The US News Best Part Time MBA Programs report for 2023 has just been released. Unlike the full time rankings, there was no shuffling among the top 5 part time MBA programs.
Top part time MBA programs are ideal for working professionals who want the benefit of an MBA without taking off time from work. Part time MBA programs are also financially and logistically appealing, especially for those who are not looking to change careers immediately post-MBA.
This year, Chicago Booth has regained its #1 position as the best part time MBA program, followed by Berkeley Haas at #2. These 1st and 2nd place rankings have remained quite consistent over the past few years. In fact, this is the fourth year in a row that Booth and Haas have earned these placements. Booth reported an average GMAT score of 680 for its part time program while Haas’s part time program had an average GMAT score of 705.
Kellogg, NYU Stern, and UCLA Anderson’s US News rankings have also remained the same this year. Kellogg once again secured 3rd place, followed by NYU Stern in 4th and UCLA Anderson in 5th. GMAT scores for these three part time programs were 680, 676, 669, respectively.
While the top five part-time programs saw no movement, there has been a bit of shuffling farther down the list. CMU Tepper has risen steadily, now taking 6th place (an increase from 7th in 2021 and 8th in 2020). Michigan Ross, on the other hand, dropped from 6th to 7th. This is a notable change, given that the school had held 6th place for the past 4 years.
Texas McCombs also fell slightly from #7 to #8. USC Marshall and Washington Foster rounded out the top 10 part time programs. This was the second year that USC Marshall secured 9th place, whereas Washington Foster’s position as #10 is a significant jump from its previous ranking as #14.
This year’s top part time MBA program rankings includes a 5-way tie for 11th place. Emory Goizueta, Indiana Kelley, Ohio Fisher, Rice Jones, and Minnesota Carlson all share this position.
Georgia Tech Scheller, Georgetown McDonough, ASU WP Carrey, Santa Clara Leavey, and UT Dallas Jindal closed out the top 20, in that order, with a tie between the final two schools.
How to Use MBA Rankings
As you review these new part time MBA rankings, remember that changes over time are more noteworthy than the year-to-year and guide-to-guide fluctuations. Although the top 5 part time MBA programs have shown little fluctuation over recent years, this shuffling within the top 10 and farther down the list indicates the increasing competition among leading part-time MBA programs.
For more guidance on how to analyze and understand MBA rankings, review Personal MBA Coach’s tips in this blog.
Though MBA rankings are helpful when choosing schools to apply to (and ultimately attend), candidates should also consider location, campus culture, job placement rate, specific areas of specialization, and academic programming.
Finances should also be a key factor to consider since applicants might receive more funding from one program versus another. Depending on your personal situation, you may prioritize a strong financial package over a school’s ranking. Last cycle, Personal MBA Coach clients earned a total of $6.5M in scholarship funding!
