Economist Intelligence Unit

Overview: The Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) ranks full-time MBA programs around the world and publishes the results in an annual volume called Which MBA? Executive programs also are profiled on the web site.

Web site: http://mba.eiu.com/index.asp

Summary of Methodology:

The EIU ranking of full-time MBA programs is based on surveys of students and recent graduates and data provided by the schools. Students and recent graduates are asked to rate the school in terms of culture and classmates, facilities and services in addition to program content and range of electives. To use these data, results from the most recent year is weighted 50 percent, data from the previous year is weighted 30 percent, and data from the previous two years are weighted 20 percent. Overall, student and recent graduate surveys comprise 20 percent of the ranking formula.

Data provided by schools (weighted 80 percent) such as attempts to measure the extent to which programs opened new career opportunities for graduates (e.g., diversity of recruiters, career services), personal development and educational experience (e.g., faculty student ratios, Ph.D. faculty, GMAT when applicable), salary increases for graduates, and potential to network (e.g., size and breadth of alumni network).