Best MBA Programs in the United States

U.S. business schools play a major role in preparing the next generation of corporate leaders, entrepreneurs and senior managers. For ambitious professionals, a strong Master of Business Administration program can provide advanced business knowledge, practical leadership training, access to influential alumni networks and valuable career opportunities.

Some institutions stand out for their academic strength, respected faculty, innovative programs and proven graduate outcomes. The following schools are among the best business schools in the United States for MBA candidates, based on the 2023–2024 U.S. News & World Report graduate business school rankings.

15. Cornell University (Johnson)

Location: Ithaca, New York

Year founded: 1865

Annual cost: $76,690

Enrollment: 587

Note: Rankings are based on the best business schools from the 2023–2024 U.S. News and World Report.

Bottom Line: Cornell University (Johnson)

Cornell’s Samuel Curtis Johnson Graduate School of Management offers MBA students a wide selection of business concentrations. Options include accounting, business analytics, consulting, economics, entrepreneurship, health care administration and nonprofit management, along with many other areas of study.

The program is known for strong career outcomes. More than 85 percent of graduates find employment in their chosen field, making Cornell Johnson a strong option for students seeking both academic depth and professional advancement.

14. University of Virginia (Darden)

Location: Charlottesville, Virginia

Year founded: 1955

Annual cost: $68,974 in-state full-time / $71,112 out-of-state full-time

Enrollment: 699

Bottom Line: University of Virginia (Darden)

At the University of Virginia Darden School of Business, MBA students learn primarily through the case method. During the first year, students are assigned to small Learning Teams of about six people, encouraging collaboration, discussion and practical problem-solving.

Darden also offers more than three dozen clubs, career-focused activities and global study opportunities through Global Business Experiences in locations such as Barcelona and Bahia, Brazil. More than 90 percent of graduates secure jobs in their chosen field.

11. University of California, Berkeley (Haas) (Tie)

Location: Berkeley, California

Year founded: 1898

Annual cost: $67,424 in-state full-time / $76,433 out-of-state full-time

Enrollment: 562

Bottom Line: University of California, Berkeley (Haas)

The Haas School of Business benefits from its location near San Francisco and Silicon Valley. This proximity helps many graduates pursue careers in technology and finance. For students interested in global business, Haas also offers courses with an international focus, reflecting the school’s diverse MBA community.

Through the Haas@Work program, students take on projects for companies in the Bay Area and around the world. Full-time MBA students can complete the degree in 21 months, part-time students can finish in about three years, and experienced professionals can pursue the MBA for Executives program in 19 months.

11. Duke University (Fuqua) (Tie)

Location: Durham, North Carolina

Year founded: 1969

Annual cost: $71,750

Enrollment: 858

Bottom Line: Duke University (Fuqua)

Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business offers a broad range of MBA courses and programs. Students can study subjects such as accounting, consulting, economics, general management, leadership and marketing.

The school is also known for strong employment outcomes, with nearly 90 percent of full-time MBA graduates employed after completing the program.

11. Columbia University (Tie)

Location: New York, New York

Year founded: 1916

Annual cost: $80,472

Enrollment: 1,448

Bottom Line: Columbia University

Columbia Business School is one of the largest business schools in the world and the only Ivy League business school located in New York City. Its MBA offerings include consulting, economics, finance, health care administration, international business, portfolio management and real estate.

Columbia has an extensive global alumni network, with more than 47,000 alumni in 133 countries and about 70 alumni clubs worldwide. The university’s wider community has included Nobel Prize winners, heads of state, Academy Award winners, Supreme Court justices and U.S. presidents.

10. New York University (Stern)

Location: New York, New York

Year founded: 1900

Annual cost: $82,326

Enrollment: 678

Bottom Line: New York University (Stern)

At NYU Stern School of Business, MBA students are placed into blocks of about 60 before classes begin. Students take core courses together, meet regularly and compete with other blocks in the annual Block Olympics, helping build a close-knit academic community.

Stern students earn an MBA in general management and can specialize in up to three areas. They may also pursue dual degrees. With around 40 student organizations and a location in New York City, Stern provides access to a wide range of networking and career opportunities.

8. Yale University (Tie)

Location: New Haven, Connecticut

Year founded: 1976

Annual cost: $79,000

Enrollment: 784

Bottom Line: Yale University

Yale School of Management is recognized for its global perspective and the success of its graduates. About 85 percent of graduates find jobs in their chosen field.

Students can engage with the International Center for Finance, the Center for Business and the Environment, and the Center for Customer Insights. They also have access to several clubs. All students complete the Leadership Development Program and fulfill a global studies requirement that includes time overseas.

