When choosing an MBA college, you may want to consider rankings and accreditation

Rankings and Accreditation: Accredited institutions meet rigorous standards and are committed to maintaining the quality of their programs. The federal government requires colleges and universities to be accredited in order to receive federal aid and grants. Some employers also offer tuition reimbursement for employees who study at accredited college.

Main accreditation agencies

1. AACBS

2. AMBA

3. EQIS 

1. Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB)

Most of the world's top-ranked schools such as INSEAD (France), Harvard Business School (US), and Yale School of Management (US) are accredited by AACSB, the world's largest accreditor for business education. A total of 820 business schools in 53 countries and territories have been granted AACSB accreditation.

Similarly, 187 institutions have an additional, specialized AACSB accreditation for their accounting programs.

2. Association of MBAs (AMBA)

AMBA focuses primarily on MBA programs. It differs from AACSB and EQUIS in that it does not accredit graduate programs. It maintains an international network consisting of MBA students and alumni, recognized business institutions, and employers of MBA graduates. AMBA accredits more than 240 business schools in more than 70 different countries.

3. EFMD Quality Improvement System (EQIS)

EQIS is run by the European Management Development Foundation and is known for its focus on internationalization, international diversity, and close interaction with the corporate world. EQIS is not primarily focused on MBA or any other specific program. The organization has now accredited 176 schools in 42 countries.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: Do employers care about accreditation?

Answer: Yes! Accreditation increases a business school's reputation among employers, meaning that attending an accredited school will make employers view your MBA degree as more prestigious.

As mentioned, Triple Crown accreditation can also increase a business school's international visibility, which can be beneficial if your long-term career plans involve working in a country different from the one where you studied.

Q: Does it matter if your MBA is accredited?

Answer: Being accredited means that the teaching at a business school has been certified by a third party as reaching a certain standard. While this doesn't necessarily mean that an MBA experience at an unaccredited school is bad, you'll probably have to rely on other sources of information (talking to alumni, meeting the school at an event) to figure out if their MBA program was right for you.

Q: Is an unaccredited MBA worth it?

Answer: The process of becoming accredited is not straightforward, so there may be legitimate reasons why a school has not made the effort to become accredited and this is a question you should ask when applying to an unaccredited school. While an MBA will almost always provide a clear ROI and help you progress in your career, the quality of the education and the reputation of the institution are two important factors that ensure you get the results you want and an unaccredited MBA offers fewer guarantees.

Q: What impact does accreditation have on a business school?

Answer: By achieving accreditation, a business school reaches a higher level of standard which must then be continuously maintained, a process which can help ensure a consistent level of quality teaching for many years.