As we approach the end of the year, many MBA hopefuls are already considering their strategies for the 2025–2026 application season. Deciding which schools to target can seem like an overwhelming task. Of all the top MBA programs out there, which one is right for you? What makes an MBA program stand out from the rest?
Many MBA applicants look at rankings when they begin to choose their target schools. MBA rankings can be an easy way to get a general idea of the top MBA programs, but rankings should be regarded as what they are: simply one aspect of the application process. The schools included among the top ten or top 15 in MBA rankings are undoubtedly all great programs; they are not, however, right for every applicant.
For example, Harvard Business School (HBS) and the Stanford Graduate School of Business (GSB) can be found near or at the top of global MBA rankings each year. Both are certainly wonderful institutions that attract applicants from around the world, but they are two completely different schools. For one, HBS uses the case method in nearly all classes, while the teaching methods at Stanford GSB range from lecture and case method to simulation and action-based learning. All top business schools teach their MBA students such essential skills as problem solving and leadership management. How the basics are taught and what lies beyond the basics, however, vary greatly among schools. Therefore, take MBA rankings with a grain of salt.
Consider the fact that MBA rankings have been published for more than two decades, and most (if not all) of the schools on top have stayed within the top 20 throughout the years. Which business school is ranked number one in any given year matters much less than maintaining consistent quality.
If you are looking for excellence in a particular aspect, however, rankings may be a useful tool for research. For example, an applicant who is interested in joining a nonprofit for an internship during their studies or for employment after graduation would benefit from looking at the U.S. News & World Report MBA ranking for nonprofit management, where the Yale School of Management is consistently ranked number one. Also, the New York University Stern School of Business is well known for its finance program and is often ranked highly by U.S. News for finance MBA programs.
With regard to schools that consistently rank among the best in the world, one can turn to the so-called M7 to gain a general idea. The M7 is a group of top business schools within the United States that are known to provide continuously high-quality education and career outcomes for their students. The M7 consists of HBS, the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, Stanford GSB, Columbia Business School, the MIT Sloan School of Management, the Northwestern Kellogg School of Management, and the Chicago Booth School of Business. We at mbaMission offer our extensive and detailed Insider’s Guides on 17 business schools, including the M7 schools. Below, we offer a glimpse into each of these schools.
Berkeley Haas
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. The acceptance rate at Berkeley Haas was 23.0% in 2023. The median GMAT score for the Berkeley Haas Class of 2026 was 730. Berkeley Haas typically is included among the top 20 in MBA rankings and was ranked seventh in the 2024 U.S. News domestic list.
Chicago Booth
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. The acceptance rate at Chicago Booth was 32.6% in 2023. The average GMAT score for the Chicago Booth Class of 2026 was 729. Chicago Booth is often ranked within the top five or ten business schools. Most recently, Chicago Booth was ranked third by U.S. News in 2024, in a tie with Northwestern Kellogg.
Columbia Business School
Columbia Business School (CBS), a consistently top-ranked MBA program, typically draws approximately 7,000 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. The acceptance rate at CBS was 22.4% in 2023. The average GMAT score for the CBS Class of 2026 was 732. CBS is typically ranked among the top ten business schools. In the 2024 Financial Times international ranking of business schools, CBS was third internationally and second domestically.
Cornell Johnson
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. The acceptance rate at Cornell Johnson was 29.9% in 2023. The median GMAT score for the Cornell Johnson Class of 2026 was 710. Most business school rankings in recent years have included Cornell Johnson within the top 20. In 2024, Financial Times ranked Cornell Johnson fifth domestically and ninth internationally.
Dartmouth Tuck
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. The acceptance rate at Dartmouth Tuck was 40.1% in 2023. The average GMAT score for the Dartmouth Tuck Class of 2026 was 727. Dartmouth Tuck is most often included among the top ten in business school rankings. In the 2023–2024 Bloomberg Businessweek ranking, Dartmouth Tuck was third.
