Comparison of Top MBA Programs
Choosing the right MBA program is one of the most important decisions you’ll make in the application process. To help you navigate your options, we’ve compiled a comprehensive comparison of the world’s top business schools.
This chart brings together key data points for 25+ top MBA programs, including class profiles, acceptance rates, average GMAT/GRE scores, program locations, deadlines, and more. Whether you’re focused on culture, competitiveness, or career outcomes, this resource allows you to evaluate multiple programs at once and quickly identify which schools may be the best fit for your goals.
Use this as your starting point to build a smart, targeted MBA application strategy.
Here is the Comparison of Top MBA Programs (Ranks in 2025)
Scroll right to see the full table
* Updated 6/30/2025
SCHOOL LOCATION US NEWS & WORLD REPORT
(rank in 2025)CLASS SIZE FT % ADMITTED WORK EXPERIENCE % FEMALE % INTERNATIONAL MEDIAN GMAT AVG GPA AVG POST MBA SALARY % GRADUATES EMPLOYED 3 MONTHS POST GRADUATION TOP RECRUITED INDUSTRIES APPLICATION DEADLINES DECISION DATES INFO SESSIONS / EVENTS WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW
U Penn Wharton Philadelphia, PA 1 866 21% 5 Years 47% 31% 732 3.7 $175,000 93% Financial Services (37%)
Consulting (25%)
Technology (14%)
R1: 2-Sep-25
R2: 6-Jan-26
R3: 1-Apr-26R1: 10-Dec-25
R2: 31-March-26
R3: 12-May-26https://mba.wharton.upenn.edu/events/ Team-based discussion interview format
Stanford GSB Stanford, CA 2 424 7% 5.1 Years 44% 39% 738 3.75 $187,500 88% Finance (37%)
Technology( 22%)
Consulting (14%)R1: 9-Sep-25
R2: 7-Jan-26
R3: 7-Apr-26
R1: 10-Dec-25
R2: 2-Apr-26
R3: 28-May-26https://www.gsb.stanford.edu/programs/mba/admission/events Nailing the essay is critical!
Northwestern Kellogg Evanston, IL 2 524 29% 5 Years 50% 40% 733 3.7 $163,000 90% Consulting (35%)
Technology (20%)
Financial Services (19%)R1: 10-Sep-25
R2: 7-Jan-26
R3: 1-Apr-26
R1: 10-Dec-25
R2: 25-Mar-26
R3: 13-May-26https://www.kellogg.northwestern.edu/programs/full-time-mba/admissions-events.aspx Interviews nearly every applicant
Chicago Booth Chicago, IL 4 713 29% 5 Years 42% 35% 730 3.6 $175,000 87% Consulting (34%)
Financial Services(33%)
Technology (15%)R1: 16-Sep-25
R2: 6-Jan-26
R3: 2-Apr-26R1: 4-Dec-25
R2: 26-Mar-26
R3: 21-May-26https://www.chicagobooth.edu/programs/full-time/admissions/events Really understand "why Booth"
MIT Sloan Cambridge, MA 5 433 14% 5 Years 49% 40% 730 3.7 $169,500 85% Consulting (32%)
Finance (25%)
Technology (19%)R1: 29-Sep-25
R2: 13-Jan-26
R3: 6-Apr-26
R1: Dec-25
R2: Apr-26
R3: May-26https://mitsloan.mit.edu/mba/admissions/admissions-events/ Quantitative/scoring approach to admissions
Harvard HBS Cambridge, MA 6 930 11% 5 Years 45% 35% 740 3.69 175,000 85% Private Equity (19%)
Consulting (18%)
Technology (16%)R1: 3-Sep-25
R2: 5-Jan-26R1: 10-Dec-25
R2: 25-Mar-26https://www.hbs.edu/mba/admissions/admissions-events/Pages/default.aspx Leadership, visibility, and impact are king!
