Ohio State Fisher or Purdue Krannert: Which School Is Right for Me?
There are many reasons to love the Midwest. In particular, the area is home to many high-quality business schools and MBA programs all offering something unique in terms of cost, location, and prestige. Unfortunately, the close proximity of these programs and their individual features can make it difficult for prospective candidates to choose the right program for them.
Continue reading…School v. School: Arizona State W.P. Carey vs. Arizona Eller
The Grand Canyon State offers two attractive MBA programs tailored to professionals looking to expand their career horizons.
Arizona State University in Tempe, just outside of Phoenix, and the University of Arizona in Tucson, 60 miles from the Mexican border, are both large public universities with renowned business schools. Each program has unique strengths depending on what prospective b-schoolers are ultimately hoping to get out of their business school experience.
We take a look at the two largest business schools in the state of Arizona in our most recent School v. School comparison, analyzing Arizona vs Arizona State.
School v. School: Queen’s University Smith School of Business vs Toronto Rotman School of Management
Apples or oranges? Steak or chicken? Toronto or Kingston, Ontario? If you’re having a difficult time making a decision, you’re not alone. When it comes to choosing the best MBA program for your needs, there can be more than one choice that seems like the “perfect” fit, so how make a final decision? It’s not easy, but that’s what we’re here for.
Our School v. School series offers a point-by-point comparison of two highly respected MBA programs in Ontario: Queen’s University Smith School of Business and the University of Toronto Rotman School of Management. Keep reading to see how each school stacks up. Continue reading…
School v. School: Vanderbilt Owen vs. Washington U. St. Louis Olin
When you have two highly competitive and comparable MBA programs on your list, which one do you choose? You have to look at everything from location to rankings, ROI, and program offerings. It’s how everything comes together that makes a program the best fit for you.
The good news is that our School v. School series is here to simplify your decision-making process with a point-by-point comparison of two stand-out programs: Vanderbilt University’s Owen Graduate School of Management and Washington University’s Olin Business School. We’ve collected everything you’ve always wanted to know about each program to see which is best for you. Continue reading…
School vs. School: Yale SOM or SC Johnson Cornell?
Deciding which school you’ll attend for your MBA isn’t easy. There are many factors that come into play when choosing the best school for you. You might be most concerned about where and what you want to study, or you could care more about reputation, alumni network, ROI, or even the application process.
Unfortunately, this comparison process can get quite tricky when looking at two very similar schools. To help you out, our School vs. School series does the heavy lifting for you. Take a look at two of the best b-schools Yale SOM and SC Johnson Cornell to see which is best for you.
Yale vs. Cornell: Location
Yale SOM is located in New Haven, Connecticut while SC Johnson Cornell is in Ithaca, New York. In both instances, the schools are located in smaller towns where one-of-a-kind shops, boutiques, and activities rule the day. Neither location is a place where an MBA would look for a job post-graduation, but both are just a little ways outside of New York City. New Haven is under two hours away by car while Ithaca is around four hours away.
As for which town is better:
- Cost of Living: Ithaca is 2 percent less expensive than New Haven.
- Housing: Ithaca housing costs 34.4 percent more.
- Education: New Haven spends 4 percent less per student, and the student to teacher ratio is 17.3 percent higher in New Haven.
- Commute: New Haven residents commute 42 percent more than residents of Ithaca.
- Jobs: Future job growth for New Haven is 19.38 percent compared to Ithaca, which is only 2.24 percent. Both are lower than the entire U.S., which is 30.54 percent.
Overall, Ithaca is a more affordable place to live, but you’re less likely to find a job in Ithaca after graduation.
Yale vs. Cornell: Rankings
Yale SOM and SC Johnson Cornell are both top business schools in the world. Each ranks highly across all publications with Yale SOM just edging out SC Johnson Cornell in most rankings.
Yale and Cornell School Rankings
| Publication | Yale SOM | SC Johnson Cornell |
|---|---|---|
| U.S. News & World Report | 11 | 15 |
| The Economist (Global) | 14 | 17 |
| Financial Times (Global) | 11 | 27 |
| Forbes | 13 | 10 |
| Bloomberg Businessweek | 12 | 11 |
Yale vs. Cornell MBA: The Cost
Each business school costs about the same on a per-year basis. Tuition is not even $3,000 more at Yale, and when you add on the increased cost-of-living, Yale is just $5,000 more per year than Cornell. Where Cornell saves the most is in housing and food, which is only $16,800 a year compared to Yale’s distressing $22,214.
When it comes to living on campus, Yale students are emptying their wallets more, paying an average annual rate of more than $22,000.
However, when it comes to funding, Yale SOM wins. One in every two Yale SOM MBA students earns a merit scholarship. Even better 29 Yale MBA students end up with full-tuition scholarships. On the other hand, only 30 percent of Cornell SC Johnson students receive some scholarship assistance. However, there are many full-tuition scholarships available including 25 Park Leadership Fellowships.
