Rankings

25 Best Master’s in Business Administration (MBA) Grad School Programs

Written by Grad School Center Team We are a passionate team of experienced educators and advisors at GradSchoolCenter.com, dedicated to guiding students through their graduate education journey. Our experts, with advanced degrees across various disciplines, offer personalized advice, up-to-date program information, and practical insights into application processes.

Reviewed by David Krug David Krug is a seasoned expert with 20 years in educational technology (EdTech). His career spans the pivotal years of technology integration in education, where he has played a key role in advancing student-centric learning solutions. David's expertise lies in marrying technological innovation with pedagogical effectiveness, making him a valuable asset in transforming educational experiences. As an advisor for enrollment startups, David provides strategic guidance, helping these companies navigate the complexities of the education sector. His insights are crucial in developing impactful and sustainable enrollment strategies.

Updated: March 15, 2024, Reading time: 40 minutes

GSC_featured

Find your perfect college degree

Grad School Center is an advertising-supported site. Featured or trusted partner programs and all school search, finder, or match results are for schools that compensate us. This compensation does not influence our school rankings, resource guides, or other editorially-independent information published on this site.

Are you searching for a quality Master’s in Business Administration degree program? You’re not alone! Every year, business news sites such as Forbes, Bloomberg, or the mother of it all – U.S. News, release their rankings of the top business schools in the country.

Each ranking has spawned its spinoffs – best part-time MBA programs, best EMBA programs, best MBA degrees for networking, best MBA programs for STEM, and the most recent addition, the best online MBA programs.

Master's in Business Administration
Grad School Center is an advertising-supported site. Featured or trusted partner programs and all school search, finder, or match results are for schools that compensate us. This compensation does not influence our school rankings, resource guides, or other editorially-independent information published on this site.

What do all these rankings tell us?

Aside from the obvious in an MBA degree program, there is no one way to measure a school’s performance, it tells us that applicants no longer look for just school prestige. Times have changed. A traditional MBA program with a finance or marketing core just won’t do anymore.

It’s this downward trend that compelled many B-schools to discontinue their MBA degree programs and just focus on specialized areas like data analytics, which the Wall Street Journal reported to have demonstrated a gradual but steady increase in enrollees since 2015.

Several schools do not see this dilemma as the death of the MBA degree program; instead, it is perceived as the chance to reinvent their programs. Affected institutions are seeing it as a way to bridge the gap between business management, data analytics, and technology, a strategy that would hopefully translate to increased applications.

Speaking to Bloomberg Businessweek, Stanford GSB Professor Paul Oyer points out how business leaders and data scientists complement each other:

“Managers have a ton of institutional knowledge and know-how a business works, but they’re sitting on troves of data that they don’t know what to do with. And data people don’t know what questions need to be answered through the data. The person who can go in the middle is becoming more and more valuable.”

As a result, more and more business schools are redesigning their offerings to include STEM concentrations in their MBA programs like manufacturing technologies, management information systems (MIS), e-commerce, and data science or data analytics. M7 schools like the University of Chicago’s Booth School of Business are also following suit.

Master's in Business Administration

Non-M7 schools blaze the trail in online MBAs. Distance learning is slowly becoming the norm, which was further reinforced in 2020 when people were forced to stay home due to the coronavirus pandemic. 

But no matter how many new criteria we add to the rankings, the decision to choose a business school, or any school for that matter, actually boils down to two things – prestige and money. It’s about going to the best master’s program school that checks all the boxes without breaking the bank.

Quick audio summary:

Overview:
Perhaps one of the most popular graduate degrees to earn, the Master of Business Administration degree, will help you get that promotion in leadership you deserve! A graduate business school is a great place to begin searching for the right MBA program for you. Distance learning MBA programs are also available!

Methodology

In developing our list of The Best Master of Business Administration (MBA) Grad School Programs, we built a set of criteria that are all met by the higher education institutions on our list:

25 Best Master’s in Business Administration (MBA) Grad School Programs

Booth School of Business

Master's in Business Administration

University of Chicago


Chicago, IL

Booth graces our rankings as the best and arguably the most relevant business school in the country. Offering all program types except for an online MBA degree, Booth also has STEM course offerings such as the following:

Types of Aid: Merit-based scholarships, Civic Scholars Program, Yellow Ribbon Program, Direct Unsubsidized Loan, Direct PLUS Loan, private student loans.

Admission Requirements: Secure the following documents to start your application process: a completed undergraduate degree, GMAT/EA/GRE report, transcript, academic recognitions, professional certifications, resume, essays, and references. The application fee is $250.

Post-MBA Prospects: You stand at a greater advantage to be employed in any industry and can command a high starting salary with a Booth diploma, which is a proven credential. Its vast network of successful alumni is also highly rated because of its responsiveness and impact.

Booth’s MBA Class of 2022 can attest to the desirability of its graduate degree for both employment and entrepreneurship purposes, too. Nearly 97% received job offers within three months post-graduation, while 96.3% received their job offers.

More impressive, more than 77% attributed securing their jobs to Booth-facilitated methods, from on-campus recruitment to job board connections. Their median starting base salary ($175,000), among the highest in the country, meant a faster return on investment. Booth MBA alumni find personal and professional success in the consulting, investment banking, private equity, and management industries.

Discover MBA Programs at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business.

