6th Annual MBA Program Rankings
The Masters of Business Administration (MBA) is a degree that generates headlines in publications across the business press. Articles from U.S. News & World Reports to Forbes try to dissect what the best MBA programs are and why. Rankings can focus on how innovative a school’s curriculum is, the percent of graduates with a job in hand before graduation, or the return on investment (ROI) for one program versus another. Whatever the angle of the headline, the MBA degree piques reader interest and sells magazines.
Why is there so much interest in finding the best MBA programs? Few degrees can have such an immediate impact on career trajectory and earning potential. But an MBA is a big investment of time and money and not every newly-minted graduate will get a huge boost in salary at graduation. This creates intense discussion on which program is the “right” one.
An MBA is not a one-size-fits-all degree. Tuition costs can range from $208 at Texas A&M’s Corpus Christi campus to $132,000 at Dartmouth College. There are plenty of other choices potential students must think through beyond cost. Should they attend full-time or part-time? On campus or online? To find the MBA program that will work best for you, you need to get past the headlines and dig into the details of what these degrees offer. This site will help you do just that.
Click through our discussion and rankings on topics from tuition costs, best alumni, GMAT score, and faculty strength to start considering what you want from an MBA program. Once you have a handful of schools in mind, you can dig deep into the data to get to know a program in-depth. This research will make sure you get the very most from your MBA experience.
Business Programs That Might Interest You
Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.
150 Best MBA Programs
Explore and compare online MBA program rankings.
How Much is Tuition for the Best MBA Programs
If you plan on attending B-School, it's best to start thinking about fiscal responsibility. A prospective MBA Student in needs to weigh their options with regard to tuition rates. A highly reputable MBA program can pave the way for a great starting salary by way of recruitment from Fortune 500 companies. An MBA program can provide the flexibility of completing a program while being employed in your respective career.
With that being said, the lowest in-state tuition for MBA programs is $6,660.00 compared to the highest average in-state tuition of $170,330.00.
There's a significant tuition range for in-state programs. The average in-state tuition is $39,291.07 compared to an average out-of-state tuition of $53,580.91 for traditional MBA programs.
If you have the option of attending a highly reputable in-state program, it may be worthwhile to save close to $14,000 in tuition costs. If an in-state program isn't available to you, then a well-respected MBA program may be the best option for aspiring B-Students. The average in-state MBA program in is $39,291.07 compared to the average out-of-state program of $53,580.91.
25 Least and Most Expensive Best MBA Programs
The least expensive MBA is available from Augusta University. In-state tuition totals $6,660.00. Compare that bill to the $170,330.00. in tuition costs you wrack up if you attend Columbia University's MBA program. Both programs are accredited by the AACSB, which ensures they pursue excellence and continuous improvement in their degree programs. So why pay Columbia University's higher price?
Columbia University notes that its program has the same rigorous curriculum that its full-time students complete. It’s taught by the same faculty and Access Weekends six times a year allow MBA students to start classes with the professors who will teach you all semester. They also help students network with their classmates, other MBA students and alumni to build their personal network.
Research online MBA program tuition costs, see additional charts and graphs and sort programs by most affordable to most expensive programs.
