Wharton and Harvard are consistently ranked among the best business schools in the world. The two schools are comparable in terms of name recognition and prestige. The real differences are aspects of the program that do not make one better than the other but could be determining factors for the fit between the applicant and the school. Both Wharton and HBS offer a world-class education and equip their graduates with the skills needed to navigate the business world.
Guides: Business School Insider’s Guides
mbaMission’s The Wharton School Insider’s Guide
Established in 1881, the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania is not only the oldest business school in the United States, but also the world’s first collegiate business school. In addition, it is one of the largest graduate business programs in the country, with nearly 1,800 full-time MBA students, more than 240 professors, nearly 200 elective courses spanning ten departments, and nearly 30 research centers and initiatives. Perennially ranked among the top business schools in the world, Wharton appears to be best known for its reputation in finance—as its original name, the Wharton School of Finance and Commerce, would indicate. Nevertheless, the school seems to pride itself on its breadth and depth of expertise in a multitude of business areas.
In that spirit, the school possesses strong programs in other fields, such as marketing, leadership, and management. Any applicant concerned about Wharton’s versatility need look no further than the school’s standing in the 2024 U.S. News &World Report MBA rankings by specialty, as listed in the rankings section. The school also offers a consistently top-ranked real estate program, as well as a top-notch health care program and a strong focus on leadership development. According to our research for this guide, for many students, the one thing they would change about Wharton’s MBA program is that it has a reputation for excellence in finance only. Indeed, we would agree that dismissing Wharton as simply a “finance school” would be a mistake.
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- Class size: Smaller versus Larger
- Curriculum: Flexibly versus Mandatory Core
- Pedagogy: Lecture versus case method
- Academic Specializations/Recruitment Focus: Resources and Employers
- Professional Specializations
- Location: Urban Campus versus College Town
- Facilities: Shaping the Academic/Social Experience
- Alumni Base: Opportunities to Engage
- Rankings and Reputation: Important Metrics or Arbitrary Measures?
- The Dean: Erika H. James
- Notable Professors and Unsung Heroes
- Social/Community Life
- Academic Summary
- Admissions Basics
- University of Pennsylvania (Wharton) Essay Tips, 2024-2025
- Wharton Statistics (Class of 2023)
- UPenn Wharton Employment Statistics (Class of 2023)
Wharton School FAQs
Is Wharton MBA better than Harvard MBA?
Is getting an MBA from Wharton worth it?
Wharton MBA graduates typically find highly compensated work very quickly after graduation. Of the Class of 2023, more than 97% received job offers within three months of graduation. In recent years, this figure has been as high as 99%. The median salary for the Class of 2023 was $175,000 within the United States and $150,000 internationally.
Is a Wharton MBA hard to get into?
The Wharton MBA program is highly selective. During the 2022–2023 application season, Wharton received 6,193 applications and admitted 1,533 individuals. This puts the Wharton acceptance rate at 24.8%, which is highly selective but not among the most selective business schools. For example, Stanford GSB accepts less than 10% of its applicant pool each year.
What GPA do you need for Wharton MBA?
The Wharton MBA program does not have a minimum GPA requirement for admission. The average GPA for the Class of 2025 is 3.6. Admission to the Wharton MBA program is highly selective and most admitted applicants present competitive GPA scores.