Masters in Management: US vs Europe

Masters in Management: US vs Europe

Belkis Megraoui

Updated January 16, 2020 Updated January 16

Combining prominent touristic appeal with famously admired academic reputations, the US and Europe are both home to world-renowned universities for master's in management degrees, as highlighted in the recently released QS Rankings For Masters in Management. Of the 135 business schools in the ranking, 21 are in the US, while a whopping 96 are based in Europe, including 27 in the UK. The ranking assesses each institution according to five important indicators: employability, alumni outcomes, value for money, thought leadership, and diversity.

In addition, both study destinations are very well known for their many business-savvy cities, which makes them the ultimate study environments for students wishing to pursue careers in the world of business and management.

If you’re trying to decide whether to study your master’s in management degree in the US or Europe, read on for an in-depth breakdown of how they compare.

masters in management

United States

For applicants aspiring to further their studies in management, there are numerous top US business schools currently offering internationally-renowned master’s in management courses which provide students with valuable theoretical knowledge, as well as practical work experience to prepare future business managers for the competitive and ever-changing world of business.

For master’s in management courses, the US is home to four institutions in the global top 50, and 11 are ranked in the top 100. Ranked number one in the US in this year’s master’s in management ranking, the Michigan Ross School of Business is currently placed at joint 16th in the world for the subject, scoring the highest in the country for thought leadership, and its second-highest score for the alumni outcomes indicator, followed by value for money. Given its impressive scores overall, the school’s Master of Management course – through relevant action-based curriculum – provides students with the leadership skills and capabilities required in business managerial roles, including a job-search program designed and intended to boost students’ potential to land their perfect job.

Of course, prestige often comes with a hefty price tag, and with that notion firmly embedded in mind, it’s no surprise that tuition fees across US universities are the most expensive in the world – with fees at Michigan currently standing at $48,733.

However, topping the master’s in management rankings as the US institution which offers the most value for its money is Northeastern University’s D’Amore McKim School of Business, which currently ranks fifth in the US and 58th in the world. With tuition fees of US$24,000 (far lower than the global average of $51,916), the university also promises a high starting salary for graduates, who can expect to earn around a sizeable US$81,000 per annum.  

For those who want to study at a highly diverse business school, the highest-ranked US institution for the diversity indicator in the Master’s in Management Ranking is Boston University's Questrom School of Business, which is ranked joint 39th overall for its MS in Management Studies. 55 percent of students enrolled in the school’s MS in Management program are from outside the US, with a total of 19 nationalities represented.

Master’s in management classes in the US tend to be less diverse overall than the world average, with international students making up 37 percent of a typical class, while the global average is 48 percent. However, they do have an equal 50/50 split between women and men, which is in line with the global average.

masters in management

Europe

Leading the rankings with some of the most globally respected institutions for higher education, European business schools boast an uninterrupted run in the top 10 for master’s in management courses. They also tend to charge much less than US business schools – these include UK universities which, although still expensive, can charge tuition fees that are up to two or three times lower.

Currently ranked number one in the world for its MSc Strategic Management program, HEC Paris achieves the second-highest score in the top 10 for its value for money. Although fees are high, standing at €39,700 for non-EU students (approximately US$46,500), 2017 graduates earned an impressive starting salary of US$70,036. HEC Paris also excels in a few other departments, scoring a perfect score for alumni outcomes and very high scores across thought leadership and employability, respectively. 

However, the highest-ranked European business school for the value for money indicator is Spain’s ESIC Business & Marketing School, ranked 78th overall for its master’s in management program, which has tuition fees of €20,700 (~US$24,200). ESIC graduates in 2017 earned an average starting salary of an impressive $85,000, making an excellent return on their investment.

In terms of diversity, it’s no secret that the US is also home to some of the most multicultural cities in the world, but with UK capital London eminent for its unparalleled cultural diversity, other famous European cities – such as Paris and Berlin – encompass a range of nationalities and cultures, combined with a prevailing touristic appeal.

