Global MBA Rankings 2023
MBA Rankings for USA, Canada, UK, Germany, Australia, India and other countries in the world
The first MBA program rankings began in the late 1960s. Since then, many publications successfully, and unsuccessfully, laid out lists each year based on their own emphasized criteria – alumni ratings, salary, faculty reviews, and more.
Given the fact that USA leads the world in the number of popular business schools, its programs dominate the lists compelling many ranking publications to follow separate US and non-US enumerations. However, those generally fail to provide a complete global picture. Hence, when it comes to judging the world scene, Global MBA Rankings are usually the place to sniff out the powerhouses of business excellence.
The purpose, of such rankings, is two-fold. A) B-Schools are able to establish popularity and enhance their brand value, thereby attracting the crème-de-la-crème and ultimately keeping the shop open for business, and B) aiding prospective students in determining their future alma mater based on characteristics that will ultimately put a number on their ROI for getting an MBA.
Global MBA Rankings
Among the many rankings available in the universe, we have collated the Global MBA Rankings from three sources.
- The Financial Times (FT) Global MBA Rankings which uses surveys to gather information from alumni, graduated within three years of the ranking year, for salary and employment statistics.
- The Economist surveys b-schools, to alumni, in a 4:1 ratio, factoring in GMAT, employment and the ever-relevant salary statistics. (Note: The Economist has stopped releasing MBA Rankings. We have the rankings from 2017 to give a historical perspective.)
- QS Global 200 Business Schools that calculates rankings based on a two-year period of employer assigned points average.
Armed with these, our intention is to tabulate a rather crisp comparison of the above global rankings, of MBA programs in the world.
Here is a list of b-schools that have ranked among the top 100 MBA programs in at least one of the ranking schemes of the Financial Times, The Economist, or the QS Global 200 Business Schools, arranged geographically (Top Higher Education Systems of the world).
Best MBA colleges in the world
Asian and Australasian Business Schools in Global MBA Rankings
| B-School | Country | FT Global MBA Ranking (2023) | QS Global MBA Ranking (2023) | Economist World MBA Ranking (2017) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| INSEAD | France/Singapore | 2 | 9 | 21 |
| CEIBS | China | 20 | 37 | NA |
| HKUST | Hong Kong | 42 | 49 | 97 |
| Nanyang | Singapore | 38 | 32 | 78 |
| NUS | Singapore | 25 | 26 | 99 |
| ISB | India | 39 | 78 | NA |
| IIM Ahmedabad | India | 51 | 44 | NA |
| Shanghai Jiao Tong (Antai) | China | NA | 61 | NA |
| Shanghai University of Finance and Economics | China | 23 | NA | NA |
| CUHK | China | 64 | 74 | NA |
| University of Hong Kong | Hong Kong | 41 | 38 | 25 |
| Macquarie | Australia | NA | 82 | 49 |
| IIM Bangalore | India | 52 | 50 | NA |
| Queensland Business School | Australia | NA | NA | 16 |
| Melbourne Business School | Australia | NA | 27 | 27 |
| ESSEC | France/Singapore | 70 | 28 | NA |
| Tsinghua University | China | NA | 29 | NA |
| AGSM (UNSW) | Australia | 95 | 31 | NA |
European Business Schools in Global MBA Rankings
| B-School | Country | FT Global MBA Ranking (2023) | QS Global MBA Ranking (2023) | Economist World MBA Ranking (2017) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| INSEAD | France/Singapore | 2 | 9 | 21 |
| Judge (Cambridge) | UK | 23 | 12 | 55 |
| London Business School | UK | 16 | 5 | 31 |
| IE Business School | Spain | 22 | 7 | 34 |
| IESE Business School | Spain | 3 | 10 | 17 |
| ESADE | Spain | 30 | 17 | 48 |
| HEC Paris | France | 17 | 4 | 15 |
| IMD | Switzerland | 32 | 25 | 29 |
| SDA Bocconi | Italy | 6 | 22 | 28 |
