Top MBA Programs in the US by State

The US is home to some of the most prestigious business schools around the world. And within such a vast nation, there are numerous institutions to choose from to undertake an MBA program.

Our Global MBA Rankings 2019 features over 150 business schools from around the world, assessing them based on the following indicators: employability; entrepreneurship and alumni outcomes; thought leadership; return on investment (ROI); and diversity.

In this year’s ranking, 109 schools are based in the US (a separate regional ranking can be found here). Here’s a closer look at the best business schools in every US state.

Alabama – Raymond J. Harbert College of Business

The Raymond J. Harbert College of Business at Auburn University MBA is a blended learning program with traditional in-class instruction, modern technology and hands-on leadership training.

Ranked 66th in the US and 131-140 globally, the AACSB accredited 21-month Auburn MBA focuses on leadership development, including an internship and an international trip – with many specializations available.

Every autumn students compete in leadership challenges, and there are networking opportunities through student organizations including the Auburn Supply Chain Management Association, the International Business Club, and the Real Estate Society.

There are 78 students in the class making it quite small. Tuition fees for the program cost US$65,003.

Arizona – Carey School of Business

W. P. Carey School of Business at Arizona State University, located in Tempe, offers a full-time 22-month MBA program and is ranked 38th in the US and 78th globally.

Students can tailor their MBA to fit specific career goals, explore business through international electives and outreach trips, and experience unique learning opportunities like Intellectual Fusion Learning Labs.

MBAs can get involved with Student Engagement Clubs including MBA Ambassadors, Entrepreneurship Society, and National Association of Women MBAs.

Carey’s class size is slightly larger than Harbert’s with 109 students. The cohort is made up of 23 nationalities, with 34 percent international students and 39 percent female students.

Tuition for the MBA is US$101,100, but graduates earn on average US$98,633, jumping up from US$42,543 pre-MBA.

Arkansas – Sam M. Walton College of Business

The 18-month program tuition at the Sam M. Walton College of Business is US$59,000, with an average post-graduate salary of US$60,500. The class size is very intimate with only 30 students per class.

However, students at the b-school will enjoy a newly restructured two-year full-time program in the Fall of 2019.

The school website says the 53-hour program consists of concentrations in retail marketing, supply chain, finance, entrepreneurship.

Walton is ranked 101+ in the US and 201+ globally.

California – Stanford Graduate School of Business

The top business school in the QS Global MBA Rankings 2019 is Stanford Graduate School of Business, jumping up from fourth position in 2018. The b-school is the most selective institution in the US, with more applicants per spot than any other business school in the country.

As Stanford is world-renowned for its tech-savvy alumni and as the starting point for many of the world’s biggest tech enterprises, it’s no surprise.

The two-year program tuition is US$141,180. However, compared to a pre-MBA salary of US$80,511, graduates are said to earn on average US$144,455, making the investment worthwhile.

The top schools are seemingly getting closer to equality on their programs, as Stanford's class with 418 students boasts 40 percent women, 41 percent international students and 61 nationalities are represented.

Colorado – Leeds School of Business

Leeds School of Business at the University of Colorado Boulder – ranked 71-80 in the US and 151-200 globally – offers a fully immersive MBA program in Boulder, Colorado.

Students can study abroad via the Global Perspectives Course which focuses on a specific area including sustainability in Chile, entrepreneurship in Turkey, or real estate development in Chile.

The AACSB accredited 21-month MBA program costs US$67,980, with graduates’ salaries rising to US$75,774. The average age on the program is 27, with around five years’ work experience.

There are 94 students in the class, with 31 percent of students being women, as well as 15 nationalities represented and 16 percent international students.

Connecticut – Yale School of Management

Yale University's School of Management MBA is ranked 10th in the US and 16th globally. Located in New Haven, Connecticut, this 24-month program has tuition fees of US$139,000.

Graduates can expect a significant salary uplift, with an average increase of 92 percent after the program. Around 43 percent of the 348 students in the MBA program are female, and 45 percent are international.

