10 Best Business Schools in the World 2024-25
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The best business schools in the world help drive the world economy, as they produce corporate leaders and entrepreneurs. MBA abroad graduates are specially taught to handle challenges and run big businesses successfully. The article will help you reach a decision regarding which business school should you opt for and will provide details regarding the individual rankings of the top business schools in the world offering business and management courses.
Top Ranking MBA Colleges in the World 2024-25
Below provided is a list of the best business schools in the world with their respective rankings:
| Top B-Schools in the World | THE World University Rankings 2024 by Subject: Business |
|---|---|
| #1 | |
| University of Pennsylvania: Wharton | #1 |
| Northwestern University, Kellogg School of Management, US |
#3 |
| University of Chicago: Booth |
#3 |
| #5 | |
| Harvard University | #6 |
| New York University | #7 |
| University of California at Berkeley: Haas | #7 |
| Yale University:Yale School of Management | #7 |
The above-given rankings are dynamic and are subject to change each year based on the institution and the marks the B-school gets.
Popular B-Schools Abroad: Details
Check out the top business schools in the world and why you should consider pursuing management programs from these schools. Based on parameters of return on investment, alumni outcomes, diversity, employability, and entrepreneurship, we have given a list of the best MBA colleges in the world.
1. Columbia Business School, US
At present for the class of 2026, around 2,472 students are enrolled at Columbia Business School. 41.7% of the students are females and 39.4% are from overseas. The business school of Columbia University has 28 centres and programmes with a total of 145 full-time faculty. In the last 10 years, the business school alumni have created a total of 726 startups. 97% of those who had passed out confirmed job satisfaction as 4 on a scale of 5. The first-year tuition fee for a full-time MBA course at Columbia University at its Business School was USD 127,058.
Predict your IELTS, TOEFL, and PTE in just 4 steps!
Why CBS is the Best Business School in the World Highlights:
- 95% of the MBA programme graduates obtained a job offer within three months out of which 92% accepted the same
- Students indulge in top-tier internships as well as externships which help them utilize what they've been taught in the fields of marketing, finance, investment, etc
- In 2022, the median base salary for the business school was $175,000 and the median signing bonus was $30,000
- Employers include Adidas, Dominos, Fidelity, Apple, Amazon, Cisco, Bank of America, Galaxy Digital, Citi, Google, Goldman Sachs, Barclays, Dell Technologies, IBM, Instagram, Johnson & Johnson, Netflix, Twitter, etc.
2. INSEAD
INSEAD is the first education institution in Europe to offer an MBA program. Also, it was the first institution to offer a one-year MBA program and break the tradition of offering the standard two-year program. Its MBA program is widely acclaimed for its leadership, employability, and entrepreneurship. INSEAD is one of the Europe best business schools in the world. Over 11,000 executives take part in its executive education programmes every year. More than 300 organisations hired graduates from INSEAD in 2023.
Why INSEAD is the Top B-School in the World Highlights:
- Got triple accreditation from AACSB, EQUIS, and AMBA
- Has campuses in France, Singapore, and Abu Dhabi
- The MBA programme has two intakes in a year
- 94% of the MBA graduates got a job after three months of passing out
- Employers include Accenture, Adobe, BMW Group, Cargill, Dell, Deloitte, Ericsson Management Consulting, Ferrari, Gartner, HBO Max, IKEA, J.P Morgan, L'Oreal, Mastercard, Nestle, Philips, etc.
3. IESE Business School
With campuses in New York, Madrid, Munich, Sao Paulo and Barcelona, IESE Business School's Global Executive MBA course has featured among the best 10 programmes globally in the FT Executive MBA Rankings, 2023. The institute has an alumni base of over 55,000.
