Top 10 Best Buy MBA Programs
The “Best Buy” rankings report was created for potential students to identify the U.S. business schools that will provide them with near-guaranteed job placement within three months of graduation and a high return on investment – in today’s economy, two factors that must not be overlooked.
What Makes a “Best Buy” MBA Program?
Schools were ranked using following metrics:
- Accreditation
- Job placement rates – 3 months after graduation (US News)
- Return on investment (Forbes)
The rankings are not intended to show the most affordable MBA programs but offer insight into the future and monetary value of an MBA degree from each of the schools listed. The cost of the degree was not included as a metric due to the fact that cost does not determine ROI – a $150,000 degree can produce the same ROI, as a percentage, as a $50,000 degree.
The schools included in this report offer solid MBA programs as well as high post-graduation employment rates and high ROI.
BEST BUY MBA PROGRAMS
#1: Chicago (Booth)
Admissions Office: 773-702-7369
Website: http://www.chicagobooth.edu/programs
Departments & Concentrations
Accounting, economics, entrepreneurship, finance, general management, health care administration, human resources management, international business, marketing, management information systems, production/operations management, organizational behavior, public policy, and quantitative analysis/statistics and operations research.
The Booth School of Business at University of Chicago offers a complete range of Full-Time MBA, Evening MBA, Weekend MBA, no GMAT, and Executive MBA programs.
| Average Salary & Bonus | $137,615 |
| Employed at 3 Months | 97.2% |
| Program Enrollment | 1181 |
| Annual Tuition & Fees | $61,520 |
| Average Debt | No Data |
Industry Choices of Booth’s MBAs
#2: Pennsylvania (Wharton)
Admissions Office: 215-898-6183
Website: http://www.wharton.upenn.edu/mba/
Departments & Concentrations
Accounting, actuarial science, e-commerce, economics, entrepreneurship, finance, general management, health care administration, human resources management, insurance, international business, marketing, production/operations management, public policy, real estate, and quantitative analysis/statistics and operations research.
The Wharton School at University of Pennsylvania offers 200+ electives and 15+ interdisciplinary programs, more than any other business school.
| Average Salary & Bonus | $142,574 |
| Employed at 3 Months | 95.6% |
| Program Enrollment | 1711 |
| Annual Tuition & Fees | $62,424 |
| Average Debt | No Data |
Industry Choices of UPenn’s MBAs
#3: Dartmouth (Tuck)
Admissions Office: 603-646-3162
Website: http://www.tuck.dartmouth.edu/mba
Departments & Concentrations
Accounting, consulting, e-commerce, economics, entrepreneurship, ethics, finance, general management, health care administration, human resources management, industrial management, international business, leadership, manufacturing and technology management, marketing, not-for-profit management, production/operations management, organizational behavior, portfolio management, public policy, real estate, supply chain management/logistics, quantitative analysis/statistics and operations research,
The Tuck school of Business at Dartmouth College ranks highly in national business school rankings. Tuck only offers a full-time traditional two-year (21-month) MBA program.
| Average Salary & Bonus | $142,489 |
| Employed at 3 Months | 93.8% |
| Program Enrollment | 558 |
| Annual Tuition & Fees | $61,605 |
| Average Debt | No Data |
Industry Choices of Dartmouth’s MBAs
#4: Stanford
Admissions Office: 650-723-2766
Website: http://www.gsb.stanford.edu/programs/mba
Departments & Concentrations
Accounting, e-commerce, economics, entrepreneurship, finance, general management, health care administration, human resources management, leadership, manufacturing and technology management, marketing, not-for-profit management, production/operations management, organizational behavior, portfolio management, public administration, public policy, real estate, sports business, supply chain management/logistics, quantitative analysis/statistics and operations research, and technology.
The Graduate School of Business at Stanford University offers students an MBA, or a Ph.D. in seven areas. Seasoned managers can enroll in the MSx Program and will earn a Master of Science degree in management in 12 months.
| Average Salary & Bonus | $142,834 |
| Employed at 3 Months | 92.1% |
| Program Enrollment | 825 |
| Annual Tuition & Fees | $61,875 |
| Average Debt | $79,869 |
Industry Choices of Stanford’s MBAs
#5: Texas A&M (Mays)
Admissions Office: 979-845-4714
Website: http://mays.tamu.edu/full-time-mba/
Departments & Concentrations
Accounting, consulting, entrepreneurship, finance, general management, human resources management, international business, leadership, marketing, management information systems, production/operations management, organizational behavior, portfolio management, public administration, public policy, real estate, supply chain management/logistics, quantitative analysis/statistics and operations research, tax, and technology
The full-time MBA program at Texas A&M University provides students with extensive opportunities to apply what they learn in the classroom to real-world situations. Along with a full-time program, the university also offers an executive M.B.A. as well as Ph.D. programs
| Average Salary & Bonus | $110,219 |
| Employed at 3 Months | 96.1% |
| Program Enrollment | 113 |
| Annual Tuition & Fees | $20,319 |
| Average Debt | No Data |
Industry Choices of TAMU’s MBAs
#6: Michigan State (Broad)
Admissions Office: 800-467-8622 or 517-432-3626
Website: http://mba.broad.msu.edu/
Departments & Concentrations
Accounting, consulting, economics, entrepreneurship, finance, general management, hotel administration, human resources management, leadership, marketing, management information systems, production/operations management, organizational behavior, supply chain management/logistics, and quantitative analysis/statistics and operations research.