25 Least Expensive MBA Programs
- Augusta University - $6,660.00
- Fayetteville State University - $6,900.00
- Lamar University - $8,432.00
- Georgia College & State University - $8,640.00
- University of Puerto Rico at Rio Piedras - $8,650.00
- Columbus State University - $8,748.00
- California State University, Chico - $8,800.00
- University of the District of Columbia - $9,156.00
- Tennessee State University - $9,276.00
- Humboldt State University - $9,294.00
- Elizabeth City State University - $9,876.00
- Texas A&M University-Texarkana - $9,884.00
- Northern Arizona University - $10,480.00
- Valdosta State University - $10,677.00
- University of Central Arkansas - $10,748.00
- University of Nebraska at Kearney - $10,940.00
- Louisiana State University in Shreveport - $11,070.00
- Southern Arkansas University - $11,070.00
- Southeast Missouri State University - $11,228.00
- Stephen F. Austin State University - $11,270.00
- West Texas A&M University - $11,315.00
- Emporia State University - $11,326.00
- Arkansas Tech University - $11,400.00
- Eastern Washington University - $11,439.00
- The University of Texas of the Permian Basin - $11,736.00
25 Most Expensive MBA Programs
- Columbia University - $170,330.00
- Stanford University - $164,460.00
- New York University - $162,991.00
- Dartmouth College - $155,040.00
- Yale University - $146,180.00
- Duke University - $145,253.00
- Cornell University - $143,880.00
- Carnegie Mellon University - $141,812.00
- University of Virginia-Darden - $139,200.00
- University of California, Los Angeles - $139,014.00
- Emory University - $138,248.00
- University of Southern California - $137,106.00
- Vanderbilt University - $135,070.00
- The University of Michigan - $132,953.00
- Washington University in St. Louis - $127,032.00
- Rice University - $126,324.00
- University of Miami - $126,040.00
- Johns Hopkins University - $125,500.00
- Georgetown University - $121,858.00
- Tulane University - $118,822.00
- University of California, Berkeley - $117,444.00
- University of Notre Dame - $116,710.00
- Boston University - $115,632.00
- Babson College - $114,572.00
- Fordham University - $112,938.00
Average GMAT Scores for the Best MBA Programs
Everyone with MBA ambitions makes the purchase of a GMAT study program or guide with trepidation. The score on this one test can make a big difference in the schools you’ll be able to get into. But with more than 173 ranked MBA programs available, you have a wide range of options. Whether you’ve already taken the test and want to see what schools have average scores in your range or you’ve got a dream school in mind and want to see if you’re likely to get in, the information below will help you research your options.
25 Best MBA Programs with the Highest and Lowest GMAT Scores
The range of average GMAT scores for MBA programs is wide. On the low end of the scale, Prairie View A&M University's MBA program has an average GMAT score of 385.00 . On the high end, the Stanford University has an average GMAT score of 385.00. But remember, the GMAT score is not the only decision-making criteria for admissions officers. Undergraduate grades, work experience, references and essays are all important parts of the package schools look at when they consider applicants. If you’re not great at taking tests, work on boosting other parts of your application.
Research more about online GMAT scores, see additional charts and graphs, and sort programs from lowest to highest average scores.
25 MBA Programs with the Lowest GMAT Scores
- Prairie View A&M University - 385
- University of St. Thomas-Houston - 387
- Montana State University - 394
- The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley - 400
- Southeastern Oklahoma State University - 400
- Whitworth University - 400
- National University College - 400
- Northcentral University - 400
- University of Montevallo - 400
- Jackson State University - 400
- East Coast Polytechnic Institute - 400
- Stockton University - 400
- Salisbury University - 400
- Saint Xavier University - 400
- Union University - 400
- Southern University and A&M College - 400
- South College - 400
- University of Phoenix - US - 400
- McNeese State University - 400
- Alabama A&M University - 400
- Henderson State University - 400
- Capella University - 400
- Francis Marion University - 400
- Wayne State College - 400
- California Lutheran University - 400
25 MBA Programs with the Highest GMAT Scores
- Stanford University - 737
- Northwestern University - 728
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology - 724
- University of Pennsylvania - 730
- Harvard University - 729
- The University of Chicago - 726
- Yale University - 725
- Brown University - 722
- Columbia University - 720
- University of California, Los Angeles - 719
- Dartmouth College - 717
- New York University - 710
- University of California, Berkeley - 707
- Washington University in St. Louis - 701
- Cornell University - 699
- Georgetown University - 693
- Vanderbilt University - 688
- Carnegie Mellon University - 687
- University of Florida - 687
- Boston University - 683
- Rutgers-The State University of New Jersey-Newark/New Brunswick - 683
- Arizona State University - 682
- Georgia Institute of Technology - 681
- The University of Texas at Dallas - 678
- University of Maryland - 677
Student / Faculty Ratios for the Best MBA Programs
The faculty/student ratio has become an increasingly important criteria for selective MBA candidates. This ratio is important because many schools use the case-discussion approach to business instruction. With this teaching method, students are asked to read a case write-up of a business experiencing a problem, do their own analysis and prepare a solution to the problem. In-class case discussions are often heated, as the solution to the problem is unclear. But students won’t get much time to participate in these discussions if class sizes are enormous.
