Harvard Business School vs Wharton School of Business
As competition grows, especially from the international market, today’s competition is neck and neck for the world’s most prestigious MBA schools. Which school is better in the HBS vs Wharton debate? Rankings provide valuable information, but how does one know which ones really matter?
Rankings are certainly important to a school’s success, and as such, they represent a valuable resource when researching programs in addition to the school’s own website, contact with alumni and students, information events, and forums like Poets & Quants. Simply going to the best school with the highest percentage of graduate recruitment, highest signing bonus, or most student-friendly may be appealing. However, your business school experience is going to be transformational. You want it to launch you into a future that excites you. If you only follow the rankings, which often contradict one another, you can be misled. As you start your search, dive into the facts. As an example, let’s take a look at HBS vs Wharton.
The Harvard Business School and Wharton are both pioneers and leaders in the field of business. When looking at HBS vs Wharton, it’s important to understand that both have different approaches to their programs. Wharton leans toward research intensity and quantitative strength, while Harvard focuses on practicality and professional practice.
Admission Requirements
Both business schools attract the most qualified students in the world. For the Class of 2026, students admitted to HBS had a median GMAT score of about 740, while students admitted to Wharton had a median GMAT score of about 732. Each school places a large emphasis on the personal statement for business school during the admissions process.
When looking at HBS vs Wharton in terms of work experience, both schools value professional maturity. Most admitted students bring an average of about five years of experience before applying. Among the more than 9,300 applicants to HBS, about 9% were admitted. Of the more than 6,000 applicants who applied to Wharton, about 11 to 12% were admitted. While HBS accepts more students from liberal arts, math, and engineering backgrounds, Wharton accepts more students with business and economics backgrounds. So when thinking about applying to HBS vs Wharton, you will want to think about your own academic history and professional field.
Comparing Programs
It is impossible to compare HBS vs Wharton without discussing their academic specialties. Wharton is known for its finance department and its exceptional faculty. Wharton boasts an array of MBA concentrations such as entrepreneurship, health care management, finance, information systems, nonprofit management, real estate, and more. It also offers one of the widest sets of elective courses among business schools. It has long been highly regarded for the quality of its faculty and its research capacity.
Meanwhile, HBS has a deep and broad curriculum grounded in general management, which breeds leaders of the corporate world. Harvard has more than 130 electives and state-of-the-art facilities devoted to each focus, such as the Arthur Rock Center for Entrepreneurship.
Comparing Curriculum
The highlight of the educational experience at HBS is the case-based curriculum, which presents students as decision-makers on challenges they will likely confront in the business world. The curriculum is designed to develop students’ capacity for analyzing, assessing, making sound judgments, and acting upon decisions.
Harvard also continues to invest in FIELD (Field Immersion Experiences for Leadership Development), which allows students to immerse themselves in businesses in Boston and around the world. This program places leadership and teamwork into practice in real-world settings.
On the other side of the HBS vs Wharton debate, The Wharton School prides itself on being fact-based and numbers-driven. Its primary vision is for students to self-improve and transform. Wharton offers a unique program, the Executive Coaching and Feedback Program, which gives students a chance to build a one-on-one relationship with an experienced executive. This helps students strengthen leadership skills and behaviors. Wharton has also built partnerships with institutions around the globe to provide in-depth international experiences that broaden perspective.
Post-MBA Opportunities
Before coming to a final decision on HBS vs Wharton, you must think about the return on investment. You will spend years of preparation and significant resources to earn your MBA. Which school offers you the best return?
At both schools, post-graduation employment is strong. In recent years, over 90% of graduates from each program secured job offers within three months of graduation. Harvard graduates report median compensation packages in the range of $220,000 to $225,000, while Wharton graduates are seeing compensation packages averaging closer to $240,000 depending on industry and location.
When deciding which program is the right fit, it helps to look at the industries that the greatest percentages of graduates enter. At Wharton, more than one third of graduates enter finance compared to just over one quarter at HBS. Consulting is another top destination, with both schools placing around 25% to 30% of their graduates into consulting firms. Additionally, HBS graduates are somewhat more likely to enter technology, nonprofit organizations, government, and manufacturing than their Wharton peers.
The Harvard Business School and Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania both have remarkable programs and opportunities to offer, but so do many other schools. In conclusion, use rankings to find schools that are strong in the areas most important to you, then dig deeper to validate what you read.
You are at an exciting and critical junction of your professional life. When deciding which school is the best fit, you need to choose wisely. Find the school that will provide you the best educational experience and the greatest career opportunities.
Find Your Best Fit in the Wharton vs Harvard Decision
If you are weighing Wharton vs Harvard, or any other top MBA programs, our team at InGenius can help you evaluate your strengths and goals and guide you toward the school that fits you best. Reach out today for a free consultation so you can approach your application with confidence and clarity.