Yale and Cornell School Costs
| Cost | Yale SOM | SC Johnson Cornell |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition | $72,350 | $69,440 |
| Full Cost | $100,274 | $95,340 |
Yale vs. Cornell: Post-Graduation Employment
When it comes to post-graduation, both Yale SOM and Cornell SC Johnson MBA students can expect many opportunities for success. About 94 percent of Cornell MBA students and 91.9 percent of Yale SOM graduates have a full-time job offer three months after graduation.
Those graduates enter a range of industries with the top industries being consulting, finance, and technology. Consulting was the top industry at Yale SOM whereas Cornell students preferred finance. In both cases, most students chose to stay in the Northeast U.S. with 55 percent of Cornell graduates staying in the area and 48 percent of Yale graduates.
Yale vs. Cornell Employment
| Industry | Yale SOM | SC Johnson Cornell |
|---|---|---|
| Consulting | 34.9% | 22% |
| Finance | 23.1% | 29% |
| Tech | 14.9% | 18% |
As for post-graduation salary, both schools are on par with each other. Graduates can expect to earn slightly over $125,000 after graduation with a bonus of around $30,000.
Yale vs. Cornell Salary
| Salary | Yale SOM | SC Johnson Cornell |
|---|---|---|
| MBA Graduate Median Base Salary (2018) | $127,100 | $126,353 |
| Median Signing Bonus | $30,000 | $33,503 |
Inside Yale SOM
Located in New Haven, Connecticut, Yale SOM is one of the top business school’s in the country. Its proximity to New York City means that MBA students have access to many highly coveted networking, partnership, and placement opportunities in one of the business hubs of the world. Its programs are ranked in the top 15 in the world across all international and U.S.-based MBA rankings, regularly placing 11th overall.
Program Offerings
- Full-Time MBA: The two-year, full-time MBA program at Yale SOM requires students to earn 72 credits—39 of which are electives.
- EMBA: The 22-month Executive MBA program at Yale offers classes on alternating weekends (Friday and Saturday) and is ranked first in the world according to The Economist.
There are also multiple joint degree opportunities. MBA students can pursue a joint degree with Yale Law School, Yale School of Medicine, the Yale School of Forestry & Environmental Studies, and the Yale School of Architecture.
Why Yale SOM?
- Yale SOM emphasizes “raw” online cases. These cases attempt to capture the complexity of real decision-making.
- MBA students can participate in 50-plus student clubs on a variety of topics from leadership to social venture.
- Yale MBA students are required to complete an international component, including a 10-day trip to one or more countries. The school is also a part of an exchange program with the London School of Economics, HEC Paris, IESE, National University of Singapore, and Tsinghua University School of Economics.
Inside SC Johnson Cornell
Located in Ithaca, New York, the SC Johnson College of Business at Cornell University is one of the best business schools in the world. It regularly ranks in the top 25 schools globally and the top 15 schools nationally. Its proximity to NYC means that students have many opportunities for networking, internships, and more.
Program Offerings
- Two-Year MBA: The two-year, full-time MBA program at Cornell includes more than 4,000 elective courses from any of Cornell’s top-ranked schools.
- One-Year MBA: The One-Year MBA is designed for students who have already earned a certification or are enrolled in a dual degree program.
- Tech MBA: The Tech MBA program is a 12-month program in the heart of New York City on Roosevelt Island. The curriculum is split into module and studios.
- EMBA NY: The Executive MBA program is 22 months in length and requires students to complete 60 credits every other weekend on Saturday and Sunday.
There are also multiple dual degree programs including a JD/MBA and an MS/MBA. Other dual degree opportunities include a degree in Industrial and Labor Relations, Real Estate, and Health Administration.
Why SC Johnson Cornell?
- Cornell SC Johnson offers eight immersion opportunities. These courses and their projects/cases are based on a specific career path and industry.
- Students have access to more than 120 electives across a range of concentrations. There are also more than 80 professional, regional, and diversity clubs students can join.
- Global learning is not a requirement. However, there are a large number of international business learning opportunities, including international study trips and an international exchange program.
For additional insight, be sure to check out the news at both Yale and Cornell.
How Affordable are Baltimore MBA Programs Compared to DC?
A few years ago, the Baltimore Sun published a hilarious list outlining 100 reasons why Baltimore is a better city than Washington DC. Here are some of our favorite reasons:
- We don’t start conversations by asking, “What do you do?” or “Who do you work for.”
- It never takes us 45 minutes to go six miles.
- Our traffic doesn’t lead to clinical depression.
- D.C.’s happy hour is regular price to us.
- Our signature food is crab cakes and pit beef. D.C. has … yeah.
- We weren’t built on a swamp.
