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The 10 Top US Business Schools According to International Recruiters main image
While one cannot dispute the pedigree of European and, increasingly, Asian business schools, for many prospective students the US is the be all and end all of business education. It is after all the birthplace of business education.
International recruiters certainly hold top US schools in high regard. The number included in the QS Global 200 Business Schools report certainly stands as testament to this. With 90 representatives, the US accounts for nearly half of the schools included.
So, which business schools in the US do employers consider to be the best of the best? Using data drawn from report, here’s the 10 top US business schools.
1. Harvard Business School
Average GMAT score: 730
Average salary on graduation: US$120,000
It won’t come as a massive surprise to see Harvard Business School occupying its traditional top spot in the eyes of international recruiters. Harvard was the first place in the world you could get an MBA, and many business schools around the world still look to HBS for leadership – no fewer than 80% of case studies sold around the world are written by the school’s faculty. Classroom participation is a key element on the HBS MBA, so not one for shrinking violets! It’s not just a big name; the school boasts over 30 buildings and a considerable tract of land.
The Silicon Valley location of the Stanford GSB (and Stanford’s general status as a tech powerhouse) means that it’s great location for those looking to dip their toes into the tech startup scene; nearly a third of 2013 graduates ended up in the technology sector. Students are encouraged to draw on resources from the university’s other schools, with the emphasis being on creating a personalized experience for each student. No other school in this list can match Stanford GSB’s figure of 42% international students.
The world’s first collegiate school of business, the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania is known for its data and facts-driven approach, which perhaps goes some way to explaining its famous strength in finance. As well offering the usual suite of MBA and doctoral programs, the Wharton School offers a range of undergraduate programs. Its alumni network numbers 92,000, including one Nunzio Quacquarelli, founder and CEO of QS and TopMBA.com.
4. The University of Chicago Booth School of Business
Average GMAT score: 715
Average salary of graduation: US$ 115,079
The second oldest school in the US and the birthplace of the executive MBA and the doctoral program in business, Chicago Booth is another data-focused school; 43.2% of the 2012 cohort ended up in the finance industry. The school offers evening and weekend programs in addition to its full-time offerings and would well suit a candidate who wished to stay in their current role. Chicago Booth is home to Eugene F. Fama and Lars Peter Hansen, winners of the 2013 Nobel Prize in Economics, as well as four other Nobel laureates in economics.
5. Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University
Average GMAT score: 708
Average salary on graduation: US$ 120,000
Along with Boston, Chicago is the only city which can boast two schools on the list of top US business schools (well, if we cheat a little bit on both counts), with the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University coming in just behind fellow Chicago School, Booth. An early pioneer of using group work projects, the school is considered to be particularly strong in marketing by employers. It is also known for its student performing arts groups – so if you want to combine the leading the boardroom with treading the boards, Kellogg may be the school for you.
Within spitting distance (well, a subway ride across Manhattan) of Wall Street, not to mention the surfeit of global employers and many distractions and opportunities of the Big Apple, Columbia Business School might be able to lay a claim to best location – unless you completely despise NYC and all it stands for, in which case, stay away! Value investing is an area for which Columbia is known. Over 41% of the class of 2012 went into the financial services, while nearly a third chose consulting.
Over to the other side of country and sunny Los Angeles for our next entry – the first to be tied to a public institution in the list of top US business schools. UCLA Anderson emphasizes its strategic location, with Los Angeles, among its other draws, serving as the gateway to Latin America. A high percentage of graduates enter the technology sector – more than a quarter in 2012 – no doubt a consequence to the schools proximity to LA’s Silicon Beach. Oh, and speaking of beaches, Los Angeles isn’t short of its own attractions either…
8. Sloan School of Management, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
Average GMAT score: 710
Average salary on graduation: US$ 118,406
MIT ranks number one in the QS World University Rankings, so it’s no surprise to see MIT Sloan School of Management in the list of a top US business schools. Well, actually, it’s no surprise to see MIT Sloan in here anyway. Offering a full suite of undergraduate, master’s and doctoral programs as well as MBAs, MIT Sloan is where Black, Scholes and Merton all met as faculty members; as far as celebrity economists go, it doesn’t get much better than that! Kofi Annan also counts among the school’s notable alumni.
