Finding the Top MBA Programs Rankings | Best MBA Programs in the USA

2017 Guide: Finding the Top MBA Programs Rankings | Best MBA Programs in the USA

Obtaining a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree is rapidly becoming a valuable asset to employees in fields of business, finance, and more.

Entering into one of the top MBA programs will set you apart from the competition.

Some of the best MBA programs in the USA are pretty expensive, but potentially worth the cost. On the other hand, checking out the top online MBA programs that are a lot more affordable and flexible could be what you’re looking for.

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It can be overwhelming to look through the MBA program rankings out there—everyone seems to have an opinion on MBA programs rankings. We’ve looked into the top MBA programs and found which ones might be a good fit for you.

We’ve included the yearly tuition for full-time students for each school. Now let’s break down the MBA program rankings for you!

1. Harvard University ($61,225)

In terms of placement on multiple MBA programs rankings, Harvard University consistently tops the list. This should come to no surprise to anyone, as Harvard is almost synonymous with academic excellence.

The Harvard Business School no doubt earns its sport as one of the top MBA programs in the country.

Graduate students at Harvard Business School receive a hands-on education experience through the case method.

The case method provides scenarios with true-to-life problems that students must resolve as a team.

There are additional field study teams where smaller groups of students assess the success of existing businesses, as well as immersion trips that are packed and enriched weeks of study of business in another country over winter breaks.

For these reasons, MBA program rankings continuously place Harvard as one of the top MBA programs and one of the best MBA programs in the USA.

Specialties include:

Accounting
Entrepreneurship
Finance
International Business
Management
Marketing
Nonprofit Business
Production/Operations

Being one of the best MBA programs means that a degree from Harvard will open numerous possibilities for management and entrepreneurial positions. At graduation, 81 percent of graduates of the full-time program are employed.

For more information about Harvard’s MBA program, you can check out their website here.

2. (tie) Stanford University ($64,050)

Falling not too far short from Harvard, Stanford also has one of the best MBA programs in the USA, as consistently evidenced by its high placement on numerous MBA program rankings.

Leadership is one of the key focuses of the Graduate School of Business at Stanford, as students have to face real-life scenarios of difficult management cases, like having to cut employee positions. These simulations are filmed so that students can discuss and critique each other in a safe environment at this school which has one of the top MBA programs out there.

Departments and concentrations included are:

Accounting
E-Commerce
Economics
Entrepreneurship
Finance
General Management
Manufacturing and Technology Management
Sports Business
Supply Chain Management/Logistics

Stanford’s MBA program ranking is so high because of the multiple facets related to business and management that its MBA program allows students to pursue. As one of the top MBA programs, Stanford has consistently seen 71.7 percent of graduates find employment at graduation.

If you want to learn more about one of the best MBA programs in the USA, check out Stanford’s website here.

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2. (tie) University of Chicago ($63,980)

MBA programs rankings usually give a shout-out to the Booth School of Business at the University of Chicago, as they have a great community of students involved in their MBA program. Beyond the regular program for which they place high in MBA program rankings, there is also an executive MBA program. This is completed in 21 months in Chicago, London, or Hong Kong, if you want to check out the business environment in a global setting over the course of your studies.

Specialties include:

Accounting
Executive MBA
Entrepreneurship
Finance
International Business
Management
Marketing
Part-time MBA
Production/Operations

86.5 percent of graduates are employed after graduation from the full-time course, making this one of the top MBA programs for job assurance.

Take a look at Booth’s website to find out if this MBA program is right for you.

4. University of Pennsylvania ($64,920)

MBA programs rankings regularly place the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School on their list as having one of the best MBA programs in the USA. The Wharton School was the first business school in the United States and has the largest alumni network in the country.

Some of the areas of concentration that you could pursue include:

Accounting
Entrepreneurship
Executive MBA
Finance
Information Systems
Management
Marketing
Production/Operations
Supply Chain/Logistics

Students at Wharton, one of the best MBA programs, will learn how to deal with stress, make executive judgment calls, and develop leadership skills as they take a group of fellow students on outdoor trips called Ventures. Some of the opportunities include mountaineering on Africa’s Mount Kilimanjaro, trekking through Antarctica, or sailing in Grenada, all situations where students’ skills are put to the test for the duration of the weeklong trip. As is the case with most MBA programs, Wharton also offers students the chance for leadership opportunities on campus with about 25 research centers on campus and close to 150 organizations to get involved in.

80.8 percent of graduates find employment after graduation from Wharton, one of the top MBA programs.

5. (tie) Massachusetts Institute of Technology ($65,446)

Although the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) is most famous for its science and technology education, it also has one of the best MBA programs in the USA at the Sloan School of Management.

The school offers one of the top MBA programs for students who wish to study business management from a more global perspective. This is facilitated by the many opportunities offered students to study abroad.

Unique to the school, and what makes its place in MBA program rankings well-earned, are the Action Labs that allow students to address real-world problems in the United States, China, and India.