Yale MBAs can enjoy a wide range of speakers, conferences, and student events, such as talks from Google Executive Chairman Eric Schmidt and the annual Private Equity Venture Conference. Extracurricular events include the Garstka Cup, an ice hockey game between first- and second-year SOM students.

Florida – Hough Graduate School of Business

Hough Graduate School of Business at the University of Florida located in Gainesville is ranked 33rd in the US and 67th globally.

Students can customize their MBA by choosing one of six concentration areas: finance, human capital, marketing, strategy, supply chain and real estate.

The 20-month AACSB accredited program costs US$60,260. This is relatively inexpensive for an MBA program, making the return on investment even greater with graduates potentially earning US$101,357 compared to US$47,111 pre-MBA.

Georgia – Terry College of Business

The Terry College of Business at the University of Georgia, situated in Atlanta, offers a 22-month MBA.

Ranked 45th in the US and 93rd globally, the Georgia MBA program offers concentrations in entrepreneurship, finance, fintech emphasis, healthcare management, marketing, real estate, risk management, and more.

Terry incorporates an international residency during the spring. Locations include Shanghai, Beijing, and Buenos Aires providing students with a diverse learning opportunity.

Students can expect to pay US$72,000 on tuition but can earn on average US$90,250 after graduation, almost trebling average pre-MBA salary of US$35,552.

Illinois – Booth School of Business

Situated in Chicago (obviously), the University of Chicago's Booth School of Business is ranked fifth in the US and eighth globally.

Booth's MBA prides itself on its 'flexible curriculum', as with only one compulsory course in Leadership Effectiveness and Development (LEAD), students are free to design their program to fit their career goals. The electives available cover 13 concentrations, including business analytics, operations management, and economics.

There are around 582 students in the class, of whom 42 percent are female and 36 percent are international. Graduates can expect to enjoy a salary uplift of 72 percent after their MBA studies. The 21-month program costs US$144,000.

Indiana – Kelley School of Business

Kelley School of Business at Indian University, located in Bloomington, is ranked 18th in the US and 36th globally.

There are many opportunities to study abroad through the GLOBASE initiative which combines business and social enterprise in locations including Latin America, Africa, and Southeast Asia.

Alumni can make the most of Kelley’s 112,000+ Alumni Network – making it the largest b-school network in the world.

The 21-month program costs US$94,252 but graduates are in for a treat, with some earning US$113,289, jumping up from a pre-MBA salary of US$46,299.

The class has 204 students, of which 29 percent are women, international students make up 30 percent, and nine nationalities are represented.

Louisiana – Freeman School of Business

Freeman School of Business – affiliated with Tulane University – is ranked 65th in the US and 131-140 globally.

Primarily based in the vibrant city of New Orleans, all MBA students also travel as a class to three different areas of the world, such as Europe, Latin America, and Asia, as part of the required core curriculum.

Students can also take part in the Darwin Fenner Student Managed Fund course, where they manage nearly US$4.5 million in three separate equity portfolios.

As class size goes, Freeman offers an intimate environment with only 44 students, of which 32 percent are women, 27 percent are international, with four nationalities represented.

Freeman’s 21-month MBA program will set students back US$99,736 in tuition.

Maryland – Robert H. Smith School of Business

The University of Maryland’s Robert H. Smith School of Business offers MBA students the chance to get close to the action in the capital – with the White House only eight miles away.

Smith School of Business, situated in College Park, is joint 55th in the US and ranked 111-120 globally.

Differing to other b-schools, at Smith, all scholarship applications received by the priority deadline are automatically considered for the Dean’s Award two-year scholarship, the Smith Award one-year scholarship, and the Terrapin Award US$5,000-25,000 scholarship.

Smith’s 21-month program costs US$112,368, with graduates earning on average US$96,000, up from US$57,054 pre-MBA.

Massachusetts (MA) – Harvard Business School

Harvard Business School’s MBA program ranks second in the US and our global rankings respectively.