More broadly, a higher faculty/student ratio indicates a university pays more faculty members to instruct students and to offer additional guidance. This can be seen as a direct reflection of an institution’s attitude towards their students’ success. For aspiring MBA students who want faculty mentorship, a higher faculty/student ratio is important.
25 Best MBA Programs with the Lowest and Highest Student / Faculty Ratios
Faculty/student ratios vary dramatically from one MBA program to another. Western Kentucky University, for instance, has about one professor for every 285 students. The University of Arizona, on the other hand, has about one professor for every 2.9 students. It’s easy to see which program provides students with more faculty interaction.
Research more about online MBA Student / Faculty ratios and see additional charts and graphs. Sort programs from highest to lowest student to faculty ratios.
25 MBA Programs with the Highest Student / Faculty Ratios
- West Texas A&M University - 19.64%
- University of Dallas - 18.88%
- New York Institute of Technology - 14.37%
- Cornell University - 13.98%
- University of Colorado Denver - 12.84%
- Duke University - 12.68%
- University of Central Missouri - 11.90%
- University of Illinois at Springfield - 11.46%
- The University of Texas at Dallas - 10.95%
- Mercer University-Macon and Atlanta Campuses - 10.67%
- University of Virginia-Darden - 10.56%
- Brandeis University - 9.94%
- Clark University - 9.28%
- Dartmouth College - 8.96%
- University of Utah - 8.95%
- Johns Hopkins University - 8.74%
- Louisiana State University in Shreveport - 8.55%
- Tulane University - 8.35%
- The University of Texas at Austin - 8.33%
- Wake Forest University - 8.22%
- Seattle University - 8.02%
- Thunderbird School of Global Management - 7.97%
- Willamette University - 7.70%
- Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey - 7.48%
- Washington University in St. Louis - 7.38%
25 MBA Programs with the Lowest Student / Faculty Ratios
- Johns Hopkins University - 0.36%
- Thunderbird School of Global Management - 0.67%
- University of Rochester - 1.81%
- Clark University - 3.04%
- Illinois Institute of Technology - 3.05%
- Carnegie Mellon University - 4.19%
- Brandeis University - 4.45%
- University of Dallas - 4.94%
- University of St. Thomas-Houston - 4.95%
- Case Western Reserve University - 5.22%
- Worcester Polytechnic Institute - 5.67%
- Wake Forest University - 5.96%
- Stevens Institute of Technology - 5.97%
- Pepperdine University - 5.99%
- The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill - 6.27%
- University of California, Berkeley - 6.42%
- University of Richmond - 6.44%
- College of William and Mary - 6.97%
- University of California, Irvine - 7.27%
- U.S. Coast Guard Academy - 7.66%
- Fordham University - 8.20%
- Washington and Lee University - 8.71%
- Governors State University - 8.74%
- University of New Haven - 8.79%
- The University of Michigan - 8.99%
Best MBA Programs Alumni Strength
The number of students enrolled in an MBA program varies widely from one school to another. You may wonder why enrollment matters if you’ll be attending class from the comfort of your own home, not sitting in the back of a huge auditorium. But it does matter.
Larger programs generally have the breadth of faculty and resources to offer more areas of focus. If you want to take classes specific a certain industry or functional area, you may need a larger program to meet your needs. Schools with a higher student enrollment also have a larger alumni base. When you’re looking for a new job after graduation or an introduction to a new company later in your career, that larger alumni base can help.
