I don't think you can have understood the post. 

Really great resource, thank you!

Hey, amazing list and good advice! Just wanted to know if this list is still applicable in 2021 or are there any major shifts we need to take into account?

There are no major shifts

Wow. This post is now over 126,000 views! 

Lovely Professional University (LPU) has meticulously crafted its MBA program to foster the development of management and leadership skills, laying the foundation for promising careers. Widely recognized in both the global and Indian corporate spheres, LPU's MBA program stands out due to its rigorous academics, industry-focused curriculum, and esteemed academic faculty. The university's B-School holds accreditation from ACBSP (Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs) and boasts a favourable ranking in the NIRF (National Institutional Ranking Framework).
This program offers numerous highlights, including specialised professional certifications in fields such as Financial Consulting & FinTech in collaboration with KPMG, AI, ML & Analytics in partnership with 3AI, and Digital Marketing accredited by the Digital Marketing Institute of Ireland. Business simulations are seamlessly integrated into the curriculum, providing students with real-life business scenarios to hone their critical decision-making skills. LPU also prepares its students for national and international business competitions through well-structured, intense training sessions.
The program doesn't just stop at academics; it offers international exposure opportunities. Students may have the option to embark on a 4-week study tour to destinations like the USA or European countries, subject to university conditions. To keep students abreast of ever-evolving technological advancements, LPU has cultivated strong ties with top industry leaders. Studying specialised courses as part of the curriculum provides students with a valuable entry point into the industry.
LPU's MBA graduates have secured impressive salary packages, with the highest reaching ₹29.29 lakhs and an average of ₹5.5 lakhs. The program also emphasises hands-on experience, with over 500 students participating in live projects and the highest internship stipend reaching ₹65,000 per month. LPU has received accolades in various national and global rankings, including 25th in the year 2023

While Lovely Professional University (LPU) may offer certain advantages, there are reasons why it might not be considered an ideal choice for business students:
1. **Accreditation Concerns:** LPU has faced scrutiny regarding the accreditation of some of its programs. Accreditation is crucial for the recognition and quality assurance of a business education.
2. **Infrastructure Challenges:** Despite claims of extensive infrastructure, some students have reported challenges such as inadequate facilities and crowded classrooms. A conducive learning environment is essential for business education.
3. **Placement Quality:** While LPU may boast high placement figures, there have been reports of discrepancies and concerns about the quality of placements. Students should thoroughly research the placement records and industry connections of the university.
4. **Limited Global Exposure:** Business education often benefits from international exposure. LPU may not offer the same level of global exposure or partnerships with reputed international institutions as some other universities.
5. **Teaching Quality:** There have been mixed reviews regarding the teaching quality at LPU. Business students typically thrive in environments with experienced faculty and interactive learning methods.
6. **Distance from Business Hubs:** LPU's location in Punjab may be considered a drawback for business students, as they may have limited access to major business hubs, networking opportunities, and industry exposure compared to universities located in more urban and business-centric areas.
Before making a decision, potential students should thoroughly research the specific business program, faculty, industry connections, and overall reputation of Lovely Professional University, considering individual preferences and career goals. It's advisable to reach out to current students and alumni for insights into the actual student experience.

I applied to HEC and got rejected without an interview. (700,3.33, indian IT female,3.5 years exp). I am applying to ESSEC and EDHEC too and hope to get into ESSEC. Is the list ranking up to date? I wonder if there are any other safer options for me. My goal is to move to product management.

[Updated. Fifth Tier added in 2015].

If you apply for a school where your GMAT is equal to, or higher than, the average you stand a better chance of admission than at schools where your GMAT is below average. The GMAT isn't the only factor for business schools: if you have an unusual or desirable background then you can get away with being average or below average. However, many people using this site - and especially Indians - are in a highly competitive situation where they have to be better than average to get into a school.

In the list below, I've taken most of the world's leading business schools and broken them into four tiers, then added a fifth tier with some lower-profile European schools. The average GMAT score at each school is used to create the top four tiers. Within each of those tiers, the schools are ranked by average alumni salary. As a rule of thumb, the ten schools at the top of a tier have a higher salary than than the ten schools at the bottom of the previous tier, often because the professional background and educational quality is better at those schools. The fifth tier is ranked by GMAT only.

If you're a strong candidate, apply towards the top of the tier where your GMAT is similar to the average.

For each of the following cases, I suggest you subtract one tier to find safe schools:
* - If you are in a very competitive group (like a male engineer or IT guy), or
* - from a country with a large number of MBA applicants (like from India or China), or
* - you have the bare minimum of work experience.
Under these circumstances, apply the same number of tiers lower than your GMAT to maximise your chances of admission and financial aid. That that means that a Male IT guy with two and a half years experience can look at tier 4 even if they have a GMAT over 690 to find a safe schools, and maybe even consider tier 5.

