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Deciding which college to attend can be a daunting task. For many, it will be the most important decision that they make in their lives. To make an informed decision, you have to consider a lot of variables, such as cost of attendance, financial aid, student-teacher ratio, academics, student life, and more. These factors will either positively or negatively impact the quality of education that you receive.
Do you want to acquire an MBA but don’t know what institution you should attend? Well, if you are as ambitious as I was in my late teens, then you want to attend a top school, instead of an average or mediocre one. Fortunately, we have already done the legwork for you. To help you find the right school for your interests and goals, we’ve compiled a list of 2022’s best MBA programs.
What institution did we omit from this list? Leave your suggestions in the comment section below.
- University of Penn, Philadelphia, PA
The University of Pennsylvania caters to the needs of ambitious working professional. The Wharton MBA degree accepts less than ten applicants, which is one reason that learners are urged to review admissions requirements early and to apply as soon as possible. The MBA degree covers over 19 majors and dozens of concentrations, and learners can design their own.
This degree program requires 19 credit units for graduation. Classes include international business markets, managerial accounting, and business and legal ethics in a global environment.
- Harvard University, Cambridge, MA
Harvard University is among the top three universities in America; it is a private, Ivy League institution. Learners will find one of the most respected masters of business administration degrees offered at Harvard. Only five percent of learners who apply are granted admittance every year. This makes the MBA degree program, which is one of Harvard’s most popular programs, extremely competitive, so learners are advised to apply early. The Harvard Business School’s MBA is always rated in the top ten of any business rating, both in the US and internationally.
This degree requires 45 credit hours, which includes field experiences and practicums. Classes include leadership and organizational behavior, financial reporting and control, and technology and operations management.
- University of California-Berkeley, Berkeley, CA
UC-Berkeley offers the master of business administration, a degree that all professionals in the business sector could benefit from. Learners work in teams to research, identify, and examine a problem; they then present their findings and solutions to actual clients.
This is a holistic degree that requires 56 credits of coursework, international immersion trips, and more. Learners can feasibly finish this degree in 18 months, but most take up to three years to finish all the requirements. Classes include strategic leadership, marketing management, and ethics and responsibility in business.
- Stanford University, Stanford, CA
Stanford confers the master of business administration degree, which features an individualized curriculum and international experiences to prepare learners to become business professionals. Stanford is regionally sanctioned by the WASC SCUC. An individualized curriculum is the hallmark of Stanford’s MBA degree program. This individualization generally happens in the second year of the degree, allowing the learners to focus first on general management classes and international experiences.
Global experiences are compulsory at Stanford. Programs consist of the popular global management immersion experience, and a four-week degree program in Global Summer Seminars, a 10-day trip to a country where learners will learn in teams; and finally Global Study Trips, which is also a 10-day trip to a partner country that investigates one facet of international business. Learners can select two or three experiences, but one is required for graduation. Students must complete 39 credit hours of coursework and international immersion trips to graduate.
- Northwestern University, Evanston, IL
Northwestern’s Kellogg School of Management has an array of business administration plan options, including a one-year and two-year MBA degree program. The school also has a JD-MBA and an MMM degree program for learners interested in dual degrees. No matter what format a learner selects, the MBA can be earned in less than three years.
Northwestern prepares its learners for work in the business sector by offering experiential learning practices. This format prepares learners for real-world problems by providing real-world case scenarios that learners must examine and solve, offering their solutions to real clients.
This degree program requires 60 credit hours for graduation and a final project. Learners will find that these requirements are easily finished within two traditional academic years. Classes include leadership in organizations, accounting for decision making, and marketing management.
- University of Chicago, Chicago, IL
Chicago Booth’s MBA features an adaptable curriculum, lab classes, experiential learning, and an integrative learning method in all classes. The school believes in teaching learners to think outside the box and come up with solutions to real-world problems.
The degree consists of 60 credit hours and the school’s Leadership Effectiveness and Development Program. Learners will also be required to declare a concentration from the 14 options provided and finish a team project. Classes include legal infrastructure of business, consumer behavior, and supply chain strategy and practice.
- Yale University, New Haven, CT
Yale University confers both the master of business administration and the executive master of business administration (EMBA). The institution is regionally sanctioned by the NEASC. Yale’s professors not only hail from all over the world, but they are also business professionals who have years of experience in the field.