| Alliance Manchester | UK | 46 | 47 | NA |
| Rotterdam (Erasmus) | Netherlands | 63 | 30 | 91 |
| Said (Oxford) | UK | 28 | 16 | 75 |
| Cass (City University) | UK | 66 | NA | 65 |
| Lancaster | UK | NA | NA | 74 |
| Warwick | UK | 55 | 35 | 18 |
| Imperial College | UK | 37 | 21 | 85 |
| Mannheim | Germany | 56 | 43 | 39 |
| ESMT (Berlin) | Germany | NA | 85 | 41 |
| EDHEC | France | 47 | 45 | 44 |
| Copenhagen Business School | Denmark | NA | 24 | 88 |
| ESSEC | France/Singapore | 70 | 28 | NA |
| Vlerick | Belgium | 93 | 61 | NA |
| Cranfield | UK | 88 | 87 | 62 |
North American Business Schools in Global MBA Rankings
| B-School | Country | FT Global MBA Ranking (2023) | QS Global MBA Ranking (2023) | Economist World MBA Ranking (2017) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stanford GSB | USA | 4 | 1 | 5 |
| Wharton | USA | NA | 3 | 4 |
| Harvard HBS | USA | 4 | 2 | 3 |
| Columbia Business School | USA | 1 | 8 | 9 |
| Booth (Chicago) | USA | 11 | 13 | 2 |
| Kellogg (Northwestern) | USA | 9 | 14 | 1 |
| Sloan (MIT) | USA | 11 | 6 | 19 |
| Berkeley Haas (California) | USA | 7 | 11 | 7 |
| Yale | USA | 10 | 18 | 11 |
| Tuck (Dartmouth) | USA | 15 | 53 | 8 |
| Stern (NYU) | USA | 19 | 19 | 14 |
| Ross (Michigan) | USA | 26 | 20 | 12 |
| Fuqua (Duke) | USA | 11 | 23 | 13 |
| Johnson (Cornell) | USA | 8 | 36 | 26 |
| Anderson (UCLA) | USA | 14 | 34 | 6 |
| Darden (Virginia) | USA | 17 | 57 | 10 |
| Tepper (Carnegie Mellon) | USA | 49 | 39 | 30 |
| McDonough (Georgetown) | USA | 32 | 57 | 38 |
| Foster (Washington) | USA | 32 | 65 | 36 |
| Kenan-Flagler (North Carolina) | USA | 35 | 76 | 24 |
| McCombs (Texas Austin) | USA | 50 | 39 | 35 |
| Kelley (Indiana) | USA | NA | 42 | 22 |
| Marshall (USC) | USA | 21 | 36 | 40 |
| Hough (Florida) | USA | NA | NA | 20 |
| Owen (Vanderbilt) | USA | 44 | 82 | 23 |
| Carlson (Minnesota) | USA | NA | 67 | 32 |
| Goizueta (Emory) | USA | 36 | 60 | 33 |
| Scheller (Georgia Tech) | USA | 64 | 52 | 37 |
| Jesse H Jones (Rice University) | USA | 29 | 80 | 42 |
| Olin (Washington St Louis) | USA | 31 | 75 | 43 |
| W. P. Carey (Arizona State) | USA | 53 | NA | 45 |
| Eli Broad (Michigan State) | USA | 43 | 71 | 46 |
| Mendoza (Notre Dame) | USA | 71 | 97 | 47 |
| Katz (Pittsburgh) | USA | 78 | NA | 50 |
| Questrom (Boston) | USA | 75 | 33 | 51 |
| Rotman (Toronto) | Canada | 67 | 41 | NA |
| Ivey (Western) | Canada | 84 | 69 | 59 |
| McGill Desautels | Canada | 83 | 73 | NA |
| Queen’s Smith | Canada | 71 | 76 | NA |
We will also use this article to finally move on to individual country specific rankings to keep the decision-making process simple and organized.
Country Specific MBA Rankings
Besides the global picture, a list of the most popular business schools, in a country, provides an indication of how they are positioned with respect to the business, and employment, demands of the nation. The rest of this article is motivated to inform the reader of the regional MBA rankings, with links directed to the individual, more detailed, pages (Which is the best country for MBA abroad?).
MBA Rankings in USA
USA is the birth place of MBA. And being the grandparent of business education, it has kept up with its origin legacy by housing some of the best MBA programs in the world. More than 50% of the top business schools, of the world, are American. Follow the link below to educate yourself with the top MBA programs in the US and other pertinent information that can help you along your pursuit of the coveted degree.
MBA Rankings in Canada
Canada’s education promise is looking more like an underdogvictory story with the country featuring in almost all Top Education Destination lists. Its MBA programs have also received popular recognition, with a couple of Canadian B-schools having made it to the Global MBA rankings. Follow the link below for the MBA rankings, within this North American wonderland.