Why IESE Business School is the best Business School in the World Highlights:
- 94% of MBA graduates obtained employment within three months of passing out
- Top employers were Amazon, Bain & Company, CITI Group, Mastercard, McKinsey & Company, Morgan Stanley, Pepsico, Roland Berger, Novartis, etc
- The duration of the MBA programme is 15 or 19 months
4. Harvard Business School
The university offers various online certificate courses, taught by award-winning teaching faculty. Harvard University first started offering MBA courses back in 1908. The main focus of Harvard while offering an MBA is to develop leaders. Many influential business leaders have pursued their management degrees from one of the best business and management schools in the world. The Harvard Business School has a total of 7,000 alumni.
Why HBS is the best Business School in the World Highlights:
- Need-based scholarships are awarded to 50% of the students
- A total of 1,015 students are enrolled for the MBA batch of 2024, out of which 46% are women and 38% are men
- 38% of the students in the MBA 2024 batch are from overseas, representing 65 nations
- 13% of the students enrolled on the MBA course at Harvard Business School are first-generation students
- Among the top employers of business school graduates are Adobe, Bank of America, Capital Group, Dell Technologies, eBay, Facebook, Google, IBM, JP Morgan Chase, L'Oreal, Mastercard, Netflix, PayPal, Tesla, Walmart, YouTube, 3M Company
5. Stanford Graduate School of Business
Incepted in 1885, Stanford University has a total of 16,937 students and 2,288 faculty. Among the university members are those who have received a Nobel Prize. The student-to-faculty ratio is 5:1. The university has 7 schools, namely - Business, Doerr School of Sustainability, Medicine, Law, Education, Engineering, and Humanities and Sciences.
Why Stanford is the Top B-School in the World Highlights:
- In 2024, 19% of the batch went forward with their business/start-up
- The median base salary recorded in 2024 for MBA is $175K and the mean base salary is $182K
- 90% of the 2024 MBA class, searching for employment, obtained a job offer within three months of passing out
6. SDA Bocconi School of Management
The biggest Business School in Italy, SDA Bocconi School of Management was set up in 1971. The institute also offers specialised Master's courses in health care, food and beverage, HR, marketing, finance and economy, public administration, etc. It also features as one of the best Business Schools globally for custom programmes. SDA Bocconi also holds the triple crown accreditations - AMBA, AACSB and EQUIS.
Why SDA Bocconi School of Management the Top B-School in the World Highlights:
- The duration of the MBA programme at SDA Bocconi is one year
- In 2024, 35% of the MBA students were females
- The average age of the students in the MBA batch, in 2024, is 29 years
7. University of California at Berkeley
Established in 1898, the University of California's Haas School of Business at Berkeley is the second oldest business school in the US. Among its faculty members are two Nobel Prize recipients in Economics. HAAS offers various certificate courses, executive education, summer programmes, and six-degree courses.
Why UCB is the Best Business School in the World Highlights:
- The MBA batch of 2024 has 46% of female students
- A total of 247 students are enrolled on the MBA programme (2024 batch)
- Top employers include Meta, Amazon, Adobe, Deloitte, Cisco, Bain & Company, Google, EY, Nike, etc
- In 2024, 93.8% of the full-time MBA batch received employment offers and 92.8% accepted the same
8. Cornell University
MBA at Cornell University is offered by the SC Johnson College of Business. The Princeton Review 2023 B-School rankings placed the SC Johnson College of Business in 3rd position for the Best Professors category. In addition to the 2-year MBA, the university also offers a 1-year Johnson Cornell Tech MBA, Executive MBA/MS in Healthcare Leadership, PhD, MPS in Management, etc.
Why is Cornell the Top B-School in the World Highlights:
- SC Johnson College of Business has over 15,200 alumni.
- 97% of students of the 2024 Class received employment offers within 3 months after graduation.
- The average Base Salary of the Class of 2024 stood at $155,048.
- The highest salary stood at $215,000 per annum.
- Top employers for Cornell University MBA included Amazon, Bain & Company, Bank of America, BCG, Citi, Corning, EY, PwC, Microsoft, McKinsey & Company, etc.