Haas School of Business

Master's in Business Administration

University of California – Berkeley


Berkeley, CA

UCB Haas is not part of the M7, so it might be surprising for some to see this school rank highly on our list. Though it doesn’t have an online MBA degree yet in its offerings, it has an extensive list of course concentrations at 24. It has produced five economists who all won the Nobel Prize for Economics and are currently part of the school’s faculty.

Types of Aid: Shapansky Grant, federal loans, private loans, international student loans, MBA degree employer assistance, Veterans Benefits

Admission Requirements: Applications are done online and require the submission of all academic transcripts, resumes, GMAT, GRE, or E.A. reports, among others. A video interview is also required. The application fee is $200.

Post-MBA Prospects: Haas graduates find substantial careers in the fields of consulting, entrepreneurship, financial management, healthcare management, organizational behavior, marketing, real estate, technology, social impact or public policy, and in the renewable energy industry or sustainability management.

Of the 320 students in Haas’ MBA Class of 2022, 255 students (32.8%) accepted job offers within three months post-graduation. Their median base annual salary of $155,000 is among the highest in the country, as is their $33,418 mean sign-on bonus.

Explore the MBA degree programs at the University of California Berkeley Haas School of Business.

Kellogg School of Management

Master's in Business Administration

Northwestern University


Evanston, IL

Renowned for its marketing forte, Kellogg also offers core specialties in technology, public policy, and not-for-profit management for those interested in sustainability, analysis and statistics, and healthcare. Its MBA degree programs come in full-time, part-time, and EMBA options. This school is also renowned for its teamwork-centric teachings, particularly in the areas of management, corporate strategy and leadership.

Types of Aid: Merit scholarships, Federal Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans, Federal Direct Graduate PLUS Loans, G.I. and Veterans Benefits

Admission Requirements: The Kellogg evaluation committee requires the submission of an application form, an essay – both written and in video, transcripts, a GMAT or GRE score, a resume, letters of recommendation, and an interview report. The application fee is $250.

Post-MBA Prospects: Kellogg has produced MBA graduates who have pursued careers in various industries such as technology, consulting, retail, and financial management. Its top employers are Apple and Microsoft, Accenture and Deloitte, Nike, PepsiCo, Proctor and Gamble, Goldman Sachs, and Barclays.

Kellogg’s MBA Class of 2022, who started their two-year journey during the global pandemic, benefited from their excellent business education combined with their excellence and persistence. The impressive results are evident in their high demand, with 97% accepting job offers during the crucial three-month post-graduation period.

Their $165,000 median base salary combined with their $30,000 median signing bonus are proof of the value of their MBA degree. Kellogg takes pride in the useful tools and resources offered by its Career Management Center in boosting its students’ and alumni’s career advancement opportunities.

Explore the MBA catalog at Northwestern University’s Kellogg SOM.

Stanford University Graduate School of Business

Stanford University Graduate School of Business

Palo Alto, CA

Stanford GSB is one of the best examples of why prestige still works. Currently, it only offers the traditional full-time MBA degree but boasts a wide array of concentrations from technology to ethics. Its ethics department is so strong, that 18% of its 2019 class now hold socially impactful positions in sustainability-focused firms. Stanford is also known to be a start-up haven located in Silicon Valley, with 46% of its female graduates (Class 2022) either launching new ventures or joining startups.

Types of Aid: Full-Tuition Fellowships, Knight-Hennessy Scholars Program, Summer Stipends (exclusive to students who’ll be spending their summers interning in socially responsible companies, public office, or in entrepreneurship), Yellow Ribbon Program, Employer Sponsorship, Federal Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loan, Federal Direct Graduate PLUS Loan, Refinancing Student Loans

Admission Requirements: As with any B-school, there are three rounds of applications. MBA applicants can simultaneously apply to both the MBA degree and the one-year MSx programs if they’re still undecided at the time of application. You only need to pay $275 for the application fee, which will apply to both applications. If you’re eligible for both programs, you can only choose one track.

Post-MBA Prospects: For MBA graduates, aside from being a renowned start-up hub, Stanford has also produced successful investment bankers and is the top school to produce future private equity professionals, surpassing Wharton, Booth, Columbia, and Harvard.

Stanford’s MBA Class of 2022 continued the tradition of excellence in business, with 93% of its job seekers being offered jobs within three months post-graduation. Approximately 85% accepted their job offers, proof that Stanford’s MBA alumni are persistent in finding employment opportunities that align with their qualifications and passions. The Class of 2022’s $175,000 median base salary was considered among the highest in Stanford’s history. 

See what MBA life is like at this academic hub in Silicon Valley: Stanford GSB.

Darden School of Business

Master's in Business Administration

University of Virginia


Charlottesville, VA

Darden is one of the surprises on this list. Usually a top 20 school, it shot up to the ranks thanks to its high scores for quality of learning experience. It has an extensive list of experiential education opportunities, both global and domestic, as well as area and industry-focused electives to harness an industry specialization. It’s also highly rated by students themselves.

Types of Aid: Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan, Federal Graduate Plus Loan, Prodigy Finance Loan

Admission Requirements: Aside from the 3-round application process, an early action application is also available, where several interview slots are up for grabs, unlike in the invitation-only 3-round application. A transcript, GMAT or GRE score, resume, letter of recommendation, and the $250 application fee are required.

Post-MBA Prospects: A Darden diploma can take you in any industry. From consulting companies like Ernst & Young to consumer goods and services, to retail giants like Amazon and Walmart, tech companies like Google, Samsung, and Microsoft, and so on. Darden graduates have even landed positions in a long line of financial companies both domestically and abroad (i.e., Wells Fargo, Goldman Sachs, Credit Suisse, Deutsche Bank, etc.).