MBA Rankings in UK
The Queen’s country has some of the oldest universities and is among the best MBA abroad countries for Indians, and other international, students. The familiar language, the multicultural society, and London being one of the economic/financial centers of the world, makes the UK quite a lucrative option after an MBA degree.Here is a list of the top UK MBA programs suited for all the anglophiles out there.
MBA Rankings in Germany
An MBA in Germany offers up the opportunity to study in the world’s fourth largest, and Europe’s biggest economy. The country has some of the best education resources, there is, and to top it all their education costs are very low, with public universities granting degrees for a buck and a smile. Their MBA programs are globally respected. Follow the link to scan the names of the top MBA schools in Germany.
MBA Rankings in Australia
The land down-under has a lot more in store besides the miles of beaches and exotic, yet poisonous, multi-limbed creatures.Competitive salaries, job opportunities, and world class resources, top its already favorable features of common known language and cosmopolitan culture. Here are the best MBA programs offered in the land of the ‘roos…
MBA Rankings in India
India offers a relatively reasonable education alternative with rewarding results. The IIMs, S P Jain, and ISBs, are globally recognized brands with incredible ROIs, well worth your money. These schools offer various tailored MBA options suited to individual needs. Follow the link below for best MBA programs in India.
MBA Rankings in Singapore
Singapore has become one of the most popular business centers in Asia, and in the world. The cost of an MBA degree is cheaper than the US, and yet offers incredibly lucrative career options in companies like McKinsey, Boston Consulting, Amazon, and more. Its multicultural society makes for easy living for students, and its schools, like NUS, Nanyang, and INSEAD, have worldwide recognition.
MBA Rankings in Hong Kong
Hong Kong is yet another crucial financial center of Asia and beyond. Besides being highly ranked as one of the best student cities in the world, according to QS, it provides an excellent secure option for international students to obtain full-time employment in Hong Kong. Therefore, an MBA, with great career prospects, makes for a very desirable investment in the future.
MBA Rankings in China
China is a formidable name in today’s economy. Its fast-growing market has created a perfect environment for business growth, and thereby practical business education. The number of MBA schools have grown in the past few decades to accommodate the need for trained professionals which also constitutes a healthy number of international students. For a complete guide on Chinese MBA programs, best schools, careers, and post-MBA salaries, take a peek at the link below.
MBA Rankings in Philippines
Philippines’s education system falls within the top 50 in the world. The cost of an MBA degree is reasonably low, with post MBA salaries promising smart returns. For information, on the top MBA programs, career prospects, and more, you are recommended to browse the link below and follow it up with your research.
MBA Rankings in Africa
Africa is an emerging market with the demand for MBA graduates gradually catching up to meet that from other parts of the world. The growth is slow, such as the 1% growth in the jobs for MBA, in 2015/16 as compared to Asia’s 17% and North America’s 16%, according to QS TopMBA Jobs and Salary Trends Report of 2016/17. However, salaries in the continent have remained consistent despite the slow growth. Pockets of the continent, like Egypt and South Africa, continue to show some demand for MBA graduates and relatively high salaries, such as South Africa’s average of $92,500 plus bonus. Some of the well-known African b-schools are tabulated below.
| School | Country | Rank in 2016/17 |
| Graduate School of Business, University of Cape Town | South Africa | QS Global Rank: #141-150
FT Global MBA Rank: #76 |
| Wits Business School, University of Witwatersrand | South Africa | FT Business Executive Education – Customized: #68 |
| GIBS Business School, University of Pretoria | South Africa | FT Business Executive Education- Customized: #45 |
| University of Stellenbosch Business School | South Africa | FT Business Executive Education – Customized: #80 |
| The American University in Cairo | Egypt | FT Business Executive Education – Open: #73 |
End Note
Besides the above list, we, at MBA Crystal Ball, have also come up with a homegrown MBA Ranking which is based on the online popularity of the programs. Our methodology uses overall website traffic and other social media parameters (followers, likes, interactions, online activity) on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter. Follow the link – Most Popular GMAT Business Schools – for the list. On a related note, you may also find Global University Rankings, for Undergraduate Studies an interesting read, if you are looking at some of the most well-renowned universities for undergrad programs in various fields.
Remember to research your cause and keep your sights set on your MBA goal story.
Read How to research business school and MBA programs
Good Luck!