Located in Boston, Massachusetts, tuition fees for the 24-month program are US$146,880. It’s one of the largest MBA programs in terms of class size, with around 928 students per year. 42 percent of these students are female and there are 70 nationalities making up the 35 percent of international students on the course.

The school’s famous case method is internationally renowned. HBS faculty writes over 80 percent of business school cases sold globally, producing approximately 350 new cases per year. During the two-year MBA program, students will read and work on 500 cases, both on their own and in ‘learning teams’, as well as discussions with the whole class.

Michigan – University of Michigan’s Ross School of Business

The University of Michigan's Ross School of Business located in Ann Arbor, takes ninth position in the US and 15th globally, scoring highly for return on investment. The program is 20 months in duration and has tuition fees of US$125,000.

In terms of class profile, the average Ross MBA student is 29 years old with an average of six years of work experience. In a class of 422 students, around 43 percent are female, and 34 percent are international students.

A standout feature of Ross's MBA program is their Multidisciplinary Action Projects (MAP) course, where students can spend seven weeks on a full-time, often international, project, looking for a solution to a company's business problem. Recent trips have included challenges such as developing market entry strategies in Central America and the Caribbean.

Minnesota – Carlson School of Management

The Curtis L. Carlson School of Management is part of the University of Minnesota, located in Minneapolis. Carlson is ranked 27th in the US and 57th globally. The program is 22 months long and has tuition fees of US$97,852 – with graduates earning roughly US$106,129.

Specializations on the MBA program include entrepreneurship, finance, information systems, management, marketing, medical industry and the supply chain.

Within each specialization, there are specific tailored opportunities and experiences too. For example, in the entrepreneurship specialization, there’s the start-up course, where students can test business model assumptions and gain feedback, and the ventures enterprise, in which students create, develop, and sustain new business ideas.

Missouri – Olin Business School

Located in St Louis – and dating back to 1917 – Washington University’s Olin Business School is ranked 34th in the US and 69th globally.

The 21-month program costs US$115,800, but the return on investment makes it worthwhile, with some grads earning US$108,000, up from US$52,740 pre-MBA.

Olin has a student-focused mentality, with small class sizes (145 students in this year’s cohort), and almost two-thirds of total credit hours are spent on elective courses to tailor your MBA education.

Setting itself apart – the application process has been streamlined: only a one-page CV, response to two essay questions, academic transcripts, and GMAT/GRE scores are required.

New Hampshire – Tuck School of Business

Located in Hanover, New Hampshire, Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth University is ranked 20th in the US and 41st globally.

The 21-month MBA program fees also hit six-figures at US$145,020 – but grads need not worry as some have earned double their pre-MBA salary at US$123,394.

Class sizes are mid-range with 293 students, of which 44 percent are women, 37 percent international students, with 35 nationalities represented.

There are over 100 electives to choose from, as well as exchange programs, joint and dual degrees, experiential learning and leadership development possibilities.

New Jersey – Rutgers Business School

Founded in 1929, Rutgers Business School is located on the Newark and New Brunswick campuses of Rutgers University and is ranked 46th in the US and 95th globally. 

With only 72 students in the class, the Rutgers MBA program allows for a more personal approach among peers and staff.

Concentrations at the b-school include: pharmaceutical management, real estate, finance, global business, marketing, supply chain management and more.

The 24-month program costs US$91,378, with an average salary jump from US$47,000 to US$97,546.

New York – Columbia Business School

Columbia Business School narrowly misses out on a place in the top five of the US table but achieved a near-perfect score for employability (fifth globally). Columbia also made it into the global top 10 in 10th position. The MBA program takes 24 months to complete and has tuition fees of US$148,000.

Of the 753 students in the MBA class, around 41 percent are female, and 43 percent are international. Graduates of Columbia's program can expect a salary uplift of approximately 65 percent.

