Darden and HBS are two of the most competitive MBA programs in the country, but they differ in key areas. HBS holds a stronger US News ranking. HBS reports a higher median base salary. Darden offers lower annual tuition, and HBS delivers the stronger 5-year ROI. HBS is the more selective program by acceptance rate.
| Metric | Darden | HBS |
|---|---|---|
| Rankings | ||
| US News Rank | #112026 | #42026 |
| Bloomberg BBW Rank | #92024 | #42024 |
| Financial Times Rank | #202025 | #42025 |
| QS Global MBA Rank | #182025 | #52025 |
| Admissions & Financials | ||
| Annual Tuition | $72,200 | $76,410 |
| Median Base Salary | $178,000 | $260,000 |
| 5-Year ROI | 516% | 751% |
| Class Size | 350 | 930 |
| Acceptance Rate | 24.0% | 11.0% |
| Median GMAT | 718 | 740 |
| 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.
Harvard Business School pioneered the case method of teaching and remains the gold standard for general management education. HBS is the most selective MBA program in the world, producing more Fortune 500 CEOs than any other school. Its case study approach prepares leaders to tackle ambiguous business challenges.
HBS is a top M7 program; Darden is a highly ranked T15 school. HBS ranks higher in US News, but HBS delivers a stronger 5-year ROI of 751%. The best choice depends on your career goals and preferred location.
HBS is more selective with a 11.0% acceptance rate, compared to 24.0% for Darden.
Darden reports a median base salary of $178,000, while HBS reports $260,000. Actual salary varies significantly by industry and function.
Darden annual tuition is $72,200 and HBS is $76,410. Darden offers a 4,210 lower annual cost.
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