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As competition grows, especially from the international market, this year’s competition is neck and neck for the world’s most prestigious MBA schools. Which school is better in the HBS vs Wharton debate? Clearly, 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 student, 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 you are excited to join. 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 towards a B-school research, while Harvard focuses on practicality and professional practice.

Admission Requirements

Both business schools attract the most qualified students in the world. In 2014, students admitted to HBS had an average GMAT score of 730, while students admitted to Wharton had an average GMAT score of 727. Each school places a large emphasis on the personal statement for business school during the admissions process.

When looking at HBS vs Wharton's in terms of work experiene, both schools value professional maturity. Wharton MBA students had between 0 -16 years of experience before applying, while the average work experience for HBS students prior to entering was 50 months.

Among the more than 9,300 applicants to HBS, only about 11% were admitted. Of the more than 6,400 applicants who applied to Wharton, only about 18% got accepted. While HBS accepts more students from a liberal arts, math, and engineering background, Wharton accepts more students with a business and economics background. So when thinking about applying to HBS vs Wharton, you'll want to think about your background and field.

Comparing Programs

It is impossible it 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 – Entrepreneurship, Health Care Management, Finance, Information Systems, Non-profit/ Public Management, Administration, Real Estate, etc. – and more elective courses than any other business school. It has been highly regarded for the quality of its faculty members 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 130 electives, and state-of-the-art facilities devoted for each focus; for example, the Arthur Rock Center for Entrepreneurship.

Comparing Curriculum

The highlight of your educational experience in HBS is a case-based curriculum, which presents students as decision-makers on challenges they will possibly confront in the business world. The curriculum was structured to develop students’ capacity for analyzing, assessing, making sound judgments and acting upon decisions.

Harvard also has a new program, FIELD, that allows students to immerse themselves in businesses all over Boston and in different countries around the world. This puts leadership and teamwork into practice.

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 its students to self-improve and transform. Wharton offers a unique program - Executive Coaching and Feedback Program, that offers its students a chance for a one-on-one relationship with an experienced executive. This helps students build their leadership skills and behaviors. Wharton has also partnered with different institutions around the globe to provide in-depth, well-rounded international experience.

Post-MBA Opportunities

Before coming to a final decision on HBS vs Wharton or making the final decision on what school you will attend, you must think about the return on investment. You’ve spent hours studying and applying and will end up spending thousands and thousands of dollars to get your MBA. So, which school offers you a greater return on your investment?

Upon matriculation, both schools have an extremely high percentage of MBA grads getting hired right away. After graduation, 77% of HBS graduates immediately receive job offers while almost 80% of Wharton graduates immediately receive job offers. Additionally, Wharton graduates earn $141,243 on average while HBS graduates earn a slightly lower $138,346.

When deciding which program is the right fit for you, looking at the industries that the greatest percentages of graduates enter is helpful. For example, if 50% of a graduating class at School X enters consulting, and you do not want to be a consultant, then School X might not be the right fit for you.

When entering the work world, 38.5% of Wharton grads enter finance in comparison to HBS’s 27%. In 2013, 29.3% of Wharton graduates entered consulting, which represents a 7% lead over Harvard’s 22%. Additionally, HBS graduates are more likely to enter the technology industry, non-profit sector, government agencies, and manufacturing.

The Harvard Business School and Wharton School of UPenn have remarkable programs and opportunities to offer but so do many other schools. In conclusion, use rankings to find schools that rank high in areas most important to you, then do your legwork and 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 afford you the best educational experience and the greatest career opportunities.