MBA Ranking
A search for top MBA schools is usually made easier with publications that provide MBA rankings, especially in business schools where an MBA ranking may be helpful in assessing a program's strengths and weaknesses. MBA rankings are subjective, however. This means that not every MBA school with a high rank is always the best option for any graduate student.
MBA Ranking: An introduction
An MBA ranking compares various MBA programs by translating qualitative attributes into a quantitative ranking. Top business schools are ranked thus according to a set of criteria that may vary according to each publication conducting the ranking of MBA programs. However, criteria usually include the career opportunities offered to graduates, the quality of faculty and graduates and an increase in salary after graduation. These information are often gathered through questionnaires and surveys completed by faculty, administrators, students and alumni. Other qualifications used in making an MBA ranking include GMAT scores, rating of research programs as well as the program's reputation in business circles.
An MBA ranking is often given out in the form of a numerical list. Some rankings may place no value on the order of the placement of schools in the list, while some schools rate the best school as no. 1 and so on.
Publications that offer a business school ranking in an annual or biennial basis include the Business Week in the US, FT in Europe and Asia Week.
An MBA ranking is not the only source of information on what schools offer the best MBA programs, nor is it considered the standard when it comes to the official evaluation of an MBA program. However, they can help point graduate students in the right direction. Rankings are often published in newspapers, magazines and in online publications. Some publications offer more detailed rankings of programs online on a subscription-only basis.
Rankings for Online MBA programs
With the recent economic downturn more students are turning to online full time and part-time MBA programs. An MBA ranking for an online program is therefore a crucial tool in determining which online program to choose, since one cannot visit the physical location of an online university to get a' feel' of the place.