Are you dreaming about pursuing an MBA from the USA? It is understandable why you chose to study in USA. After all the USA is known for its world-renowned and top-ranking universities, holistic and advanced curriculum, and great co-op/internship opportunities, thus it remains one of the top choices for students to pursue their dream of becoming a business professional. Almost all the universities in the USA offer MBA programs, so to help you navigate toward the best programs, we have curated a list of the top 15 universities offering MBAs in the USA.
Before moving forward, you should be aware that this list is based on various rankings and reputations, and it may vary with your interests or goals. Therefore, you should research the program’s specialization, location of the campus, cost of the program, and other admission requirements before applying to any university.
List of Top 15 US Universities for MBA
1. Harvard University: Harvard Business School (HBS)
Renowned for its case-based method and strong alumni network, HBS consistently ranks at the top. It offers a full-time 2-year MBA program which is STEM-based and focuses on general management. The total tuition fee is USD 118,854. As mentioned, the curriculum is based on case method classes, field projects, and multimedia simulations. In the second year, students can choose electives from accounting and management; business, government and the international economy; entrepreneurial management; finance; general management; marketing; negotiations, organization and markets; organizational behavior; strategy, and technology and operations management.
There are many joint-degree programs as well, such as MS/MBA Biotechnology: Life Sciences; MBA/MPP (Master of Public Policy) and the MBA/MPA-ID (Master of Public Administration – International Development); JD/MBA; MD/MBA; DMD/MBA; and MS/MBA: Engineering Sciences.
For admission to HBS, instead of one SOP, you will be asked to write three essays based on some prompts. These three essay prompts would cover the areas that you would have done in an SOP. The essays would be business-minded essays, leadership-focused essay, and growth-oriented essay. These are going to be personalized essays, and Contentholic’s professional SOP writers will work closely with you to understand your choices and experiences so that the essays are tailored to your specific background.
2. Stanford University: Graduate School of Business (GSB)
Known for its entrepreneurial spirit and focus on innovation, Stanford GSB attracts top talent from around the world. The MBA program that the School offers is a 2-year full-time program based on learning through experience, case studies, and personalized coaching. The annual tuition fee is USD 82,455 and the total estimated cost of the program is USD 239,928
GSB also has dedicated research initiatives such as corporate governance; corporations and society; energy business innovations; and social impact. For the application to the MBA program at Stanford, there are two key components: the essays and interviews. The topics of the essay would be 1) What matters most to you, and why? 2) Why Stanford?
GSB also offers joint or dual degrees as Harvard. They are MD/MBA, MPP/MBA, MS Computer Science/MBA, MS Electrical Engineering/MBA, MS Environment and Resources (E-IPER)/MBA.
3. University of Pennsylvania: Wharton School
A pioneer in business education, Wharton offers a diverse range of programs and a strong emphasis on quantitative analysis. The core curriculum of the MBA program at Wharton is cross-functional teaching of business fundamentals and leadership; communication and analytical skills. There would be fixed core classes along with flexible core.
There are two formats of the MBA degree. The traditional full-time program would be in Philadelphia and the Executive MBA either in San Francisco or Philadelphia or via our Global cohort.
| Aspects | MBA Program | Executive MBA Program |
| Duration | 20 months | 24 months (San Francisco/Philadelphia) or 22 months (Global) |
| Total Credits | 19.0 | 19.0 |
| Core Curriculum | 9.0 | 10.0 |
| Majors | Choice from 21 majors | May pursue a formal major, but is not a requirement |
| Average Working Experience | 5 years | 10 years |
| GMAT Score | 728 | 711 |
| Tuition fee | USD 178,000 | USD 230,100 |
Wharton School also offers some joint degrees such as the MBA/MA Lauder program; JD/MBA program; MBA/MA in International Relations; Wharton/Engineering (MBA/SEAS) program; three dual-degree programs at Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government (KSG): Master in Public Administration, Master in Public Administration/International Development, or Master in Public Policy.
4. Northwestern University: Kellog School of Management
Kellogg is celebrated for its collaborative culture and emphasis on leadership development. The School provides a full-time MBA program with different options. The options range from one-year MBA program, two-year program, and joint degrees such as MBAi program, MBA+MS Design Innovation, JD-MBA program, MD-MBA, and Kellog Future Leaders program.
In a one-year program, students can choose their majors among accounting, economics, finance, marketing, operations, strategy, managing organizations, and management analytics. The estimated expenses of this one-year MBA program are USD 168,327. In the two-year program, there are 9 core courses in fundamental areas of accounting; management in organizations; marketing; finance; managerial economics; decision sciences; operations; and management and strategy. In this also, students may opt to choose majors. The estimated expenses for a two-year program are USD 125,191 per year.
