Financial Times’ 2024 MBA Ranking

Financial Times has released its 2024 MBA Ranking with The Wharton School reclaiming the top spot. FT’s assessment considers various factors including value for money, alumni study aims achieved, diversity – both gender and international, academic research, environmental policies, and salary increases. Following Wharton were INSEAD, Columbia, SDA Bocconi, and IESE.

Wharton excelled in the research category, followed by Booth, Harvard, and Columbia. Wharton alumni reported the third-highest average weighted salaries three years after graduation, behind Stanford and Harvard, with just four of the top 20 schools for alumni salaries located outside the US.

Stanford topped the alumni study aims, followed by Tuck and Darden. The University of Georgia’s Terry College of Business ranked highest for “value for money,” while Stanford, Dartmouth, Cornell, and Notre Dame were rated highest for alumni networks.

Georgia Tech’s Scheller College of Business led the way for career services with UCLA Anderson and Fudan University in Shanghai following, and The Indian Institute of Management in Ahmedabad was top for career progress, followed by Stanford.

The Indian School of Business led in post-MBA salary increases followed by Fudan and Shanghai University of Finance and Economics, while SDA Bocconi led in environmental policies, followed by Darden, IE Business School, Duke Fuqua, Esade, and Rotterdam School of Management. 

Despite efforts towards gender diversity, MBA classes have remained predominantly male, with only a few schools achieving gender parity or having more female students.

Overall, the ranking reflects a dynamic landscape in MBA education, with schools adapting to changing demands, emphasizing research and alumni success, and addressing issues of diversity and environmental sustainability.

However, Financial Times notes that MBA graduates are facing tougher times in the job market, with employment rates within three months of graduation dropping to an average of 89 percent across ranked schools, down from 93 percent the previous year. This decline aligns with a broader trend of decreased demand for business degrees, with a 5 percent drop in MBA applications and a shift towards more flexible, part-time, and online programs.

If you’re interested in reading more about Financial Times’ 2024 MBA Ranking, check out this article. They’ve put together snapshots of the top performers including Top School, Highest Salary, Top in Asia-Pacific, Highest New Entrant, Worldly Wise, and many more.

If you’re planning to pursue a business degree, make your first step a call to one of our expert consultants for a free profile review. We’ll give you a candid assessment to help you move ahead.