I'm asking based on comments I've read on this and I'd like to hear if anyone has any valuable insights here. Wharton has come out higher than in many rankings in the last few years. How accurate of a reflection of reality would you say this is? What may be the reasons for Harvard to sink below it? I wonder if it is that the quality of the program has actually decreased a little bit or if there are other factors at play here.

These are excellent programmes, and they are almost identical in performance on all almost the criteria in the major rankings, other than the pace at which people get placed. The differences on other ranking criteria are very close. Harvard students simply don't rush into employment.

This discussion has some hints - https://www.reddit.com/r/MBA/s/LDnyDkzDiG

Thank you both. Harvard students don't rushing into employment is a good point.

Top comment on Reddit does point to a decline in quality for Harvard, or at least some considerable stagnation in how they do things.

I'd pitch it this way. Harvard is committed to the case approach and that fits classic general management roles. It is never teaching at the bleeding edge, and what it teaches is always peer reviewed and solid. It's not exciting, but it does still produce more CEOs than any other school. Sadly, there are not too many vacancies for CEO.