The Financial Times has updated its Global MBA Ranking for 2020.
The new edition of the ranking, which lists full-time MBA programs from business schools all over the world, has Harvard Business School reclaiming the top spot, displacing Stanford Graduate School of Business, which held the position in 2018 and 2019.
Stanford now finds itself in position number three, with the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School taking the second spot. France's Insead Business School, which topped the list in 2016 and 2017, is now ranked number four. China's CEIBS Business School holds steady in position number five. MIT's Sloan School of Management has risen two spots to land at position number six, and is followed by London Business School, which has dropped one spot. The MBA from Columbia Business School is ranked eight.
France's HEC Paris takes position number nine, rising 10 spots this year, and the University of Chicago's Booth School of Business rounds out the top ten.
Many UK MBA programs have dropped in this year's ranking
In this year's FT Global MBA ranking, many UK schools have lost ground, or even dropped out entirely. Imperial College Business School, for example, dropped from 39th last year to 55th this year. Likewise, Durham University Business School fell from 43rd to 62nd. The MBA from Cranfield School of Management, which was ranked 76th last year, is no longer ranked this year.
However, other UK business schools, such as Alliance Manchester Business School and Cass Business School, showed strong gains this year.
FT Global MBA Ranking 2020: Big movers
Although the ranking was fairly stable overall, a few schools moved quite a bit. Spain's IE Business School, for example, fell from 31st last year to 52nd this year. The school's ranking drop coincides with a large decrease in average salaries from the previous year. Singapore Management University fell 20 spots, from 43rd to 63rd.
On the other hand, the US' George Washington University rose 20 positions, from 90th to 70th. Another US school, SMU - Cox, gained ground as well, from 92nd to 74th.
In terms of the overall numbers of business schools by country, the US dominates with 51 schools represented. Notably, China (including Hong Kong) and the UK both have nine each, while France has five, while India has four. Australia, Canada, Germany, Singapore and Spain all have three business schools in the ranking; Switzerland has two. Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Portugal and South Korea all have one school a piece.
To determine the rankings, the FT looks at a number of factors, including post-MBA salary (three years after graduation), salary increase, and international mobility. The data is from three years out, that is, for the 2020 ranking, the class of 2016 was surveyed. A total of 150 schools took part in the 2020 Global MBA Ranking; all participating schools must have accreditation from AACSB or EQUIS.
Here's a list of the top 20 schools in this year's FT Global MBA Ranking, as well as their change from last year.
The FT's Global MBA Ranking 2020
| FT MBA Ranking 2020 | Business School | Location | Change from 2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Harvard | USA | +1 |
| 2 | Wharton | USA | +2 |
| 3 | Stanford | USA | -2 |
| 4 | Insead | France | -1 |
| 5 | Ceibs | China | no change |
| 6 | MIT - Sloan | USA | +2 |
| 7 | London Business School | UK | -1 |
| 8 | Columbia | USA | +1 |
| 9 | HEC Paris | France | +10 |
| 10 | Chicago - Booth | USA | -3 |
| 11 | Northwestern - Kellogg | USA | +3 |
| 12 | UC Berkeley - Haas | USA | -2 |
| 13 | IESE | Spain | -1 |
| 14 | Yale | USA | -3 |
| 15 | NUS Business School | Singapore | +2 |
| 16 (tie) | Dartmouth - Tuck | USA | -1 |
| 16 (tie) | Duke - Fuqua | USA | +3 |
| 18 | Virginia - Darden | USA | +5 |
| 19 (tie) | Cambridge - Judge | UK | -3 |
| 19 (tie) | HKUST | China | -1 |
FIND MBA's previous coverage of the Financial Times' Global MBA Ranking:
- The FT's Global MBA Ranking Updated for 2019
- The Financial Times Publishes 2018 MBA Ranking
- The Financial Times Releases 2017 MBA Ranking
- Financial Times Updates Global MBA Ranking for 2016
- The Financial Times Updates MBA Ranking for 2015
- Financial Times Publishes 2014 Global MBA Ranking
- Harvard Tops Financial Times' 2013 Global MBA Rankings
- Financial Times Publishes 2012 Global MBA Rankings
- Financial Times Publishes Full-Time MBA Rankings
Read more about MBA Rankings on FIND MBA's MBA Rankings page.