As one of the best MBA schools in the USA with an international focus, MIT also has joint staff and student “Consumption Functions,” which celebrate other cultures’ food, music, and dancing.

Programs and specialties at Sloan include:

Accounting
Entrepreneurship
Executive MBA
Finance
Information Systems
International Business
Management
Marketing
Production/Operations
Supply Chain/Logistics

At graduation, 86.1 percent of students have a full-time job offer, and as far as MBA program rankings go, that statistic is a convincing reason to attend Sloan. If you want to learn more about the school, you can do so here.

5. (tie) Northwestern University ($64,059)

Having such a prestigious spot on MBA programs rankings is only natural for Northwestern University, as it is one of the best MBA programs with top-of-the-line research opportunities and student organizations available beyond the MBA program itself.

The Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern has courses which focus on teamwork and experiential learning, with chances for students to study abroad or take part in international field research.

With more than 100 student organizations to participate in as well as more than a dozen research centers, it’s no secret why Kellogg places high on MBA program rankings as one of the most well-rounded MBA programs.

Students can either pursue a full-time or part-time MBA degree at Northwestern, one of the best MBA programs in the USA.

Specialties at Kellogg encompass:

Accounting
Entrepreneurship
Executive MBA
Finance
International Business
Management
Marketing
Part-time MBA
Production/Operations
Supply Chain/Logistics

86.3 percent of students who graduate from Kellogg are employed upon graduation. If this sounds like a good fit for you, check out the school’s website for more information.

Top Online MBA Programs

Up to this point we’ve looked at the best MBA programs in the USA for in-person attendance. But what if you want to take part in one of the top MBA programs from home, whether due to personal or career reasons?

Here are the top online MBA programs that we’ve found to be good options for you to consider.

1. Temple University ($1,245)

One of the best MBA programs, Temple University has one of the top MBA programs for students who want to pursue their MBA degree online.

The Fox School of Business at Temple University is a great option for those who already have a job to further better themselves at one of the best MBA programs in the USA.

Students have access to rigorous content, renowned business department faculty, high-definition video presentations, and web-conferencing technology beyond the weekly live online classes.

All of these contribute to making Fox rise in the online MBA rankings.

For more information about the Fox School of Business at Temple, check out the school website here.

2. Indiana University—Bloomington ($1,300)

With one of the top online programs available at the Kelley School of Business at IU Bloomington, students are able to experience the ultimate flexibility in getting their MBA from one of the top MBA programs.

The MBA programs ranking for the school largely stems from this flexibility, as students are given a window of 2–5 years to complete the program.

Top online MBA programs rankings recognize Kelley as one of the top MBA programs for high-caliber working professionals who wish to work with the prestigious faculty of the school.

Take a look at Kelley’s website here for more information about this great opportunity.

3. University of North Carolina—Chapel Hill ($1,510)

Top online MBA programs rankings place the Kenan-Flagler School of Business at UNC-Chapel Hill as one of the top MBA programs.

Students not only have the flexibility of taking courses from home, but students can also work with faculty to develop individual career management plans tailored to their specific professional goals.

The alumni network of dedicated Tar Heels fans is another great resource from attending one of the best MBA programs online.

If you’re interested in pursuing one of the top MBA programs around, you can find more details at the school’s website.

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4. University of Florida ($1,208, part-time)

The University of Florida places high in MBA program rankings for online programs. A unique aspect of the Hough School of Business at the University of Florida that sets it apart from other top MBA programs is the required quarterly campus visits that help students stay on track and get the assistance they need.

Students also have access to a career counselor who can advise them in regards to their next career move.

As one of the top online MBA programs, Hough is cohort-based, allowing students to enrich and expand their personal network.

More information for prospective students can be found here at the school’s website.

5. Arizona State University ($1,102)

Last but not least, Arizona State University has another of the best MBA programs in the USA that allows students to attend in person or online, according to rankings of top online MBA programs.

A unique characteristic of the program at the W.P. Carey School of Business at Arizona State is that, in recent years, 100 percent of the students are already employed when they enroll.

Carey School of Business thus has one of the top MBA programs that specifically focuses on the needs of currently employed professionals.

There is an on-campus orientation required, an experience that builds a community of collaboration and communication.

After that, however, students can complete coursework from home as they fulfill their work responsibilities. If Carey sounds like a good fit for your personal situation and life goals, check out the school’s website here.

Conclusion: The Top MBA Program Rankings

What’s most important about deciding to obtain your MBA is up to you.

Do you want to look at the MBA program rankings of a school for its prestigious reputation, or would you rather pursue or one of the top online MBA programs for flexibility?

Would it fit your career and life goals to attend full-time, part-time, or online?

There are multiple facets to consider, but all of our listed top MBA programs would be good places to start looking for the best choice of MBA programs for your individual needs.

Hopefully our MBA program rankings gave you a little clarity and will help you get a start to obtaining an MBA degree. The commitment and hard work required of you will be great, and sometimes you may question if it’s really worth it.

However, employers will certainly notice your investment of time and energy and recognize your efforts upon completion of an MBA through one of the best MBA programs in the USA.

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