9. Northwestern University
Northwestern University MBA is offered by the Kellogg School of Management. It traces its origin to the year 1908 when it was founded as The School of Commerce. Kellogg School of Management offers various degree programmes that include a 1-year MBA, 2-year MBA, MMM, Part-Time MBA, Doctoral Programme, etc.
Why is Northwestern University the Best B-School in the World Highlights:
- The top industries where the students of the Class of 2024 were placed included Technology, Consulting, Financial Services, Consumer Packaged Goods, and Healthcare.
- Top employers included Bain & Company, BCG, Deloitte, McKinsey & Company, Nike, PepsiCo, Baird Capital, Oak Street Health, etc.
- The median base salary stood at $164,000 per year.
10. Yale School of Management
Yale School of Management traces its roots to the year 1976. Yale University offers various academic programmes that include a 2-year MBA, Executive MBA, Master of Advanced Management, Masters in Asset Management, PhD, etc.
Why is Yale the Best Business School in the World Highlights:
- 1% of students received an employment offer within 3 months of graduation.
- The median salary stood at $160,000.
- Consulting, Investment Banking, Management, Financial Services, and Venture Capital were the top industries.
Top recruiters at Yale were Accenture, Arcadis, Bain & Company, EY, ICF, PepsiCo, Ralph Lauren, etc.
Other Best Business Schools in the World
Apart from the above-mentioned universities, other institutes which are among the top 30 world business schools that have been recognised as the best global 1-year programs are offered by these institutes.:
- London Business School
- Dartmouth College: Tuck
- HEC Paris
- National University of Singapore Business School
Students are advised to visit the official websites of these MBA colleges and research various other facts that will help them make an informed decision.
Related Articles:
| MBA vs MiM | MBA Abroad Eligibility |
| What is a Good GMAT Score for MBA Abroad? | Business Schools without GMAT requirement |
Top Reasons to Study at Top Business Schools
There are multiple reasons why applicants should consider studying across top Business schools and the reasons are as follows:
- All renowned and top-ranked universities abroad have popular Business schools that offer MBAs. Studying across these B-schools is challenging but worth the effort.
- Applicants get a lot of opportunities to choose their specialisation, plus electives which can be adjusted based on the applicant's interests.
- There is a good scope for working with top employers and get internship and networking opportunities.
- Also, passing out degrees from top B-schools automatically upgrades one's CV for higher salaried jobs abroad.
- Finally, applicants get a lot of confidence and is a boost for their overall personality if they get a degree from any of the top B-schools.
Thus, despite high competition, extensive costs and time, applicants still opt for top B-schools for study and put in a lot of effort to get through despite high acceptance rates. Want admission abroad across the top B-schools? Sign up for free counselling at Shiksha Abroad Counselling or write to us in the comments below.
Best Business Schools in the World FAQs
Q. Is it worth pursuing MBA abroad?
A. Depending on a number of variables, including your professional ambitions, financial condition, preferred location, and personal situations, you must decide if getting an MBA abroad is worthwhile. A major time, money, and effort commitment are required to pursue an MBA overseas. However, it may provide a distinctive and gratifying experience, worldwide exposure, and chances to further your career. Some of the reasons to pursue an MBA abroad include global exposure, adaptability, high salaries, career outcomes, etc.
Q. Which are some of the top B-schools abroad?
A. Top business institutions all over the world offer MBA programmes. The ideal business school to attend will depend on a person's interests, preferences, and professional objectives. Harvard Business School, Stanford Graduate School of Business, Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, INSEAD in France and Singapore, London Business School, Columbia Business School, and many others are among the top-ranked business schools in the world and are renowned for their outstanding MBA programmes. These institutions provide MBA students with high-quality instruction, world-class instructors, and a wide variety of learning possibilities.
