Business schools are educational institutions that specialize in teaching courses and programs related to business and management. These schools may offer undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctoral programs that cover various aspects of business including finance, marketing, human resources, and entrepreneurship. Business schools aim to prepare students for leadership roles in the corporate world, entrepreneurship ventures, and other organizational settings.
Top 20 Business Schools in the United States
These top-tier business schools represent the pinnacle of business education in the United States, offering students unparalleled resources, networking opportunities, and educational experiences that prepare them for the challenges and opportunities of global business leadership. Through a combination of rigorous academic programs, extensive alumni networks, and close ties to the business community, these institutions continue to shape the future of business practices worldwide.
1. Harvard Business School
Overview
Harvard Business School (HBS) is renowned for its rigorous MBA program, leadership initiatives, and its role in pioneering the case method of teaching.
Key Information
- City Location: Boston, Massachusetts
- Year Founded: 1908
- Total Enrollment: About 1,800 (MBA)
- Average GMAT Scores: 730
- Student-Faculty Ratio: 10:1
- Famous Alumni: Michael Bloomberg, Sheryl Sandberg
2. Stanford Graduate School of Business
Overview
Known for its entrepreneurial focus, Stanford GSB stands out for its role in cultivating innovators and business leaders who go on to impact Silicon Valley and beyond.
Key Information
- City Location: Stanford, California
- Year Founded: 1925
- Total Enrollment: Approximately 850 (MBA)
- Average GMAT Scores: 738
- Student-Faculty Ratio: 6:1
- Famous Alumni: Phil Knight, Elon Musk
3. University of Pennsylvania (Wharton)
Overview
Wharton is recognized for its deep expertise in finance and broad strength across multiple business disciplines, often regarded as the birthplace of modern business education.
Key Information
- City Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Year Founded: 1881
- Total Enrollment: Around 1,700 (MBA)
- Average GMAT Scores: 732
- Student-Faculty Ratio: 9:1
- Famous Alumni: Donald Trump, Elon Musk
4. MIT Sloan School of Management
Overview
MIT Sloan is celebrated for its cutting-edge research in management science and its application of rigorous analytical practices to solve global business challenges.
Key Information
- City Location: Cambridge, Massachusetts
- Year Founded: 1914
- Total Enrollment: About 1,300 (MBA)
- Average GMAT Scores: 720
- Student-Faculty Ratio: 9:1
- Famous Alumni: Carly Fiorina, Kofi Annan
5. University of Chicago Booth School of Business
Overview
Chicago Booth is famed for its strong emphasis on economics, finance, and the analytical evaluation of business issues and policy.
Key Information
- City Location: Chicago, Illinois
- Year Founded: 1898
- Total Enrollment: Around 1,200 (MBA)
- Average GMAT Scores: 730
- Student-Faculty Ratio: 6:1
- Famous Alumni: Satya Nadella, Peter G. Peterson
6. Northwestern University (Kellogg School of Management)
Overview
Kellogg is known for its pioneering work in the development of teamwork and collaboration in a graduate business education setting.
Key Information
- City Location: Evanston, Illinois
- Year Founded: 1908
- Total Enrollment: Approximately 1,300 (MBA)
- Average GMAT Scores: 727
- Student-Faculty Ratio: 6:1
- Famous Alumni: Arthur E. Andersen, John H. Bryan
7. Columbia Business School
Overview
Columbia excels in finance and media business education, leveraging its New York City location to provide students with abundant opportunities for networking and career advancement.
Key Information
- City Location: New York, New York
- Year Founded: 1916
- Total Enrollment: About 1,300 (MBA)
- Average GMAT Scores: 726
- Student-Faculty Ratio: 7:1
- Famous Alumni: Warren Buffett, Henry Kravis
8. UC Berkeley (Haas School of Business)
Overview
Haas is distinguished by its focus on sustainable business practices and innovation, deeply embedded in the entrepreneurial culture of the Bay Area.
Key Information
- City Location: Berkeley, California
- Year Founded: 1898
- Total Enrollment: Around 600 (MBA)
- Average GMAT Scores: 725
- Student-Faculty Ratio: 6:1
- Famous Alumni: Scott Adams, Paul Otellini
9. Dartmouth College (Tuck School of Business)
Overview
Tuck stands out for its intimate and collaborative learning environment, focusing on personalized education and close community culture.
Key Information
- City Location: Hanover, New Hampshire
- Year Founded: 1900
- Total Enrollment: About 580 (MBA)
- Average GMAT Scores: 722
- Student-Faculty Ratio: 4:1
- Famous Alumni: Alfred C. Decrane, Jr., Peter M. Dawkins
10. Yale School of Management
Overview
Yale SOM is known for its broad integration of global issues into the curriculum, aiming to educate leaders for business and society with a focus on cross-sectoral collaborations.
