MBA is a practical degree, not particularly designed for purely academic minds but rather for those seeking a practical approach to advance their career.
MBA, if done “right” it can take you from being just one of the workforce to a skilled asset to your corporation, channelling your intellect and inspiring others as a leader and manager.
It is a booster, a catalyst if you will, that takes your understanding of your own field and garnishes it with hard and soft skills.
For a true MBA seeker, none of this is breaking news. But for a true MBA seeker, it is indeed essential to understand the key takeaway from this discussion – the “right” MBA.
What is a right MBA?
- Is it an MBA done at the right time in your career?
- Is it an MBA done with the right intention and understanding of your goals?
- Is it an MBA that doesn’t burn a hole in your wallet and future financial security?
Frankly it is an amalgamation of all those parameters that drive you to that final question – Is it an MBA done in the “right” school that matched your needs?
There are nearly 300 accredited full time MBA institutes in USA. In India, it is a whopping 5,500 plus. And yet only few will take you down the yellow brick road towards success.
With that in mind, applicants as well as recruiters only really look at the best programs that have gained a good reputation.
In that sense, your pool of choice really boils down to a “good” MBA program that has served its students well in the past and has all the goodies that you are looking to develop for your career.
The M7, T10 and T25 are just an assimilation of such great MBA programs that are offered in the holy birth place of MBA – America. Let us break down what they are before we start comparing them.
M7 MBA Programs
The Magnificent 7 or the M7, are a set of seven exclusive American b-schools that are considered to be highly competitive with some of the best career outcomes, globally.
They collaborate amongst each other, meeting frequently to share their understanding and set the standard for graduate management education. They are the following.
- Harvard Business School, Harvard University
- The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania
- Columbia Business School, Columbia University
- Chicago Booth School of Business, University of Chicago
- Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University
- Sloan School of Management, MIT
- Stanford Graduate School of Business, Stanford University
T10 & T25 MBA Programs
T10 and T25 are the top ten and twenty five MBA programs, respectively, as ranked by the popular US News Rankings published each year.
Though each year we may be able to see schools popping in and out of the list, there are a few constants. Here are lists of the recent 2022-23 & 24 US News top 25 b-schools.
| 2020 | 2022 | 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| Stanford Graduate School of Business | Stanford Graduate School of Business | Stanford Graduate School of Business |
| Wharton, University of Pennsylvania | Wharton, University of Pennsylvania | Wharton, University of Pennsylvania |
| Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University | University of Chicago, Booth | Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University |
| University of Chicago, Booth | Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University | University of Chicago, Booth |
| MIT Sloan | MIT Sloan | MIT Sloan |
| Harvard University | Harvard University | Harvard University |
| UC Berkeley Haas | UC Berkeley Haas | UC Berkeley Haas |
| Columbia University | Columbia University | NYU Stern |
| Yale University | Yale University | Yale University |
| NYU Stern | NYU Stern | Dartmouth Tuck |
| University of Virginia, Darden | Dartmouth Tuck | University of Virginia, Darden |
| Dartmouth Tuck | Duke University, Fuqua | Columbia University |
| Duke University, Fuqua | University of Michigan, Ross | Duke University, Fuqua |
| University of Michigan, Ross | University of Virginia, Darden | University of Michigan, Ross |
| Cornell University, Johnson | Cornell University, Johnson | Cornell University, Johnson |
| UCLA Anderson | Carnegie Mellon Tepper | Carnegie Mellon Tepper |
| USC Marshall | USC Marshall | University of Texas Austin McCombs |
| University of Texas Austin McCombs | University of Texas Austin McCombs | Emory Goizueta |
| Carnegie Mellon Tepper | UCLA Anderson | USC Marshall |
| UNC Kenan Flagler | UNC Kenan Flagler | UNC Kenan Flagler |
| University of Washington Foster | Georgetown University McDonough | Indiana University Kelley |
| University of Washington Foster | UCLA Anderson | |
| Indiana University Kelley | Vanderbilt Owen | |
| Vanderbilt Owen | Georgetown University McDonough | |
| Rice University Jones | Georgia Institute of Technology Scheller |
As you can see for three spaced years, the US News rankings typically feature similar schools year after year. These comprise the top T10 and T25 schools, colloquially.