Q. Will an MBA abroad improve my career prospects?
A. Your professional opportunities will undoubtedly increase if you get an MBA overseas. You may receive a top-notch education, possibilities for advanced study, exposure to different cultures, and the possibility to develop a strong network of connections that can be useful in the corporate world by enrolling in a top business school overseas. Employers frequently look for applicants with strong foreign experience, cultural sensitivity, and commercial acumen, which may improve your CV and raise your chances of landing top jobs at global corporations. Furthermore, by studying an MBA overseas, you'll have the chance to grow skills while being immersed in a diverse, international business and economic setting, which may greatly assist you raise your profile overall.
Q. Is MBA abroad expensive?
A. The cost of an MBA degree earned abroad varies depending on the nation, university, and programme picked, and some prestigious business schools have very expensive tuition costs. However, overseas students can look into a number of scholarships, financial assistance plans, and work-study opportunities to lessen the financial strain. However, despite the cost, doing an MBA abroad offers a special chance to learn about a different culture and develop abilities that are useful in the business world.
Q. How do I reduce the cost of pursuing an MBA abroad?
A. When pursuing an MBA abroad, the cost is a significant factor. Here are a few ways to reduce the cost of pursuing an MBA abroad:
- Scholarships: For the assistance of foreign students, several business schools overseas provide a range of scholarships and financial aid options.
- Part-time work: You may choose to work in order to reduce the cost of pursuing an MBA abroad.
- Online MBA: Some business schools offer online MBA programs that are more affordable than on-campus programs.
- Grants: Make sure to check if you qualify for any educational grants or scholarships.
Q. What are the requirements for admission to MBA at top B-schools?
A. Just like any other B-School for an MBA admission, the requirements include:
- SOP
- Transcrips
- Admission essays
- LORs
- CV
- GRE or GMAT scores
- IELTS, TOEFL or PTE scores
- Bank statements
Q: Â Is university of West of Scotland good for international students?
The University of the West of Scotland has five modern and diverse campuses in United Kingdom. The University has welcomed more than 3,000 international students which are representing 1/3 of the globe. They also have 130 European partners who are actively in global study and exchange options through the Commonwealth universities programmes. The University also offers study abroad opportunities for UWS who are eligible for the same and also have more than 20 transnational education partners worldwide which helps them deliver UWS Bachelors and Masters Degrees around the world.
Q: Â How to prepare for UK 10th board exam 2025?
Those who are preparing for the UK Class 10 exam 2025 are recommended to follow the tips below.
- Know the exam pattern
- Make a proper time table as per the syllabus
- Solve previous year question papers
- Make short notes of important formulas and theorems
- Revise regularly
- Figure out weaker areas and learn them well
With proper planning and hard work, students can easily clear the UK 10th board exam.
Q: Â What rank is Wolverhampton University in UK?
The University of Wolverhampton is one of the best universities in the United Kingdom. The university is consistently ranked among the best universities nationally and globally. For nearly 200 years, the University of Wolverhampton has been consistently providing a quality of education to students and producing highly skilled graduates. The national rankings of the University of Wolverhampton are given below:
| Ranking Body | Ranking |
|---|---|
| The Guardian University Guide 2024 | #101 |
| The Complete University Guide 2024 | #117 |
Q: Â Does the University of Essex require IELTS?
International students whose native language is not English must meet the University of Essex English language requirements to get admission. The university accepts IELTS scores as proof of English language proficiency. Mentioned below are the IELTS scores required for UG and PG admission at the university:
English Language Test | Score |
|---|---|
IELTS | Overall score of 5.5 to 8.0 with minimum of 5.5 to 7.5 in each section |
The university also accepts the score of other English language tests such as TOEFL and PTE for admission to undergraduate and graduate programs:
English Language Test | Score |
TOEFL iBT | Overall score of 72 to 114 |
PTE | Overall score of 59 to 84 with minimum of 59 to 80 in each section |
Also read: Required IELTS Score for UK Universities
Q: Â How can I get a 100% scholarship to study in UK?
