The Best Cities (And Towns) To Earn An MBA

Lausanne: “I was always very aware of the magic of Lausanne. Between runs and quick dips in the lake, going to the sauna, and biking through the vineyards, there were many moments when I had to pinch myself to remember that this was real life, and that it was my home.

On top of that, the city was always lively. Each season brought its own festivals and traditions, so there was always something happening and something new to enjoy.

I come from a city that often feels like it has the mentality of a small town. Lausanne, in contrast, is the opposite: a city of around 150,000 people, some might even call it a town, but it has the mentality and energy of a much bigger place. Despite its size, it feels vibrant, international, and culturally alive.”
Agustina Bigatti, IMD Business School

London (UK): “I have lived in London for nine years, and it is a place I genuinely call home. What I love most is its energy and its openness. From the first day I arrived, I felt that I could belong here. London is a city where you can constantly reinvent yourself, surrounded by people from every background and perspective imaginable.

Its cultural mix and diversity are not abstract concepts. They are lived daily, whether through conversations, events or the industries that shape the city. There is always something happening, and access to world class experiences feels almost effortless. During my MBA, that meant exposure to industries, networking opportunities, and experiential learning that extended far beyond the classroom. London mirrors what I value most: ambition paired with diversity, tradition alongside reinvention, and a constant sense of global connection. Even after nearly a decade, it still feels expansive. That sense of possibility has shaped both my MBA journey and who I am becoming.”
Tania F. Davila Masciopinto, London Business School

“I loved London’s scale and diversity of thought. In a single week, I could attend a fintech panel, a biotech lecture and a public policy discussion. It’s an environment where business, technology, and culture intersect naturally – the density of ideas, people and opportunities create a city-sized learning environment. London constantly reinforces that business operates within broader social and political systems.”
Diego Ignacio Cáceres Saldaña, Imperial Business School

Los Angeles: “Los Angeles is a city where you can fit a lifetime of experiences into a single weekend—a ski trip in Mammoth, a beach cleanup in Santa Monica, wine tasting in Paso Robles, or even hiking the Hollywood sign. The beautiful weather made it easy to spend time with classmates outside of class, creating some of my favorite memories from business school. Plus, LA’s incredible food scene, has been impossible to beat!”
Melissa Soong, USC (Marshall)

“What’s not to love about Los Angeles? As a huge sports fan with a strong interest in entertainment, I found the city incredibly exciting to live in during business school. There was always something happening, from NBA games to concerts and live productions. I honestly lost count of how many events I attended, and it was fascinating to experience firsthand how these large-scale productions come together behind the scenes.

At the same time, LA offers an amazing lifestyle. The Venice and Santa Monica beaches are only about fifteen minutes away from my home, and we have direct flights to almost anywhere.

From a professional perspective, being in LA also meant being close to some of the most dynamic industries in the country. Over the past year and a half, we had the opportunity to hear from remarkable leaders who visited campus, including Tim Cadogan (GoFundMe CEO), Darragh O’Brien (Minister for Transport and Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment of the Republic of Ireland), and even former Laker Pau Gasol. Experiences like these made the Anderson experience feel deeply connected to the broader world beyond campus.”
Levy Aninditio, UCLA (Anderson)

Madison: “I will admit that Madison took some getting used to for me; however, I have come to enjoy the city. The walkability, biker friendliness, and notably good food scene for a town of its size are a few highlights. However, what I love most is Madison’s proximity to nature. Situated on an isthmus, downtown Madison is surrounded by two modest-sized lakes. Drive for ten or twenty or so minutes, and you have access to various trails and an arboretum. Extend your drive by another forty minutes, and you’ll encounter rolling hills that’ll lead you to some of the best (and only…) hiking in Southern Wisconsin at Devil’s Lake. I believe that nature is healing and necessary for a happy life, so being so close to it while in a stressful program has been a relief.”
Alexander Porte, Wisconsin School of Business

“Madison is such a down-to-earth town. It somehow combines a lively atmosphere and the quintessential Midwestern culture into a place that’s immediately comfortable and endlessly fun; nothing exemplifies this more than an afternoon sitting at The Terrace next to Lake Mendota. Sitting in one of those iconic green, orange, and yellow starburst chairs, soaking up some sun, and enjoying the breeze coming off the lake is something I’m going to miss tremendously.”
Jakob Monroe, Wisconsin School of Business

Madrid: “Madrid’s rhythm. It is a city that is always alive, but it never feels rushed. At 10 in the morning, people are sitting down for coffee and churros. By 3 in the afternoon, lunch turns into a long, relaxed affair with wine and conversation. And even at 11 at night, the streets are still full:  friends gathering for dinner, and entire crowds watching a Real Madrid game with the same excitement as if the day has just begun.