The Kellogg School also provides an executive MBA program. The core curriculum would be in general management. This would be a two-year program with an estimated cost of USD 236,958.
5. Colombia University: Colombia Business School
Located in the heart of New York City, Columbia offers a unique blend of academic rigor and practical experience. The core curriculum of the full-time MBA program consists of two full-time courses and 8 half-time courses. The program is designed to be completed in 2 years and its first-year cost is USD 132,258 with an increase of 2-7% in the second year. The School also has an Executive MBA program with the same curriculum as a full-term MBA.
6. University of Chicago: Booth School of Business
Booth is known for its rigorous academic program and focus on quantitative methods. Booth School provides a flexible full-time MBA, Evening MBA, or Weekend MBA program. Students can take specific courses according to their interests. The concentration options from which students can earn their MBA are accounting, analytic finance, behavioral science, business analytics, econometrics and statistics, economics, entrepreneurship, finance, general management, healthcare, international business, marketing management, operations management, and strategic management. The total estimated cost of this program is USD 125,937. The executive MBA of this course is based on the foundations of analytical methods, managerial psychology, financial accounting, statistics, and microeconomics.
7. Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT): Sloan School of Management
MIT Sloan combines a strong foundation in technology and engineering with a focus on business innovation. The 2-year MBA program consists of a core curriculum as well as 144 units of graduate elective subjects. The program specializes in management science so that the students can analyze and solve management performance issues in their future careers. The first-year tuition fee is USD 86,550. The core curriculum consists of leadership challenges for an inclusive world, economic analysis for business decisions, data models and decisions, communication for leaders, organizational processes, and financial accounting. The students are also involved in collaborative projects and get to interact with industry leaders and Action learning lab classes.
MIT does not require English Language proficiency tests, but the applicant’s English abilities are evaluated during the interview process.
8. University of California, Berkeley: Haas School of Business
Haas is recognized for its emphasis on social responsibility and leadership. The MBA curriculum is rigorous and interdisciplinary. Students can customize their courses through 14 core courses including Macroeconomics, Ethics, and Strategic Leadership; 65 elective courses including leadership and communication, real estate development, SQL Programming, and International Finance; and 50% of the courses are hands-on. The total estimated expenses per year are USD 127,862 for a full-time program. The full-time course is 21 months in duration, evening and weekends are 2.5-3 years, and the executive MBA is 22 months.
The curriculum navigates toward the fundamentals of general management, finance and marketing, strategy, and organizational behavior. Throughout the program, students can develop, practice, and gain innovative leadership skills through coursework, applied knowledge, and activities such as clubs and conferences. Students also get the opportunity to participate in the Haas and Colombia Exchange program, where they take advantage of Colombia’s adjacency to Wall Street and New York’s media and entertainment industries. The full-time MBA program also offers three concurrent degree programs: MBA/JD, MBA/MPH, and MBA/MEng.
9. Duke University: Fuqua School of Business
Fuqua offers a collaborative learning environment and a strong focus on leadership development. The Duke MBA is taught in three formats by the same faculty in a cooperative learning atmosphere. The formats are Daytime– a 22-month residential program on campus in Durham, North Carolina; Global Executive – an 18-month international flexible program with a combination of short residencies around the world with distance learning; and Weekend Executive– a 19-month flexible format combining one campus residency one month with hybrid and distance learning. The estimated cost for the first year is USD 110,826.
A collection of the core, as well as elective courses, are available to students such as Accounting; Decision Sciences; Economics; Energy and Environment; Finance; Health sector Management; Leadership Communication; Management and Organizations; Marketing; Operations Management; and Strategy. Out of these students would have 13 mandatory core classes and over 100 electives to choose from.
Students can get exposed to international business through this program as the University offers Global Academic Travel Experience (GATE), Fuqua Client Consulting Practicum (FCCP), or the study abroad option with top business schools in 28 different countries.
10. New York University (NYU): Stern School of Business
Stern is located in the financial capital of the world, providing students with ample networking and internship opportunities. The full-time general MBA is a 2-year program. Students can select 3 specializations from more than 20 options. Students can take up 25% of their courses at other NYU graduate schools or partner institutions and can choose electives from over 200 options. The core of the curriculum is financial accounting and reporting; statistics and data analysis; leadership in organizations; and team communications. The first-year budget for this MBA program is USD 131,818.