According to UVA’s Darden School of Business Career Center, Darden’s full-time MBA Class of 2022‘s employment outcomes have broken records! The largest class in its history, the Class of 2022 received the highest base salaries – $175,000 (median) and $157,090 (mean) – and the highest job offers (98%) and accepted offers (90%), as well as highest three-month post-graduation employment (96%). 

Explore career diversity at the University of Virginia – Darden School of Business.

Tuck School of Business

Master's in Business Administration

Dartmouth College


Hanover, NH

Tuck is one of the three colleges in this list that only offers a full-time MBA, and yet still ranks high thanks to its long-standing pedigree as an Ivy School. Not only that, its breadth of alumni connections, which is one of the few remaining advantages traditional MBAs have, is renowned for being tight-knit, supportive, responsive, and impactful.

Types of Aid: Direct Unsubsidized Loan, Direct Graduate Plus Loan, Tuck 5 Percent Loans and Tuck Educational Loan Fund (TELF), Dartmouth Educational Loan Corporation (DELC) Loans

Admission Requirements: All the information regarding documentary requirements can be found here. These include the usual forms and requirements like the application form, transcripts, GMAT or GRE scores, essays, letters of recommendation, and a resume. The application fee is $250.

Post-MBA Prospects: With its long list of MBA degree concentrations, it is no surprise that a Tuck diploma will open the gate to various industries, even the media industry.

Both domestic and international Tuck’s MBA Class of 2022 alumni reported impressive job offers and job acceptance rates three months after graduation – 98% and 96%, respectively. Consulting, financial services and technology, as well as the healthcare, pharmaceutical and biotech industries, were their top employers. 

Their median base salaries also increased year-to-year, with the Class of 2022 enjoying a median total compensation of $205,000 or a 13.88% increase from $180,000 in 2021. More than 93% also received signing bonuses, with the median bonus being $30,000.

Ready to be “tucked in?” Explore Dartmouth Tuck’s MBA programs.

Harvard Business School

Master's in Business Administration

Boston, MA

HBS tops our list for the MBA degree program with the most concentrations at 26. Its lack of program flexibility, though, as it only offers the traditional, full-time program puts it at a significant disadvantage against other B-schools. Still, our list shows that despite this, applicants would still choose to wear crimson and grace its halls because of the school’s robust entrepreneurial-focused curriculum, its extensive specialization offerings, and the span of its alumni network.

Types of Aid: John C. Phelan Forward Fellowship, George Leadership Fellowship, Horace W. Goldsmith Fellowship, Junior Achievement Fellowship, The Robert S. Kaplan Life Sciences Fellowship

Admissions Requirements: Requirements are to be submitted online and should include the following: transcripts, GMAT or GRE results, an essay, two letters of recommendation, a resume, and the $250 application fee which can be paid via credit card only.

Post-MBA Prospects: HBS has recruiting partnerships with 600 companies from various industries, which every alumnus can take advantage of. Records show that most of its graduates find themselves in the financial services or consulting industries, with the technology industry coming third.

Harvard’s MBA Class of 2022 followed the tradition with most graduates taking jobs in finance, consulting and technology; some of the highest earners are involved in private equity. The median base salary was $175,000 (i.e., a 16% increase from 2021), while the signing bonus was $30,000. Even more impressive is that their reported performance bonus was $175,000 – meaning Harvard’s MBA alumni can make about $400,000 a year after earning their graduate degree.

Are you Crimson enough? Learn more about Harvard Business School’s vast on-campus MBA opportunities.

Sloan School of Management

Master's in Business Administration

Massachusetts Institute of Technology


Cambridge, MA

Sloan places a high premium on a student’s ability to innovate, analyze, and be globally immersed. It only offers full-time MBA degrees and EMBA programs with a moderately extensive list of course concentrations, which includes in-demand areas like technology, MIS, and quantitative analysis. It prides itself on having launched several companies or microeconomies in developing countries.

Types of Aid: Federal Student Aid, Aker Scholarship, Kennedy Memorial Trust Scholarships, McKinsey Award, Yellow Ribbon G.I. Education Enhancement Program

Admissions Requirements: Documentary requirements for application include a cover letter, a one-page resume, a video statement, one letter of recommendation, the organizational structure of the company you’re working for, a list of references, transcripts, GMAT or GRE results, and the $250 application fee.

Post-MBA Prospects: Career opportunities locally and abroad are abundant for Sloan MBA graduates, thanks to the school’s local and global reach and partnerships with companies like Boeing, Pfizer, Facebook, Google, etc. Its alumni have successfully launched various companies like Pillpack, Teradyne, Gartner, etc. The substantial number of Venture Capitalist (VC) firms in Cambridge makes Sloan also a good breeding ground for start-ups.

MIT Sloan’s MBA Class of 2022 started their business education journey in challenging times but persevered and achieved stellar results in the process! Most have made and continue to make significant progress in their careers and industry impact across diverse sectors. Of the job-seeking alumni, 96.6% received offers within the three-month post-graduation window, with jobs in the consulting, technology, finance and healthcare/pharmaceutical/biotech industries being the most common.

The median base salary in 2022 was $165,000, while the median signing bonus was $30,000; the majority of graduates also reported receiving other types of compensation (e.g., equity and stocks). 

Learn more about the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s MBA programs at the Sloan School of Management.

