Top MBA programmes in the US 2023

The QS Global MBA Rankings 2023 have been released today, ranking business schools from around the world across Europe, Asia, Oceania, Latin America, US and Canada. In 2023, there are 115 US business schools included in the rankings.  

MBA programmes 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 rankings’ methodology here. 

The top 10 business schools in the US MBA Rankings 2023 are: 

10. Yale School of Management  

In 10th place this year is the Yale School of Management, in New Haven, Connecticut. Yale’s 21-month MBA has a significant focus on practical learning, with raw case studies encouraging candidates to sift through documents, videos, news articles and other data to simulate real-world decisions.  

Students also have the option to travel for a weeklong course at another business school, study with students from around the world in a virtual global course, or travel for a non-profit consulting engagement. 

9. UCLA Anderson School of Management 

For another year running, UCLA’s Anderson School of Management takes ninth place in the US for its 22-month MBA. The programme is based around nine courses, long-term projects and elective classes. The business school is based in Los Angeles, California, which gives students access to a vibrant start-up scene and F500 companies.  

The Anderson School of Management hosts various events throughout the year to connect students to business leaders.  

8. Northwestern University Kellogg School of Management 

In eighth place in the US we have Kellogg School of Management. With a wide range of electives and more than 1,000 experiential learning opportunities, students can personalise this 21-month programme to meet their career goals. There are plenty of options to study abroad, with 37 exchange programmes across 20 countries.  

7. The University of Chicago Booth School of Business 

The University of Chicago Booth School of Business ranks seventh in the US in this year’s QS Global MBA Rankings, performing particularly well across the alumni outcomes and thought leadership indicators.  

Chicago Business School’s 21-month MBA boasts high starting salaries, with the median salary after graduation averaging $155,000 per year and more than 96 percent of graduates accept full-time job offers within three months of graduating.  

6. UC Berkeley (Haas)  

Taking sixth place in the US is UC Berkeley’s Haas School of Business, ranking third in the region for thought leadership. The full-time MBA is made up of 14 required modules which build on one another to help candidates develop the analytical skills and essential knowledge to become successful leaders. Candidates will also complete at least one of the 20 applied innovation courses, where they will work on team projects with major firms. 

5. Columbia Business School 

Kicking off the top five we have Columbia Business School’s MBA in New York City. As you might expect from such a diverse study destination, students come from more than 90 countries to study this MBA programme, bringing a wealth of business experience.  

The programme offers more than 200 electives and access to over 4,000 graduate level courses so students can tailor their programme to meet their career aspirations. New York City will give candidates access to some of the world’s top industry leaders and you will also be inspired by Columbia’s guest lecturers and speakers. 

4. MIT Sloan School of Management 

Fourth in the US we have MIT Sloan School of Management in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Sloan’s two-year MBA programme is focused around innovation and helping candidates develop solutions to some of the world’s most complex problems.  

Sloan performs well in the alumni outcomes and thought leadership indicators, and 96 percent of Sloan MBA graduates received full time offers within three months of graduation with a median base salary of $150,000. 

3. University of Pennsylvania Wharton Business School  

Wharton Business School’s 21-month MBA programme ranks third in the US this year. Ranked fourth in the US for alumni outcomes, Wharton’s MBA graduates boast starting salaries of between $130,000 to $165,000. Wharton has more than 100,000 alumni who live and work over 153 countries.  

The MBA curriculum is focused on driving productivity, growth and social progress. It uses rigorous and relevant data analysis across each of its programmes and encourages candidates to use data-driven decision making. 

2. Harvard Business School 

In second place in the US, we have Harvard Business School’s two-year, full-time MBA which offers a general management curriculum focused on real-world practice. Through case method modules, field projects, tech simulations and introspective exercises, Harvard Business School offers a unique MBA curriculum which will help you reach the next step of your career. 6 

9 percent of Harvard’s MBA students change industries after graduating and candidates will benefit from the expertise of more than 60 business career coaches.  

1.Stanford Graduate School of Business 

The best MBA programme in the US this year can be found at Stanford Graduate School of Business. With its campus in the heart of California’s Silicon Valley, Stanford Graduate School of Business offers a one-of-a-kind MBA programme which promotes collaboration instead of competition.  

Students must complete a Global Experience Requirement, where they study and work abroad for a minimum of 10 days. Previous destinations have included South Korea, Greece and Brazil.