Yale’s MBA degree program has a lot in common with its EMBA degree program. Each is taught in an integrated format, meaning that learners learn the fundamentals first, before moving to more advanced concepts. The raw case approach is a real-world case study that learners endeavor to solve with the help of their professors. The case is presented to learners, along with interviews from actors in the case; then learners work in small teams to build an analysis.
Both programs require 72 quarter credits of coursework, including electives, a study abroad option, and a capstone project. Classes include monetary policy, corporate finance, and mastering influence and persuasion. These degrees can be finished in as little as 22 months.
- University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA
UVA is an exceptional school for business professionals. The master of business administration is offered through the Darden School of Business. UVA is regionally sanctioned by the SACS COC and holds independent accreditation for its business programs by the IACBE. Learners are expected to not only partake in class, but they are also expected to participate in consulting projects, experiential projects, and international immersion opportunities.
Students often learn a new concept by applying it to a real-world case study. Faculty works with learners, and as a team, they see a case study from start to finish. This degree requires 36 credit hours and includes an international experience as well as a case study project. Learners are also strongly urged to take an internship, but this is not a requirement. Classes include global economies and markets, accounting for managers, and financial management and policies.
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA
MIT is home to the Sloan School of Management, which is regionally sanctioned by the NEASC. The Sloan MBA is divided into three sections: the one-semester core, the electives, and the Sloan innovation period.
Learners complete 60 credit hours of work. For many learners, this will consist of an internship, so learner should be sure to contact an admissions counselor to learn what the requirements are. Classes include business ethics for leaders, management and communication, and financial accounting.
- Cornell University, Ithaca, NY
Cornell is regionally sanctioned by the MSCHE. Learners have the option of selecting the two-year or the one-year MBA programs. Each will prepare learners for a long and successful career in business.
The two-year MBA degree program is for learners who have a bachelor’s degree and need a graduate degree to continue in their field. This degree program requires an international immersion, a summer internship; it is best suited for learners who want to go from their bachelor’s to graduate study.
The one-year MBA degree program is designed for working professionals who already have a graduate degree but require more specialized education in business. This program requires a 10-week summer intensive of core classes as well as a semester-long practicum. Both programs require 39 credit hours for graduation. Classes include managerial finance, microeconomics for management, and critical and strategic thinking.
- Duke University, Durham, NC
Duke offers one of the top MBA programs in the US, and it is regionally sanctioned. Learners will find all the resources they need to become leaders in the business field. The Fuqua School of Business believes that business is not simply academic; it’s interindividual and requires a capacity to link seemingly unrelated subjects and people to solve problems that exist in the national and international economy. Classes include accounting, quantitative analysis and reporting, and business and economics.
- University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
The University of Michigan confers the full-time master of business administration degree. The institution is regionally sanctioned by the NCACS THLC.
Like many MBA schools, Michigan expects learner to partake in international immersion experiences. There many short-term and long-term international experiences to select from, including the semester exchange, the short-term study abroad degree program, and the international business immersion BA 685 degree program. Case studies are a large part of this school’s coursework, so that learners will see how the decisions they make can affect the entire environment.
This degree program requires 36 credit hours and can be finished within one or two years with full-time studies. Sample classes include applied microeconomics, applied business statistics, and leading people and organizations.
- University of California-Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA
UCLA is a great fit for any learner who is interested in the master of business administration. Learners will also find that the Anderson School of Management is adaptable. Students have a chance to study full-time or part-time. This enables even the busiest of learners to find the time to finish their education.
Students need 36 credit hours to graduate. Learners will be expected to finish an international immersion experience as well as a capstone project. Sample classes include legal ethics in a business environment, business research methods, and financial accounting.
- University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC
UNC confers one of the best master of business administration programs the South has to offer. This school is regionally sanctioned by the SACS COC. The MBA degree program at Kenan-Flagler Business School is filled with an array of opportunities. The program requires at least one international immersion trip for learners, ensuring that they comprehend how business affects the world.
UNC also has experiential learning opportunities in which learners actively partake in business and organizations as part of their learning journey. From internships to case competitions, learners will graduate having already put their business skills to the test. UNC requires 42 credit hours for completion, consisting of courses and a core case competition. Sample classes include ethics and governance, financial tools, and data analytics and decision making.