Foster School of Business

Master's in Business Administration

University of Washington


Seattle, WA

Foster School of Business is primarily lauded for its program flexibility, which includes an online MBA program offering. Its partnerships with global companies in Seattle, such as Bain and McKinsey, result in quality experiential education for its students and the high employability of its graduates. Its Applied Strategy Project, a small group of MBA program freshmen, tackles a real business challenge within a company.

Types of Aid: Forté Fellowship, The Consortium Fellowship, Ernest I.J. Aguilar Endowed MBA Fellowship, Federal Direct Graduate PLUS Loan (GPLUS)

Admission Requirements: The application is done online and will require the following documents: the online profile, two essays, a resume, letters of recommendation, a GMAT or GRE report, transcripts, a video interview, and the $85 application fee.

Post-MBA Prospects: Foster’s MBA Class of 2022 benefited from access to a wide array of career development services that empower them toward professional success. Their employment rate – 99% employed just three months after earning their MBA degree – combined with an average annual starting salary of $147,340 and an average signing bonus of $40,657 make it more impressive.

Learn more about the MBA programs at the University of Washington – Foster School of Business.

Yale School of Management

Master's in Business Administration

New Haven, CT

Yale has a solid reputation for producing graduates with a strong sense of social awareness, corporate responsibility, and ethics. Ethics is a course offered by its MBA programs. This strong foundation in ethics and business sense was embodied by two of its alumni from the 2016 class who founded a start-up that oversees the safe handling and transport of organs for transplant purposes, particularly intestines.

Types of Aid: Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan, Federal Graduate PLUS Loan

Admissions Requirements: The following documents are required for application: completed application form, GMAT or GRE test scores, transcripts, letters of recommendation, essays, resume, and a video interview. The standard application fee is $250. Applicants whose annual income falls below $20,000 need only to pay $175.

Post-MBA Prospects: For Yale’s full-time MBA Class of 2022, more than 96% of its alumni received job offers three months after graduation, and their median annual salary was $160,000 with $30,000 in median signing bonus. More than 46% were involved in consulting jobs, while 15 alumni started their own businesses, a testament to the real-world applicability of its world-class MBA education. Such is the strong emphasis on social impact that nearly 5% worked at nonprofit organizations.

Reach the business career of your dreams with Yale School of Management’s MBA programs.

Additional Info: How to Create the Best Mentoring Relationship with Your Professors

Johnson Graduate School of Management

Master's in Business Administration

Cornell University


Ithaca, NY

While it only offers full-time MBA programs and EMBA programs, JGSM’s STEM MBA program has started to gain traction. Its quaint location is also one of the main draws of the school.

Types of Aid: Johnson Endowed and Annual Scholarships, Forté Fellows Program, ROMBA Fellowship, Lester B. Knight M.Eng./MBA Scholarship, Peter and Stephanie Nolan Veterans Scholarship, GI Bill® Assistance

Admission Requirements: The following are the application requirements: transcripts, resume, essays, GMAT, or GRE scores. Prior or current work experience is not required. The application fee is $200.

Post-MBA Prospects: Such are the sought-after qualities of Johnson’s MBA Class of 2022 where 96% were hired in high-paying jobs within three months after earning the graduate degree. Their $155,040 average base salary was also 11% higher than that earned by alumni of the Class of 2021!

Johnson’s students make a positive and profound impact in numerous industries, from construction to entertainment/media, but most are in the financial services industry, consulting, and technology.

Learn more about Cornell University JGSM’s MBA offerings.

Ross School of Business

Master's in Business Administration

The University of Michigan – Ann Arbor


Ann Arbor, MI

Ross is known for cultivating an innovative attitude in its students. MBA programs are offered in all four formats, while specialized MBA tracks in technology, quantitative analysis, and manufacturing technologies are also offered.

Types of Aid: Tauber Institute for Global Operations scholarship, Erb Institute scholarship, Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan, Federal Direct Grad PLUS Loan, Short-term Tuition Reimbursement Loans, Chapter 33/Post-9/11 GI Bill Program

Admissions Requirement: After selecting a deadline, the following documents are then required to apply for the program: transcripts, GMAT or GRE scores, resume, essays, referrals, video interview, and the $200 application fee. A team exercise participation may also be asked during the application process.

Post-MBA Prospects: Amazon and Deloitte are among the top companies that consistently hire a substantial number of Ross graduates. About half of its alumni are in the technology and consulting fields.

Ross’ full-time MBA Class of 2022 has set new records in employment metrics, too – a testament to Michigan’s commitment to academic excellence and career success for its alumni. Of its job-seeking alumni, 99% received job offers within the three-month post-graduation window, and most (98.4%) accepted their job offers.

The Class of 2022 alumni also reported an increase in their median salary package ($192,270) and median salary ($165,000) from 2021’s salaries, aside from their $30,000 average signing bonus. Such impressive employment outcomes are attributed to Ross’ excellent combination of didactic learning, hands-on experiences, and career development services.

Explore the University of Michigan – Ann Arbor’s MBA programs at Ross School of Business.

Anderson School of Management

Master's in Business Administration

University of California Los Angeles


Los Angeles, CA

UCLA Anderson exudes the same positivity the West Coast is known for, along with other program characteristics that make this b-school a suitable and worthy choice: a high premium on diversity, sustainability, social causes, and entrepreneurship.

Types of Aid: Fellowships (merit-based, donor, external, consortium, Nozawa, Forte, and Romba), Federal Direct Unsubsidized Student Loan, Federal Direct Graduate PLUS Loan, GI Bill, Teaching Assistance, outside funding, and more with eligibility requirements.

