What are the Best MBA Programs by Specialty?
Each year, U.S. News and World Report looks at the top business schools around the country to decide which offer the best MBA programs. The goal is to help MBA candidates most effectively choose the best MBA degree to help them achieve their goals based on their interests and strengths. The problem is that there are hundreds of programs and it can be difficult to weed out all the noise to get to the information that you want most.
That’s why the U.S. News and World Report decided to break down all of their findings into a more easily consumable ranking. They outlined the top MBA programs by discipline to help you quickly and easily find the school you’re looking for. Each of the schools on the list was chosen based on alumni interviews, schools statistics, research data, and more.
We’ve broken down the results below along with crucial information about each school listed and where you can learn more information.
U.S. News’ Best Specialty MBA Programs in the United States
Best Business School Overall
Harvard Business School (HBS) and the University of Chicago Booth School of Business tied for the best business schools in the United States.
- Harvard’s full-time MBA program is considered one of the best in the world. Its curriculum is broken down into theory, practice, and experience so that students walk away with a deep understanding of central topics such as marketing, finance, and leadership but also hands-on experience in the field.
- Chicago Booth’s full-time MBA program is highly flexible, which means that students can target their curriculum to the knowledge and skills they’re most interested in. For example, students can choose from 14 concentrations including accounting, economics, entrepreneurship, marketing analytics, operations management, and more.
Best Executive MBA
The best Executive MBA program can be found at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business where the world’s first EMBA was created in 1943. Since that time, its EMBA program has remained a leader in the world with campuses on three continents: Chicago, London, and Hong Kong. The program is 21 months long, starts in June each year, and requires students to spend five weeks on a global project with a small cohort of students. Classes meet every other Friday and Saturday.
Best Part-Time MBA
The University of California Berkeley Haas School of Business offers the best part-time MBA program in the U.S. This evening and weekend MBA programs are designed for working professionals interested in enhancing their career. Students can graduate in as little as 2.5 years while taking the coursework that’s most pertinent to them. Classes are offered Monday through Thursday from 6 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. and on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
The Berkeley Haas School of Business is lauded for having the best part-time MBA in the country.
Best Accounting MBA
If you’re interested in accounting, the MBA program at the University of Texas McCombs School of Business should be your top choice. The Department of Accounting at McCombs is home to world-renowned researchers, innovative teachers, and cutting-edge curriculum. They’ve been ranked number one in accounting for 11 years in a row. As an MBA student, you have the option of choosing to concentrate in accounting for investment banking or corporate accounting.
Best MBA for Entrepreneurship
For over two decades, Babson College’s F.W. Olin Graduate School of Business has been home to the top entrepreneurship education in the nation. In fact, the entire Babson MBA program is shaped by the idea of Entrepreneurial Thought and Action, a one-of-a-kind methodology that is focused on creating economic and social value everywhere. Students also have the opportunity to choose to focus their curriculum on entrepreneurship with unique opportunities to explore startups, family business, corporate entrepreneurship, and more.
Best MBA for Finance
For those interested in finance, the University of Pennsylvania Wharton School should be your first choice. About 37.7 percent of the 2017 Wharton MBA class chose to enter the financial services industry after graduation. Part of the reason for that high percentage is Wharton’s focus on finance which includes a major on the topic as well as a high number of electives focused on finance. The Wharton Finance Department is also one of the top in the nation and at the forefront of modern financial developments.
Best MBA for Information Systems
The MIT Sloan School of Management is the best school for an MBA focused on information systems. Their MBA program is one of the few in the nation that offers a joint degree program with the MIT School of Engineering, which results in a Leaders for Global Operations degree. In addition, MIT Sloan is home to the MIT Center for Digital Business, the MIT Center for Collective Intelligence, and the MIT Center for Information Systems Research, three information technology centers shaping the future.
Best Marketing MBA
Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management is home to the best marketing MBA program. Whether you choose the one-year MBA or traditional two-year MBA program path, Kellogg students have the opportunity to specialize in marketing and become an expert on consumer behavior, advertising effectiveness, and more. Kellogg is also home to the Center for Market Leadership and Center for Global Marketing Practice.
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Northwestern University’s celebrated Kellogg School of Management hosts the best Marketing MBA in the country, according to ‘U.S. News’
Best Nonprofit MBA
If you’re interested in working in the nonprofit sphere post-MBA, then the Yale School of Management should be your first choice. Last year, 5.2 percent of the Yale SOM graduating class went into the nonprofit sector after earning their MBA. In addition, the Yale MBA program offers multiple nonprofit-focused courses including “Nonprofit Expansion and Replication.” There are also many business plan competitions focused on nonprofit organizations such as the Goldman Sachs Foundation Partnership on Nonprofit Ventures.
Additional Top MBA Programs
There were a few more categories included in the U.S. News & World Report list that didn’t make our article including:
- Best International MBA: University of South Carolina Darla Moore School of Business
- Best Management MBA: Harvard Business School
- Best Production/Operations MBA: MIT Sloan School of Management
- Best Supply Chain/Logistics MBA: Michigan State University Eli Broad Graduate School of Management
Check out the top 100 business schools in the country, according to U.S. News & World Report.
About the Author
Kelly Vo
Kelly Vo is a writer who specializes in covering MBA programs, digital marketing, and personal development.
