United States​

Love or hate the idea, the MBA is an American invention. Depending on who you ask, folks will say it all began at Harvard, while others argue the first MBA was at the University of Pennsylvania (Wharton). ​

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MBA programs rapidly spread across the United States, and soon throughout other parts of North America. The first Canadian MBA program was launched at Western Ontario University (Ivey Business School).

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MBAs have since spread around the world, yet that very American business DNA remains at the core of any MBA program. Today, MBA programs in the United States represent nearly half of the Financial Times' annual Global MBA Rankings that comes out in mid-February each year, listing the best 100 MBA programs in the world, according to their unique methodology.

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In the US, there is another highly prized rankings list - the US News and World Report. They only evaluate MBA programs in the United States and use a different methodology; for example, GMAT scores are taken into consideration. Of course, rankings should always be taken with a grain of salt. Applying to a business school purely because of its ranking without going deep into the research, speaking to tons of alumni, current students, and staff to be sure you've found the right fit for you, your values, learning style, career goals, and so much more is simply a very bad idea. Get in touch for a free consultation to discuss this further.  

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