Rankings · 2026
The global top thirty, read properly.
Deadlines, test ranges, cost, salary outcomes and sector strength for the thirty programmes most of my clients consider. Sort it, filter it, then open a school to see the detail behind the row.
Ordered on the QS 2026 global MBA ranking. Always confirm figures against the school's own admissions page.
Region
30 programmes
| Location | Length | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Philadelphia, PAUSA | 21 months (2-yr) | Avg 733 | 80% range 700-780 | USD 92,700 / yr | Median base USD 175,000 + ~USD 30k bonus | ||
| 2 | Boston, MAUSA | 2 years | Avg 740 | 80% range 680-790 | USD 76,410 / yr | Median base USD 175,000 | ||
| 3 | Cambridge, MAUSA | 2 years | Avg 730 | 80% range 690-760 | USD 91,000 / yr | Median base USD 175,000 | ||
| 4 | Stanford, CAUSA | 2 years | Avg 738 | 80% range 685-780 (highest in the world) | USD 84,900 / yr | Median base USD 182,000 (highest globally) | ||
| 5 | Jouy-en-Josas (Paris)France | 16 months | Avg ~690 | range 600-780 | EUR 98,000 (whole programme) | Avg ~EUR 110,000 (FT-adjusted PPP places HEC top-3 globally) | ||
| 6 | LondonUK | 15-21 months (flexible) | Avg 708 | range 600-790 | GBP 115,000 (whole programme, 2026-27) | Median base ~GBP 95,000 (~USD 120k) | ||
| 7 | CambridgeUK | 12 months | Avg 687 | range 620-760 | GBP 70,000 (whole programme, 2026-27) | Median base ~GBP 90,000 | ||
| 8 | Fontainebleau + Singapore (+ Abu Dhabi, SF)France / Singapore | 10 months | Avg ~710 | range 620-780 | EUR 108,000 (whole programme) | Median ~USD 130,000 (highly geography-dependent) | ||
| 9 | Evanston, ILUSA | 2 years (also 1-yr and MMM) | Avg 731 | 80% range 690-760 | USD 89,000 / yr | Median base USD 175,000 | ||
| 10 | New York, NYUSA | 2 years (or 16-mo J-Term) | Avg 730 | 80% range 690-770 | USD 84,496 / yr | Median base USD 175,000 | ||
| 11 | MadridSpain | 11-15 months | Avg ~680 | range 600-740 | EUR 89,900 (whole programme, 2026) | Avg ~EUR 85,000 | ||
| 12 (tie) | OxfordUK | 12 months | Avg 690 | range 600-780 | GBP 77,660 (whole programme, 2026-27) | Median base ~GBP 88,000 | ||
| 12 (tie) | New Haven, CTUSA | 2 years | Avg 720 | 80% range 690-760 | USD 88,600 / yr | Median base USD 175,000 | ||
| 14 | Berkeley, CAUSA | 2 years | Avg 727 | 80% range 690-760 | USD 80,000 / yr (non-resident; lower for CA residents) | Median base USD 175,000 + high equity component | ||
| 15 (tie) | Chicago, ILUSA | 2 years | Avg 729 | 80% range 690-760 | USD 84,000 / yr | Median base USD 175,000 | ||
| 15 (tie) | Barcelona (+ Madrid, NY, Munich)Spain | 15-19 months | Avg ~680 | range 610-750 | EUR 104,500 (whole programme) | Avg ~EUR 100,000 | ||
| 17 | New York, NYUSA | 2 years (+ 1-yr Tech and Fashion/Luxury MBAs) | Avg 732 | 80% range 700-770 | USD 89,000 / yr | Median base USD 175,000 | ||
| 18 | Los Angeles, CAUSA | 2 years | Avg 714 | 80% range 680-750 | USD 76,000 / yr (non-resident) | Median base USD 165,000 | ||
| 19 | LondonUK | 12 months | Avg ~650-680 | GBP 78,000 (whole programme, 2026-27) | Median base ~GBP 75,000 | ||
| 20 | MilanItaly | 12 months | Avg ~660 | waivers of 60% need GMAT 615+, full waivers 645+ | EUR 82,000 (whole programme, 2026-27, VAT exempt) | Avg ~EUR 90,000 | ||
| 21 | BarcelonaSpain | 12 / 15 / 18 months | Avg ~670 | range 610-730 | EUR 79,300 (whole programme) | Avg ~EUR 85,000 | ||
| 22 | Ann Arbor, MIUSA | 2 years | Avg 722 | 80% range 680-760 | USD 79,000 / yr (non-resident) | Median base USD 175,000 | ||
| 23 | SingaporeSingapore | 17 months | Avg ~670 | range 600-740 | SGD 99,953 (whole programme, incl. GST) | Median base ~SGD 120,000 | ||
| 24 | Durham, NCUSA | 2 years | Avg 715 | 80% range 680-750 | USD 82,000 / yr | Median base USD 170,000 | ||
| 25 | LausanneSwitzerland | 11 months (January start) | Avg ~680 | range 620-740 | CHF 105,000 (whole programme) | Avg ~CHF 150,000 (highest average of any European MBA) | ||
| 26 | Paris, London, Berlin, Madrid, Turin, WarsawFrance (multi-campus) | 10 months | Avg ~620-650 | EUR 57,900 (whole programme) | Avg ~EUR 75,000 | ||
| 27 | CopenhagenDenmark | 12 months | Avg ~640 | DKK ~450,000 (~EUR 60,000) | Avg ~EUR 80,000 | ||
| 28 | BeijingChina | 2 years (Global MBA, taught in English) | Avg ~690 | RMB 598,000 (Global MBA, whole programme) | Avg ~RMB 500,000 | ||
| 29 | Cergy (Paris) + SingaporeFrance | 12-18 months (Global MBA) | Avg ~640 | EUR 55,000-63,000 (track-dependent) | Avg ~EUR 80,000 | ||
| 30 | Coventry (+ London, The Shard)UK | 12 months | Avg ~630 | waivers common | GBP 59,500 (whole programme, 2026-27) | Median base ~GBP 70,000 |
Reading the table
A ranking is a starting point, not a shortlist.
The row that matters is the one that matches your goal, your budget and your timeline. If you want help turning this table into a list you can defend, that is what a consult is for.