Poets&Quants International 2024-2025 MBA Ranking: It’s INSEAD Again!

Oxford MBAs beneath the Hertford Bridge. The school’s full-time MBA program is now Top Five

OXFORD SAID CLIMBS INTO THE TOP FIVE FULL-TIME MBA PROGRAMS

Oxford’s Said Business School climbed into the top five, driven by higher rankings in the Financial Times and LinkedIn. The school’s reputation for producing versatile leaders with global perspectives is gaining traction.

ESADE Business School joins the upper echelon, tying with IE Business School at #6. Its jump reflects higher scores in the FT and Bloomberg Businessweek, signaling its growing influence in Europe.

ESSEC Business School also cracked the top 25, moving up from #37 last year. Its strong showing in LinkedIn (#15) and improvement in the FT rankings highlight its impact on career outcomes.

THE BIGGEST RANKING LOSERS: MANNHEIM AND NANYANG

And, of course, there were a number of surprising declines this year. Mannheim Business School plunged from #16 to #32 is one of the steepest drops. While its Bloomberg Businessweek ranking remained strong, a sharp drop in the FT rankings dragged it down.

Nanyang Business School suffered the second largest drop with Peking University, both schools losing 15 places. Once a top-25 school, Nanyang slipped dramatically, affected by stagnant scores in FT and a lack of presence in LinkedIn’s rankings. Guanghua dropped out of the top 25 due to weaker career outcomes as reflected in LinkedIn rankings and a slight dip on the FT list.

The P&Q ranking also highlights some new trends and insights. Flexibility and employment impact are key to performance. Schools leveraging LinkedIn data, like IIM-Ahmedabad (#19, +9) and WHU (#28, +8), have seen their rankings boosted. LinkedIn’s focus on employment outcomes is becoming a critical factor.

A STRONG RANKINGS YEAR FOR EMLYON AND ESCP BUSINESS SCHOOLS

Schools in Asia-Pacific are also on the rise. While some Asian schools like HKUST and Guanghua faltered, others like IIM-Ahmedabad and IIM-Calcutta (#31, +10) surged ahead, reflecting a broader trend of growth in the region’s global influence.

Smaller European schools also had a good year, with EMLyon (#29, +11) and ESCP (#18, +3) leveraging niche programs and strong employer networks to make gains in a competitive landscape.

Despite all the movement, of course, INSEAD remains at the top. Its consistent performance in the Financial Times and its strong LinkedIn presence underscore its dominance as a global leader in business education.

The 2024-2025 Poets&Quantsranking reflects a rapidly evolving landscape in global MBA education. With major leaps from schools like Cranfield and Oxford and surprising declines from Mannheim and Nanyang, it’s clear that schools must continually adapt to remain competitive. As technology, career outcomes, and global dynamics play a larger role, these rankings highlight where the future of business education is headed.

(See the full ranking results on the following pages)