Duke Fuqua
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. The acceptance rate at Duke Fuqua was 22.1% in 2023. The middle 80% GMAT range for the Duke Fuqua Class of 2026 was 660–760 (the school does not release information regarding the average GMAT score). Duke Fuqua is consistently ranked among the top 20 business schools. In 2024, U.S. News ranked the Duke Fuqua MBA program 12th in the United States.
Harvard Business School
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. The acceptance rate at HBS was 13.2% in 2023, making it one of the most selective MBA programs in the United States. The median GMAT score for the HBS Class of 2026 was 740. HBS typically is included among the top ten, if not the top five, in business school rankings. In the 2024 U.S. News ranking of domestic business schools, HBS was sixth.
Michigan Ross
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. The acceptance rate at Michigan Ross was 38.0% in 2023. The average GMAT score for the Michigan Ross Class of 2026 was 728. Business school rankings consistently include Michigan Ross in the top 20. In 2024, Bloomberg Businessweek ranked Michigan Ross eighth in the country.
MIT Sloan
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, MIT Sloan accepts applicants from a plethora of backgrounds, and Sloan graduates go into post-MBA positions in various fields. The acceptance rate at Sloan was 17.8% in 2023, making it one of the most selective full-time MBA programs in the United States. The median GMAT score for the MIT Sloan Class of 2026 was 730. MIT Sloan typically is included among the top 15 in business school rankings. U.S. News ranked MIT Sloan fifth in the 2024 list of top business schools.
Northwestern Kellogg
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. Northwestern Kellogg is perhaps best known for its marketing expertise and interactive student experiences, and for placing students into brand management roles at consumer products companies. The acceptance rate at Northwestern Kellogg was 33.3% in 2023. The average GMAT score for the Northwestern Kellogg Class of 2026 was 733. Northwestern Kellogg can nearly always be found among the top ten programs in business school rankings. In the 2024 U.S. News ranking of domestic business schools, Northwestern Kellogg was third.
NYU Stern
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. Stern offers ample opportunities to study all the aforementioned industries. The acceptance rate at NYU Stern was 31.4% in 2023. The average GMAT score for the NYU Stern Class of 2026 was 733. Business school rankings most often include NYU Stern in top 15. In 2024, U.S. News ranked NYU Stern seventh in the country.
Stanford GSB
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. Stanford 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. The acceptance rate at Stanford GSB was 8.4% in 2023, making it the most selective MBA program in the United States. The average GMAT score for the Stanford GSB Class of 2026 was 738. Stanford GSB is consistently listed among the very top in business school rankings, and the school was number one in the 2024 U.S. News domestic ranking.
UCLA Anderson
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. The acceptance rate at UCLA Anderson was 40.4% in 2023. The mean GMAT score for the UCLA Anderson Class of 2026 was 714. UCLA Anderson is typically included among the top 20 in business school rankings. The 2024 Financial Times ranking listed UCLA Anderson in 12th domestically and 18th internationally.
Wharton
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. The acceptance rate at Wharton was 24.8% in 2023. The average GMAT score for the Wharton Class of 2026 was 732. Wharton consistently ranks among the top five MBA programs in the world, if not number one. Both Financial Times and U.S. News named Wharton the best business school in the world in their 2024 rankings.
UVA Darden
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, both inside and outside the classroom, vowing to never cheat, lie, or steal. The acceptance rate at UVA Darden was 39.4% in 2023. The average GMAT score for the UVA Darden Class of 2026 was 718. Darden’s placement in rankings varies yearly but the school is typically included in the top 20, if not the top ten. Bloomberg Businessweek ranked Darden fifth among U.S. business schools in 2024.
Yale SOM
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. The acceptance rate at Yale SOM was 32.9% in 2023. The median GMAT score for the Yale SOM Class of 2026 was 730. Yale SOM consistently is included among the top ten in business school rankings. In 2024, U.S. News ranked Yale SOM seventh domestically.