Alma mater of Apple CEO Tim Cook and Melinda Gates, the Fuqua School of Business comes in at number nine according to international recruiters. Among the school’s roster of MBA programs is a health sector management program, the largest of its kind at a US business school. Fuqua has branched out considerably from its North Carolina home, with campuses in St Petersburg, Dubai, Kunshan (China), New Delhi and London. However, Durham, NC, is no backwater – the ‘Triangle’, encompassing Durham, Chapel Hill and Raleigh boasts one of the US’ highest concentrations of PhDs. The Research Triangle Park in the center of the three is a major innovation hub, home to over 100 research companies.
The University of California’s second representative in the top US business schools, and the third to be located in the state, UC Berkeley Haas School of Business takes the final spot in this of list top US business schools according to international recruiters. Another Silicon Valley powerhouse, just under a third of Haas graduates enter the technology sector. One Haas graduate certainly had a handle on how a business operates from the inside – Dilbert creator, Scott Adams (though his later indiscretions might not make him Haas’ model alumni). Haas is also the alma mater of John Hanke, co-creator of Google Earth and Paul Merage, who gives his name to UC Irvine’s business school and is also the co-inventor of Hot Pockets!
For more information, you can download the full or regional Global 200 for free. Specialization reports listing the world's top 50 business schools in 10 MBA specializations are also available
Mansoor is a contributor to and former editor of TopMBA.com. He is a higher and business education specialist, who has been published in media outlets around the world. He studied English literature at BA and MA level and has a background in consumer journalism.
The 10 Top US Business Schools According to International Recruiters
By Pavel Kantorek
Updated July 30, 2019 Updated July 30, 2019While one cannot dispute the pedigree of European and, increasingly, Asian business schools, for many prospective students the US is the be all and end all of business education. It is after all the birthplace of business education.
International recruiters certainly hold top US schools in high regard. The number included in the QS Global 200 Business Schools report certainly stands as testament to this. With 90 representatives, the US accounts for nearly half of the schools included.
So, which business schools in the US do employers consider to be the best of the best? Using data drawn from report, here’s the 10 top US business schools.
1. Harvard Business School
Average GMAT score: 730
Average salary on graduation: US$120,000
It won’t come as a massive surprise to see Harvard Business School occupying its traditional top spot in the eyes of international recruiters. Harvard was the first place in the world you could get an MBA, and many business schools around the world still look to HBS for leadership – no fewer than 80% of case studies sold around the world are written by the school’s faculty. Classroom participation is a key element on the HBS MBA, so not one for shrinking violets! It’s not just a big name; the school boasts over 30 buildings and a considerable tract of land.
Learn more about Harvard Business School
2. Stanford GSB
Average GMAT score: 729
Average salary on graduation: US$129,692
The Silicon Valley location of the Stanford GSB (and Stanford’s general status as a tech powerhouse) means that it’s great location for those looking to dip their toes into the tech startup scene; nearly a third of 2013 graduates ended up in the technology sector. Students are encouraged to draw on resources from the university’s other schools, with the emphasis being on creating a personalized experience for each student. No other school in this list can match Stanford GSB’s figure of 42% international students.
Learn more about Stanford GSB
3. Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania
Average GMAT score: 725
Average salary on graduation: US$ 120,000
The world’s first collegiate school of business, the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania is known for its data and facts-driven approach, which perhaps goes some way to explaining its famous strength in finance. As well offering the usual suite of MBA and doctoral programs, the Wharton School offers a range of undergraduate programs. Its alumni network numbers 92,000, including one Nunzio Quacquarelli, founder and CEO of QS and TopMBA.com.
Learn more about the Wharton School
4. The University of Chicago Booth School of Business
Average GMAT score: 715
Average salary of graduation: US$ 115,079
The second oldest school in the US and the birthplace of the executive MBA and the doctoral program in business, Chicago Booth is another data-focused school; 43.2% of the 2012 cohort ended up in the finance industry. The school offers evening and weekend programs in addition to its full-time offerings and would well suit a candidate who wished to stay in their current role. Chicago Booth is home to Eugene F. Fama and Lars Peter Hansen, winners of the 2013 Nobel Prize in Economics, as well as four other Nobel laureates in economics.