Yes, it is possible to get 100% scholarships to study in the UK. There are various external funding agencies that offer 100% scholarships to international students to study in the UK. Three main UK government scholarships for international students are;
However, to get 100% scholarships to study in the UK, international students must meet all the eligibility criteria and apply within the deadlines.
Q: Â How can I get admission in the University of Manchester?
The application process at the University of Manchester may vary depending on the course and level of study. However, here is the application process for UG and PG courses:
The Undergraduate Application Process:
Step 1: You can apply through the UCAS common application portal.
Step 2: Go to the website and select the course you are interested in.
Step 3: Ensure you meet the Entry requirements (Academic qualifications, English proficiency, etc.
Step 4: Once you decide on the course, submit documents such as SOP, Transcripts and personal statements.
Check out: tips to improve your SOP.
Step 5: You can track the application's progress through your given credentials by UCAS.
Step 6: Once the applicant submits the application to UCAS, it forwards to the University, and the admission teams carefully analyse the application document.
Step 7: The university will send you an offer letter once selected. Hence keep checking your UCAS portal for your application status.
The Postgraduate application process:
Step 1: Select the postgraduate course you are interested in from the University of Manchester.\
Step 2: Ensure you meet the entry requirements for the chosen program, as they vary depending on the course.
Step 3: Complete the online application by providing your personal information.
Step 4: Upload the required documents, such as Academic transcripts and proof of English language proficiency ( TOEFL/ IELTS). experience in your fields and references (depending on the course). You also may require Two LORs depending on the course.
To make your admission better, check out the following: How Admission Officers Evaluate your application.
Step 5: If your application is successful, you will receive an offer from the University of Manchester.
Q: Â What is University of Wales, Trinity Saint famous for?
University of Wales, Trinity Saint (UWTSD) was founded in 2010, is a public institution for higher education and research at multiple locations. It was set up under the 1828 royal charter of Lampeter, the institution was the result of the merger between Trinity University College and the University of Wales. The institution merged with the Swansea Metropolitan University in 2013.
- Top Ranked University: The UWTSD is not ranked by any major ranking body, however as per the university ranking given on the official website of the university, it is ranked among:
- #1st in Wales and UK Top 5 Film Production and Photography
- #1st in Wales and UK Top 5 Fashion and Textiles
- #1st in Wales and UK Top 20 Graphic Design
- #1st in Wales and UK Top 5 Education
- #1st in Wales and UK Top 20 Sports Science
- #1st in Wales and UK Top 20 Mechanical Engineering
- #1st in Wales for Fine Arts
- Variety of Courses: UWTSD offers more than 300 programs at various levels including undergraduate, postgraduate degrees as well as multiple online courses.
- Highly distinguished and learned faculties: the faculty at UWTSD is highly learned and distinguished which enables students to be the best in their field of study.
- High Placements: According to Graduate Outcome data 2019-2020 quoted by the UWTSD, more than 95% of its graduates were found to be employed within 15 Months of graduation. The average salary of a graduate is not explicitly released by UWTSD, however, as per some unofficial sources the average salary of the graduates of UWTSD is approximately INR 30-35L. with the highest salary being reported as high as INR 66.5L for jobs in Financial Services.
Q: Â What is the cost of an Essex MBA?
The University of Essex MBA cost is vary from INR 17 L to INR 27 L for first-year. The university offers an affordable MBA programme to international students. The table below includes the complete first year cost of studying MBA program:
Fees components | Amount (for 1 year) |
|---|---|
Tuition & fees | INR 27,67,000 |
Hostel & Meals | INR 6,59,321 |
Insurance | INR 85,888 |
Total approximate fees | INR 35,12,209 |
Also read: MBA in the UK Cost
Aishwarya is a professional Writer currently working as a Study Abroad Expert in the Editorial Team at Shiksha. She has over 5 years of experience and is skilled at creating Online Content with leveraged knowledge i... Read Full Bio
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