Admission Requirements: Applications are to be submitted online. An undergraduate bachelor’s degree is a requirement. The following are the documentary requirements for application: transcript, work experience (resume), GMAT or GRE scores, letters of recommendation, essays, and an interview. The application fee is $200.

Post-MBA Prospects: The majority of its graduates are employed in the technology sector in management consulting roles. Its top-rated career services center, the Parker Career Management Center, has partnerships with top-tier firms from various industries – from tech to healthcare to finance to entertainment media – such as Amazon, Google, Bain, Cisco, Citi, Comcast NBC Universal, Sony, etc. It has successfully placed its students in successful internships that eventually translated to job offers, with an average annual salary of 122K.

Anderson’s MBA Class of 2022 isn’t an exception to Anderson’s success in promoting the future of business through, in its own words, the next business model and the next wave of technology. Furthermore, more than 72% of the Class of 2022 reported benefiting from Anderson-facilitated resources in landing full-time employment. Their annual median base salary ($145,000) and signing bonus ($30,000) are at par with the best MBA programs’ employment outcomes.

Explore the breadth of Anderson’s MBA programs and the renowned Parker Career Management Center.

Smith School of Business

Master's in Business Administration

University of Maryland – College Park


College Park, MD

Smith prides itself as one of the few B-schools that exudes a strong entrepreneurial focus in its curricula, coupled with substantial experiential learning. All four modes of MBA program delivery are offered, plus an EMBA in China. Its areas of focus are consultancy, general management, finance, and marketing.

Types of Aid: Dean Scholarship, Smith Scholarship, Dean’s Fellowship, Smith Fellowship, Double Terp Award, The Forté Foundation Fellowship, Management Leadership for Tomorrow Fellowship, Reaching Out MBA Fellowship, JumpStart Advisory Group Fellowship, Graduate Assistantships.

Admission Requirements: GMAT or GRE scores, transcripts, resume, and letters of recommendation. In case an undergraduate bachelor’s degree or GMAT/GRE scores are not available, applicants are then required to take quantitative classes, such as calculus, before the start of MBA studies. The application fee is $75.

Post-MBA Prospects: Smith School Of Business graduates gained a 100% salary increase upon employment, and internship applications are consistently accepted at a flawless rate as well. Most graduates are employed in consultancy, marketing, and sales positions in the financial services industry. A good number of graduates are employed in the consultancy, technology, and consumer goods industries as well.

Furthermore, Smith’s MBA Class of 2022’s career outcomes reinforce Smith’s reputation for excellence in the classroom and the employment landscape! The Class of 2002’s alumni reported impressive compensation, with their average total compensation at $147,550 (i.e., base salary, signing bonus and others).

Earn a top-notch MBA degree at UMD Smith School of Business.

Columbia Business School

Master's in Business Administration

New York, NY

Columbia is known for its finance forte; after all, it is located in New York City. But it also offers concentrations in healthcare management, not-for-profit management, technology, quantitative analysis, statistics, and research, along with the traditional specialized offerings. It offers both full-time MBA and EMBA programs.

Types of Aid: The Laidlaw Foundation Scholarship, Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loans

Admission Requirements: The following are required when applying to the program: transcripts, GPA report, GMAT/EA/GRE report, essays, letters of recommendation, interview, and of course, the completed application form. The application fee is $250.

Post-MBA Prospects:

Columbia’s MBA program graduates are recognized for their impactful contributions to a wide range of industries, from finance, technology and business management to sustainability, social enterprise and nonprofit work. The Ivy League university provides exceptional career development-related support services, such as networking events, on-campus recruitment, and job postings, which contribute to the success of its MBA graduates. 

Columbia’s MBA Class of 2022 reported exceptional employment outcomes that attest to Columbia’s strong success in this area. The majority of graduates received (95%) and accepted (92%) job offers within three months after graduation. Their $175,000 median base salary was also among the highest on this list.

Learn more about Columbia Business School’s MBA programs.

Tepper School of Business

Tepper School of Business

Carnegie Mellon University


Pittsburgh, PA

Tepper is one of the few B-schools that actualized the bridging of business management and technology. Its analytics concentration has a focus on big data and predictive modeling, and these concepts are infused into traditional MBA program cores such as marketing, economics, and finance, turning business management into real science. It stays ahead of the game by introducing A.I. and robotics, thus allowing MBA students to collaborate with the engineers, data scientists, and software specialists from its parent university.

Types of Aid: Summer grants, federal loan repayments, Federal Direct Graduate PLUS Loan

Admission Requirements: To apply for the MBA programs at Tepper School, you need to submit a completed application form, a resume, one essay, one letter of recommendation, unofficial transcripts, and the GMAT (preferred) or GRE report. Upon admission, official transcripts will be required for submission. In the absence of a GMAT/GRE report due to the current pandemic, applicants must do the following instead:

1) pass the Tepper Mathematics Prep course,

2) attend Tepper’s Math Skills Workshop, and

3) attain a GPA of 3.0 in their first semester of MBA program coursework.

The application fee of $200.

Post-MBA Prospects: The 2022 MBA Report is a testament to Tepper’s commitment to and consistency in contributing to its alumni’s professional success. Nearly all (97%) of Tepper’s MBA Class of 2022 graduates received job offers within three months of their graduation, of which 96% accepted their job offers. Their median salary – at $148,000 – is also an increase of 8% from the Class of 2021’s median salary. Their popular places of employment are consulting firms, the technology industry and the financial services industry.