Key Information
- City Location: New Haven, Connecticut
- Year Founded: 1976
- Total Enrollment: Approximately 720 (MBA)
- Average GMAT Scores: 720
- Student-Faculty Ratio: 6:1
- Famous Alumni: Indra Nooyi, David Bach
11. University of Virginia (Darden School of Business)
Overview
Darden is recognized for its case study method and strong emphasis on ethical leadership and organizational behavior.
Key Information
- City Location: Charlottesville, Virginia
- Year Founded: 1955
- Total Enrollment: About 800 (MBA)
- Average GMAT Scores: 713
- Student-Faculty Ratio: 10:1
- Famous Alumni: Robert J. Hugin, Frank Sands
12. Duke University (Fuqua School of Business)
Overview
Fuqua is noted for its dedication to cultivating a global perspective within its student body, offering numerous international learning opportunities and global consulting projects.
Key Information
- City Location: Durham, North Carolina
- Year Founded: 1969
- Total Enrollment: Over 1,500 (MBA)
- Average GMAT Scores: 704
- Student-Faculty Ratio: 8:1
- Famous Alumni: Tim Cook, Melinda Gates
13. University of Michigan (Ross School of Business)
Overview
Ross is renowned for its emphasis on action-based learning, most notably through its MAP program where students work on real-world business challenges.
Key Information
- City Location: Ann Arbor, Michigan
- Year Founded: 1924
- Total Enrollment: Around 1,200 (MBA)
- Average GMAT Scores: 710
- Student-Faculty Ratio: 9:1
- Famous Alumni: Stephen M. Ross, Jeff Blau
14. UCLA (Anderson School of Management)
Overview
Anderson is particularly noted for its strength in entertainment and media management, capitalizing on its proximity to Hollywood and the Southern California entertainment industries.
Key Information
- City Location: Los Angeles, California
- Year Founded: 1935
- Total Enrollment: Approximately 1,800 (MBA)
- Average GMAT Scores: 716
- Student-Faculty Ratio: 9:1
- Famous Alumni: Susan Wojcicki, Laurence Fink
15. Cornell University (Johnson Graduate School of Management)
Overview
Johnson is admired for its immersive learning experiences and strengths in hospitality management, real estate, and sustainable global enterprise.
Key Information
- City Location: Ithaca, New York
- Year Founded: 1946
- Total Enrollment: About 650 (MBA)
- Average GMAT Scores: 700
- Student-Faculty Ratio: 9:1
- Famous Alumni: Irene Rosenfeld, Robert Frank
16. University of Texas at Austin (McCombs School of Business)
Overview
McCombs stands out for its energy finance concentration, tapping into Texas’ status as a global oil and energy hub, with strong connections to the industry.
Key Information
- City Location: Austin, Texas
- Year Founded: 1922
- Total Enrollment: Over 1,000 (MBA)
- Average GMAT Scores: 708
- Student-Faculty Ratio: 10:1
- Famous Alumni: Michael Dell, Rex Tillerson
17. New York University (Stern School of Business)
Overview
NYU Stern is highly regarded for its finance and international business programs, benefiting from its prime location in the financial capital of the world.
Key Information
- City Location: New York, New York
- Year Founded: 1900
- Total Enrollment: Around 2,500 (MBA)
- Average GMAT Scores: 720
- Student-Faculty Ratio: 4:1
- Famous Alumni: Alan Greenspan, Jack Lew
18. Carnegie Mellon University (Tepper School of Business)
Overview
Tepper is recognized for its analytics-focused curriculum and pioneering work in the application of quantitative methods to business, particularly in finance and operations.
Key Information
- City Location: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- Year Founded: 1949
- Total Enrollment: About 500 (MBA)
- Average GMAT Scores: 691
- Student-Faculty Ratio: 5:1
- Famous Alumni: David Tepper, James Swartz
19. Emory University (Goizueta Business School)
Overview
Named after the late CEO of The Coca-Cola Company, Roberto C. Goizueta, the school emphasizes ethical leadership and organizational effectiveness.
Key Information
- City Location: Atlanta, Georgia
- Year Founded: 1919
- Total Enrollment: About 800 (MBA)
- Average GMAT Scores: 681
- Student-Faculty Ratio: 5:1
- Famous Alumni: John Chidsey, Muhtar Kent
20. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (Kenan-Flagler Business School)
Overview
Kenan-Flagler is celebrated for its strong corporate responsibility and sustainability program, integrating social and environmental topics into the core business curriculum.
Key Information
- City Location: Chapel Hill, North Carolina
- Year Founded: 1919
- Total Enrollment: Approximately 1,200 (MBA)
- Average GMAT Scores: 697
- Student-Faculty Ratio: 5:1
- Famous Alumni: Hugh McColl, Erskine Bowles