New York University (NYU Stern) New York, NY 6 352 25% 5 Years 47% 40% 733 3.64 $166,000 85% Consulting (37%)
Financial Services (36%)
Technology (9%)R1: 15-Sep-25
R2: 15-Oct-25
R3: 15-Jan-26
R4: 14-Apr-26
R1: 1-Dec-25
R2: 1-Jan-26
R3: 1-Apr-26
R4: Ongoinghttps://www.stern.nyu.edu/programs-admissions/full-time-mba/meet-with-us?_ga=2.67294424.815124834.1720635308-1840210669.1717100534 Specialized MBA options (Tech and Luxury/Fashion)
Dartmouth College (Tuck) Hanover, NH 6 296 31% 5.75 Years 44% 30% 727 3.6 $175,000 91% Consulting (44%)
Financial Services (24%)
Technology (10%)R1: 25-Sep-25
R2: 5-Jan-26
R3: 26-Mar-26
R1: 11-Dec-25
R2: 19-Mar-26
R3: 30-Apr-26https://www.tuck.dartmouth.edu/admissions/attend-an-event Early Action option (not binding), applicant-initiated interview option
Columbia Business School New York, NY 9 760 21% 5 Years 44% 46% 732 3.6 $175,000 89% Financial Services (36%)
Consulting (31%)
Technology (10%)R1: 3-Sep-25
R2: 6-Jan-26
R3: 26-Mar-26
R1: 15-Dec-25
R2: 31-Mar-26
R3: 20-May-26https://www8.gsb.columbia.edu/programs/mba/admissions/events All about the New York City advantage
Yale School of Management (SOM) New Haven, CT 10 347 27% 4.9 Years 39% 48% 730 3.68 $160,000 85% Consulting (32%)
Financial Services (26%)
Technology (10%)R1: 10-Sep-25
R2: 6-Jan-26
R3: 14-Apr-26
R1: 4-Dec-25
R2: 19-Mar-26
R3: 14-May-26https://som.yale.edu/programs/mba/admissions/events Application includes a video essay and a behavioral assessment
University of California-Berkeley (Haas) Berkeley, CA 11 295 25% 5.66 Years 42% 38% 730 3.65 $160,000 86% Consulting (25%)
Technology (24%)
Financial Services (16%)R1: 11-Sep-25
R2: 8-Jan-26
R3: 31-March-26
R1: 11-Dec-25
R2: 26-Mar-26
R3: 7-May-26https://mba.haas.berkeley.edu/admissions/upcoming-events Learn the 4 defining leadership principles
University of Virginia (Darden) Charlottesville, VA 11 355 34% 5.7 Years 37% 30% 720 3.56 $163,700 93% Consulting (42%)
Financial Services (26%)
Technology (9%)Early Action: 4-Sep-25
R1: 1-Oct-25
R2: 7-Jan-26
R3: 1-Apr-26Early Action: 22-Oct-25
R1: 10-Dec-25
R2: 18-Mar-26
R3: 4-May-26https://www.darden.virginia.edu/mba/admissions/events-receptions/ Primarily uses case method, like HBS
Duke University (Fuqua) Durham, NC 13 427 20% 6 Years 51% 41% 660-760
GMAT Range (Middle 80%)3.17-3.89
Undergraduate GPA (Middle 80%)
$175,000 85% Consulting (39%)
Finance (25%)
Technology (12%)Early Action: 4-Sep-25
R1: 30-Sept-25
R2: 8-Jan-26
R3: 24-Feb-26
R4: 1-Apr-26Early Action: 16-Oct-2025
R1: 11-Dec-25
R2: 13-Mar-26
R3: 10-Apr-26
R4: 8-May-26https://www.fuqua.duke.edu/events Early Decision option (binding)
University of Michigan (Ross) Ann Arbor, MI 13 396 29% 6 Years 40% 44% 728 3.42 $170,000 91% Consulting (36%)
Financial Services (18%)
Technology (15%)R1: 8-Sep-25
R2: 5-Jan-26
R3: 23-March-26
R1: 5-Dec-25
R2: 13-Mar-26
R3: 1-May-26https://michiganross.umich.edu/graduate/full-time-mba/admissions/events Show that you want to be part of the community, not just the program.
