The MBA job market has been going through one of its most challenging phases in recent years with hiring slowdowns across key sectors. Even the top business school graduates are feeling the pressure, with top schools like Yale reporting only 80% employment at 3 months while for Harvard, it was 84%.
These shifts in MBA hiring are prompting applicants to rethink their school choices, with many choosing tangible outcomes over brand value. This is reflected in the 2025 Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC) Prospective Students Survey, based on responses from 4,912 candidates from 147 countries.
The findings show that there has been a significant decline in the proportion of candidates who consider program rankings among the top 3 factors while researching programs.
On the other hand, the ROI – covering the skills students develop and their future career opportunities, has emerged as the most considered factor, that saw a significant 4-point increase from 38% in 2023 to 42% in 2024.
What makes the 2026 data particularly interesting is that some lower-ranked MBA programs are outperforming globally renowned business schools on employment rates.
While elite schools continue to dominate salary outcomes, several schools ranked outside the FT Top 50 are placing a larger share of their graduates within three months of graduation.
Key factors that shape your placement outcomes
A business school’s employment rate can be influenced by several factors which include its geography (also visa policies for international students), the school’s industry connections, its careers service and placement assistance, also the strength and support of its global alumni network.
Get instant access to our exclusive club →
The Financial Times (FT) Global MBA rankings provide valuable data for comparing various employment parameters like weighted salary (average alumni salary 3 years post-completion, US$ PPP equivalent), percentage increase in salary (salary rise from before the MBA to 3 years after completion), percentage of graduates employed at 3 months.
In addition to the school rankings, FT also provides rankings for various other parameters including alumni network, careers service and career progress.
The alumni network ranking reflects the strength and engagement of a school’s alumni community (as rated by alumni), which can play a key role in supporting students during internships and placements.
The careers service rank is an indicator of how effective a school’s careers service is across key areas including career counselling, personal development support, networking opportunities, internship assistance and recruitment, based on alumni feedback.
The career progress rank measures alumni advancement by comparing their current seniority and organization size with that prior to the MBA.
In addition to having a high employment rate, ranking well on other related metrics can be an added advantage for placements.
In this article, we look at business schools across the world that have recorded the highest placement rates in 2026 and the ones that have performed well across these various parameters.
Which MBA programs in USA see the best placements
| FT rank | Business School | Weighted Salary | % salary increase | Employed at 3 months |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 60 | University of Georgia: Terry | $150,638 | 134% | 92% |
| 54 | Arizona State University: WP Carey | $146,323 | 125% | 90% |
| 19 | University of Virginia: Darden | $211,697 | 132% | 89% |
| 34 | University of Michigan: Ross | $197,193 | 124% | 89% |
| 68 | University of Texas at Dallas: Jindal | $139,070 | 105% | 89% |
| 20 | University of Chicago: Booth | $231,939 | 114% | 88% |
| 40 | University of North Carolina: Kenan-Flagler | $180,961 | 122% | 88% |
| 62 | University of Rochester: Simon Business School | $161,236 | 160% | 88% |
| 1 | MIT: Sloan | $245,991 | 119% | 87% |
| 3 | University of Pennsylvania: Wharton | $246,813 | 103% | 87% |
| 26 | Dartmouth College: Tuck | $211,074 | 116% | 87% |
| 11 | Northwestern University: Kellogg School of Management | $219,821 | 110% | 86% |
| 23 | New York University: Stern | $210,675 | 129% | 86% |
| 51 | Vanderbilt University: Owen | $188,825 | 140% | 86% |
Elite M7 schools including Wharton, MIT Sloan, Chicago Booth recorded the highest weighted salary at $246,813, $245,991 and $231,939 respectively. Others programs reporting high weighted salaries included Northwestern Kellogg at $219,821, Dartmouth Tuck at $211,074 and NYU Stern at $210,675.
UGA Terry and ASU WP Carey saw the highest percentage of hires in the US in 2026 at 92% and 90% respectively. After a steep decline in the percentage of class hired (77%) in 2025, MIT Sloan has bounced back by placing 87% in 2026.
