Top 10 Executive MBA Programs in the World 2019

The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania has been ranked the best in the world for the second year running in the QS Global EMBA Rankings 2019.

Released today, the QS Global EMBA Rankings 2019 reveal the top executive MBA programs around the world, as well as providing a regional breakdown to help you find a top school near you. The rankings also include a separate table of the best joint programs.

You can find out more about the methodology used to produce the rankings here.

The top 10 in the world can be seen below:

=9) UCLA Anderson School of Management

Kicking off the top 10 in joint ninth place is the Executive MBA program at UCLA Anderson School of Management. The school scored highly across all ranking indicators, particularly for employer reputation and thought leadership.

The 22-month program is offered at UCLA’s Los Angeles campus with two scheduling options: biweekly and monthly. In the biweekly schedule, classes meet in person for five weekends of the 10-week quarter. On the monthly schedule, classes meet in person on three weekends of the 10-week quarter, with additional weekly online instruction.

Participants have an average of 14 years’ work experience and nine years’ managerial experience. Fees are subject to change on an annual basis, but the estimated two-year program fee total is US$163,000.

=9) INSEAD

INSEAD’s Global Executive MBA also comes in joint ninth. The program achieved excellent scores across all ranking indicators, with the joint highest score in the global table for employer reputation.

Students in the GEMBA Class of 2019 have an average of 14 years’ work experience. The program is designed in a modular format, with students able to choose primary locations in Europe in Fontainebleau, Singapore in Asia, or the Middle East section in Abu Dhabi.

The Europe section starts in November, taking 14 months to complete with 63 days out of office. Tuition fees are €123,000 (approx. US$138,606). The Asia section starts in August, with 57 days out of office and takes 17 months, with tuition fees of SG$191,000 (approx. US$141,000). The Middle East section starts in October, spanning 15 months with 55 days out of office, and tuition fees of US$130,000.

8) Haas School of Business

In eighth place is the Executive MBA program at Haas School of Business, University of California Berkeley. The school achieved high scores in all ranking indicators, including a perfect score for thought leadership.

Located in Berkeley, California, the 19-month program consists of five terms with five class blocks and one immersion per term. Each block is around three days every three weeks. The program cost is US$190,550, which includes tuition, books, hotel accommodation, administrative fees and most meals during resident periods.

Participants have an average age of 38 with 14 years’ work experience. The most popular industries represented are high technology/electronics, health services, and financial services.

7) The Kellogg School of Management

Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University’s Executive MBA program is seventh. Kellogg’s program attained high scores in all ranking indicators, including the third highest score globally for employer reputation.

The two-year program is offered in two locations – either at Kellogg’s campus in Evanston, Illinois, or Miami, Florida. The Miami option has classes once a month, Thursday to Sunday, while the Evanston option holds classes twice a month, Friday to Saturday.

The most recent cohort have an average age of 38, with 14 years’ work experience. The total tuition for the most recent cohort is US$208,152, including tuition, accommodation, meals, class materials, plus one global elective experience.

=5) HEC Paris

Joint fifth place goes to the HEC Paris Executive MBA program. As well as scoring highly across all rankings, HEC achieved a perfect score for career outcomes.

The HEC Paris EMBA offers a variety of part-time options, split into two main strands – the International Paris EMBA or the International EMBA. The Paris EMBA options are all taught in Paris, while you can study in Doha, Qatar on the International EMBA.  

The program takes between 15 and 18 months to complete, with fees of €79,950 (approx. US$90,123) for Paris and US$94,500 for Doha. The most recent cohort have an average age of 40 with 15 years’ work experience.

=5) The University of Chicago Booth School of Business

Equally ranked in fifth place is the Executive MBA program at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business. Booth scored highly across all ranking indicators, particularly in thought leadership where it achieved the highest non-perfect score in the table.

The 21-month program starts in June, with two to three courses per quarter. Although students choose a primary campus (Chicago, London or Hong Kong), they will take classes at each global campus during international session weeks. The average age is 37, with 13 years’ work experience.

There are three international session weeks in Chicago, one in London and one in Hong Kong. Fees for the Chicago-based program are US$194,000, for London US$167,000 and for Hong Kong HKD$1,355,000 (approx. US$172,776).

4) IESE Business School

Just missing out on a spot in the top three is the Global Executive MBA program at IESE Business School. The program achieved very high scores across all ranking indicators, including a perfect score for career outcomes.

Students have the option of completing the EMBA in one of four locations: Barcelona, Madrid, Munich or São Paulo. In your second year you can choose to study an international immersion with cohorts from around the world – locations include New York, Shanghai and Nairobi.

Fees for the 18-month Global EMBA program are €115,000 (approx. US$129,662). This includes tuition, course materials and most meals during residential modules. Participants on the program have an average age of 38 with 14 years’ work experience.

3) London Business School

In the bronze medal position for the second-year running is the Executive MBA at London Business School. The school achieved high scores in all ranking indicators, with a perfect score for career outcomes.

The LBS EMBA is divided into two streams in two locations: London and Dubai. There are also options for international assignments and electives in locations including, Buenos Aires, Beijing, Mexico City, San Francisco, Athens and Hong Kong.

The 20-month program, commencing in January or September, has fees of £90,800 (approx. US$118,739) for London and US$124,900 for Dubai. The average participant has 12 years’ work experience in both Class of 2020 cohorts.

2) MIT Sloan School of Management

Also retaining its silver medal position is the Executive MBA program at MIT Sloan School of Management. The program scored highly in all ranking indicators, including a perfect score for thought leadership.

Based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, the 20-month program is comprised of 26 weekend sessions (Friday to Saturday), four weeklong executive modules, and one weeklong international project trip. Fees are US$178,302 which includes tuition, books and class materials as well as basic travel costs during the global labs project trip.

The Class of 2020 cohort have an average age of 41, and 17 years’ work experience. The most popular industries are healthcare (15 percent), technology and financial services (both 13 percent).

1) The Wharton School

Taking the top spot for the second year in a row is the MBA for Executives program at The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. It achieved some seriously impressive scores in the ranking indicators, including the joint highest score in the world for employer reputation and two perfect scores for thought leadership and career outcomes.

The two-year program meets on campus every other weekend, plus several extended sessions and a one-week Global Experience. There are three terms per year, with participants studying at Wharton’s Philadelphia or San Francisco campus. Global Business Week is a required week-long international course from a choice of five different study locations.

The Class of 2020 have an average age of 35, with 11 years’ work experience. Fees for the program are US$210,900 which includes tuition, most course materials, room and board, and a Land Package for the Global Business Week.