Carlson and Haas are two highly regarded MBA programs, but they differ in key areas. Haas holds a stronger US News ranking. Haas reports a higher median base salary. Carlson offers lower annual tuition, and Haas delivers the stronger 5-year ROI. Haas is the more selective program by acceptance rate.
| Metric | Carlson | Haas |
|---|---|---|
| Rankings | ||
| US News Rank | #342026 | #102026 |
| Bloomberg BBW Rank | #442024 | #82024 |
| Financial Times Rank | — | #122025 |
| QS Global MBA Rank | — | #102025 |
| Admissions & Financials | ||
| Annual Tuition | $62,000 | $68,444 |
| Median Base Salary | $125,000 | $185,000 |
| 5-Year ROI | 404% | 576% |
| Class Size | 100 | 291 |
| Acceptance Rate | 35.0% | 15.0% |
| Median GMAT | 661 | 726 |
| 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.
UC Berkeley Haas is known for its culture of innovation and defining leadership principles: "Question the Status Quo," "Confidence Without Attitude," "Students Always," and "Beyond Yourself." Located near Silicon Valley, Haas is a pipeline to the tech industry.
Both are highly ranked MBA programs. Haas ranks higher in US News, but Haas delivers a stronger 5-year ROI of 576%. The best choice depends on your career goals and preferred location.
Haas is more selective with a 15.0% acceptance rate, compared to 35.0% for Carlson.
Carlson reports a median base salary of $125,000, while Haas reports $185,000. Actual salary varies significantly by industry and function.
Carlson annual tuition is $62,000 and Haas is $68,444. Carlson offers a 6,444 lower annual cost.
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