Overview of Top Business Schools
Earning an MBA can be a major step in advancing your career, but knowing which business school is the right fit for your goals, learning style, and personality is key. You need to consider a lot more than just rankings when researching your options, including location, class size, learning style, top industries for graduates, and alumni network. On this page, we offer an overview of the top MBA programs. Click the “learn more” button under each business school’s description to access more detailed information and find mbaMission resources that can help you determine which programs you should target.
Berkeley Haas
Berkeley, California
The Haas School of Business at the University of California, Berkeley (Berkeley Haas) is a small but dynamic powerhouse among MBA programs. Because it is located in a small college town but close to San Francisco, students can enjoy the best of both worlds during their studies. Haas is renowned for its tight-knit student community, fostered by its culture, location, and class size.
Location Type
Urban Campus/College Town Hybrid
Class Size
Small (under 400)
Can Waive/Test Out Classes?
Yes
Top Industry for 2022 Graduates
Technology/Telecom (32.9%)
Rankings (Financial Times 2023)
7th
Average GMAT Score (Class of 2024)
729
Average GPA (Class of 2024)
3.64
Acceptance Rate
19.6% (2022)
Chicago Booth
Chicago, Illinois
The University of Chicago Booth School of Business’s (Chicago Booth’s) reputation as a “finance school” is largely warranted, but the program should also be known for its flexibility and hands-on opportunities. Although students must meet certain foundational course requirements, Chicago Booth has no strictly defined, mandatory core curriculum, which allows students to focus on their professional ambitions right away.
Location Type
Urban Campus
Class Size
Medium (400-700)
Can Waive/Test Out Classes?
Yes
Top Industry for 2022 Graduates
Consulting (35.5%)
Rankings (Bloomberg Businessweek 2023)
2nd
Average GMAT Score (Class of 2024)
729
Average GPA (Class of 2024)
3.60
Acceptance Rate
30.1% (2022)
Columbia Business School
New York, New York
Columbia Business School (CBS), a consistently top-ranked MBA program, typically draws approximately 6,000 applicants a year. Its New York City location gives students access to industry leaders and plentiful opportunities for internships and experiential learning. Although CBS is best known for finance, more of its graduates often enter consulting, and interest in media/technology has soared in recent years.
Location Type
Urban Campus
Class Size
Large (over 700)
Can Waive/Test Out Classes?
Yes
Top Industry for 2022 Graduates
Financial Services (36.9%)
Rankings (US News & World Report 2023)
11th
Average GMAT Score (Class of 2024)
729
Average GPA (Class of 2024)
3.6
Acceptance Rate
19.7%
Cornell Johnson
Ithaca, New York
Cornell University’s Samuel Curtis Johnson Graduate School of Management (Cornell Johnson) is considered one of the leading business schools in the country. Its relatively small class size and idyllic location near New York City allow students to experience both the intimacy of a close-knit college town and the vast possibilities offered by the more metropolitan cities nearby.
Location Type
College Town
Class Size
Small (under 400)
Can Waive/Test Out Classes?
Yes
Top Industry for 2022 Graduates
Financial Services (39%)
Rankings (US News & World Report 2023)
15th
Average GMAT Score (Class of 2024)
710 (median)
Average GPA (Class of 2024)
3.30 (median)
Acceptance Rate
31.2%
Dartmouth Tuck
Hanover, New Hampshire
The Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College (Dartmouth Tuck) is the oldest graduate school of management in the United States. The combination of the school’s small class size and its remote location in Hanover, New Hampshire, makes the culture distinctive. The school’s close-knit community creates a strong sense of teamwork on campus, no doubt contributing to the reputation Tuck alumni have in the workforce for excelling in team-based industries, such as consulting.
Location Type
College Town
Class Size
Small (under 400)
Can Waive/Test Out Classes?
Yes
Top Industry for 2022 Graduates
Consulting (47%)
Rankings (US News & World Report 2023)
6th
Average GMAT Score (Class of 2024)
726
Average GPA (Class of 2024)
3.52
Acceptance Rate
33.4%
Duke Fuqua
Durham, North Carolina
Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business (Duke Fuqua) has a collaborative culture that tends to resonate with applicants who seek a team-first learning environment. The “Team Fuqua” mentality is infused throughout the school’s program, inspiring students to instinctively help one another in their professional development. The school’s tight-knit community is further bolstered by its location in picturesque Durham, North Carolina.
Location Type
College Town
Class Size
Medium (400-700)
Can Waive/Test Out Classes?
Yes
Top Industry for 2022 Graduates
Consulting (36%)
Rankings (US News & World Report 2023)
11th
Average GMAT Score Range (Middle 80%, Class of 2024)
680–760
Average GPA Range (Class of 2024)
3.1–3.9
Acceptance Rate
20.5%
Harvard Business School
Boston, Massachusetts
Harvard Business School (HBS) has arguably the strongest global MBA brand and is therefore a dream school for the up to 10,000 candidates who apply annually. HBS is known for pioneering the case method, which students and alumni alike often credit for providing real-life problem-solving skills that lead to business success.
Location Type
Urban Campus
Class Size
Large (over 700)
Can Waive/Test Out Classes?
No
Top Industry for 2022 Graduates
Financial Services (34%)
Rankings (US News & World Report 2023)
5th
Average GMAT Score (Class of 2024)
730 (median)
Average GPA (Class of 2024)
3.7
Acceptance Rate
14.4% (2022)
Michigan Ross
Ann Arbor, Michigan
The University of Michigan’s Stephen M. Ross School of Business (Michigan Ross) offers students a well-rounded general management curriculum, complemented by signature hands-on learning opportunities. Michigan Ross appeals to MBA applicants who seek a true campus vibe and a collegial culture.
