Darden 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. Haas offers lower annual tuition, and Haas delivers the stronger 5-year ROI. Haas is the more selective program by acceptance rate.
| Metric | Darden | Haas |
|---|---|---|
| Rankings | ||
| US News Rank | #112026 | #102026 |
| Bloomberg BBW Rank | #92024 | #82024 |
| Financial Times Rank | #202025 | #122025 |
| QS Global MBA Rank | #182025 | #102025 |
| Admissions & Financials | ||
| Annual Tuition | $72,200 | $68,444 |
| Median Base Salary | $178,000 | $185,000 |
| 5-Year ROI | 516% | 576% |
| Class Size | 350 | 291 |
| Acceptance Rate | 24.0% | 15.0% |
| Median GMAT | 718 | 726 |
| Average GPA | — | — |
Green = better value per metric. Rankings: lower rank number = better. Salary & ROI: higher = better. Acceptance rate & tuition: lower = better.
Darden School of Business at UVA is known for its case-method teaching, second only to Harvard in case study usage. Darden students experience an immersive, discussion-based classroom environment. The school has strong placement in consulting, finance, and general management.
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 24.0% for Darden.
Darden reports a median base salary of $178,000, while Haas reports $185,000. Actual salary varies significantly by industry and function.
Darden annual tuition is $72,200 and Haas is $68,444. Haas offers a 3,756 lower annual cost.
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