There is a contrast in Madrid that took me some time to fully appreciate: it is a city that is always buzzing, yet slowing down is never seen as laziness – it is just a way of life. Coming from Chennai, where pausing to enjoy the little things can feel like a luxury you haven’t yet earned, and where constant productivity is expected, this shift in mindset stayed with me. It taught me the value of balance and the importance of being present.

Madrid didn’t just give me an MBA, it taught me to pause and smell the roses, it gave me a healthier way of looking at time.”
Sahana Adeline K, IE Business School

Manchester: What I loved most about Manchester was the energy it carries as a city. It is diverse, fast-moving, and genuinely welcoming which made it easy to feel at home from early on.

What stood out for me personally was the growing startup and tech ecosystem. There were frequent events and opportunities to connect with professionals across different industries which made it possible to extend learning well beyond the classroom and stay close to what was happening in the real business world.

But Manchester is also just a great city to live in. The mix of cultures, music, food, and events happening throughout the year gives it a character that is hard to find elsewhere. And yes, football is everywhere, but even for someone who does not follow it closely, the atmosphere it creates adds to the city’s unique energy.

It is a city that combines real opportunity with a rich everyday life, and that balance made the MBA experience more enjoyable.
Indu Khemchandani, Alliance Manchester

New Haven: “New Haven is a city that rewards curiosity. The arts scene alone could keep you busy for years; Yale Rep, the Shubert, NXTHVN, the Yale School of Art’s Open Studios, Toad’s Place, New Haven Symphony Orchestra are just a few of the places I have come to appreciate (and there are so many more). I have loved the food — living across the street from the oldest pizza place in the city is genuinely dangerous. I have enjoyed exploring the history and architecture and meeting the people: an engaged, opinionated, caring citizenry that shows up for each other. Whether marching alongside demonstrating citizens in The Green, discussing apartheid with students I met at Yale University Art Gallery exhibition, or making a new friend at Elm City Social or Barcade, New Haven isn’t just a place to study. It offers a community where I belong.”
J.B. Horsley, Yale SOM

“Any city that can turn pizza into local identity is doing something right. New Haven has character, pride, and a strong sense of self. You feel it in the food, the neighborhoods, and the everyday life of the city. Lunch at Commons in the Schwarzman Center, an afternoon wandering through the Peabody Museum, quiet time in the Beinecke Rare Book & Manuscript Library, and a visit to the Yale Center for British Art made the city feel rich, alive, and a little cinematic. New Haven made the MBA feel more rooted, and the experience more human.”
Karan David, Yale School of Management

New York City: “New York is a city defined by possibility. It gathers people from everywhere, different cultures, industries, and ambitions, creating a space where global perspectives collide daily. The energy of the city mirrors that of every new generation seeking a fast, diverse, resilient, and opportunity-driven world.”
Vicente Aguirre Pischedda, Fordham University (Gabelli)

“It’s the feeling that the day could go anywhere in NYC. I love walking out of my apartment on a Saturday morning without a plan and knowing that something interesting will happen. I just don’t know what yet. Maybe it’s finally trying the restaurant everyone won’t stop talking about. Maybe it’s stumbling into a Timothée Chalamet look-alike contest in Washington Square Park. Maybe it’s playing pickleball with the skyline behind me. The city feels alive in a way that’s hard to explain unless you’ve lived in it. There’s an electricity here that makes even ordinary days feel charged. People care about what they’re doing. They move quickly. They show up wholly. That energy is contagious. It pushes you to lean in a little more — to say yes, to stay out a little longer, to take the long walk home. That’s what I love most. New York makes you feel like you’re in the middle of it all. Being here, you are part of something bigger than yourself.”
Justin Shalap, New York University (Stern)

“What I love most about NYC is how interconnected everything is intellectually, professionally, and socially. In the span of one day, you can go from class downtown to a founder meeting at a Flatiron coffee shop, squeeze in a dance class in Midtown, and still end the night grabbing dinner with friends. Every industry has a real presence here, and that blend of personal and professional creates constant serendipity: you run into people building, investing, or creating across tech, finance, media, and the arts – and you never know what opportunities those relationships will lead.”
Suchi Patel, New York University (Stern)

Nice: “The city of Nice and the sea. Every morning, I ride a bicycle to campus along the coastline. This small ritual gives me a quiet moment to reset before the intensity of the day.

At the same time, the Côte d’Azur is far more than just beautiful scenery. It is a dynamic hub for business and innovation. Sophia Antipolis, Europe’s leading technology park and home to 2K+ companies, is just 20 minutes away, and Cannes and Monaco regularly host major international conferences. The region offers constant exposure to industry leaders and new ideas and provides ample opportunities to network, connect, and engage in global conversations.”
Polina Sarafanova, EDHEC Business School

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