MBA Career Insights: 2023 Businessweek MBA Ranking Reveals Shifts in Top Programs

Last Updated on September 14, 2023 by Robert C. Hoopes

Title: Stanford Retains Top Spot in Bloomberg Businessweek’s 2023 MBA Ranking; Harvard Falls to Sixth Place

Stanford Graduate School of Business has maintained its position as the leading business school in Bloomberg Businessweek’s 2023 MBA ranking. This prestigious accomplishment reaffirms the institution’s reputation for excellence and its commitment to providing top-tier education and career opportunities for its students.

However, there have been significant changes in the ranking this year. Harvard Business School, which has consistently been regarded as one of the best business schools in the world, faced a setback as it fell to the sixth position. This is its lowest ranking since 2014, indicating a need for reflection and potential improvements.

The University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School also experienced a decline in its ranking, sliding to the eighth spot. Similarly, Northwestern University’s Kellogg School dropped to seventh place. Moreover, Yale School of Management’s MBA program suffered a setback by falling five places to 15th, now at its lowest ranking since 2017.

In contrast, the University of Chicago Booth School of Business claimed the second position, solidifying its standing as a prominent institution for business education. Dartmouth Tuck and the University of Virginia’s Darden School of Business tied for third place, showcasing their commitment to academic excellence and producing highly skilled MBA graduates. Columbia Business School took the fifth position, further exemplifying the ongoing transformation and advancements in its curriculum and teaching methods.

The MBA program at UVA Darden achieved its highest ranking ever, signifying the institution’s dedication to providing an exceptional learning experience for its students. Additionally, Rice University’s Jones Graduate School of Business improved its position by moving up ten spots to claim the 19th place, reflecting the school’s considerable progress in recent years.

In terms of international rankings, Italy’s SDA Bocconi emerged as the top European business school, followed by Spain’s IESE Business School and Switzerland’s IMD. Other notable European institutions in the ranking included INSEAD, London Business School, and IE Business School.

Bloomberg Businessweek’s ranking methodology takes into account data from participating schools, as well as feedback from students, alumni, and employers. The rankings evaluate key factors such as compensation, learning, networking, entrepreneurship, and diversity. Compensation carries the heaviest weight for U.S. MBA programs, with slight variations for international schools.

The comprehensive rankings cover 75 U.S. programs, 20 in Europe, seven in the Asia Pacific region, and five in Canada. Notably, the Hong Kong University of Science & Technology topped the rankings in the Asia Pacific region, while Western University’s Ivey Business School claimed the highest position among Canadian institutions.

The Bloomberg Businessweek MBA ranking serves as a valuable resource for prospective students seeking insights into the top business schools worldwide, enabling them to make informed decisions about their academic and career paths.