On the other hand, smaller MBA programs can focus their resources and become the best option in their niche. They can be more personal, making sure that no student falls through the cracks. And while they have fewer alumni, students in small programs are often more tightly knit and their alumni more loyal. Both large and small MBA programs have their benefits. Dig into the data here to find what’s right for you.
Research more about online MBA program Alumni Strength and see additional charts and graphs. Sort programs from highest to lowest student to faculty ratios.
Best MBA Programs for Alumni Strength
MBA programs vary substantially between the percent of students who attend full-time versus part-time. Again, this issue may not seem important if you will not be sitting in a classroom together, but it can make a difference. MBA programs assign group project because anyone graduating with a business degree must be able to collaborate in the workplace. If you are working full-time and taking MBA classes at night but are grouped with classmates studying full-time and who have more free time on their hands, friction may arise. Their preferred meeting times and the amount of time they spend on “camaraderie” rather than focused work may not meet your needs.
MBA Full-Time Student Enrollment
- Lowest Full-Time MBA Enrollment: 2.00
- Highest Full-Time MBA Enrollment: 2,102.00
- Average Full-Time MBA Enrollment: 238.61
MBA Part-Time Student Enrollment
- Lowest Part-Time MBA Enrollment: 1.00
- Highest Part-Time MBA Enrollment: 2,188.00
- Average Part-Time MBA Enrollment: 318.33
25 Best MBA Programs With the Most Alumni
The smallest full-time MBA program is University of Richmond, with only 2 students in the program. (Longwood has a part-time MBA program too, but it’s small as well.) The University of Southern California has a much larger full-time MBA program with 2,102 students. Between these numbers is a range of program sizes. One will be right for you.
More Information on MBA Alumni and Student Enrollment and online MBA Alumni and Student Enrollment.
25 MBA Programs with the Highest Full-Time Student Enrollment
- University of Southern California - 2,102
- Columbia University - 2,070
- Cornell University - 1,953
- Duke University - 1,920
- Harvard University - 1,868
- University of Pennsylvania - 1,740
- The University of Texas at Austin - 1,690
- Baruch College-The City University of New York - 1,412
- University of Utah - 1,300
- Northwestern University - 1,289
- Texas A&M University - 1,213
- Nova Southeastern University - 1,202
- Washington State University - 1,198
- The University of Chicago - 1,193
- Boston University - 1,184
- The University of Michigan - 1,182
- Washington University in St. Louis - 1,069
- University of Florida - 1,067
- Georgia State University - 984
- University of Virginia-Darden - 969
- Yale University - 932
- University of South Florida - 915
- University of California, Los Angeles - 914
- Pepperdine University - 907
- Stanford University - 906
25 MBA Programs with the Lowest Full-Time Student Enrollment
- Lawrence Technological University - 2
- University of Richmond - 2
- Winston-Salem State University - 2
- University of Houston-Clear Lake - 5
- University of South Florida, Sarasota-Manatee - 5
- Lamar University - 5
- The University of Akron - 6
- Berry College - 7
- Central Washington University - 9
- Colorado State University-Pueblo - 9
- University of Nebraska at Kearney - 10
- State University of New York at Geneseo - 10
- University of South Carolina Upstate - 11
- Valdosta State University - 11
- State University of New York College at Plattsburgh - 12
- Radford University - 13
- University of Louisiana at Lafayette - 13
- Columbus State University - 13
- University of Minnesota Duluth - 13
- University of Hartford - 14
- State University of New York College at Brockport - 14
- University of Wisconsin Oshkosh - 14
- South Carolina State University - 14
- Valparaiso University - 15
- Indiana University Kokomo - 15
Best MBA Programs for Faculty Strength
An MBA program is only as strong as the background of its professors. Some of the best business professors have a nice balance of industry experience and teaching in an academic setting. They have the ability to back their in-class lesson plans with real-world application. That is a powerful combination for someone entering the business field. Knowing that your professor is an industry influencer and has extensive teaching experience in the field of is a clear sign that a program delivers high-quality education.