If you have less work experience, you'll generally be a more competitive candidate towards the bottom of the tier you are targetting.

GMAT Tier 1 - GMAT over 690

Stanford University GSB
Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad (IIMA)
University of Pennsylvania: Wharton
Harvard Business School
Columbia Business School
MIT Sloan School of Management
Dartmouth College: Tuck
University of Chicago: Booth
Insead
Yale School of Management
London Business School
University of California at Berkeley: Haas
Northwestern University: Kellogg
Cornell University: Johnson
New York University: Stern
UCLA: Anderson
University of Michigan: Ross
Duke University: Fuqua
Indian School of Business
University of Oxford: Saïd
University of Virginia: Darden
Ceibs
University of North Carolina: Kenan-Flagler

University of Southern California: Marshall is in Tier 1 for the two-year MBA.

GMAT Tier 2 - GMAT over 670

IE Business School
IMD
University of Cambridge: Judge
Cranfield School of Management
Iese Business School
Georgetown University: McDonough
Carnegie Mellon: Tepper
HEC Paris
Emory University: Goizueta
University of Texas at Austin: McCombs
Rice University: Jones
Vanderbilt University: Owen
University of Rochester: Simon
Boston College: Carroll
Mannheim Business School
University of Notre Dame: Mendoza
University of Washington Business School: Foster
Wisconsin School of Business
Georgia Institute of Technology
Boston University School of Management
University of California at Irvine: Merage
University of California: Davis
Ohio State University: Fisher
Brigham Young University: Marriott
Arizona State University: Carey

GMAT Tier 3 - GMAT 650 or higher

Hong Kong UST Business School
Esade Business School
City University: Cass
Australian School of Business: AGSM
Imperial College Business School
Indiana University: Kelley
Melbourne Business School
University of Maryland: Smith
SDA Bocconi
Pennsylvania State University: Smeal
Wake Forest University: Babcock
Vlerick Leuven Gent Management School
Nanyang Business School
University of Western Ontario: Ivey
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
National University of Singapore School of Business
Purdue University: Krannert
Pepperdine University: Graziadio
University of Toronto: Rotman
University of Florida: Hough
McGill University: Desautels
University of Iowa: Tippie
University of British Columbia: Sauder
York University: Schulich
SP Jain Center of Management

Warwick Business School is now also in Tier 3 since it has a 650 minimum now.

GMAT Tier 4 - GMAT under 650

University of Cape Town GSB
University of Southern California: Marshall - One year IBEAR MBA
Manchester Business School
Babson College: Olin
Lancaster University Management School
Texas A & M University: Mays
Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University
Hult International Business School
University College Dublin: Smurfit
University of Strathclyde Business School (Note - average rose from 630 to 680 in 2013)
SMU: Cox
University of Edinburgh Business School
University of Georgia: Terry
Durham Business School
Kaist College of Business
College of William and Mary: Mason
Birmingham Business School
Ipade
Leeds University Business School
University of South Carolina: Moore
Eada
EM Lyon Business School
Incae Business School
Bradford School of Management
Tias Business School
Politecnico di Milano School of Management
IAE Business School

GMAT Tier 5 - Lower profile European schools

I've added a few schools that don't have the profile they would like in the rankings and where the average GMAT might be more variable from year to year.

St Gallen 660
ESSEC 650
WHU 650
ESMT 640
Henley 640
EDHEC 638
Amsterdam 630
MIB 627
Bath 610
Lisbon 609
Nottingham 600
Ashridge 573
Corvinus 565

If you know the average GMAT and salary for any other schools, or if you think a school should be in a different tier, then let me know. Where possible I am using median rather than mean GMATs, so don't be surprised if there are a few differences. School that use scholarships to bring in a small number of very high GMAT students to pump up the mean (like Georgetown, Hult, and TiasNimbas) might not be where you expect.

PS Don't forget that there are many other factors at work. GMAT points trade off all the other criteria that admissions managers look for. If you're strong on several other criteria then certainly try a stretch school that's a tier above your average.

PPS This post is not being updated. For more current GMAT averages, check this site's directory of business schools, or the schools' own websites.

No, I'm not updating the list but my approach would suggest that an Indian in IT with low work experience would not succeed in tier 2. The lower you go in the list, the safer. It's also better the earlier you apply. However, the major issue here is the fit between program outcomes and career goals. What country are you looking for work in? Do you speak the local language? Do product managers there have MBAs?