025
- Decisions Released: May 8, 2025
- *Deferred: Apr. 25, 2024
- Decisions Released: Jun. 20, 2024
* - UC Berkeley Haas School of Business has not yet released a date for the deferred program for the 2025 entry.
Other MBA Programs
Joint Degree Programs: Haas offers several dual degree programs to allow students to reframe their future and nurture their intellectual curiosity. Applicants can combine their MBA with law, engineering, public health, or international area studies degrees.
Evening and Weekend MBA Program: The part-time MBA program at Berkeley allows students to be the best in their current role while building leadership skills. The program will take 22 months and students will have flexible scheduling options.
Executive MBA: Students in the Executive MBA program at Berkeley will be able to take advantage of the same top faculty and obtain their degrees in 22 months. The program takes place on campus on a schedule that respects a full-time work schedule.
Read more at the University of California Berkeley Haas—MBA Program and Application Overview.
#9 Yale University School of Management
The School of Management at Yale University exists at the intersection of business and society and includes such options as sustainability, asset management, healthcare, education, financial stability, women in business, and global leadership.
During your first year, you will build an understanding of the whole organization and study the impact of business on society. From Orientation to Management, you will be equipped with the tools and frameworks that you will need for the rest of your MBA career. During the second year, you will have flexibility in your schedule and the chance to take your choice of electives.
General Info
- Tuition: $84,900 per year
- Class size: 339 students
- Median GMAT: 720
- Median GPA: 3.64
- Percent Employed 3 Months Post-Graduation: 91.5%
Demographics
- Percent of Women in the Class: 40%
- Percent International Students: 44%
Pre-MBA Industries
- Financial Services: 24%
- Consulting: 18%
- Non-profit: 9%
- Media/Entertainment: 3%
- Government: 11%
Post-MBA Employment
- Median Salary of Grads: $160,110
- Popular Industries:
- Consulting: 53.6%
- Finance/Accounting: 24%
- Marketing/Sales: 11.4%
- General Management: 4.2%
- Operations/Logistics: 2.7%
Application Deadlines
- Round 1: September 10, 2024
- Decisions Released: December 5, 2024
- Round 2: January 7, 2025
- Decisions Released: March 20, 2025
- Round 3: April 8, 2025
- Decisions Released: May 15, 2025
Other MBA Programs
Joint Degree Programs: The Yale School of Management offers many joint degree programs with other Yale departments. Applicants must apply and be accepted to both programs independently. See the options here: School of Management Joint Degrees
Executive MBA: The Executive MBA at Yale combines the rigor of the integrated core curriculum and leadership development program with advanced study in one of the following areas: Asset Management, Healthcare, or Sustainability.
Learn more at Yale School of Management—MBA Program and Application Overview.
#10 Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College
At Tuck, every element of the academic experience, from their team-based project work and experiential and global learning opportunities to case-based courses, independent study, and small scale Research-to-Practice-Seminars, are all part of their goal to push students into becoming curious, creative leaders.
Their core curriculum provides rigorous coverage of business disciplines along with courses that build on and complement each other: analytics, corporate finance and capital markets, managerial and global economics, marketing, organizational behavior, strategy, communications, and operations. Furthermore, they offer more than 100 electives to give students the freedom to chart their own paths.
General Info
- Tuition: $80,620 per year
- Class size: 297 students
- Average GMAT: 726
- Average GPA: 3.49
- Percent Employed 3 Months Post-Graduation: 93%
Demographics
- Percent of Women in the Class: 44%
- Percent International Students: 33%
Post-MBA Employment Industries
- Median Salary of Grads: $175,000
- Popular Industries:
- Financial Services: 22%
- Consulting: 17%
- Technology: 15%
- Consumer Products/Retail: 7%
- Healthcare, Pharma, Biotechnology: 6%
Application Deadlines
- Round 1: September 26, 2024
- Decisions Released: December 12, 2024
- Round 2: January 6, 2025
- Decisions Released: March 13, 2025
- Round 3: March 26, 2025
- Decisions Released: May 1, 2025
Other MBA Programs
Joint Degree Programs: Tuck offers MBA programs within Dartmouth and in partnership with other institutions including an MD/MBA, MBA/MPH, MBA/Ph.D., and MBA/MEM among others.
Read Dartmouth Tuck—MBA Program and Application Overview.
Bonus: #11 ew York University’s Stern School of Business
At NYU Stern, all students graduate with an MBA in General Management and can select up to three specializations, or choose not to specialize at all. The areas of interest are entrepreneurship, entertainment, media, tech, luxury and retail, marketing, real estate, finance, social enterprise, consulting, and healthcare. Their curriculum is flexible and you can choose from over 200 electives that suit your interests and goals.
General Info
- Tuition: $84,180 per year
- Class size: 966 students
- Average GMAT: 732
- Average GPA: 3.61
- Percent Employed 3 Months Post-Graduation: 94%
Demographics
- Percent of Women in the Class: 43%
- Percent International Students: 48%
Pre-MBA Industries
- Financial Services: 26%
- Consulting: 12%
- Technology: 10%
- Military/Government: 8%
- Consumer Products/Retail: 5%
Post-MBA Employment
- Median Salary of Grads: $170,000
- Popular Industries:
- Consulting: 41.9%
- Investment Banking: 23.3%
- Technology: 14.2%
- Entertainment/Media/Sports: 3.4%
- Law: 2.4%
Application Deadlines
- Round 1: September 16, 2024
- Decisions Released: December 1, 2024
- Round 2: October 16, 2024
- Decisions Released: January 1, 2025
- Round 3: January 16, 2025
- Decisions Released: April 1, 2025
- Round 4: April 16, 2025
- Decisions Released: Ongoing/Rolling
Other MBA Programs
Joint Degree Programs: Stern offers many different dual degree programs within NYU and abroad. These include an MBA/MD, MBA/JD, MBA/MFA, MBA/MS in Mathematics in Finance, MBA/MPA, MBA/MS in Biology, MBA/DDS, and Dual MBA with HEC.
Tech MBA: At the intersection of business and technology, the NYU Stern Tech MBA is designed to deepen students’ foundations in business and expand their knowledge of technology.
Part-time MBA: This MBA program is designed for working professionals who are seeking the knowledge and tools of the MBA program. It is very flexible with four program options: weeknights, accelerated two-year, Saturday, and online/modular. Students can specialize in up to three areas from 27 options.
Fashion & Luxury MBA: This unique MBA program gives students the tools of business to those pursuing careers in the fashion industry and luxury sector. The curriculum is composed of core classes paired with elective courses that complement the built-in immersive opportunities
For more info, head to NYU Stern—MBA Program and Application Overview.
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