Stanford Graduate School of Business has once again been named the top institution in the world for MBA programmes, according to the latest rankings by QS Quacquarelli Symonds. The 2025 Global MBA Rankings, released on 25 September, place Stanford in the number one spot for the fifth consecutive year. The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania follows in second place, while Harvard Business School rounds out the top three.
The QS rankings, which analyse 340 MBA programmes across 58 countries and territories, offer insights into the most prestigious business schools globally. They also include high-demand Business Master’s programmes, such as Management, Finance, Marketing, Business Analytics, and Supply Chain Management.
US Dominates Rankings
American institutions continue to dominate the global MBA rankings, with six of the top ten spots occupied by US schools. Following the top three, MIT Sloan School of Management has moved up two places to fourth, while Columbia Business School sits in eighth. The London Business School remains the highest-ranking institution outside of the US, placed fifth overall but dropping one position from last year.
European institutions also perform strongly, with France’s HEC Paris ranking sixth, while the University of Cambridge’s Judge Business School climbed to seventh from a joint ninth position in 2024. Spain’s IE Business School and IESE Business School secure ninth and tenth spots, respectively.
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QS Global Full-Time MBA 2025: Top-10 |
|||
|
Institution |
Country/Territory |
2025 |
2024 |
|
Stanford GSB |
US |
1 |
1 |
|
Penn (Wharton) |
US |
2 |
2 |
|
Harvard Business School |
US |
3 |
3 |
|
MIT (Sloan) |
US |
4 |
6 |
|
London Business School |
UK |
5 |
4 |
|
HEC Paris |
France |
6 |
5 |
|
Cambridge (Judge) |
UK |
7 |
=9 |
|
Columbia Business School |
US |
8 |
7 |
|
IE Business School |
Spain |
9 |
8 |
|
IESE Business School |
Spain |
10 |
=9 |
Global MBA Rankings: Regional Leaders
In Asia, the National University of Singapore stands out, ranking 25th globally. It performs particularly well in categories such as Employability, Alumni Outcomes, and Thought Leadership. Meanwhile, China’s Tsinghua University ranks 29th, excelling in Employability and Return on Investment.
Canada’s top institution, the University of Toronto’s Rotman School of Management, ranks 39th globally, making it the only Canadian school in the top 50. It is highlighted for its strengths in Employability and Diversity.
Elsewhere, Melbourne Business School leads in Oceania at 32nd, while Mexico’s EGADE Business School, ranked 56th, holds the top position in Latin America.
Master’s Programmes Ranking
Alongside its MBA rankings, QS has released its rankings for Business Master’s degrees, which are increasingly popular among students. HEC Paris claims the top spot in both the Master’s in Management and Marketing categories. Oxford’s Saïd Business School leads the field for Finance Master’s, while MIT Sloan ranks first for Business Analytics. The University of Michigan’s Ross School of Business takes the number one spot for Supply Chain Management.
Comments from QS
Nunzio Quacquarelli, President of QS, said the rankings are designed to offer valuable guidance to students as they navigate the competitive world of business education.
He commented: “The QS Graduate Management Education rankings provide independent insights for career-driven students navigating global business education, helping them shape their professional paths. We encourage future leaders to explore these insights and connect with peers and mentors at our in-person and virtual events.”
The rankings assess schools on a range of factors, including Employability, Alumni Outcomes, Thought Leadership, and Return on Investment, giving prospective students a comprehensive view of which institutions best align with their career goals.
For more details on the 2025 QS Global MBA and Business Master’s Rankings, visit the QS website.
