Which is better for MBA, Harvard Business School or Stanford Graduate Business School?
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1 Answer
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Harvard Business School of Harvard University as well as the Stanford Graduate Business School of the Stanford University are one of the top three business schools in the world and thus getting a degree from either of these is equally prestigious. In terms of rankings, the Stanford Graduate Business School has an upper hand. However, Harvard Business School offers more affordable education.
We have given below a comprehensive comparison of both the business schools below:
Particulars Harvard Business School Stanford Graduate Business School QS Global MBA Ranking 2024 #3 #1 Acceptance Rate 3.4% 3.6% Average Package Median Base Salary: USD 175,000 (INR 1.45 Cr)
Median Signing Bonus: USD 30,000 (INR 25 L)
Median Annual Base Salary: USD 182,500 (INR 1.52 Cr)
Median Signing Bonus: USD 30,000 (INR 25 L)First-year Tuition Fees INR 18 L - 62 L INR 32 L - 1 Cr Conversion Rate: 1 USD = INR 83.53
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All three Business Schools are ranked best for their Business and Management courses. They are highly ranked by the top-ranking bodies for Business and Management Studies.
The table below shows the QS Rankings of the best Business Schools globally:
Business Schools/Universities | QS World Ranking 2025 |
|---|---|
Harvard University | #1 |
Stanford University | #3 |
University of Pennsylvania | #9 |
The table below shows the Shiksha Popularity Rankings of MBA offered at these top universities:
Business Courses | Harvard University Ranking | Stanford University Ranking | University of Pennsylvania Ranking |
|---|---|---|---|
Master of Business Administration | #7 | #2 | #3 |
While both the B-Schools offer one of the best programs in the world, the ROI of HBS (Harvard Business School) is higher, though the annual package and career growth near Silicon Valley can be significant, which incline the students towards the Business and Management programs by HAAS School of Business, but if a student is looking for higher annual package, Harvard Business School can be more suited to the goals.
If a student is looking for roles in the Tech industry, growth, and a decent ROI, they should go for Berkeley HAAS.
The table compares these two best Business schools in depth:
Basis | HAAS School of Business | Harvard Business School |
|---|---|---|
Location | Bay Area, close to Silicon Valley | Boston, Massachusetts |
Average starting salary | USD 158,000 (INR 1.33 Cr) | USD 175,000 (INR 1.47 Cr) |
Sign-on bonus | USD 30,000 (INR 25 L) | USD 30,000 (INR 25 L) |
Acceptance Rate | 17% | 11% |
Tuition | USD 67,000 (INR 56 L) | USD 76,000 (INR 64 L) |
Return on Investment | 42.4% | 43.4% |
Top Industries hiring | Tech (Due to closeness to Silicon Valley) | Finance (Due to closeness to Business hubs) |
Ranking | #20 | #1 |
Scholarships Available | Yes | Yes, with a maximum amount of USD 30,000 to USD 50,000 (INR 25 L to INR 42 L) |
(USD 1 = INR 86.25)
The Wharton School and Harvard Business School are both exceptional and ranked highly in the list of the best Business Schools worldwide. While the parent institution of Wharton, the University of Pennsylvania, is in the group of Ivy League, Harvard University isn't in that group. These Business schools are known for their state-of-the-art curriculum, highly employable alumni, large alumni network across the globe, and strong commitment to learning.
The Wharton School and Harvard Business School are both exceptional and ranked highly in the list of the best Business Schools worldwide. The Wharton School by Penn ranks #2, and Harvard Business School ranks at #3 according to the rankings released by the QS World ranking body for the year 2025. If the consideration is employability, according to the Employment Report 2024 published by HBS, 86% of the students who were seeking employment received an offer letter; on the other hand, 93.1% of the students seeking employment received an offer letter from The Wharton School.
The table compares these three best Business schools in dept
IIM and Harvard Business Schools are elite in different contexts. IIM, especially in the locations in Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Kolkata, is best for excelling in India's Cooperate world, and is comparatively affordable than HBS. Students who want to build their career in India and have a limited budget for a world-class MBA must choose IIM over HBS. In contrast, students looking for consulting or Finance in the US and willing to join elite firms or seeking a career as a CEO must go to Harvard Business School. The comparison between the two is given below:
Feature | IIMs | Harvard Business School (HBS) |
|---|---|---|
Global Ranking | ~#50–60 (FT Global MBA) | Top 3 globally |
Location | India (Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Kolkata) | USA (Cambridge, Massachusetts) |
Program Duration | 2 years (PGP/MBA), 1 year for exec MBAs | 2 years full-time MBA |
Eligibility | CAT/GRE/GMAT, Indian UG degree | GMAT/GRE, global application process |
Teaching Style | Mix of case, lecture, projects | 100% case method |
Top Strengths | Indian management, cost-effective, domestic networks | Global leadership, alumni reach, case mastery |
Tuition Fees | INR 20–28 L | INR 1.4–1.6 Cr |
Post-MBA Salary (Avg.) | INR 25–35 LPA | INR 1.5–2.0 Cr |
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