Vanderbilt Owen recorded the highest salary increase among the listed US schools, reaching 140% in 2026. It also led in employment outcomes in 2025 with 90% of its students being hired at 3 months after graduation.
Dartmouth Tuck and MIT Sloan have achieved outstanding global rankings for their alumni networks, placed at no. 1 and no. 4 respectively. This is closely followed by Booth at no. 7, Kellogg at no. 9 and Darden at no. 10. Others among the top 20 for alumni network include Ross at no. 16, Kenan Flagler at no. 17 and Wharton at no. 18.
Among those ranking high globally for careers service, it was Dartmouth Tuck again at no. 5, Terry was at no. 7, NYU Stern at no. 9, Michigan Ross at no. 10. Others who did well in this area included Northwestern Kellogg at no. 11, UVA Darden at no. 12, Kenan Flagler ranked no. 13, ASU WP Carey was at no. 17, Chicago Booth held the 18th rank while UT Dallas Jindal was at no. 26.
Three-year hiring trends for U.S. business schools
| Business School | FT 2026 | FT 2025 | FT 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Georgia: Terry | 92% | 95% | 97% |
| Arizona State University: WP Carey | 90% | 82% | 96% |
| University of Michigan: Ross | 89% | 84% | – |
| University of Virginia: Darden | 89% | 90% | 95% |
| University of Texas at Dallas: Jindal | 89% | 97% | 90% |
| University of Chicago: Booth | 88% | 84% | 94% |
| University of North Carolina: Kenan-Flagler | 88% | 82% | 88% |
| University of Rochester: Simon Business School | 88% | 87% | 91% |
| MIT: Sloan | 87% | 77% | 87% |
| University of Pennsylvania: Wharton | 87% | 88% | 92% |
| Dartmouth College: Tuck | 87% | 89% | 93% |
| Northwestern University: Kellogg School of Management | 86% | 87% | 92% |
| New York University: Stern | 86% | 85% | 94% |
| Vanderbilt University: Owen | 86% | 90% | – |
The above table represents percentage of hires 3 months post-completion
Among the top-tier US schools, Darden stands out for consistently placing a high percentage of the class across the 3-year period from 2024-26. It also has a high weighted salary of $211,697, with graduates seeing a substantial rise in salary (132%) after completion. Its alumni network is ranked highly at no. 10, while the careers service rank is also strong at no. 12.
Which MBA programs in Europe see the highest hiring percentage
| FT rank | Business School | Location | Weighted Salary | % salary increase | Employed at 3 months |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 22 | ESCP Business School | France | $142,324 | 107% | 100% |
| 47 | Edhec Business School | France | $125,429 | 95% | 97% |
| 41 | EMLyon Business School | France | $139,691 | 121% | 93% |
| 24 | Essec Business School | France | $139,055 | 130% | 91% |
| 21 | IE Business School | Spain | $176,305 | 108% | 92% |
| 7 | Esade Business School | Spain | $206,389 | 155% | 90% |
| 55 | Cranfield School of Management | UK | $150,277 | 91% | 90% |
| 49 | Alliance Manchester Business School | UK | $144,437 | 103% | 87% |
| 4 | London Business School | UK | $217,389 | 106% | 86% |
| 79 | The Lisbon MBA Catolica | Nova | Portugal | $138,232 | 77% | 88% |
| 52 | Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University | Netherlands | $137,495 | 83% | 86% |
| 65 | Mannheim Business School | Germany | $147,702 | 73% | 85% |
Among the FT top ranked schools in Europe, LBS recorded a high weighted salary of $217,389, while for ESADE, it was $206,389. Among those that placed the highest number of graduates according to FT rankings 2026 data, were business schools in France including ESCP (100%), EDHEC (97%) and EMLyon (93%).
Among European schools that earned the top positions globally for career progress were Cranfield at no. 11, IE Business School at no. 14, LBS at no. 18, ESCP at no. 25, Alliance Manchester at no. 20, ESADE at no. 30, EDHEC at no. 31, and the Lisbon MBA at no. 34.
Alliance Manchester also made its way into the top 10 (ranked 8th) worldwide for careers service while Cranfield ranked 25th for alumni network. The highest salary percentage increase was recorded by ESADE at 155% and ESSEC at 130%.