See Carnegie Mellon University – Tepper School of Business’ MBA programs.

Jindal School of Management

Master's in Business Administration

University of Texas – Dallas


Dallas, TX

JSOM offers all four modalities of MBA delivery. More than that, its MBA program student population boasts of diversity, as 36% of its enrollees come from different countries. Its MIS and Supply Chain Management course concentrations are also STEM-designated.

Types of Aid: JSOM Graduate Scholarships, Graduate Assistantship

Admissions Requirement: The following are required for screening purposes: Completed application form, GMAT (preferred) or GRE scores, unofficial transcripts (official copies will be required upon admission), resume, letters of recommendation, and essays, all of which have to be emailed to mba@utdallas.edu. Don’t forget to specify the program you’re applying to. The application fee is $50 for domestic students and $100 for international applicants.

Post-MBA Prospects: Every MBA student is guaranteed access to Jindal’s wide range of exceptional student support and career development services. The Career Management Center, for example, offers personalized tools, connections and networking events for this purpose. No wonder, then, that Jindal’s MBA Class of 2022 enjoyed an average annual salary of $124,000 and were valued managers in large corporations such as Amazon, Dell, and FedEx.

Get information on the University of Texas – Dallas JSOM’s MBA program.

Scheller College of Business

Master's in Business Administration

Georgia Institute of Technology


Atlanta, GA

Georgia Tech’s Scheller College of Business is located in the heart of Atlanta’s tech hub, so it’s no wonder it excels in the areas of production and operations management, business analytics, and financial technology. With its parent university being a leading national technical research institution, it can offer an array of technology and sustainability courses that are infused with social and business education concepts and applications.

Types of Aid: Unsubsidized Direct Student Loans, Direct Parent PLUS Loans, Graduate Direct PLUS Loans, Perkins Loans

Admission Requirements: The following are the documentary requirements for the application process: two required essays and one optional essay, a resume, GMAT or GRE scores, and letters of recommendation. The application fee is $95 for domestic applicants and $105 for their international counterparts, but the application fee is waived for U.S. military servicemen, Management Leadership for Tomorrow (MLT) Fellows, and Forté MBA Launch participants, among other eligible applicants.

Post-MBA Prospects: Scheller’s MBA degree program graduates are known for their excellence in business, technology and other competitive fields. Known for their technical and transferable skills, particularly their creative thinking, analytical thinking, and collaborative skills, these professionals are sought-after for leadership positions. 

The numbers speak of these facts, too! The MBA Class of 2022 has a remarkable 100% employment rate and enjoyed well-paying jobs with $136,819 in average base pay.

Know more about the Georgia Institute of Technology – Scheller’s MBA programs.

Wharton Business School

Master's in Business Administration

University of Pennsylvania


Philadelphia, PA

Another surprise listing here, this time, in the fall of one of the elites. Wharton has long been regarded as one of the top MBA program schools in the U.S., and we don’t disagree. One of the significant gains of being a Wharton graduate is the vast network of alumni and the increase in salary its diploma has been known to give its graduates.

So, what brought it down then? First, is its limited program flexibility – no part-time nor online MBA offerings, second is its lack of extensive STEM courses, though it offers data analytics and e-commerce concentrations. Despite the fall in the rankings, its reputation is still valuable to applicants and employers, thanks to its renowned finance and entrepreneurship cores.

Types of Aid: Yellow Ribbon Program, Wharton Fellowship Program (includes nine fellowships).

Admission Requirements: The following documents are required for screening: background information, two essays, transcripts, two letters of recommendation, GMAT or GRE score, resume, and the application fee of $275.

Post-MBA Prospects: Every MBA student receives extensive and exceptional career development support from the Career Management Team, which establishes and maintains partnerships with more than 650 companies for job-related purposes for its students. Graduates are in high demand, too, thanks to their ability to add value to their organizations.

The tradition of excellent value continued with the full-time MBA Class of 2022! Nearly 99% of graduates who reported looking for a job received job offers within three months after graduation, of which more than 96% accepted their job offers.

While the majority (74.3%) reported seeking employment, the rest returned to their companies, started their own companies, and continued their advanced education. Their median salary was $175,000, and their popular functions were in consulting/strategy, private equity/venture capital, and investment banking.

Learn more about the timeless value of a Wharton MBA education.

Stern School of Business

Master's in Business Administration

New York University


New York, NY

Stern is renowned for its high pedigree and a high number of MBA program graduates in financial roles. It is also a top-notch research hub, as SSRN hails Stern research projects as the most downloaded over the past year and is also ranked second-best in research productivity.

Types of Aid: Tuition remission, teaching fellowships, graduate fellowships, Direct Unsubsidized Loan, Graduate PLUS Loan

Admission Requirements: The following documents are required for the application process: GMAT/EA/GRE scores, transcript, essays, letters of recommendation, personal information, and of course, the application fee of $250.

Post-MBA Prospects: Stern MBA graduates are exceptional in ways that matter to employers, entrepreneurs and investors alike! Excellence combined with innovation, belief in the social power and responsibility of business, and IQ plus EQ make them desirable among top corporations, such as Deloitte, Johnson & Johnson, and Warner Bros.

Stern’s full-time MBA Class of 2022 embodies the Stern ideals of embracing and leading change, too, and it shows in their employment outcomes. Their median salary of $170,000 and median signing bonus of $35,000 are among the highest on this list, too. 

Earn your MBA degree right at the heart of the financial district at NYU’s Stern School of Business.