Cornell University (Johnson) Ithaca, NY 15 282 28% 5.3 Years 41% 35% 710 3.4 $162,000 81% Financial Services (42%)
Consulting (31%)
Technology (11%)R1: 17-Sep-25
R2: 8-Jan-26
R3: 7-Apr-26
R1: 5-Dec-25
R2: 27-Mar-26
R3: 22-May-26https://www.johnson.cornell.edu/Programs/Full-Time-MBA/Admissions/Events Tight-knit community
University of Texas (McCombs) Austin, TX 16 255 38% 6 Years 33% 29% 704 3.48 $144,000 95% Technology (32%)
Consulting (30%)
Financial Services (18%)
R1: 15-Oct-25
R2: 15-Jan-26
R3: 1-Apr-26
R1: 16-Dec-25
R2: 26-Mar-26
R3: 7-May-26https://www.mccombs.utexas.edu/MBA/Events Benefits from Austin's status as an emerging entrepreneurial hub
Emory University (Goizueta) Atlanta, GA 17 128 37% 6 Years 32% 45% 705 3.5 $175,000 93% Consulting (41%)
Financial Services (21%)
Technology (9%)
R1: 1-Oct-25
R2: 7-Jan-26
R3: 18-Mar-26
R1: 3-Dec-25
R2: 12-Apr-26
R3: 6-May-26https://goizueta.emory.edu/engagement/full-time-mba-events
Carnegie Mellon (Tepper) Pittsburgh, PA 18 156 27% 6.3 Years 31% 39% 700 3.26 $148,000 82% Technology (29%)
Consulting (26%)
Financial Services (19%)R1: 30-Sep-25
R2: 8-Jan-26
R3: 3-Mar-26
R4: 5-May-26R1: 3-Dec-25
R2: 3-Mar-26
R3: 29-Apr-26
R4: 3-Jun-26https://www.cmu.edu/tepper/programs/mba/admissions/attend-admissions-events/index.html Highly quant focused in their curriculum
UCLA Anderson Los Angeles, CA 18 305 31% 5.4 Years 43% 41% 714 3.5 $146,500 78% Consulting (25%)
Technology (23%)
Financial Services (18%)R1: 1-Oct-25
R2: 6-Jan-26
R3: 7-Apr-26
R1: 12-Dec-25
R2: 27-Mar-26
R3: 15-May-26http://www.anderson.ucla.edu/degrees/full-time-mba/admissions/events Great for Entertainment industry applicants
Vanderbilt University (Owen) Nashville, TN 18 175 38% 6 Years 29% 30% 703 3.4 $150,200 91% Consulting (32%)
Financial Services (23%)
Healthcare (14%)R1: 1-Oct-25
R2: 7-Jan-26
R3: 24-Feb-26
R4: 1-Apr-26
R5: 15-May-26
R1: 12-Dec-25
R2: 13-Mar-26
R3: 3-Apr-26
R4: 8-May-26
R5: Rollinghttps://business.vanderbilt.edu/mba/admissions/campus-visit/
Indiana University (Kelley) Bloomington, IN 22 103 29% 6.4 Years 38% 58% 685 3.4 $129,000 Not Reported Consulting (24%)
Manufacturing (16%)
Health Care (14%)
Technology (14%)R1: 15-Oct-25
R2: 5-Jan-26
R3: 1-Mar-26
R4: 15-Apr-26
R1: 20-Dec-25
R2: 15-Mar-26
R3: 30-Apr-26
R4: 31-May-26https://kelley.iu.edu/programs/full-time-mba/admissions/meet-us/index.html
University of Washington (Foster) Seattle, WA 22 118 39% 6 Years 32% 43% 710 3.4 $151,000 89% Technology (47%)
Consulting (33%)
Financial Services (5%)R1: 1-Oct-25
R2: 6-Jan-26
R3: 24-Mar-26R1: 19-Dec-25
R2: 27-Mar-26
R3: 15-May-26https://foster.uw.edu/academics/degree-programs/full-time-mba/admissions-events/
University of Southern California (Marshall) Los Angeles, CA 24 211 23% 5.5 Years 36% 35% 722 3.5 $144,000 80% Consulting (28%)
Technology (19%)
Financial Services (13%)R1: 15-Oct-25
R2: 15-Jan-26
R3: 15-Apr-26R1: 15-Dec-25
R2: 15-Jan-26
R3: 15-Apr-26https://www.marshall.usc.edu/programs/mba-programs/part-time-mba/events Known for its powerful alumni network
Georgetown University (McDonough) Washington, DC 24 263 60% 5.6 Years 30% 49% 696 3.3 $148,000 89% Consulting (36%)
