I'm an American interested in an international MBA but for personal reasons, I want to work in the US afterwords. I'm also sensitive to the high cost of an MBA and, as such, have been targeting 1 year European MBA's. Given the aforementioned my target list is as follows:

- Maastricht School of Management
- Rotterdam School of Management
- ESMT Berlin
- IE
- WHU Otto Beisheim

Guiding Questions:
1. Are there any other schools I should add to my target list?
2. Which schools offer the best opportunity to gain employment in the US and why?

Thank you in advance for all responses,

Brexit is pushing down the cost of UK MBAs. Because of the common language, the UK is the preferred European destination for US students and, as a result, the UK schools have the best alumni networks. So, while there are mainland European options that you should consider (IMD, Insead) I would look at the top UK programmes and, in particular, Oxford, Cambridge and the 12-month programme at LBS. Warwick might also suit you. Cranfield and Imperial also have excellent MBAs.

Many 18-month MBAs have exchange programmes, and a school with an exchange option in North America might broaden your options. In particular, you could ask the Rotman and Ivey MBAs which schools they exchange the most students with. ESADE and Manchester have strong exchange programmes, and can both be accelerated to 12 months, the way that LBS can.

I can't see a reason to consider MSM unless you have a particular focus on the developing world. If ESMT and WHU are on your list then Mannheim should be too.

More broadly, very few schools will be visited by employers looking to place in the US. Insead and LBS... and then really that's it in terms of the major hiring programmes. Anywhere else, and you'll need to network your way into US opportunities or look for local firms that are growing in the US. In that respect, Oxford and Cambridge stand out as the European universities with the biggest alumni networks in the USA.

PS One off the wall suggestion: the Iowa MBA is available at a deep discount at its beautiful campus in Italy, CIMBA. That would give you a solid US MBA network and a year in paradise.

[Edited by Duncan on Jul 26, 2018]

Agree with Duncan. Although, I'll add that it may also depend on your career goals. For instance if you're aiming for consulting firms maybe look at Insead or LBS. (But if you are looking at consulting firms there are many great programs in the US as well. :) )