Business School Rankings

Business school rankings come in all shapes and sizes and from many sources.

Have you ever been confused by all the MBA rankings that are available out there?

There are many publications performing rankings. Some are ongoing, while others were short-lived.

The rankings themselves have different methodologies or criteria to determine how schools are ranked.

These rankings are also focused on different types of schools, programs, or specialties.

Below we have listed the most common publications that are providing MBA business school rankings...

• Business Week (BW) - since 1988, every two years. Provides "Best MBA" ranking, usually top 20 or 30. Also part-time and executive rankings plus distance MBA profiles. Rankings split between US and non-US programs.
• US News and World Report (USN) - since 1987, yearly. Provides "Top MBA" ranking, usually top 50. Also by specialty (like marketing or management) plus part-time and executive rankings. Rankings only include schools in the US.
• Financial Times (FT) - since 2002, yearly. Provides "Global MBA" ranking, usually top 100. Also executive, European schools, master of finance, master of management, and online MBA rankings. Rankings include US and non-US schools in global rankings.
• Forbes - since 1999, every two years. Provides "MBA Payback" ranking, based on return on investment after five years. Rankings split between US and non-US schools.
• Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) - since 2006, yearly. Provides "which MBA" ranking, top 100 global schools.
• Princeton Review (PR) - since 2008, yearly. Provides "Best Business School" ranking, includes hundreds of US schools.
• GetEducated.com (GE) - Yearly ranking for online MBA "Best Buys", or lowest costs. Ranking split between AACSB and Regionally accredited US schools.

While most (if not all) of the rankings mentioned above are active or ongoing, there have been quite a few other rankings historically...most of which were short-lived. For example, various publications have ranked "top" programs for Entrepreneurs, Hispanics, Women, and even Computer Profesionals (Techno-MBAs).

We should note that the business school ranking publications listed above are typically located in the US or include US based schools. There are many publications that provide an MBA ranking in other countries or regions. A few examples include Asia Inc., Canadian Business, and India Today.