Scoring the highest and most perfect percentage for diversity, IE Business School ranks sixth in the world for its Master in Management degree, with 79 percent of its class of new students in 2017 made up of international students, and 66 nationalities represented in total. Overall, international students make up 54 percent of the average master’s in management class in Europe, higher than the global average (48 percent) and with 17 nationalities represented, higher than the US in which only seven nationalities on average are represented in master’s in management classes. European business schools also tend to have a slightly more diverse faculty, with 43 percent of professors coming from outside the host country, in contrast with the US, where it’s 27 percent.

Like the US, there is an equal 50/50 split between men and women in European business schools, with London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE, ranked seventh) having a particularly good split in what can sometimes be a male-dominated course, as 59 percent of students are women.

At a glance: Master’s in Management Degrees in the US and Europe

So which will it be for you, the US or Europe? Here’s a full overview of the main stats:

United States

Institution

2019 rank

Course

Location

Average tuition fees

Average starting salary

Average percentage of international students

Average percentage of women

Ross School of Business, University of Michigan

=16

Master of Management

Ann Arbor (MI)

US$48,733

US$62,138

22%

54%

Duke Fuqua School of Business

19

Master of Management Studies

Durham (NC)

US$52,980

US$62,100

44%

51%

NYU Stern School of Business

31

Master of Science in Risk Management

New York (NY)

US$71,800

No data

No data

18%

Questrom School of Business, Boston University

38

MS in Management Studies

Boston (MA)

US$51,866

US$65,889

55%

58%

D’Amore-McKim School of Business, Northeastern University

58

MS in International Management

Boston (MA)

US$24,000

US$81,000

92%

36%

Mendoza College of Business, Notre Dame Business

59

MSc in Management

Notre Dame (IN)

US$51,086

US$60,000

9%

49%

USC Marshall School of Business

63

Master of Management Studies

Los Angeles (CA)

US$55,410

US$100,000

59%

67%

W.P. Carey School of Business, Arizona State University

=75

MSc in Management

Tempe (AZ)

US$48,200

US$77,601

32%

44%

Wake First University School of Business

87

Master of Arts in Management

Winston Salem (NC)

US$46,592

US$54,000

15%

64%

Lehigh University

=88

Master of Science in Management

Bethelehem (PA)

US$47,950

US$61,231

No data

63%

Europe

Institution

2019 rank

Course

Location

Average tuition fees

Average starting salary

Average percentage of international students

Average percentage of women

HEC Paris

1

MSc Strategic Management

Paris, France

US$31,834

US$70,036

65%

43%

London Business School

2

Masters in Management

London, UK

US$42,434

US$65,880

92%

46%

ESADE Business School

3

MSc in International Management

Barcelona, Spain

US$33,036

US$44,005

95%

44%

ESSEC Business School

4

MSc in Strategy & Management of International Business

Paris, France

US$24,026

No data

39%

46%

Imperial College Business School

5

MSc in Management

London, UK

US$39,191

US$35,893

86%

50%

IE Business School

6

Master in Management

Madrid, Spain

US$42,286

US$49,013

79%

42%

London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE)

7

MSc Management and Strategy

London, UK

US$40,510

US$42,435

No data

59%

CEMS (Global Alliance in Management Education)

8

Master in International Management

Global

US$15,234

US$60,687

93%

50%

ESCP Europe

=9

Master in Management

Paris; Berlin; Madrid; Turin; Warsaw; London

US$23,906

US$62,263

55%

51%

University of St. Gallen, School of Management

=9

Master in Business Management (MUG)

St. Gallen, Switzerland

US$10,243

US$95,474

27%

36%

Which one gets your vote? Let us know in the comments below, and find out more about studying in a particular country with our study destination guides.

This article was originally published in September 2018 . It was last updated in January 2021

Written by

A former content writer for TopUniversities.com, Belkis published a range of articles for students and graduates across the globe. She has a zeal for history and a natural flair for the arts and sports. She also holds a bachelor’s degree in English Language & Communication with Journalism from the University of Hertfordshire and is a native speaker of the Arabic language.

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