- The average number of full-time faculty for MBA in programs is 63
- The lowest number of full-time faculty for MBA in programs is 4
- The highest number of full-time faculty for MBA in programs is 322
- The average percentage of MBA full-time faculty with a Doctorate degree 84%
- The lowest percentage of MBA full-time faculty with a Doctorate degree 50%
- The highest percentage of MBA full-time faculty with a Doctorate degree 120%
Start your research into the faculty strength of the best MBA programs you’re considering by looking into the number of full-time faculty the program employs. Indiana University Bloomington/Indianapolis campus has the highest number of full-time faculty of any MBA program – 322. Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey, on the other hand, has only 4 full-time professors.
But the number of full-time professors is not all you should consider. A program without a large full-time faculty may have several part-time professors to help with the teaching load. You should also consider qualifications of the faculty, such as the percentage of professors who have a doctorate degree.
Research more about online MBA program Faculty Strength and see additional charts and graphs. Sort programs from highest to lowest student to faculty ratios.
25 Best MBA Programs with the Highest and Lowest Faculty Strength
25 MBA Programs with the Most Full-Time Faculty
- Indiana University Bloomington/Indianapolis - 322
- Arizona State University - 247
- University of Southern California - 227
- The University of Texas at Dallas - 223
- Rutgers-The State University of New Jersey-Newark/New Brunswick - 222
- Temple University - 193
- Baruch College-The City University of New York - 189
- The University of Texas at Austin - 186
- Cornell University - 182
- University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign - 178
- The University of Georgia - 175
- Kennesaw State University - 169
- Bentley University - 166
- The Pennsylvania State University - 165
- University of South Carolina - 164
- The Ohio State University - 164
- Northeastern University - 163
- Boston University - 162
- The University of Alabama - 162
- Baylor University - 159
- Florida International University - 157
- University of Delaware - 155
- University of Tennessee at Knoxville - 155
- Texas A&M University - 152
- DePaul University - 152
25 MBA Programs with the Least Full-Time Faculty
- Norfolk State University -
- University of Evansville -
- Stanford University -
- Belmont University -
- The University of North Carolina at Pembroke -
- Union University -
- University of Washington Tacoma -
- Fairfield University -
- Yale University -
- Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi -
- Portland State University -
- New York University -
- Clark Atlanta University -
- Alfred University -
- University of Louisiana at Lafayette -
- Sonoma State University -
- California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo -
- Claremont Graduate University -
- Simmons University -
- University of Hawaii at Manoa -
- Metropolitan State University of Denver -
- Loyola Marymount University -
- Rollins College -
- Mississippi State University -
- North Carolina Central University -
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Ranking Methodology
No two ranking system are the same. You don’t have to be a savvy MBA applicant to ensure your B-School is accredited by reputable agencies. MBAGuide.org provides a comprehensive resource for tailoring your B-School choices around your particular preferences.
In other words, we don't rely too heavily on the major ranking systems; instead, MBA Guide allows B-Students to search real-time data and narrow down program choices using their own preferences. This is one of the key differentiaters between our guide other MBA resource guides. Ours is tailored to a students most sought-after criteria.
You’ve told us what matters to you most and we’ve provided rankings that take into account price, program reputation, student commitment, and graduation rate. By factoring in the program rankings from trusted publications, we’ve compiled a unique list of U.S.-based, MBA program rankings you won’t find anywhere else. After pulling together the rankings from the publications, we’ve added cost of tuition, alumni strength, faculty strength, student / teacher ratio and GMAT scores. The result? A robust list of affordable best MBA programs that prospective B-students can rely on as they seek to further their studies and careers in business.
- See our ranking methodology
- Contact us if you notice errors in our data
Take the next step toward your business future with online learning.
Discover schools with the programs and courses you're interested in, and start learning today.
We are MBAs helping future MBAs with data, statistics, and information we wish we had when we were starting out. As trusted MBA experts, we are experienced professionals, educators, entrepreneurs and leaders in our areas of business concentration.