Episode 2: How to Use MBA Rankings

We look at the popular MBA rankings and provide an overview of which are worth exploring and which are not. We discuss the role of rankings in identifying your target MBA programs. We also introduce the idea of a tiered ranking versus the more traditional ordinal rankings.  NOTE: The Economist has decided to withdraw from the MBA Rankings business.

The tiers for top U.S.-based MBA programs look something like this:

Tier 1: Harvard, Stanford

Tier 1A: Wharton

Tier 2: Chicago Booth, Columbia, MIT / Sloan, Northwestern / Kellogg

Tier 3: Berkeley / Haas, Dartmouth / Tuck, NYU / Stern, Yale SOM

Tier 3A: Cornell / Johnson, Duke / Fuqua, Michigan / Ross, UCLA / Anderson, UVA / Darden

Tier 4: CMU / Tepper, Texas / McCombs, UNC / Kenan-Flagler, USC Marshall, University of
Washington / Foster

Tier 4A: Emory / Goizueta, Georgetown / McDonough, Indiana Kelley, Notre Dame / Mendoza, SMU
/ Cox, Vanderbilt / Owen, WUSTL / Olin

We do not group the programs outside the U.S. in the same tier structure as those within the U.S. The very different geographic focus of the European programs (and their alumni bases) means you cannot compare in a meaningful way. For example, if you want to work in London post-MBA, London Business School will provide greater access than programs in Tier 2 noted above. If you want to work in New York City post-MBA, programs in Tier 3 will provide you greater access than London Business School.

See also Becoming a Clear Admit: The Definitive Guide to MBA Admissions Chapter 3, “School Selection – Rankings.”