McCombs School of Business

Master's in Business Administration

University of Texas – Austin


Austin, TX

McCombs is the best place to be involved in the intersection of business and technology. Texas is one of the largest global economies because 10% of the Fortune 500 companies have their headquarters here, which includes industries like energy, aeronautics, healthcare, and technology. The inexistence of a state income tax also means that MBA program students can enjoy affordable tuition while being part of the business technology transformation, which is rare nowadays.

Types of Aid: Federal Loans, Private Loans, Veterans Benefits

Admissions Requirements: McCombs School of Business requires applicants to submit a GMAT/GRE report, transcript as proof of a conferred bachelor’s degree, resume as proof of work experience and other professional recognition, essays, letters of recommendation, personal information, and the application fee of $200.

Post-MBA Prospects: McCombs ensures that its MBA program graduates achieve professional success through support services offered by its dedicated Career Management and Corporate Relations (CMCR) team. Graduates also benefit from an extensive and engaged global alumni network.

The employment outcomes for its full-time MBA Class of 2022 speak for its continued success! Of its graduates seeking employment, 95% received job offers within the three-month post-graduation window, of which 93% accepted their job offers. Their average base salary – $144,564 – represented an 11% increase from the 2021 figure. The most popular workplaces are in the technology industry, followed by the financial services and real estate industries.

Earn your MBA at the University of Texas-McCombs School of Business.

Fuqua School of Business

Master's in Business Administration

Duke University


Durham, NC

Since Tim Cook took over as Apple CEO, the tech giant has consistently hired Fuqua graduates yearly. It may be loyalty or only because the school is renowned for its general management MBA program specialization. Cook, a Fuqua alumnus, bucked the tradition where tech companies were led by tech people and general managers were mostly found in retail and consumer goods companies.

Types of Aid: Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan, Federal Direct Graduate PLUS Loan, Yellow Ribbon Program, Rex and Ellen Adams Loan Assistance Program (loan amnesty)

Admission Requirements: The following are the required documents for the application process: Personal information, resume (although post-undergraduate work is not required, an undergraduate degree – any degree – is required), transcripts, GMAT or GRE score, essays and letters of recommendation. All these should be submitted electronically via Fuqua’s online application portal. You’ll need to register to acquire an enterprise I.D. (EID). The application fee is $225.

Post-MBA Prospects: Fuqua regularly conducts career symposia, conferences, or its Distinguished Speakers Series (DSS) that connects its experienced and renowned alumni with the current MBA class.

For Fuqua’s daytime MBA Class of 2022, their job prospects have turned into well-paying leadership positions with $160,055 in median salary (i.e., a 14% jump from the 2021 median salary). Graduates are also in strong demand among employers with 98% of graduates receiving at least one job offer within three months post-graduation. The 98% job acceptance rate means Fuqua’s MBA graduates usually get their desired jobs, many of whom are in the consulting industry. 

These impressive numbers aren’t surprising considering that aside from excellent graduate business education, Fuqua maintains strong partnerships with corporations across diverse industries. Examples include Amazon, Bank of America, and Google. Fuqua also makes strong investments in its career support services through its Career Management Center.

Learn more about Duke’s MBA programs and its newly rolled-out sustainability and STEM tracks.

Kenan-Flagler Business School

Master's in Business Administration

University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill


Chapel Hill, NC

Kenan-Flagler is a pioneer in STEM-designated MBA tracks and online MBA program delivery (ranked no.1 by U.S. News’ best online MBAs list). It focuses on leadership while maintaining quality teaching through small class sizes, which students greatly appreciate.

Types of Aid: Subsidies for N.C. residents, Federal Direct Graduate PLUS, Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loans, private loans

Admission Requirements: Prepare the following to get started with your application: basic personal info, resume, transcripts, GMAT/GRE report, essays, and letters of recommendation. An application fee of $150 is required, but this is currently waived until July 13, 2020.

Post-MBA Prospects: Kenan-Flagler’s proprietary career assessment test, CareerLeader™, provides information to students on which industry they fit the best. MBA students also receive stellar career development guidance and support from career and leadership coaches whose primary responsibilities include working with recruiters and employers. In fact, companies conduct on-campus recruitment activities for both internship and full-time job opportunities. 

Kenan-Flagler’s 2022 MBA employment statistics are proof that its business education and career development services are working to its MBA graduates’ advantage! For its MBA Class of 2022, 96% received job offers within three months after graduation while 95% accepted their job offers. Their average base salary ($133,517) and average signing bonus ($30,359) are proof of their desirability among employers, particularly their valuable contributions to their organizations.

While its MBA graduates are employed in diverse industries, their most popular workplaces are in the consulting, financial services, real estate, and technology industries.

Enroll in an MBA program at UNC’s Kenan-Flagler Business School.

Kelley Business School

Master's in Business AdministrationKelley Business School

Indiana University


Bloomington, IN

Aside from its long-standing close ties with Procter & Gamble, Kelley Business School is known to produce MBA program graduates whose fortes are in finance, marketing, and leadership. It’s just ironic that for a business school that prides itself in having a leadership core, it doesn’t have an EMBA offering. However, it’s keeping up with the competition by offering STEM majors in its MBA programs.

Types of Aid: Federal loans, Dean’s fellowships, Forte fellowships, Romba fellowship, Professional Student Employee Program, Global Fellowships, Kelley School of Business Merit Fellowship

Admission Requirements: All applications will have to go through the Indiana University Graduate Centralized Application System (CAS). An account must be created to proceed and submit these documents: GMAT/GRE report, transcripts, resume, essays, and one referral. The application fee is $75.

