MIT Beats Harvard for #1 MBA Spot—Here's Why

$259,874. That's what Harvard MBA grads earn on average three years post-graduation. Yet Harvard didn't claim the top spot in this year's Financial Times Global MBA Ranking. The crown goes to MIT Sloan School of Management—for the first time ever.

When Tech Disrupts Tradition

MIT Sloan has dethroned the usual suspects: Insead (France/Singapore) and Wharton. Despite ranking third in alumni salaries at $245,991 (behind Harvard's $259,874 and Wharton's $246,813), MIT secured the #1 position. How?

The answer lies in artificial intelligence. Dean Richard Locke explains MIT is "focusing on how AI could be used as a tool not to replace jobs but enhance them." The school is leveraging MIT's renowned engineering and science expertise, creating tight links between technical innovation and business education. "We are exploring how we reinvent management education for the 21st century," Locke adds.

This shift reflects students' sharpening focus on technology as they brace for workplace disruption. It's not just about learning business anymore—it's about surviving the AI revolution.

The Global Talent Shuffle

The international dimension tells its own story. More than half of the top 100 schools boast 50%+ international students. But here's where it gets interesting: UK business schools depend heavily on Asia-Pacific students (57% of total intake), compared to 37% in other European schools and just 24% in the US and Canada.

Meanwhile, some schools achieved perfect gender parity among students: Audencia and ESCP (France), University of British Columbia, and University of Miami. Others lag dramatically—Indian Institute of Management Calcutta and IIM Indore each reported just 12% female students.

The ROI Reality Check

Here's the uncomfortable truth: inflation-adjusted salaries outside the US and Canada have fallen over the past decade. Yes, degree costs have dropped too, but the value proposition is under scrutiny. Some graduates from top schools struggled to find jobs in 2025's patchy market.

Yet 83% of 1,152 alumni surveyed still rate their MBA experience "highly" or "very highly." The satisfaction paradox suggests the MBA delivers value beyond pure salary metrics.

For pure ROI, University of Georgia Terry topped value-for-money rankings, followed by Nanyang Business School in Singapore. The Indian School of Business reported the highest salary jump: 248% increase to $201,712.

The Research vs. Practice Divide

Wharton dominated faculty research rankings, followed by Harvard, University of Chicago Booth, Insead, and London Business School. But does research excellence translate to career success? MIT's victory suggests practical AI integration might matter more than academic publications.

The gender pay gap among alumni hit a 10-year low at 7.1%—progress, but still present. Only two schools achieved faculty gender parity: University of Porto (Portugal) and Audencia (France).