Financial Services (27%)
Technology (8%)Early: 9-Sept-25
R1: 1-Oct-25
R2: 6-Jan-26
R3: 2-Apr-26Early: 30-Oct-25
R1: 10-Dec-25
R2: 20-March-26
R3: 14-May-26https://msb.georgetown.edu/mba/mba-admissions-events/
University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill (Kenan-Flagler) Chapel Hill, NC 28 249 37% 5 Years 31% 43% 707 3.4 $140,400 83% Financial Services (21%)
Consulting (21%)
Technology (14%)R1: 7-Oct-25
R2: 6-Jan-26
R3: 3-Mar-26
R4: 21-Apr-26R1: 17-Dec-25
R2: 11-Mar-26
R3: 22-Apr-26
R4: 20-May-26https://www.kenan-flagler.unc.edu/admissions/mba/admissions-events Early Action option (binding), applicant-initiated interview option
INSEAD Paris, France / Singapore N/A ≈ 1000 3-8 Years 38% Not Reported Not Reported Not Reported €113,000 Not Reported Career Decision by Sector Group:
Management Consulting (61%)
Corporate Sectors (16%)
Financial Services (14%)R1: 16-Sep-25
R2: 4-Nov-25
R3: 20-Jan-26
R4: 10-March-26R1: 21-Nov-25
R2: 16-Jan-26
R3: 20-March-26
R4: 8-May-26https://www.insead.edu/master-programmes/mba The business school for the world
London Business School London, England N/A 431 5.5 Years 45% Not Reported 700 Not Reported $120,000 90% Consulting (45%)
Finance (26%)
Technology (21%)https://www.london.edu/masters-degrees/mba/mba-information-events Diverse and open-minded culture in every way
Cambridge (Judge) Cambridge, U.K. N/A 244 6 Years 47% 697 Not Reported £93,085 79% Consulting (27%)
Finance (24%)
Technology (13%)R1: 1-Sep-25
R2: 1-Oct-26
R3: 3-Nov-26
R4: 7-Jan-26
R5: 16-Mar-26R1: 17-Oct-25
R2: 14-Nov-26
R3: 12-Dec-26
R4: 6-Mar-26
R5: 24-Apr-26
https://www.jbs.cam.ac.uk/programmes/mba/meet-us/ Highest value-for-money MBA according to FT
Oxford (Said) Oxford, U.K. N/A 348 6 Years 48% 97% 680 Not Reported £91,198 80% Finance (32%)
Consulting (27%)
Global Industry (18%)R1: 25-Aug-25
R2: 6-Oct-26
R3: 5-Jan-26
R4: 30-Mar-26
R5: 5-May-26https://sbs.ox.ac.uk/events?f%5B0%5D=event_programmes_facet%3A596&f%5B1%5D=event_programmes_facet%3A596&f%5B2%5D=event_programmes_facet%3A596 Focus on sustainability and social impact
*Base salary only, bonus not reported.
After embarking on my own MBA journey, I founded Vantage Point MBA Admissions Consulting to help aspiring business school students get accepted to the top MBA programs in the U.S. and Europe. As President, I currently lead a team of over 25 superstar consultants to give our clients an unmatched experience, with a focus on white glove, personalized collaboration and mentorship.
Pingback: MBA Student Ambassadors | Vantage Point MBA
June 22, 2023 3:30 pmPingback: The MBA Application Process: Do This Now | Vantage Point MBA
January 18, 2024 4:24 pmPingback: The M7 Business Schools: A Comprehensive Guide | Vantage Point MBA
January 31, 2024 2:27 pmPingback: Leveraging Online Courses and Certifications to Strengthen Your MBA Application
July 31, 2024 11:53 amPingback: The MBA Application Process: Do This Now | Vantage Point MBA
January 16, 2025 4:56 pmPingback: Am I Too Young for a Top MBA Program? Or Too Old? | Vantage Point MBA
March 20, 2025 6:48 pmPingback: The Best MBA Programs for Healthcare | Vantage Point MBA
October 16, 2025 3:39 pm