Three-year hiring trends for European business schools
| Business School | FT 2026 | FT 2025 | FT 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|
| ESCP Business School | 100% | 100% | 99% |
| Edhec Business School | 97% | 96% | 95% |
| EMLyon Business School | 93% | 94% | 95% |
| Essec Business School | 91% | 82% | 93% |
| IE Business School | 92% | 92% | 96% |
| Esade Business School | 90% | 90% | 91% |
| Cranfield School of Management | 90% | 80% | 84% |
| Alliance Manchester Business School | 87% | 94% | 86% |
| London Business School | 86% | 85% | 90% |
| The Lisbon MBA Catolica | Nova | 88% | 91% | 91% |
| Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University | 86% | 89% | 83% |
| Mannheim Business School | 85% | 93% | 93% |
The above table represents percentage of hires 3 months post-completion
SDA Bocconi, a leading European business school located in Italy is not included in the FT 2026 rankings list. However, the school had impressive career outcomes in 2025 with 91% of the class employed at 3 months post-graduation, with a weighted salary of $217,241 and a 124% increase in salary.
In 2024, 95% of the class found jobs at 3 months post-graduation. The school had a high weighted salary of $202,534. It had an outstanding FT global MBA rank of 4 in 2025 and 3 in 2024.
Which MBA programs in Asia see the highest hiring percentages
| FT rank | Business School | Location | Weighted Salary | % salary increase | Employed at 3 months |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36 | Shanghai University of Finance and Economics: College of Business (COB, SUFE) | China | $197,720 | 177% | 100% |
| 14 | Peking University: Guanghua | China | $177,317 | 173% | 100% |
| 30 | Fudan University School of Management | China | $171,138 | 173% | 93% |
| 8 | CEIBS | China | $202,343 | 156% | 90% |
| 33 | HKU Business School | Hong Kong | $164,890 | 121% | 85% |
| 24 | HKUST Business School | Hong Kong | $171,999 | 148% | 95% |
| 29 | National University of Singapore Business School (NUS) | Singapore | $181,224 | 140% | 93% |
Business schools in Asia led in placing the highest number of graduates, outperforming the US and Europe. Among schools in China, Hong Kong and Singapore, those leading were COB, SUFE and Peking: Guanghua with an impressive 100% placements followed by NUS, HKUST and Fudan with employment rate at 3 months being 95%, 93% and 93% respectively.
CEIBS recorded the highest weighted salary in these regions at $202,343 followed by COB, SUFE at $197,720 and NUS at $181,224.
MBA programs in India with best placements
| FT rank | Business School | Location | Weighted Salary | % salary increase | Employed at 3 months |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 34 | IIM Bangalore (IIMB) | India | $187,973 | 165% | 100% |
| 53 | IIM Calcutta (IIMC) | India | $173,476 | 186% | 100% |
| 62 | IIM Indore (IIMI) | India | $163,234 | 200% | 100% |
| 65 | IIM Kozhikode | India | $157,483 | 216% | 100% |
| 82 | XLRI – Xavier School of Management | India | $138,457 | 243% | 100% |
| 27 | IIM Ahmedabad (IIMA) | India | $227,942 | 160% | 99% |
| 12 | Indian School of Business (ISB) | India | $201,712 | 248% | 98% |
| 58 | IIM Lucknow (IIML) | India | $166,121 | 185% | 94% |
| 74 | SP Jain Institute of Management & Research (SPJIMR) | India | $156,649 | 199% | 92% |
Indian business schools continued to demonstrate excellence with stellar placements and competitive weighted salaries. In terms of percentage salary increase, Indian business schools secured the global top 7 ranks.
ISB was no. 1 with an amazing 248% increase followed by XLRI taking the 2nd place at 243%, IIMK ranked 3rd with a 216% increase, while IIMI secured the 4th position at 200%. SPJIMR stood 5th at 199% followed by IIMC at 6th with a 186% rise, next was IIML at 185%.
IIMA had dominated the career progress rank by taking the 1st global position for 4 consecutive years from 2022-25. At present, it was at no. 3 while the others were not too far behind. IIMB was at 4th position; this school too has been ranking among the top 6 for career progress over the last 3 years. Among the other schools that excelled for career progress rank were IIMC at no. 9, IIML at no. 13 and IIMI at no. 15.
