Kellogg and McCombs are two of the most competitive MBA programs in the country, but they differ in key areas. Kellogg holds a stronger US News ranking. Kellogg reports a higher median base salary. McCombs offers lower annual tuition, and McCombs delivers the stronger 5-year ROI. Kellogg is the more selective program by acceptance rate.
| Metric | Kellogg | McCombs |
|---|---|---|
| Rankings | ||
| US News Rank | #42026 | #182026 |
| Bloomberg BBW Rank | #62024 | #152024 |
| Financial Times Rank | #102025 | #352025 |
| QS Global MBA Rank | #82025 | #302025 |
| Admissions & Financials | ||
| Annual Tuition | $78,276 | $56,034 |
| Median Base Salary | $185,000 | $168,000 |
| 5-Year ROI | 491% | 650% |
| Class Size | 500 | 261 |
| Acceptance Rate | 20.2% | 28.5% |
| Median GMAT | 727 | 706 |
| Average GPA | — | — |
Green = better value per metric. Rankings: lower rank number = better. Salary & ROI: higher = better. Acceptance rate & tuition: lower = better.
Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern is the birthplace of modern marketing education. Known for its collaborative culture, team-based learning, and strong emphasis on leadership development, Kellogg graduates are highly sought after in consulting and consumer goods industries.
UT Austin McCombs offers one of the best value propositions in MBA education. Located in the booming Austin tech scene, McCombs has strong placements in consulting, tech, and energy. The school is known for its Plus program and entrepreneurial ecosystem.
Kellogg is a top M7 program; McCombs is a highly ranked T15 school. Kellogg ranks higher in US News, but McCombs delivers a stronger 5-year ROI of 650%. The best choice depends on your career goals and preferred location.
Kellogg is more selective with a 20.2% acceptance rate, compared to 28.5% for McCombs.
Kellogg reports a median base salary of $185,000, while McCombs reports $168,000. Actual salary varies significantly by industry and function.
Kellogg annual tuition is $78,276 and McCombs is $56,034. McCombs offers a 22,242 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.