Carlson and Kelley are two highly regarded MBA programs, but they differ in key areas. Kelley holds a stronger US News ranking. Kelley reports a higher median base salary. Kelley offers lower annual tuition, and Kelley delivers the stronger 5-year ROI. Carlson is the more selective program by acceptance rate.
| Metric | Carlson | Kelley |
|---|---|---|
| Rankings | ||
| US News Rank | #342026 | #212026 |
| Bloomberg BBW Rank | #442024 | #232024 |
| Financial Times Rank | — | #502025 |
| QS Global MBA Rank | — | #422025 |
| Admissions & Financials | ||
| Annual Tuition | $62,000 | $53,754 |
| Median Base Salary | $125,000 | $152,000 |
| 5-Year ROI | 404% | 607% |
| Class Size | 100 | 203 |
| Acceptance Rate | 35.0% | 35.0% |
| Median GMAT | 661 | 688 |
| 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.
Indiana Kelley offers one of the best ROI values in MBA education. Known for its strong marketing and finance programs, Kelley's collaborative culture and extensive corporate partnerships provide strong career outcomes at an affordable price.
Both are highly ranked MBA programs. Kelley ranks higher in US News, but Kelley delivers a stronger 5-year ROI of 607%. The best choice depends on your career goals and preferred location.
Carlson is more selective with a 35.0% acceptance rate, compared to 35.0% for Kelley.
Carlson reports a median base salary of $125,000, while Kelley reports $152,000. Actual salary varies significantly by industry and function.
Carlson annual tuition is $62,000 and Kelley is $53,754. Kelley offers a 8,246 lower annual cost.
Now see where you rank against these programs
Plug in your GPA, GMAT, and experience to get a live 0–100 competitiveness score.