For careers service, ISB ranked 16th globally, XLRI was at 23rd position while IIMC ranked 21st. ISB also had an excellent alumni network rank of 6th while IIMA, IIMK held the 21st and 22nd positions respectively.
Three-year hiring trends for Asian business schools
| Business School | FT 2026 | FT 2025 | FT 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shanghai University of Finance and Economics: College of Business | 100% | 99% | 100% |
| Peking University: Guanghua | 100% | 100% | 100% |
| Fudan University School of Management | 93% | 95% | 91% |
| CEIBS | 90% | 90% | 94% |
| HKU Business School | 85% | 82% | 96% |
| HKUST Business School | 95% | 93% | 100% |
| National University of Singapore Business School | 93% | 93% | 87% |
| IIM Calcutta | 100% | 100% | 100% |
| IIM Bangalore | 100% | 100% | 100% |
| IIM Indore | 100% | 100% | – |
| IIM Kozhikode | 100% | – | – |
| XLRI — Xavier School of Management | 100% | 94% | 95% |
| IIM Ahmedabad | 99% | 96% | 99% |
| Indian School of Business | 98% | 95% | 100% |
| IIM Lucknow | 94% | 100% | 100% |
| SP Jain Institute of Management & Research (SPJIMR) | 92% | – | – |
The above table represents percentage of hires 3 months post-completion
How SPJIMR manages the recruitment process
MBA Crystal Ball spoke with S.P. Jain Institute of Management & Research (SPJIMR), featured in the FT Global MBA Rankings, to understand current hiring trends, recruiter expectations, and how the school prepares students for evolving market demands.
MCB: Could you explain how the business school supports students throughout the MBA journey, from onboarding to final placements, to help maximise career outcomes?
SPJIMR: The PGPM is purpose-built for experienced professionals. Immediately after onboarding, a structured profile-mapping exercise is conducted with industry mentors who understand each participant’s unique background and guide them on the various career paths available and recommend the most suitable trajectory based on their profile.
The mandatory Professional Manager Qualification equips participants with people management competencies, preparing them for early manager roles. This is complemented with targeted interview preparation, personal branding workshops, and active leveraging of SPJIMR’s strong alumni network. The most recent cohort achieved an average salary increase of 150% over their incoming compensation.
MCB: Given the current economic environment, have you observed any significant changes in hiring trends over the past few years?
SPJIMR: Recruiters are increasingly looking for professionals with business transformation skills suited to the digital age – individuals who can think strategically and lead change in technology-driven environments.
Consulting has emerged as one of the largest hiring segments, reflecting strong demand for structured problem-solvers with real-world experience. There is also growing recruiter interest in sustainability, operations leadership, and the rapidly expanding Global Capability Centre sector.
MCB: Have recruiter expectations from MBA graduates changed in recent years and how does the programme prepare students to meet these evolving requirements?
SPJIMR: Recruiters today expect more than technical competence. They want graduates who demonstrate adaptability, cross-functional thinking, and the ability to lead in ambiguous environments.
To meet these evolving demands, SPJIMR’s curriculum enhancements include a stronger emphasis on leadership development, systems thinking, design thinking, and an innovation mindset. Students engage in live projects that mirror real business challenges building the exposure, resilience, and collaborative instincts that today’s recruiters value most.
Inputs from Anshul Verma, Professor of Finance and Accounting and Chairperson of the PGPM, and Renuka Kamath, Professor of Marketing and Associate Dean of Full-time Programmes, S.P. Jain Institute of Management & Research.
Australia has only one business school featured in the FT rankings. With 85% of the class placed at 3 months, AGSM AT UNSW also has a good career progress rank of 22 and careers service rank of 27.
| FT rank | Business School | Weighted Salary | % salary increase | Employed at 3 months |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 60 | AGSM at UNSW Business School | $154,223 | 69% | 85% |
Our team of experts has helped thousands of MBA aspirants get into the top business schools, often with scholarships. Reach out to us at info@mbacrystalball.com if you need help with your applications.
Read these next:
