Full-time MBA Ranking 2021

A year ago, even before most people had heard of a new respiratory disease centred around a wet market in Wuhan, the MBA was already falling out of fashion. With the global economy booming, the opportunity cost of this pricey degree (top schools charge $100,000 or more a year) did not seem worthwhile to many. Then, as the virus took hold, the attraction seemingly dwindled further. Lectures moved online, team exercises became socially distant and study-trips abroad were cancelled. Without the professional networking opportunities that MBAs provide, how could they possibly survive?

Rather than just about hanging on, many schools are positively flourishing. According to the latest annual global survey of more than 300 business schools by the Graduate Management Admission Council, 66% of programmes saw applications rise. Business schools deserve credit for adapting their business models—as their professors preach others to do. Many delayed the start of semesters, offered generous scholarships, waived exam requirements and liberalised policies on deferrals. And when we contacted schools in May to ask if they still wanted to take part in our full-time WhichMBA rankings, the vast majority were in favour of participating. Although some well-known schools are missing, we have ranked 90 schools on their full-time courses, using responses to quantitative and qualitative questions from thousands of current and former MBA students.

Welcome to the new Which MBA? We will be rolling out features throughout the month, please check back in soon.SearchIndicatorOverall scoreOpen new career opportunitiesDiversity of recruitersDiversity of recruiters – breadthDiversity of recruiters – evenness of spreadPercentage of job-seeking graduates with job offer 3 months after graduationAlumnus rating of career service (out of 5)Personal development and educational experienceFaculty qualityRatio of faculty to studentsPercentage of full-time faculty with PhDStudent/alumnus rating of faculty (out of 5)Student qualityAverage GMAT scoreAverage number of years’ work experiencePre MBA salary, current students $Student/faculty diversityStudent geographical diversity score (out of 100)Student gender diversity score (out of 100)Student rating of culture and classmates (out of 5)Faculty gender diversity score (score out of 100)Education experienceStudent/alumnus rating of programme content (score out of 5)Range of and access to overseas study programmes (score out of 100)Number of languages on offerStudent/alumnus rating of facilities (score out of 5)SalaryPost MBA salary, alumni, $Salary increase, alumni, %Potential to networkRatio of alumni to current studentsNumber of overseas MBA alumni chaptersNumber of overseas business-school alumni chaptersAlumnus rating of alumni effectiveness (score out of 5)CountryAllAustraliaCanadaChinaDenmarkFranceGermanyHong KongIndiaIrelandItalyJapanMonacoNetherlandsNigeriaPortugalSingaporeSouth KoreaSpainSwitzerlandUnited KingdomUnited StatesYear202120192018