Carlson School of Management and Sloan are two of the most competitive MBA programs in the country, but they differ in key areas. Sloan holds a stronger US News ranking. Sloan reports a higher median base salary. Carlson School of Management offers lower annual tuition, and Sloan delivers the stronger 5-year ROI. Sloan is the more selective program by acceptance rate.
| Metric | Carlson School of Management | Sloan |
|---|---|---|
| Rankings | ||
| US News Rank | — | #62026 |
| Bloomberg BBW Rank | — | #32024 |
| Financial Times Rank | — | #12025 |
| QS Global MBA Rank | — | #32025 |
| Admissions & Financials | ||
| Annual Tuition | $66,000 | $82,000 |
| Median Base Salary | $145,000 | $246,000 |
| 5-Year ROI | 449% | 650% |
| Class Size | — | 480 |
| Acceptance Rate | 24.0% | 13.6% |
| Median GMAT | 670 | 730 |
| Average GPA | — | — |
Green = better value per metric. Rankings: lower rank number = better. Salary & ROI: higher = better. Acceptance rate & tuition: lower = better.
Want context on the metrics above? These guides break down how to read the numbers — rankings methodology, salary distributions, and ROI math.
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MIT Sloan combines management education with MIT's engineering and technology DNA. Known for producing leaders in tech, biotech, and entrepreneurship, Sloan offers a unique action learning approach. Students benefit from MIT's broader ecosystem of innovation and research.
Sloan is a top M7 program; Carlson School of Management is a highly ranked T15 school. Sloan ranks higher in US News, but Sloan delivers a stronger 5-year ROI of 650%. The best choice depends on your career goals and preferred location.
Sloan is more selective with a 13.6% acceptance rate, compared to 24.0% for Carlson School of Management.
Carlson School of Management reports a median base salary of $145,000, while Sloan reports $246,000. Actual salary varies significantly by industry and function.
Carlson School of Management annual tuition is $66,000 and Sloan is $82,000. Carlson School of Management offers a 16,000 lower annual cost.
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