World’s best Master in Management programs 2026 | QS ranking

Among business master’s programs, the Master in Management (MiM) degree is a popular option for prospective students and employers alike. Last year, Master in Management programs were among the programs reporting the highest application growth, according to the latest GMAC research.

As the birthplace of the Master in Management, it comes as no surprise that the recently released QS Master in Management Ranking appears to be Eurocentric, with European schools taking all but one of the spots in the top 10. 

However, the degree is growing in importance and recognition in the US as increasing numbers of schools launch their own MiM degrees. 

So, which school takes the title of the best Master in Management program in 2026? Here's a breakdown of the QS list. 

Top 10 best Master in Management programs

HEC Paris was crowned in first place by QS once again for 2026. The prestigious French business school came first out of a total 234 entries. London Business School jumped two places to take the second spot in 2026, as one of two UK business schools to rank in the top 10.

A total of five French business schools placed within the top 10, with ESSEC Business School retaining its third position, and the CEMS MiM—a program jointly offered by an alliance of global business schools—coming in fourth having placed 10th last year. INSEAD rose one position from 2025, into fifth place, while ESCP Business School—the last of the French business schools to rank in the top 10—came in sixth.

Elsewhere in Europe, IE Business School in Spain ranked joint seventh, Imperial Business School in the UK came ninth, and Bocconi University in Italy took the 10th spot.

While European business schools dominate the top 10 in 2026, one US school notably ranked highly. Northwestern University Kellogg School of Management came in joint seventh place, up from 11th last year. Unlike last year, where three US schools—Stanford Graduate School of Business, MIT Sloan, and Yale School of Management—placed within the top 10, Northwestern Kellogg is the only US school to do so in 2026.

10 Best Master In Management Programs (QS)

QS Master In Management ranking methodology: How it works

A total of 234 business schools are included in the QS Master in Management ranking 2026. As many as 62 of these schools saw their position rise, while 45 remained the same, and 94 dropped. A total of 34 new entries were included in the 2026 ranking—the best performing being Georgetown University (27th), King’s College London (29th), University of Amsterdam (55th), and North Carolina State University (56th).

The QS Business Master’s Rankings include programs that are mainly taught in-person and full-time. All schools must be accredited by AACSB, AMBA, or EFMD. The rankings are decided based on three surveys: the QS Global Employer Survey, the QS Global Academic Survey, and a survey completed by business schools themselves.

These surveys rank Master in Management programs based on a total of 13 criteria over five key indicators: employability, which accounts for 35% of the ranking, alumni outcomes (15%), value for money (20%), thought leadership (20%), and class and faculty diversity (10%). Return on investment, academic reputation, and payback lengths are also considered as part of the ranking.

Key takeaways

⇨ HEC Paris remains the top place to study a Master in Management program in 2026, according to the latest QS ranking.

⇨ European schools dominate the top 10 in the QS Master in Management ranking, including five French business schools.

⇨ A total of 234 business schools were included in the 2026 ranking, showing strong interest in MiM programs.