Start with your goal
Write down what you want the degree to do for you. Changing industry, moving into management, starting a business and building skills for your current role all point to different programs and formats. A clear goal makes it easier to tell which features matter and which ones are nice to have. The before you apply guide has questions that help.
Check accreditation
In the United States, check that the school is accredited by an accrediting agency that is recognized by the US Department of Education or by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation. You can search the Department of Education's database of accredited schools or the CHEA site. Many business schools also hold separate business-school accreditation, which they list on their own websites. Accreditation can affect federal aid eligibility, how employers see the degree and whether credits transfer.
Match the format to your life
Pick the format before you compare individual schools. The full-time, part-time, executive and online guides explain each one. Ask yourself whether you can stop working, whether you can get to a campus each week, and how much experience you have.
Points to compare
| Point | What to ask |
|---|---|
| Curriculum | What does the core cover? Which electives and concentrations match your goal? Are there hands-on projects with real organizations? |
| Teaching style | How much is case discussion, lecture, team projects or simulations? |
| Career support | What coaching and recruiting events can students in your format use? Which employers recruit there in your field? |
| Classmates | What industries and experience levels do students come from? How large are classes and sections? |
| Location | Is the school near the city or industry where you want to work? Will you have to move? |
| Alumni | Are graduates active in your field and region? How do students reach them? |
| Total cost | What is the full cost of attendance, and what financial aid does the school offer? |
A word on rankings
Published rankings use their own formulas, and those formulas may weigh things you don't care about. A program that ranks well overall may be a poor fit for your goal, schedule or budget. We don't rank programs on this site. Use the questions above to build your own short list, and treat any outside list as one input at most.
Reading employment reports
Many schools publish reports on where graduates went to work. When you read one, check which graduates it covers, how many answered, and whether it includes students who were sponsored by employers. Compare reports from the same year and for the same format, since full-time results tell you little about a part-time program.
Visit and talk to people
- Attend an information session, in person or online.
- Sit in on a class if the school allows it.
- Talk to current students and recent graduates in your format.
- Ask the admissions office the questions on this page and note the answers.
Once you have a short list, read the admissions guide and the financing guide before you start applications.