Top MBA Schools / Top MBA Programs
How would you like to explore the top rated MBA schools and what makes them the best? If you are considering attending school for your MBA, you need to know what options exist out there for you and how to choose the best one for your needs. First, do you know what an MBA program consists of? Do you understand how an MBA program can help your career? An online MBA degree is one of the best possible ways to enhance your academic qualifications in business. Many fortune companies value employees who have a higher academic degree and consider those with MBA degrees as a criterion for promotion.
What are the top ranking MBBA schools? According to recent studies, these are the top five in order:
- Harvard Business School
- Stanford Graduate School of Business
- MIT Sloan School of Management
- Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania
- Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University
These five schools were ranked the highest MBA schools based off of peer assessment, prestige and other factors. Most of these have been historically considered the best for many years, such as Harvard, and they continue to hold this top ranking position based on prestige more so than their actual programs.
So just what is it that makes these schools the best? It's more than just the programs that they offer. There are no qualifying exams or tests that a person must take to become licensed in business like there is with medical and even law degrees. Because of this, the success of a person with a business degree is often directly related to the school at which they obtained their MBA.
The curriculum of most business schools is the same. It consists of courses like finance, accounting, statistics and strategy, communications, economics and technology. These core courses are the same for most every school, even the top ranking MBA schools and courses. In fact, top MBA programs have more in common with one another than they have differences. They also have most of the same program requirements and standards as non-top ranking MBA schools. They are most often taught the same courses and even from the same textbooks.
Just like many law schools or medical schools, the core information is the same. The main difference in these top ranking schools is the prestige and respect that comes from having attended them. You will receive more value and precedence when it comes to your job and career if you have graduated from one of these top MBA schools. People who graduate from these top schools typically go on to have very successful lives and careers. But that's not to say that it is the only reason theses schools are ranked high. They also attract some of the best teachers and professors in the industry that have excellent advice to offer to a new MBA student. It's only natural that the top ranking schools will have the top ranking teachers employed so this is another benefit.
Some other things that make these top MBA schools stand out from others are their entrepreneurial programs, management, financing and accounting and similar programs. It's not enough for you just to look at the top MBA schools but you should also look into what they are ranked in the top for. Then you can determine which top school is best for you based off of what program you want to specialize in.
In addition, there are also many online MBA schools that you may want to consider, particularly if you don't have the time in your schedule to go to school full-time. If you get your MBA online, you don’t have to quit your current job just to further your career. You can also attend school even if you have a family and other responsibilities that require your time. You can learn in your leisure time to help you enhance your career. Just keep in mind that an online MBA school may not have the same benefits of the top MBA schools and top MBA programs that we discussed above.
You have to investigate all areas of the MBA School you are thinking of attending before you can decide for certain which one is right for you. It's not enough just to go to a school because studies show it is the best. Even if you get accepted, you can get there and do poorly because it just isn’t the right MBA School for you. If you are serious about your career and your future in business, you need to take your school seriously as well.
Other well known and highly regarded programs include:
- Tuck School of Business, Dartmouth College
- Haas School of Business, University of California-Berkeley
- Yale School of Management
- NYU Stern School of Business
- Ross School of Business, University of Michigan
- Anderson School of Business, UCLA
- Darden School of Business, University of Virginia
Another thing to consider when choosing the best top school for your needs is the yield. Yield refers to the number of people who receive acceptances and choose to attend that school. High yield is a positive sign. Most of the top MBA schools have a yield of 75% or higher. These are just some of many things to consider if you are looking to attend MBA schools.