The real star of Columbia's MBA program is its New York City location. It’s the only school in the US top ten located in the financial capital of the US, and the school claims it shares a symbiotic relationship with the city. Owing to their location, the school has more than 100 adjunct faculty from a huge range of industries, who are just a subway ride away from Columbia's campus.

North Carolina – Fuqua School of Business

Located in Durham, the Fuqua School of Business at Duke University is ranked 12th in the US and 20th globally.

There are many variations of the Fuqua MBA, including the full-time, two-year, residential Daytime MBA and the Cross-Continent MBA – a 16-month program in global cities, including London, New Delhi, St. Petersburg, Shanghai, Dubai, and Durham, NC.

The Fuqua MBA offers 10 concentrations with additional variations, and the school also offers a high level of international learning and study abroad opportunities through 27 partner schools.

On average, students are 29 with six years’ work experience. The class is also quite large with 433 students, of which 34 percent are women and 34 percent are international students respectively.

The 22-month program is US$133,865, with grads possibly earning US$125,000.

Ohio – Max M. Fisher College of Business

In Columbus, Ohio, you’ll find the Max M. Fisher College of Business at Ohio State University. The b-school is ranked 40th in the US and 84th globally.

This year’s cohort has 91 students in class, with 32 percent female students and 25 percent international students. The 21-month program is US$105,222, with grads earning US$95,604 on average post-MBA.

The program includes core foundation, skills-building, and leadership training courses over the first year, a summer term involving an internship or overseas Global Applied Project (GAP), and a second-year focus on electives.

Oklahoma – University of Tulsa College of Business Administration 

Founded in 1935, the Collins College of Business is the University of Tulsa’s flagship school, ranked 81-90 in the US and 151-200 globally. The QAACSB accredited school is in Tulsa – once named one of America’s ‘most lovable large cities.’

The 16-month QAACSB full-time MBA program involves local business community leaders within the course – blurring the lines between classroom and workplace.

No work experience or interview is required, meaning applicants only submit standard documents (letters of recommendation, GMAT/GRE scores, university transcripts, and a completed application form) to be considered for a place.

Oregon – Atkinson Graduate School of Management

Willamette University's Atkinson Graduate School of Management is located in Salem, Oregon. The business school is ranked 71-80 in the US and 151-200 globally.

Atkinson offers an Executive Development Center and two MBA programs: the Early Career & Career Change MBA and the MBA for Professionals.

The curriculum features consequential learning which involves making decisions under uncertain conditions with real capital and real outcomes.

The 21-month program has a small class size of 64 people. Students are 26 years old on average with two years’ work experience.

Pennsylvania – Wharton School

In third place in both the US and global tables is the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania located in Philadelphia.

The 21-month program has tuition fees of US$157,896, and a large class size of around 863 students. Of these, 44 percent are female, and 35 percent are international, from 65 nations across the world. Students can expect a salary boost of around 58 percent post-graduation.

Wharton is part of the Wharton-INSEAD alliance. MBA students at Wharton can spend one period of study at the partner school, ranked second in Europe and sixth globally, either at INSEAD’s Fontainebleau or Singapore campus.

South Carolina – Darla Moore School of Business

Darla Moore School of Business at the University of South Carolina is located in Columba, SC. The school is ranked 62nd in the US and 121-130 globally.

Moore emphasizes the importance of global perspective, internships, foreign language learning and entrepreneurial opportunities.

Students on the full-time MBA are aged 27 on average with five years’ work experience. However, it’s worth noting that the class is extremely small with only 22 students.

If this level of intimacy works for you, the programs costs US$71,580, with grads earning on average US$84,206.

South Dakota - Beacom School of Business

In the city of Vermillion, South Dakota state’s flagship university – The University of South Dakota and subsequently Beacom School of Business can be found.

Created in 1927, Beacom is ranked 100+ in the US and 201+ globally and is fully accredited by AACSB International.

The 21-month program boasts a tiny class with only 17 students and is inexpensive by MBA standards at US$12,530.