The second option is Andre Koo Technology and Entrepreneurship MBA of 1 year. It is a focused MBA designed to enhance the foundation of business and expand the knowledge of technology among students. There are four major components of the curriculum the business core, the technology core, stern solutions, and electives. The estimated expenses for one year are USD 52,209 for summer and USD 61,021 for fall and spring intakes.
The third option is an MBA in Luxury and Retail, a one-year program. It is designed for those students who want to go into the business of luxury, fashion, beauty, lifestyle, and retail. The curriculum of this program has four major components: the business core; the luxury and retail core; stern solutions; and electives. The total expenses are USD 50,187 for summer and USD 58,419 for fall and spring intakes.
11. University of Michigan: Ross School of Business
Ross is known for its emphasis on teamwork and leadership development. The full-time MBA program is the top-ranked program at Ross School. It is a 2-year program. Some of the featured concentrations of this program are environment, social, and governance (ESG); data and business analytics; design thinking and innovation; healthcare management, etc. The per academic year tuition fee for international students is USD 78,030.
If you want to pursue an Executive MBA of less than 2 years then you have to incur tuition and expenses of USD 191,000. The Executive program would have 12 core courses such as business analytics and statistics for executives; strategic thinking and competitive analysis, etc. Students will also have to choose from 14 electives like entrepreneurial ventures; personal and organizational leadership; corporate financial strategy, etc.
12. Carnegie Mellon University: Tepper School of Business
Tepper is a leader in analytics and technology, offering a unique blend of business and engineering education. Tepper provides STEM-designated MBA programs. The core and elective courses are focused on leadership development and analytics. The program also has mini-semester formats, tracks, and capstone. The course concentration areas are accounting; AI in business; business technologies; communications; economics; entrepreneurship; finance; healthcare analytics; marketing; operations management; operations research; organizational behaviour; strategy; and sustainability. The per-semester tuition fee of this program is USD 39,181.
13. University of Virginia: Darden School of Business
Darden is celebrated for its case-based method and emphasis on leadership development. Darden offers a full-time two-year MBA program with a case method approach which is ranked number 1 by Financial Times. The core courses include leadership communication; global economies and markets; financial management and policies; accounting for managers; marketing; operations management; leading organizations; decision analysis; business ethics; and strategic thinking and action. The one academic year cost of this program is USD 117,487 for international students.
14. Cornell University: Johnson Graduate School of Management
Johnson offers a diverse range of programs and a strong focus on leadership and ethics. The School provides three innovative students to pursue an MBA: a two-year residential program at the Ithaca, New York campus; a one-year tech MBA based in New York City; and a new Cornell 1+1 MBA two-year program which is a combination of both options.
The program provides immersive experiences through collaborative consulting projects, faculty-led study trip, and summer internship. The curriculum emphasizes data analytics, technology, and other subjects pivotal for today’s business leaders. The core curriculum covers topics like leadership, marketing management, financial accounting, and data analytics. The full-time MBA costs USD 111,436 per academic year, and the Cornell Tech MBA costs USD 177,070.
15. Indiana University: Kelley School of Business
Kelley is known for its strong alumni network and emphasis on practical experience. The School offers a Full-time + Flex MBA program in which students can complete their second year in Bloomington (location of the University campus) or online. It is based on an integrated core curriculum in areas such as finance, marketing, quantitative analysis, and strategy, with majors and minors. For admissions, the students need to have an understanding of algebra, a good knowledge of spreadsheets, and a baseline knowledge of statistics. The total annual expenses for this program is USD 83,258.
Need Help With Your MBA Application?
If you are considering pursuing an MBA in any of the US universities, then Contenholic can help. Our experienced study-abroad consultants provide comprehensive guidance throughout the application process. The application requirements for an MBA in US Universities consist of your academic transcripts, standardized test scores, English proficiency tests, personal essays, and letters of recommendation (LOR). Often students with very good academic records fail to get admission to the top universities of their choice because they don’t properly put forward their intentions, personality, and background through their essays. If you are someone, who needs help in crafting compelling personal essays, our team of professional SOP writers can help you showcase your unique qualifications and goals. Our writers will work closely with you to understand your experiences and aspirations to tailor your essays to your specific needs.
Conclusion
We hope that through this blog, your search for the top universities for an MBA in the USA has narrowed down. This blog provides the basics of the MBA program in each university so that you can easily compare and decide, on the core curriculums and tuition fees before applying. If you are ready to take the next steps in your MBA dream, contact Contenholic to know more about our study abroad consultants and SOP writing services so that your dream to study in USA can be achieved.
