Big Movers in the 2025 MBA Rankings: What It Means for You
Thinking of applying in Fall 2026? The latest U.S. News & World Report MBA Rankings are here, and there’s plenty to unpack. At The MBA Edge, we’ve analysed the numbers, so you don’t have to. From big leaps to surprising drops, here are the trends that matter:
- Wharton (University of Pennsylvania)
- Stanford GSB
- Northwestern Kellogg (tie with Stanford)
- Chicago Booth
- MIT Sloan
- Harvard Business School
- NYU Stern (tie with HBS)
- Dartmouth Tuck (tie with HBS & NYU Stern)
- Columbia Business School
- Yale SOM
What’s New This Year?
- Kellogg’s Surge: Northwestern Kellogg has jumped into a tie for #2, reflecting improved career placement stats and recruiter perception.
- Tuck and Stern Rising: Dartmouth and NYU moved up into the top 6—a position they haven’t held in years.
- HBS Slides: Harvard dropped slightly and is now tied at #6 with Stern and Tuck, a rare position for the Ivy League giant.
Who Lost Ground?
- UNC Kenan-Flagler slipped to #28 from the top 25.
- Other programs like Foster (University of Washington) saw modest declines, likely due to shifting placement rates and changes in recruiter assessments.
Why It Matters?
Rankings are not everything, but they do influence perception, post-MBA job opportunities, and funding decisions. Understanding the momentum behind each program can help you build a more strategic target school list.
The MBA Edge Insight:
Use rankings as one of many inputs in your MBA journey. Look deeper at fit, curriculum, location, ROI, and network. Need help? That’s where we come in.
Need Personalized Guidance?
Reply to this email or book a free 1-on-1 profile evaluation with us to dive deeper into your strengths, talk through your fit across schools, and co-create a tailored application game plan!
Stay Ahead. Stay Advised.
