Top 10 MBA Programs in the World 2020

An updated version of this article can now be found here.

The QS Global MBA Rankings 2020 have been released today, ranking business schools from around the world. The rankings are also split up into regions: Asia, Europe, Canada, Oceania, Latin America, and the US.

MBA programs were ranked based on the indicators of employability, entrepreneurship and alumni outcomes, return on investment, thought leadership, and diversity. You can find out more about the methodology used to produce the rankings here.

The top 10 business schools in the Global MBA Rankings 2020 are:

10) The Kellogg School of Management

• • Tuition fees: US$71,544
  • Percentage of female students: 46 percent
  • Percentage of international students: 38 percent
  • Students in class: 478

Kicking off the global top 10 is The Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University. The standard program length is 21 months but there is an option of an accelerated one-year pathway. Kellogg offers a wide range of global learning opportunities, including 37 exchange programs across 20 countries. Students can choose from seven majors (or none). Majors include Accounting, Economics, Finance, Marketing, Operations Strategy and Managing Organizations.

9) Haas School of Business

• • Tuition fees: US$119,622
  • Percentage of female students: 43 percent
  • Percentage of international students: 42 percent
  • Students in class: 291

The 21-month MBA program at the Haas School of Business, University of California Berkeley is comprised of 12 required courses, plus electives to tailor the program to your needs. Students must fulfil an ‘Applied Innovation’ requirement, which hones leadership skills through experiential learning and teamwork. Example Applied Innovation courses include International Business Development and the Haas Socially Responsible Investment Fund.

8) The University of Chicago Booth School of Business

• • Tuition fees: US$144,000
  • Percentage of female students: 42 percent
  • Percentage of international students: 30 percent
  • Students in class: 591

The University of Chicago’s Booth School of Business’ 21-month program scored highly for employability but fell short of the rest of the global top 10 for diversity. Booth’s MBA prides itself on its flexible curriculum, and with only one compulsory course in Leadership Effectiveness and Development (LEAD), students are free to design the program to fit their career goals. Available electives cover 13 concentrations, including business analytics, operations management and economics.

7) HEC Paris

• • Tuition fees: US$66,690
  • Percentage of female students: 34 percent
  • Percentage of international students: 93 percent
  • Students in class: 274

The first French school in the global top 10, the HEC Paris MBA achieved the second highest score in the rankings for ROI. HEC graduates enjoyed a staggering 152 percent salary increase post-MBA. The 15-month program focuses on developing leadership potential, such as leadership seminars, a student-run MBA multisport MBA tournament and the HEC Global Leaders Series, with influential speakers from the world of business.

6) London Business School

• • Tuition fees: US$104,493
  • Percentage of female students: 40 percent
  • Percentage of international students: 91 percent
  • Students in class: 485

The only British business school in the global top 10, the MBA program at London Business School lasts for 21 months, longer than the standard European MBA course. London is one of the world’s main financial capitals, with 100 percent of the world's leading financial institutions represented in the city, and three quarters of the top 500 global companies using it as their base. Their employment stats are impressive, with 94 percent of MBA graduates accepting a job offer 3 months after graduation.

5) Harvard Business School

• • Tuition fees: US$146,880
  • Percentage of female students: 41 percent
  • Percentage of international students: 37 percent
  • Students in class: 930

Harvard Business School is recognized as the originator of the MBA, running the world’s first program in 1908. Ranked fifth, it achieves the joint second-highest score in the rankings for employability. The school’s famous case method is internationally renowned, with HBS faculty writing over 80 percent of business school cases sold globally. During the 24-month MBA, students will read and work on around 500 cases, both individually and in groups.

=3) MIT Sloan School of Management

• • Tuition fees: US$148,400
  • Percentage of female students: 42 percent
  • Percentage of international students: 38 percent
  • Students in class: 409

In joint third place is the 24-month program at MIT Sloan School of Management. MIT are well-renowned for their research excellence, explaining why it is the only school in the rankings to achieve a perfect score for thought leadership. MIT promote ‘Action Learning’, meaning that students learn management skills hands-on, working remotely and on-site with host organizations to solve real-life business challenges.

=3) INSEAD

• • Tuition fees: US$98,009
  • Percentage of female students: 35 percent
  • Percentage of international students: 96 percent
  • Students in class: 536

Also coming in third – and the highest-ranked European program in the world – is INSEAD. The school scored very highly for Return on Investment (ROI), with an average 100 percent salary increase for MBA graduates. The program lasts 10 months, with opportunities to study at INSEAD’s three campuses in Fontainebleau, Singapore and Abu Dhabi. Students complete 14 core courses and have a choice from over 75 elective options.

=1) Stanford Graduate School of Business

• • Tuition fees: US$141,180
  • Percentage of female students: 41 percent
  • Percentage of international students: 42 percent
  • Students in class: 419

Retaining last year’s top spot (though this year tied with Wharton) is Stanford Graduate School of Business. It is the only school in the rankings to achieve a perfect score for entrepreneurship and alumni outcomes. Lasting 21 months, students must complete a Global Experience Requirement, where you study and work abroad for a minimum of 10 days. Previous destinations have included Brazil, South Korea and Greece.

=1) The Wharton School

• • Tuition fees: US$162,756
  • Percentage of female students: 43 percent
  • Percentage of international students: 33 percent
  • Students in class: 862

In joint first position for 2020 is The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, which achieved the highest score in the rankings for employability. The 21-month program includes a recommended summer internship. Students can choose from 18 majors (including accounting, finance, and marketing), with around 40 percent of students completing their degree with two majors.

This article is based on 2020 data, check out the latest Global MBA programs rankings here.