- Cal Ripken is 2,632 times better than any D.C. sports figure.
- The NATIONAL Aquarium: Not in the nation’s capital.
Yes, some of these reasons are very tongue-in-cheek, and the list aimed to be light-hearted and irreverent. But if you’re a prospective MBA in the DMV, there are some clear advantages to picking a business school in the Baltimore metro over the Washington DC metro, namely the affordability of programs.
Let’s take a deeper dive and see just how affordable Baltimore MBA Programs are compared to their DC counterparts.
Which MBAs Can You Earn in Baltimore and DC?
Both Baltimore and Washington DC are home to some of the country’s most prestigious business schools and MBA programs. Programs offered in the Baltimore metro include:
- Perdue School of Business – Salisbury University
- Carey Business School – Johns Hopkins University
- Sellinger School of Business – Loyola University Maryland
- University of Baltimore – Merrick School of Business
- University of Maryland R.H. Smith School of Business
Meanwhile, MBA programs offered in the Washington DC Metro include:
- George Mason University School of Business
- George Washington University School of Business
- Howard University School of Business
- Kogod School of Business – American University
- McDonough School of Business – Georgetown University
How Affordable are Baltimore’s Programs Compared to DC’s?
Yes, both metros boast and impressive programs that are sure to provide prospective MBAs with a high-quality business educations, but which city offers the more affordable options?
Here is the average cost per credit hour at business schools in Baltimore.
- Carey Business School Global MBA: $2,174 per credit hour
- Perdue School of Business Full-Time MBA: $392 per credit hour (in-state students), $703 per credit hour (out-of-state students)
- Sellinger School of Business Full-Time MBA: $1,238 per credit hour
- Merrick School of Business Flexible MBA: $824 per credit hour (in-state students), $1,149 per credit (out-of-state students)
- R.H. Smith School of Business Full-Time MBA: $1,658 per credit hour (in-state students), $1,998 per credit (out-of-state students)
Let’s compare these tuitions rates to the MBA offerings in the Washington DC area:
- George Mason University School of Business Full-Time MBA: $950 per credit hour (residents of Virginia, Maryland, and Washington DC), $1,751.50 per credit hour (out-of-state and international students)
- George Washington University School of Business Global MBA: $1,837 per credit hour
- Howard University School of Business Full-Time MBA: $1,259 per credit hour
- Kogod School of Business Full-Time MBA: $1,642 per credit hour
- McDonough School of Business Full-Time MBA: $1,880 per credit hour
When looking at tuition costs, Baltimore takes the cake. Even though Baltimore boasts the most expensive full-time program (Carey Business School Global MBA), the average cost per credit hour for both in-state and out-of-state students is about 16 percent lower in Charm City.
Washington DC vs. Baltimore MBA Cost
| Baltimore | Washington DC | |
|---|---|---|
| In-State Cost (per credit hour) | $1,257.20 | $1,513.60 |
| Out-of-State Cost (per credit hour) | $1,452.40 | $1,673.90 |
Additional Costs To Consider
Aside from tuition, business students living in the Baltimore area have a lower cost of living then their Washington DC counterparts. According to Numbeo, you would need around $4,541 in Baltimore to maintain the same standard of life that you can have with $6,100 in Washington DC, assuming you rent in both cities. This calculation uses the website’s Cost of Living Plus Rent Index to compare cost of living.
Here’s a closer look at how Numbeo creates its Cost of Living Indexes, and a breakdown of a few key stats to look at when comparing Baltimore to Washington DC:
- Consumer Prices in Baltimore, MD are 14.78 percent lower than in Washington DC
- Rent Prices in Baltimore, MD are 39.97 percent lower than in Washington DC
- Groceries Prices in Baltimore, MD are 15.70 percent lower than in Washington DC
- Local Purchasing Power in Baltimore, MD is 10.21 percent lower than in Washington DC
The case for Washington DC
So Baltimore’s MBA offerings are, on average, more affordable than Washington DCs. But what if money isn’t an issue, or you happen to get into a program in DC? Here are a few ways that the Capital City has the Monument CIty beat, according to Thrillist:
- Culinary Scene: DC is experience a craft beer renaissance with four breweries opening in recent years: DC Brau, 3 Stars Brewing, Chocolate City, and Bluejacket (soon). Meanwhile, notable restaurants such as minibar (Andres), Le Diplomate (Starr), Kapnos (Isabella), Range (Voltaggio), and Casa Luca (Trabocchi) have also opened. Baltimore isn’t really known as much of a foodie town.
- Public Transit: The Metro is one of the most efficient, most convenient, and cleanest public rail lines in the country. Baltimore’s metro runs East to West only, and doesn’t link up with either of the two other rail systems.
Oh, and remember that Baltimore Sun article we reference at the top of the page? Enjoy DC Inno’s slightly more punchy response.
