Top 10 MBA Programs for a Career in Consulting 2021

Released today, the QS MBA by Specialization Rankings 2021 provide insight into the world’s top business schools and MBA programs for seven different areas of specialism.

Schools are ranked based on employer reputation and research strength for each of the seven areas, as well as the number of career placements graduates from the school’s MBA programs have achieved in the specific field.

INSEAD has been crowned again as the best business school in the world for a consulting specialization.

Here’s the complete top 10.

10) The Fuqua School of Business

In tenth place for MBAs specializing in consulting is the full-time MBA program at The Fuqua School of Management. The school scored well in all ranking indicators, particularly for career placements in consulting. 32 percent of Fuqua MBA graduates landed a job in the industry.

The 22-month program is based in Durham, North Carolina. Total fees (per year) amount to US$97,330.

9) NYU Stern School of Business

Next is NYU Stern School of Business, a new entry in the consulting specialization top 10. The Stern full-time MBA received high scores across the board, with 37 percent of MBAs landing a job in consulting post-graduation.

The two-year program is located in one of the world’s employment hubs, New York City, and includes a summer internship for students interested in gaining hands-on business experience. Tuition fees (per year) amount to US$117,638.

8) Michigan Ross School of Business

In eighth place – moving up  a spot from last year’s rankings – is Michigan Ross School of Business, which scored highly in all indicators. A strong 32 percent of Ross graduates went into a career in consulting.

The program, located in Ann Arbor, Michigan takes two years to complete. Total tuition costs amount to US$142,096. The school also has a consulting club offering career workshops and case competitions.

7) The University of Chicago Booth School of Business

Placing in seventh position is the MBA program at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, which achieved a near-perfect score for career placements. Nearly 40 percent of Booth graduates landed jobs in consulting.

Located in Chicago, Illinois, the 21-month program has tuition fees of around US$146,800. Booth has several student-led consulting groups, such as the Booth Management Consulting Group (MCG) which help with student development and networking opportunities.

6) The Wharton School

In sixth place is the MBA program at The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, which received a perfect score for employment reputation. Around 25 percent of graduates kick-started a career in consulting.

Located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the MBA program at Wharton is a two-year (20 month) program with tuition fees of US$157,896. Wharton graduates notoriously receive high salary uplift.

5) The Kellogg School of Management

Halfway through the list is the MBA program at The Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University. The school received near-perfect scores for employer reputation and career placements. 34 percent of Kellogg graduates went into a career in consulting.

Located in Evanston, Illinois, the program cost is estimated at US$103,350. Kellogg MBAs often go onto jobs at top consulting firms like Deloitte and McKinsey & Company.

4) Columbia Business School

Just missing out on a top three spot is Columbia Business School, whose MBA program received high scores across all ranking indicators. Nearly 33 percent of Columbia graduates landed jobs in the consulting field.

Located in the business capital of the US, New York City, the full-time MBA program at Columbia takes 20 months to complete and has yearly tuition fees of US$117,633.

3) MIT Sloan School of Management 

The program earning the bronze medal spot for a consulting career is the full-time MBA at MIT Sloan School of Management. The school received high scores across the board and a near-perfect score for employer reputation. Almost 31 percent of MIT Sloan MBAs landed jobs in consulting upon graduation.

Based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, the 24-month program has tuition fees of US$192,115. Sloan’s Career Development Office has extensive resources to help students with their job search.

2) London Business School

Placing in second position is the full-time MBA at London Business School, one of only two European schools on the list. LBS received a perfect score for employer reputation and a near-perfect score for career placements.

Perhaps thanks to the school’s location in one of Europe’s main business hubs, a whooping 40 percent of LBS graduates went into consulting jobs. The school has a very impressive consulting club with over 4,800 student and alumni members, hosting informational events with consulting firms plus their unique ‘Crack-a-Case’ program offering weekly one-on-one case interview practice sessions throughout the main recruiting periods. Tuition fees amount to US$114,685.

1) INSEAD

Taking the top spot in the MBA consulting specialization rankings for the second year in a row is INSEAD. The MBA program received a perfect score in both employer reputation and career placements.

The INSEAD MBA is split between their Fontainebleau (France) campus and their Singapore campus, giving students a global experience. The 10-month program costs €89,000 (approx. US$105,242).