Who are the M7 business schools?

TL;DR

• M7 stands for 'magic' or 'magnificent' seven 
• The M7 business schools are considered by many to be the best in the world
• Members of this elite group include Harvard Business School, Stanford Graduate School of Business, the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, Columbia Business School, Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management, the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, and MIT Sloan School of Management
• Entry into MBA programs at these business schools is highly competitive
• Alumni include leaders or founders of some of the most famous companies

The 'magic' or 'magnificent' seven, known as the M7 business schools, are a group of elite US institutions widely regarded as among the best in the world.

At these prestigious business schools, students have the opportunity to pursue top-ranked MBA and masters programs, learn from world-renowned faculty, and gain the skills to accelerate their career trajectory. Outside the classroom, M7 students join a global network of influential alumni, including CEOs and industry leaders.

In 2025, the Wharton School maintained its number one position in the Financial Times Global MBA ranking for the second consecutive year. Although European schools dominated this year’s list, four US business schools remained in the top ten.

The M7 business schools are highly competitive and require top GMAT scores. MBA graduates from these schools also tend to see their salaries spike significantly and can expect to be sitting on an easy six figures come graduation.

The M7 business schools are: Harvard Business School, Stanford Graduate School of Business, the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, Columbia Business School, Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management, the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, and MIT Sloan School of Management.

If you’re considering an M7 MBA, find out more about the M7 business schools and how their full-time MBA programs compare below.

The M7 business schools

Harvard Business School

©HarvardBusinessSchool / via Facebook

Class size:943
% international:37
% women: 44
Average MBA salary three years after graduation*: $256,731

Harvard Business School was founded in 1908 in Boston, Massachusetts and is the birthplace of the first MBA program. It has produced many notable alumni, including former Facebook COO, Sheryl Sandberg, and founder and former CEO of Bloomberg, Michael Bloomberg.

This year, Harvard Business School ranked 13th in the Financial Times MBA ranking, a record low. The school also revamped its MBA application, replacing one open-ended essay with three structured prompts focused on business, leadership, and growth.

Harvard MBA graduates can expect to earn a substantial total compensation of $256,731 within three years of graduation, the highest among the M7 business schools, including a median signing bonus of $30,000.

Check out our Harvard MBA Jobs And Salary Review

Stanford Graduate School of Business

©StanfordGSB / via Facebook

Class size: 424
% international: 39
% women: 44
Average MBA salary three years after graduation: $250,650**

Stanford Graduate School of Business, founded in California in 1925, has built a reputation for attracting an exceptional MBA class. Although the school was not featured in the 2025 ranking, its prestige remains undisputed, as you can see from the salary data above which reflects the previous year’s figures.

The school has produced an impressive roster of alumni, including Mary Barra, CEO of General Motors; Jeffrey Skoll, the first president of eBay; and former UK Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak. Located just a stone’s throw from Silicon Valley, Stanford is a thriving hub for entrepreneurs and start-ups. 

Check out our Stanford MBA Jobs And Salary Review

The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania

©WhartonSchool / via Facebook

Class size: 866
% international: 31
% women: 47
Average MBA salary three years after graduation: $241,522

Founded in 1881—making it the oldest business school in the US—and based in Pennsylvania, the Wharton School has produced a host of noteworthy alumni, including Tesla CEO, Elon Musk, and Sundar Pichai, CEO of Google’s parent company, Alphabet Inc. Business tycoon Warren Buffett is also among the school’s esteemed graduates.

In 2025, Wharton maintained its hold on the top spot of the Financial Times ranking for the second consecutive year, following a temporary absence in 2023 due to insufficient numbers of alumni survey responses.  

Finance remains a dominant career path for Wharton MBAs, with 37% of the class of 2024 entering the sector, particularly in high-paying fields such as investment banking and private equity. 

A Wharton MBA offers a strong return on investment. Three years after graduation, alumni have the potential to earn upwards of $241,522.

Check out our Wharton MBA Jobs And Salary Review 

Columbia Business School

©columbiabusiness / via Facebook

Class size: 972
% international: 46
% women: 44
Average MBA salary three years after graduation: $242,747

Columbia Business School, an Ivy League institution, is located in the heart of New York City. Founded in 1916, Columbia is one of the oldest and most renowned business schools globally.

The school’s Manhattan location provides MBA students with direct exposure to top firms across finance, consulting, and technology. Columbia’s proximity to Wall Street makes it a particularly attractive choice for those pursuing careers in investment banking, asset management, and private equity.

Some of Columbia Business School’s notable MBA alumni include Sallie Krawcheck, CEO and co-founder of Ellevest, and James P Gorman, executive chairman of Morgan Stanley.

Check out our Columbia MBA Jobs And Salary Review

Northwestern University, Kellogg School of Management

©KelloggSchool / via Facebook

Class size: 524
% international: 40
% women: 50
Average MBA salary three years after graduation: $219,487

Located in Evanston, Illinois, just north of Chicago, the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University was founded in 1908 and has since become one of the world’s leading business schools.

Once known as Northwestern University’s School of Commerce, the school was renamed in 1979 after a generous donation from John L. Kellogg, the son of the founder of the Kellogg Company.

Notable graduates include John Hoeven, US senator from North Dakota; Charlie Baker, former governor of Massachusetts and president of the NCAA; and Doug Conant, former CEO of Campbell Soup Company.

Check out our Kellogg MBA Jobs And Salary Review

University of Chicago, Booth School of Business

©chicagoboothbusiness / via Facebook

Class size: 632
% international: 35
% women: 42
Average MBA salary three years after graduation: $236,474

The University of Chicago Booth School of Business is the second-oldest business school in the US, founded in 1898. With campuses in Chicago, London, and Hong Kong, studying at Chicago Booth can open doors to a global network.

The school has produced a long list of renowned alumni, including Susan Wagner, co-founder of BlackRock; James M. Kilts, former CEO of The Gillette Company; and Satya Nadella, CEO of Microsoft.

The school has also been associated with ten Nobel Laureates in Economic Sciences, including its most recent recipient, Douglas W. Diamond, in 2022.

Check out our Chicago Booth MBA Jobs And Salary Review

MIT Sloan School of Management

©MITSloan / via Facebook

Class size: 433
% international: 40
% women: 49
Average MBA salary three years after graduation: $232,565

Based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, MIT Sloan was founded in 1914. An integral part of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), one of the world's leading technology institutions, MIT Sloan provides MBA students with plenty of opportunities to explore the intersection of business, technology, and innovation.

The school has produced a selection of well-known alumni who have made an impact across business, technology, and government. Notable graduates include Kofi Annan, former Ghanaian diplomat and secretary general of the United Nations; Carly Fiorina, former CEO of Hewlett Packard; and John S. Reed, former chairman of the New York Stock Exchange.

Check out our MIT Sloan MBA Jobs And Salary Review

Compare the M7 business schools

*Salary data for this article was taken from the Financial Times Global MBA Ranking 2025, which shows average alumni salary three years after graduation.
**Salary data for Stanford was taken from the Financial Times Global MBA Ranking 2024, due to its absence in the 2025 ranking.