Tennessee – Owen Graduate School of Management

The Vanderbilt University Owen Graduate School of Management situated in Nashville is ranked 25th in the US and 55th globally.

Tuition for the 21-month program is US$96,666. Graduates earn on average US$119,904, more than double the average pre-MBA salaries of US$53,000.

Connecting through clubs and organizations is important at the school. Groups include: Owen Student Government Association; Honor Council; Adam Smith Society; Distinguished Speaker Series; Music Industry Club and more.

The school is also a sponsor of the Forté Foundation, which helps launch women into careers in business.

Texas – McCombs School of Business

With its main campus situated in Downtown Austin, McCombs School of Business at the University of Texas at Austin is ranked joint 14th in the US and joint 29th globally.

In addition to the main campus in Downtown Austin, McCombs offers classes outside Central Texas in Dallas, Houston and internationally in Mexico City. And in 2019, McCombs will launch UTNY – a cross-discipline learning center in Manhattan, where students can explore classes and internships in business, finance and other subjects in the Big Apple.  

There are 45+ student-led organizations at the b-school for whatever your professional curiosities or personal hobbies. But if you want to get away from campus for a chance to study elsewhere, McCombs offers global opportunities including: Global Connections Study Tours; Exchange Programs; McCombs Adventure Program; Double Degree Program.

Students on the 21-month program will pay US$109,000 in tuition, with a possible average salary of US$116,403 post-MBA. There are on average 265 students, of which 40 percent are female, 18 nationalities are represented, and 28 percent of students are international.

Utah – Brigham Young University Marriott School

Brigham Young University Marriott School is situated in Provo, Utah. The business school is ranked 81-90 in the US and 151-200 globally.

The 20-month program costs US$52,240, with some graduates earning US$102,534. The class has 136 students, of which 15 percent are international, 22 percent are female, and 10 nationalities are represented. Students are on average 29 years old with four years’ work experience.

BYU MBA students can earn a place on experiential learning programs, working on competitive venture capital, big data analytics, or global supply chain courses alongside firms including: BYU Analytics; Cougar Capital’ Cougar Strategy; Silver Fund and more.

Virginia – Darden School of Business

The University of Virginia’s Darden School of Business – situated in Charlottesville – was founded in 1955. It’s currently ranked 22nd in the US and 50th globally.

Darden’s 21-month program has a mid-large size class with 326 students, of which 39 percent are women, 34 percent are international, and 36 nationalities are represented. The program costs US$136,300.

Rather than following a topic-based structure, teaching is divided into case studies, which Darden describes as an ‘active learning approach’.

There are worldwide courses available, including: Global Immersion Courses; Global Client Projects; Global Topic Courses; Darden Worldwide Scholarship Fund, and more.

Washington – University of Washington Foster School of Business

Since 2007, the University of Washington’s business school arm has been known as the Michael G. Foster School of Business, but the b-school traces its history back to 1917, making it one of the US’s oldest business schools.

Located in Seattle, Foster is ranked 30th in the US and 60th globally. Aside from the core and elective curriculum, students can take part in competitions: MBA Core Case Competitions and a Business Plan Competition.

Foster’s 21-month program tuition costs US$96,666, with some graduates earning US$119,904.

Wisconsin – Wisconsin School of Business

University of Wisconsin-Madison’s Wisconsin School of Business is ranked 44th in the US and 92nd globally.

For the full-time MBA, students can choose one of 10 specializations to boost their MBA with focused knowledge in their chosen area.

At Foster, students are 28-years-old on average with five years’ work experience. Classes are Wisconsin are an average size with 104 students, of which 30 percent are women, 18 percent are international, with six nationalities represented.

The following states don’t have business schools included in this year’s ranking: Arkansas; Arizona; Delaware; Hawaii; Idaho; Iowa; Kansas; Kentucky; Maine; Mississippi; Montana; Nebraska; Nevada; New Mexico; Rhode Island; Vermont; West Virginia; Wyoming.