MBA Ranking 2024: business school profiles

Top school: University of Pennsylvania: Wharton

The Wharton School tops the Global MBA Ranking for the 11th time since the first ranking published in 1999. Its success is aided by an average weighted alumni salary of $245,772, the third highest. The US school is also number one in the research category, which is based partly on the number of research papers written by faculty in selected journals. One former student highlighted the value of Wharton’s alumni network, too, in helping to launch a business. TM

Highest salary: Stanford

Graduates of the Californian school earn the top average weighted salary of $250,650. Stanford is 23rd overall and is also top for its alumni network and aims achieved, as rated by the graduates surveyed for the ranking. It scored highest for overall course satisfaction, although this is not part of the ranking criteria. Only one other school’s alumni have better career progress, based on seniority changes between before their MBA and now, and the size of the employer graduates work for. SS

Top for carbon reduction: SDA Bocconi

Italy’s SDA Bocconi School of Management performed strongly overall and is up three places to joint third in the MBA table. Its commitment to reducing emissions took it to the top of the carbon footprint rank, up from second last year. This category now awards those with a carbon emissions audit report that includes Scope 3 emissions (notably student and faculty travel). SS

Top school in Asia-Pacific: Ceibs

In joint 21st place, Shanghai-based Ceibs has retained its position as the highest-ranked MBA school in the Asia-Pacific region for the eighth consecutive year. It is one of only two schools in the region in the top 25 of the table. Alumni had an average weighted salary of $189,348, up from last year’s ranking. But it is the 163 per cent alumni wage rise from before the MBA to now that puts Ceibs in the top 10 per cent. SS

Highest new entrant: University of Sydney Business School

The Australian school made its ranking debut in joint 63rd place — the top new entrant. Its success can be attributed in part to the alumni career progress category, plus the high percentage of the most recent graduating class who found employment within three months of completing the course, and a large proportion of international students in its recent cohort. SS

Highest climbers: Fudan; Terry; Trinity

Three schools tie as highest climbers, each rising 21 places: China’s Fudan University School of Management, University of Georgia: Terry in the US and Ireland’s Trinity Business School. Fudan tops this group in joint 27th place overall. The school improved its position in categories including value for money and the student sector diversity rank. There was also a rise in weighted salary, with alumni earning $169,057 on average. BK

Top for sector diversity: ESCP

In 25th place overall, France’s ESCP is top for student sector diversity, which records the range of fields in which current students worked pre-MBA. These include a variety of sectors such as consulting, finance, NGOs, social enterprise and tech. It is also second for value for money and third for international course experience, measuring alumni who had overseas exchanges or internships of at least a month. WKC

Top for career services: Georgia: Scheller

In joint 49th place, Georgia Institute of Technology: Scheller is rated top by alumni for its careers service. This category looks at the effectiveness of the service for careers counselling and finding internships and jobs, according to alumni. The US school has one of the highest employment rates, with 96 per cent of the recent completing class securing job offers. Scheller is also one of the highest risers, moving up 15 places. WKC

The top 25: quick facts

by Blanka Kovacs

Rank 1: Top class
Wharton in Pennsylvania tops the ranking for the 11th time, and has the third highest average alumni salary, at $245,772.

Rank 5: Net zero teaching
Iese is second in the ESG and net zero teaching rank, due to the proportion of core course hours focused on environmental, social and governance issues.

Rank 8: Worldly wise
London Business School is fifth for international course experience, based on the number of alumni completing exchanges and internships abroad, lasting at least one month.

Rank 12= On the up
This is Dartmouth’s best performance since 2022, when it was 18th. It has the second-best alumni network, after Stanford.

Rank 12= Globetrotters
HEC Paris leads the top 25 schools for international mobility, based on alumni citizenship and pre-MBA location compared with now.

Rank 17: Bouncing back
For the first time since 2021, Esade in Barcelona is back in the top 25, rising 13 places from its position in the 2023 ranking.

Rank 18: Careering ahead
UCLA has the highest-rated careers office among the top 25, based on factors including helping to find internships and jobs.

Rank 20: Gender diversity
Spain’s IE Business School has the highest percentage of female faculty across the top 25, at 50 per cent.

Rank 23: Well connected
Stanford’s alumni network is rated top by graduates, based on its help with career opportunities and generating new ideas.

Rank 24: Pay rise
Shanghai University of Finance and Economics has the highest alumni salary increase in the top 25, at 190 per cent.

Rank 25: Great value
France’s ESCP leads for value for money within the top 25, a category that considers study costs and post-MBA earnings.