8. University of Michigan – Ann Arbor (Ross) (Tie)

Location: Ann Arbor, Michigan

Year founded: 1924

Annual cost: $68,196 in-state full-time / $73,196 out-of-state full-time

Enrollment: 754

Bottom Line: University of Michigan – Ann Arbor (Ross)

The Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan emphasizes action-based learning. Students are trained to identify important business challenges, ask better questions and build the skills needed to lead effectively.

Ross offers several centers and institutes, along with about 70 student-run clubs and organizations, including initiatives for women in business. More than 91 percent of graduates are employed after completing the MBA program.

6. Stanford University (Tie)

Location: Stanford, California

Year founded: 1925

Annual cost: $76,950

Enrollment: 862

Bottom Line: Stanford University

Stanford Graduate School of Business is known for academic excellence, respected faculty, strong industry connections and a culture that encourages innovation. These qualities help make it one of the most recognized business schools in the world.

The first year of Stanford’s two-year MBA program focuses on building a foundation in general management. Students also complete a global experience requirement, which helps them understand international business challenges. In the second year, they choose electives, seminars and courses from other Stanford schools.

6. Dartmouth College (Tuck) (Tie)

Location: Hanover, New Hampshire

Year founded: 1900

Annual cost: $77,520

Enrollment: 592

Bottom Line: Dartmouth College (Tuck)

Dartmouth’s Tuck School of Business offers many of the opportunities found at larger business schools, but in a smaller and more personal environment. Students are placed into small study teams, and hands-on learning begins early in the program.

During the first year, Tuck students apply classroom concepts to real company challenges. The school is also a strong recruiting ground for consulting firms. In 2021, nearly 40 percent of its MBA class entered consulting and earned median base salaries of $165,000.

5. Harvard University

Location: Boston, Massachusetts

Year founded: 1908

Annual cost: $73,440

Enrollment: 2,025

Bottom Line: Harvard University

Harvard Business School is one of the most prestigious business schools in the world. Its MBA program uses the case method, encouraging students to analyze real business problems, debate solutions and develop practical decision-making skills.

Students can also apply classroom learning in the field by working with real companies in cities around the world. Harvard offers nearly 100 clubs where students can take leadership roles, and MBA and PhD students may pursue joint degree programs with other Harvard schools.

4. Massachusetts Institute of Technology (Sloan)

Location: Cambridge, Massachusetts

Year founded: 1914

Annual cost: $80,400 tuition only

Enrollment: 858

Bottom Line: Massachusetts Institute of Technology (Sloan)

MIT Sloan School of Management is highly selective and widely respected. Its MBA courses have a global focus, giving students many opportunities to study international business and participate in projects beyond the United States.

Sloan’s Action Labs allow students to solve real business problems for companies in the U.S. as well as in countries such as China and India. Student organizations and business clubs also reflect the school’s global outlook. Sloan additionally offers a $100,000 Entrepreneurship Competition for student business plans.

3. University of Pennsylvania (Wharton)

Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Year founded: 1881

Annual cost: $77,500

Enrollment: 1,788

Bottom Line: University of Pennsylvania (Wharton)

The Wharton School is known for its distinguished faculty, diverse student body and extensive alumni and partner network. Its MBA program gives students access to programs and resources designed to strengthen decision-making and prepare them for the demands of the business world.

Wharton also offers outdoor leadership experiences called Ventures. Students can travel to challenging destinations such as Mount Kilimanjaro and apply leadership skills in demanding settings. On campus, they can participate in more than 150 student organizations and 25 research centers.

2. Northwestern University (Kellogg)

Location: Evanston, Illinois

Year founded: 1908

Annual cost: $78,276

Enrollment: 1,423

Bottom Line: Northwestern University (Kellogg)

Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management offers several graduate business degree options. Its MBA curriculum emphasizes teamwork, collaboration and experiential learning, giving students practical ways to apply business concepts.

Students may participate in international field research and study abroad programs. Kellogg also provides access to more than a dozen research centers, including the General Motors Research Center for Strategy in Management and the Center for Executive Women, as well as more than 100 student organizations.

1. University of Chicago (Booth)

Location: Chicago, Illinois

Year founded: 1898

Annual cost: $77,841

Enrollment: 1,281

Bottom Line: University of Chicago (Booth)

For the 2023–2024 rankings, the University of Chicago Booth School of Business holds the top position. Booth offers a range of MBA programs, but its curriculum has only one required course for all students: Leadership Effectiveness and Development.

That course helps students assess and improve leadership skills through teamwork, conflict management, interpersonal communication and presentation practice. Since 1982, nine Booth faculty members and alumni have won the Nobel Prize in economics. Nearly 96 percent of graduates accept six-figure job offers soon after graduation.