Learn more about Chicago Booth
5. Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University
Average GMAT score: 708
Average salary on graduation: US$ 120,000
Along with Boston, Chicago is the only city which can boast two schools on the list of top US business schools (well, if we cheat a little bit on both counts), with the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University coming in just behind fellow Chicago School, Booth. An early pioneer of using group work projects, the school is considered to be particularly strong in marketing by employers. It is also known for its student performing arts groups – so if you want to combine the leading the boardroom with treading the boards, Kellogg may be the school for you.
Learn more about the Kellogg School
6. Columbia Business School, Columbia University
Average GMAT score: 716
Average salary on graduation: US$ 103,453
Within spitting distance (well, a subway ride across Manhattan) of Wall Street, not to mention the surfeit of global employers and many distractions and opportunities of the Big Apple, Columbia Business School might be able to lay a claim to best location – unless you completely despise NYC and all it stands for, in which case, stay away! Value investing is an area for which Columbia is known. Over 41% of the class of 2012 went into the financial services, while nearly a third chose consulting.
Learn more about Columbia Business School
7. UCLA Anderson School of Management
Average GMAT score: 704
Average salary on graduation: US$ 100,000
Over to the other side of country and sunny Los Angeles for our next entry – the first to be tied to a public institution in the list of top US business schools. UCLA Anderson emphasizes its strategic location, with Los Angeles, among its other draws, serving as the gateway to Latin America. A high percentage of graduates enter the technology sector – more than a quarter in 2012 – no doubt a consequence to the schools proximity to LA’s Silicon Beach. Oh, and speaking of beaches, Los Angeles isn’t short of its own attractions either…
Learn more about UCLA Anderson
8. Sloan School of Management, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
Average GMAT score: 710
Average salary on graduation: US$ 118,406
MIT ranks number one in the QS World University Rankings, so it’s no surprise to see MIT Sloan School of Management in the list of a top US business schools. Well, actually, it’s no surprise to see MIT Sloan in here anyway. Offering a full suite of undergraduate, master’s and doctoral programs as well as MBAs, MIT Sloan is where Black, Scholes and Merton all met as faculty members; as far as celebrity economists go, it doesn’t get much better than that! Kofi Annan also counts among the school’s notable alumni.
Learn more about the Sloan School
9. Fuqua School of Business, Duke University
Average GMAT score: 690
Average salary on graduation: US$ 118,406
Alma mater of Apple CEO Tim Cook and Melinda Gates, the Fuqua School of Business comes in at number nine according to international recruiters. Among the school’s roster of MBA programs is a health sector management program, the largest of its kind at a US business school. Fuqua has branched out considerably from its North Carolina home, with campuses in St Petersburg, Dubai, Kunshan (China), New Delhi and London. However, Durham, NC, is no backwater – the ‘Triangle’, encompassing Durham, Chapel Hill and Raleigh boasts one of the US’ highest concentrations of PhDs. The Research Triangle Park in the center of the three is a major innovation hub, home to over 100 research companies.
Learn more about the Fuqua School of Business
10. Haas School of Business, UC Berkeley
Average GMAT score: 715
Average salary on graduation: US$97,000
The University of California’s second representative in the top US business schools, and the third to be located in the state, UC Berkeley Haas School of Business takes the final spot in this of list top US business schools according to international recruiters. Another Silicon Valley powerhouse, just under a third of Haas graduates enter the technology sector. One Haas graduate certainly had a handle on how a business operates from the inside – Dilbert creator, Scott Adams (though his later indiscretions might not make him Haas’ model alumni). Haas is also the alma mater of John Hanke, co-creator of Google Earth and Paul Merage, who gives his name to UC Irvine’s business school and is also the co-inventor of Hot Pockets!
Learn more about the Haas School
For more information, you can download the full or regional Global 200 for free. Specialization reports listing the world's top 50 business schools in 10 MBA specializations are also available
Download QS Global 200, regional and MBA specialization reports >
Image credit: Chicago Booth; Kellogg School of Management; Columbia; UCLA Anderson; Duke.
This article was originally published in April 2016 . It was last updated in July 2019
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Mansoor is a contributor to and former editor of TopMBA.com. He is a higher and business education specialist, who has been published in media outlets around the world. He studied English literature at BA and MA level and has a background in consumer journalism.
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