Now that you are aware of what these collective lists imply, how would you classify your search for a reputed MBA program?
One of the key features applicants use is the career metric.
- How well the b-school churns out success?
- Where and which field are graduates most lucratively employed?
- What is the percentage of employment?
To sum up, how well do these schools, M7 or T10/25 help in defining success stories.
| Business School | Job Offers | Top Industry Students are Employed | Median Base Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| Harvard Business School | 73% sought employment
86% received an offer |
Consulting | $175,000
$30,000 bonus |
| Wharton Business School | 75% sought employment
97% received an offer |
Financial Services | $ 1,75,000 |
| Columbia Business School | 92% offers | Consulting
Finance |
$ 1,90,000 |
| Chicago Booth | 84% sought employment
96% offers |
Consulting | $ 1,80,000 |
| Kellogg School of Management | 84% sought employment
95% offers |
Consulting | $ 1,75,000 |
| MIT Sloan | 75% sought employment
100% received offers |
Consulting | $ 1,90,000 |
| Stanford GSB | 89% received offers | Finance | $ 2,00,000 |
Many of the these M7 b-schools also feature in the T10/T25 lists. To compare the categories, we have highlighted a few from the T10/25 lists as well.
| Business School | Job Offers | Top Industry Students are Employed | Median Base Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| UC Berkeley Haas | 81% sought employment
86% received offers |
Consulting
Technology |
$ 1,78,000 |
| UNC Kenan Flagler | 89% received offers | Financial Services | $ 1,75,000 |
| Indiana University Kelley | 100% received offers | Consulting | $ 1,75,000 |
| NYU Stern | 89% sought employment
94.3% received offers |
Consulting | $ 1,88,000 |
| Dartmouth Tuck | 88% sought employment
96% received offers |
Consulting | $ 1,90,000 |
| University of Michigan, Ross | 96% received offers | Consulting & Technology | $ 1,75,000 |
| Yale University | 96% received offers | Consulting | $ 1,60,000 |
| Indiana University Kelley | Consulting
Financial Services |
$ 1,75,000 | |
| Duke University, Fuqua | 93% received offers | Consulting
Financial Services Technology |
$ 1,75,000 |
As is seen, both M7 and T10/25 b-schools offer vast opportunities after MBA, with graduates being headhunted by some of the best recruiting companies.
Nearly all graduates secure a well paid offer and for applicants seeking industries like Consulting, Financial Services, and Technology, the options are quite lucrative in these schools.
All schools get offers over $170,000 which is well over the average $131,000 salary offered to most MBA graduates elsewhere, according to the US Labor Report 2023.
Typically a three year increase in the salary can be 120% according to the Emory and Business Because.
Top recruiters include The Boston Consulting Group, Amazon, McKinsey & Company, Bain & Company, Goldman Sachs, EY-Parthenon, Fidelity Investment, Google, PWC and more such giants.
Job functions range from mostly in Consulting/Strategic Planning, Asset Management, Investment Banking, Venture Capital in Finance, Product Management and Business Development.
Fewer still were in Business Analytics, Project Management, and other roles requiring the best training that these top notch schools could provide.
Also to keep in mind that many of these M7 and T10/25 b-schools offer STEM MBA degrees that offered added concession in OPT period, allowing graduates ample time to fix their work visa situation.
So, whether you are looking into a future with the M7 stalwarts in MBA education, or some of the top 25 best ranked business schools according to the US News Rankings, your future will certainly be an assuredly good one.
Hence the competition, and hence the demand. Check out how you feature as a suitable applicant and seek us out for professional guidance: info@mbacrystalball.com
Also read,
– Ivy League School List
– Harvard Stanford vs Cambridge Oxford – Ivy league vs Oxbridge
– From Sales & Trading to a top M7 MBA (Chicago Booth): Admissions consulting review
– How I got into Wharton (M7 MBA) with scholarship
– M7 admit reveals application strategy
– Admits from Kellogg & Chicago Booth with scholarship
Source: 1
