Carlson and Fisher are two highly regarded MBA programs, but they differ in key areas. Fisher holds a stronger US News ranking. Carlson reports a higher median base salary. Fisher offers lower annual tuition, and Fisher delivers the stronger 5-year ROI. Fisher is the more selective program by acceptance rate.
| Metric | Carlson | Fisher |
|---|---|---|
| Rankings | ||
| US News Rank | #342026 | #282026 |
| Bloomberg BBW Rank | #442024 | #402024 |
| Financial Times Rank | — | — |
| QS Global MBA Rank | — | — |
| Admissions & Financials | ||
| Annual Tuition | $62,000 | $53,508 |
| Median Base Salary | $125,000 | $120,000 |
| 5-Year ROI | 404% | 461% |
| Class Size | 100 | 95 |
| Acceptance Rate | 35.0% | 30.0% |
| Median GMAT | 661 | 660 |
| Average GPA | — | — |
Green = better value per metric. Rankings: lower rank number = better. Salary & ROI: higher = better. Acceptance rate & tuition: lower = better.
The Carlson School of Management at the University of Minnesota offers a strong, versatile MBA in the Twin Cities—a major Midwest business hub home to more Fortune 500 headquarters per capita than almost any other US city (Target, Best Buy, 3M, UnitedHealth Group, Cargill). Carlson's MBA is known for strong finance, supply chain, and brand management programs, with outstanding corporate access and placement within the Midwest's corporate powerhouses.
The Max M. Fisher College of Business at Ohio State offers an intimate, highly collaborative MBA experience with exceptional value. Fisher's Max Fellows program and corporate partnerships provide funded field experiences with Fortune 500 companies headquartered in the Midwest. The program is particularly strong in marketing, supply chain management, and finance, with key corporate partners including Nationwide, Cardinal Health, and Deloitte.
Both are highly ranked MBA programs. Fisher ranks higher in US News, but Fisher delivers a stronger 5-year ROI of 461%. The best choice depends on your career goals and preferred location.
Fisher is more selective with a 30.0% acceptance rate, compared to 35.0% for Carlson.
Carlson reports a median base salary of $125,000, while Fisher reports $120,000. Actual salary varies significantly by industry and function.
Carlson annual tuition is $62,000 and Fisher is $53,508. Fisher offers a 8,492 lower annual cost.
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