Location Type
College Town
Class Size
Small (under 400)
Can Waive/Test Out Classes?
Yes
Top Industry for 2022 Graduates
Consulting (42%)
Rankings (US News & World Report 2023)
8th
Average GMAT Score (Class of 2024)
720
Average GPA (Class of 2024)
3.5
Acceptance Rate
28.1% (2022)
MIT Sloan
Boston, Massachusetts
The MIT Sloan School of Management (MIT Sloan) claims to be a different type of business school. In fact, its students—known as “Sloanies”—frequently refer to the program as the “anti-MBA MBA.” Indeed, Sloan accepts applicants from a plethora of backgrounds and Sloan graduates go into post-MBA positions in various fields.
Location Type
Urban Campus
Class Size
Medium (400-700)
Can Waive/Test Out Classes?
No
Top Industry for 2022 Graduates
Consulting (31.2%)
Rankings (US News & World Report 2023)
4th
Average GMAT Score (Class of 2024)
730 (median)
Average GPA (Class of 2024)
3.62
Acceptance Rate
14.8% (2022)
Northwestern Kellogg
Evanston, Illinois
Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management (Northwestern Kellogg) strives to develop leaders who have a thirst for creativity and innovation, a commitment to collaboration, and an eye toward empathy. The school is perhaps best known for its marketing expertise and interactive student experiences, and for placing students into brand management roles at consumer products companies.
Location Type
Urban Campus/College Town Hybrid
Class Size
Medium (400-700)
Can Waive/Test Out Classes?
Yes
Top Industry for 2022 Graduates
Consulting (37.9%)
Rankings (US News & World Report 2023)
2nd
Average GMAT Score (Class of 2024)
729
Average GPA (Class of 2024)
3.7
Acceptance Rate
31.4% (2022)
NYU Stern
New York, New York
New York University’s Stern School of Business (NYU Stern) is one of New York City’s preeminent MBA programs. NYU’s campus is just a few subway stops away from not only major finance, consulting, technology, and media companies but also New York’s vaunted “Silicon Alley” start-up community.
Location Type
Urban Campus
Class Size
Small (under 400)
Can Waive/Test Out Classes?
Yes
Top Industry for 2022 Graduates
Financial Services (34.4%)
Rankings (US News & World Report 2023)
10th
Average GMAT Score (Class of 2024)
733
Average GPA (Class of 2024)
3.62
Acceptance Rate
27.1% (2022)
Stanford GSB
Stanford, California
The Stanford Graduate School of Business—more typically known as “the GSB”—is the most selective business school in the world, admitting less than 10% of its applicants. The GSB’s reputation for a close-knit and laid-back community, symbiotic relationship with Silicon Valley, and warm California weather contribute to its desirability and selectivity.
Location Type
Urban Campus/College Town Hybrid
Class Size
Medium (400-700)
Can Waive/Test Out Classes?
No
Top Industry for 2022 Graduates
Finance (33%)
Rankings (Bloomberg Businessweek 2022–2023)
1st
Average GMAT Score (Class of 2024)
737
Average GPA (Class of 2024)
3.76
Acceptance Rate
8.6% (2022)
UCLA Anderson
Los Angeles, California
The Anderson School of Management at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA Anderson), is located in one of the largest cities in the United States, offering its students access to a fairly wide variety of industries and to “Silicon Beach,” home to more than 500 technology companies and start-ups. As a relatively small program, UCLA Anderson fosters camaraderie and a positive environment for its students.
Location Type
Urban Campus
Class Size
Small (under 400)
Can Waive/Test Out Classes?
Yes
Top Industry for 2022 Graduates
Technology (34.1%)
Rankings (US News & World Report 2023)
19th
Average GMAT Score (Class of 2025)
710
Average GPA (Class of 2025)
N/A
Acceptance Rate
37.6% (2022)
UPenn Wharton
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania offers a world-renowned MBA program, and many aspiring entrepreneurs and future C-suite executives set their sights on the school for its rigorous analytical curriculum, impressive roster of professors, and vast network of well-placed MBA alumni.
Location Type
Urban Campus
Class Size
Large (over 700)
Can Waive/Test Out Classes?
Yes
Top Industry for 2022 Graduates
Financial Services (38.6%)
Rankings (US News & World Report 2023)
3rd
Average GMAT Score (Class of 2024)
733
Average GPA (Class of 2024)
3.6
Acceptance Rate
22.8% (2022)
UVA Darden
Charlottesville, Virginia
The University of Virginia Darden School of Business (UVA Darden) boasts a distinctly tight-knit culture, thanks in large part to its small class size, the interdependence of its first-year learning teams, and its reliance on the case method. Darden students take UVA’s Honor System seriously, inside and outside the classroom, vowing to never cheat, lie, or steal.
Location Type
College Town
Class Size
Medium (400-700)
Can Waive/Test Out Classes?
No
Top Industry for 2022 Graduates
Consulting (43.5%)
Rankings (US News & World Report 2023)
14th
Average GMAT Score (Class of 2024)
720
Average GPA (Class of 2024)
3.55
Acceptance Rate
34.2% (2022)
Yale SOM
New Haven, Connecticut
The Yale School of Management (Yale SOM) has a mission to “educate leaders for business and society.” The program prepares students to have an impact at the intersection of business and society, including in sustainability, asset management, health care, education, financial stability, the role of women in business, and global leadership.
Location Type
Urban Campus/College Town Hybrid
Class Size
Small (under 400)
Can Waive/Test Out Classes?
No
Top Industry for 2022 Graduates
Consulting (46%)
Rankings (US News & World Report 2023)
8th (tied with Michigan Ross)
Average GMAT Score (Class of 2024)
725 (median)
Average GPA (Class of 2024)
3.69 (median)
Acceptance Rate
27.6% (2022)