Explore the QS EMBA Rankings 2025 to find top executive MBA programs worldwide. Learn about ranking methodology, key emerging trends, and standout schools across regions. Whether you’re planning your next career move or comparing programs, this guide offers essential insights to help you choose the right EMBA path.
The latest QS Executive MBA Rankings for 2025 have been released. This year, QS has evaluated 233 higher education institutions from 50 countries and territories. The QS EMBA Rankings offer a comprehensive overview of the top Executive MBA (EMBA) programs worldwide.
The rankings are based on a thorough methodology. Their criteria include factors such as managerial experience, employer reputation, and salary increase. These rankings are a useful tool for prospective EMBA candidates. Use these rankings to identify the best EMBA programs that best align with your long-term career aspirations.
This year, the top three schools in the United States include MIT (Sloan), Yale School of Management, and Penn (Wharton). Continue reading to learn more about the full QS EMBA Rankings 2025 list.
The 2025 rankings reveal several noteworthy patterns. Perhaps unsurprisingly, the University of Oxford’s Saïd Business School maintained its top spot. Impressively, Warwick Business School has risen considerably by several spots to make it into the top 10.
American institutions continue to be the most represented group in the rankings. Additionally, 49% of American institutions have shown improvements. This is also the case for Poland, as 50% of their institutions have improved. Interestingly, 50% of Polish institutions have also decreased in improvements. Notably, the United Kingdom saw a 33% increase in improvements in some institutions, 33% remained the same, and a 33% decrease in some institutions.
In addition, joint international programs have made significant progress.
The top 5 joint programs include:
These multi-campus programs highlight the growing importance of global perspectives and international exposure in executive education.
Furthermore, the presence of programs with Asian campuses or partnerships reflects the increasing integration of Asia in elite executive education. Consequently, Asian schools are on an overall upward trajectory in global education.
The top 5 institutions in the Asia Pacific region include:
Worth highlighting is the University of Sydney Business School (Australia). It is a top performer amongst the 14 newly QS ranked institutions. It ranks #33 in the world and sixth in Asia Pacific region.
The US is the most represented location in the ranking. Nonetheless, Europe demonstrates a strong presence in the ranking as well.
In the top 10 institutions globally, France is represented twice, with HEC Paris ranked second and INSEAD ranked ninth. The UK is represented in the top 10 by three schools, including the University of Oxford (Saïd), London Business School, and Warwick Business School. Moreover, Spain is represented in the top 10 institutions by IESE Business School in third place.
The top five in Europe include:
View the full QS overview of top institutions per region to learn more.
What is the methodology of QS when creating the EMBA rankings? The rankings take into account various factors. These factors include value for money, industry partnerships, and positive career returns. More specifically, the weightings make up various components.
One refers to Reputation: 30% for Employer Reputation and 25% for Academic Reputation.
Another component is Career Outcomes, 10% is for Graduates Promoted and 10% for Salary Increase.
The Executive Profile includes 5% for C-Suite Experience, 5% for Managerial Experience, and 5% for Work Experience.
Lastly, there is a component for Diversity. This includes 5% for the Number of Nationalities and 5% for the Student Gender Ratio.
Ultimately, the QS methodology takes various factors into account, offering a well-rounded overall assessment.
The QS Executive MBA Rankings 2025 reiterates that academic excellence alone is not enough to guarantee higher education institutions a top spot in modern rankings. Industry and academic partnerships, strong career outcomes, cohort diversity (and peer-learning) are key.
While traditional American higher education institutions maintain their top positions, there is significant growth in joint programs. Additionally, there is strong representation in Europe, the Asia-Pacific region, and beyond.
However, what unites all top-ranked programs is their commitment to excellence. Beyond curricula and academic reputation, top education drives change and develops global business leaders equipped to navigate diverse international contexts.
Want to discover the latest MBA rankings? Take a look at the MBA Rankings page.