The 21-month Full-time MBA Program at the Broad College of Business offers students a holistic understanding of the fast-paced, multicultural world of business and instills a strong work ethic sought by top employers.
| Average Salary & Bonus | $104,348 |
| Employed at 3 Months | 95.6% |
| Program Enrollment | 150 |
| Annual Tuition & Fees | $44,860 |
| Average Debt | $59,801 |
Industry Choices of Michigan State’s MBAs
#7: MIT (Sloan)
Admissions Office: 617-258-5434
Website: http://mitsloan.mit.edu/mba/
Departments & Concentrations
Accounting, economics, entrepreneurship, finance, general management, health care administration, human resources management, industrial management, international business, leadership, manufacturing and technology management, marketing, management information systems, production/operations management, organizational behavior, supply chain management/logistics, quantitative analysis/statistics and operations research, tax, and technology.
The Sloan School of Management at Massachusetts Institute of Technology offers a two-year MBA program comprised of a combination of in-depth case studies with live case discussions, interactions with industry leaders, stimulating collaborative projects, engrossing classes taught by exceptional faculty, and exceptional hands-on classes.
| Average Salary & Bonus | $142,936 |
| Employed at 3 Months | 92.8% |
| Program Enrollment | 812 |
| Annual Tuition & Fees | $63,454 |
| Average Debt | $100,512 |
Industry Choices of MIT’s MBAs
#8: Washington U (Olin)
Admissions Office: 314-935-7301 or 888-622-5115
Website: http://www.olin.wustl.edu/EN-US/academic-programs/full-time-MBA/Pages/default.aspx
Departments & Concentrations
Accounting, consulting, entrepreneurship, finance, general management, health care administration, human resources management, international business, leadership, marketing, not-for-profit management, production/operations management, organizational behavior, portfolio management, and supply chain management/logistics.
The Olin MBA curriculum offers education with a broader impact – the critical thinking students need and the leadership skills to apply it. The 66 credit hour degree provides a platform for Olin MBAs to shape the curriculum to fit their own objectives–nearly two-thirds of credit hours are electives chosen by the individual student.
| Average Salary & Bonus | $111,974 |
| Employed at 3 Months | 96.9% |
| Program Enrollment | 281 |
| Annual Tuition & Fees | $51,500 |
| Average Debt | $68,047 |
Industry Choices of Washington U’s MBAs
#9: Harvard
Admissions Office: 617-495-6128
Website: http://www.hbs.edu/mba
Departments & Concentrations
Accounting, consulting, e-commerce, economics, entrepreneurship, ethics, finance, general management, health care administration, human resources management, international business, leadership, manufacturing and technology management, marketing, not-for-profit management, production/operations management, organizational behavior, portfolio management, public administration, public policy, real estate, sports business, supply chain management/logistics, quantitative analysis/statistics and operations research, tax, and technology.
The Harvard Business School offers incredible academics, brand, networking, facilities and the like. The case method approach that HBS implements offers true-to-life experiences to prepare them for real-world business issues. Critical debate and thinking are welcomed as solutions to issues are rejected and refined.
| Average Salary & Bonus | $144,750 |
| Employed at 3 Months | 89.4% |
| Program Enrollment | 1867 |
| Annual Tuition & Fees | $58,875 |
| Average Debt | $73,926 |
Industry Choices of Harvard’s MBAs
#10: Virginia (Darden)
Admissions Office: 434-924-7281
Website: http://www.darden.virginia.edu/web/MBA/
Departments & Concentrations
Accounting, consulting, economics, entrepreneurship, finance, general management, international business, leadership, marketing, not-for-profit management, production/operations management, organizational behavior, portfolio management, supply chain management/logistics, quantitative analysis/statistics and operations research, tax, and technology.
Darden MBA students take an active approach to learning through the case method offering students the opportunity to apply their knowledge in the field through experiential learning, consulting projects, club leadership, and more. The school also offers executive MBA and Ph.D. degrees, as well as global MBA for executives and executive education programs.
| Average Salary & Bonus | $136,474 |
| Employed at 3 Months | 93.4% |
| Program Enrollment | 633 |
| Annual Tuition & Fees | $54,698 |
| Average Debt | $102,968 |