Post-MBA Prospects: Since Kelley Business School graduates are top management and marketing material, they make ideal candidates for the not-so-distant neighbor and long-time partner P&G. Besides the consumer market, other job prospects await graduates, who simply need to consult their career services office. Kelly, after all, is the third-best career service center among MBA programs.

Kelley’s MBA Class of 2022 will tell you that, indeed, Kelley’s exceptional business education combined with its stellar career development services contributed to their high-paying leadership positions. Their mean base salary ($136,400) and mean signing bonus ($29,000) are proof of it. Consulting, finance/accounting and general management are their most preferred/popular functions. 

Explore how Kelley Business School brings out the business leader in you through its MBA programs.

Marriott School of Business

Master's in Business Administration

Brigham Young University


Provo, UT

BYU is owned and operated by the members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Its graduate school arm, Marriott School of Business (MSB), offers full-time MBA and EMBA programs, which cost almost the same at $48K. Its EMBA tuition is the most affordable on our list. Marriott produces graduates who are service-oriented, socially aware and focused on entrepreneurship, management, and sustainability.

It is the only school on our list that offers a concentration on social innovation. In addition, it also offers courses on analytics and information systems, keeping up with business technology transformations.

Types of Aids: Cardon International Sponsorship (CIS), Eccles Scholars Award, Hawes Scholar Award, Single-Parent Scholarship, Stoddard Prize, Williams Entrepreneurial Leadership Award, Veterans Benefits, Direct Unsubsidized Loans, Direct Grad PLUS Loans, BYU MSB Loan, Second-year Assistantships, Summer Internships

Admission Requirements: For the screening process, applicants must submit GMAT or GRE scores, transcripts, an undergraduate degree, an Ecclesiastical endorsement, two letters of recommendation, a resume, an essay, and the willingness to abide by the BYU Honor Code. There’s no mention of an application fee on the school’s website. MSB accepts non-Mormon applicants.

Post-MBA Prospects: The majority of MSB graduates forge careers in marketing roles, where they earn an annual average of $107K. The technology sector employs the most significant population of MSB alumni at 40%. Its top five employers are all tech giants – Amazon, Adobe, Intel, and Dell – except for consultancy and auditing firm PwC, which is the fourth top employer for MSB graduates.

Like all the alumni before them, Marriott’s MBA Class of 2022 received excellent business education underlined by BYU’s philosophy of applying their knowledge and skills for the service of their fellowmen and society. Indeed, BYU’s emphasis on the power of service enables them to make a positive impact in whatever industries they are in. Most of them are in marketing and product management, operations/production, consulting, finance, and general management. 

Learn more about BYU’s MBA Programs at Marriott Business School.

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s the difference between MBA and EMBA?

Master's in Business Administration

A Master’s in Business Administration degree program is the next step for academic advancement that significantly impacts your career.

Designed to take your core general management skills to the next level and explore specialized knowledge in Marketing, Strategy, Finance, Ethics, Entrepreneurship, and other facets of business.

Typically, MBAs are full-time academic programs with participants having at least three years of work experience. There isn’t an age limit for earning your MBA degree; the most important factor is the right MBA program from your chosen school. You’ll need a genuine interest in and commitment to the rigorous program.

On the other hand, Executive MBA programs (EMBAs) cater to more experienced students, although it is not exclusive to a specific age group. Executives who have worked for companies (often more than one) may have acquired what they need to perform their duties, but need the academic advancement and training to navigate other skills and competencies relating to their current position or a potential promotion they aim for.

Both MBA and Executive MBA programs (EMBA) allow students to be financially backed by their companies, and therefore often seek advancement rather than change careers. EMBA students are mostly required to continue working while earning their degree, which is why they often attend the programs on a part-time basis or as distance learners.

What’s next for me after earning my MBA?

Master's in Business Administration

MBA programs are often considered a way to learn new skills or update them with the intention of using these competencies for career advancement.

Finding your role after graduation is a critical decision every MBA student must consider from the time you file your application for an MBA program. MBA students who are middle managers consider MBA programs an advantage in integrating leadership and managerial skills as they assume senior positions in the future.

If you’re changing careers, make sure your target position keeps you well-paid and offers satisfactory employment. Think about how fast you are able to transition as you become equipped with the competencies of an MBA graduate.

MBA programs deal with numerous applied projects and are skills-centered, making them extremely useful in the labor market. That said, your academic journey will also consist of developing superior research skills. Your Master of Business Administration career opportunity could focus on the research field, and land you international work experience.

How will an MBA alumni network help me in my career?

Master's in Business Administration

When you complete your MBA program or EMBA program, you become automatically registered in your university’s MBA program’s alumni network.

Regardless of whether its members are new graduates or part of the previous generations, the network works to share MBA program insights, job updates, career recommendations, and feedback from your fellow MBA degree holders. You can always include this network in your career profile.

Now more than ever, keeping the right professional contacts and setting collaborations with colleagues is critical to keeping you in tune with your skills, acquiring other competencies, and learning from your network. Engaging with your Master of Business Administration program’s alumni network is a way to stay in touch with fellow graduates and stay relevant in your industry.

Key Takeaways

Additional Resources:

We’re certain of one thing—your search for more information on picking the best graduate degree or school landed you here. Let our experts help guide your through the decision making process with thoughtful content written by experts.