Understanding Rankings
Many media organizations publish some sort of package which ranks business schools against each other. Most rankings measure schools on multiple dimensions with different weightings assigned to different elements.
There are some rankings dimensions that align with Ivey’s program strategies, which centre on student and recruiter satisfaction, and others that do not. On the measures that align with our strategy, we perform well and where we do not, we pay close attention and review the data to determine if there is an opportunity to improve. However, we do not formulate strategy based on their results.
Choosing the right business school for you is not an easy decision and rankings don’t always make the decision easier. As a consumer, you should become familiar with ranking methodology and the dimensions each one focuses on. Beyond rankings, it's important to consider whether a business school is a good fit for you. Prospective students should take into account everything from classroom experience, to meeting career goals and strength of alumni networks when going through the selection process.
Rankings and Accolades
*Ranking canceled in 2020 due to COVID. As a result, Ivey chose not to participate in 2021.
In 2021, The Economist (Full-time MBA ranking) ranked our MBA Program No. 1 in Canada for:
- Education Experience (9th globally)
- Alumnus/Student Assessment of Career Services (11th globally)
- Student Quality (43rd globally).
Bloomberg Businessweek 2022 International MBA ranking*
| School | Overall Score |
|---|---|
| Western (Ivey) | 75.1 |
| HEC Montreal | 72.8 |
| Toronto Metropolitan University (Rogers) | 71.6 |
| Queen's (Smith) | 71.0 |
| McGill (Desautels) | 70.7 |
| Concordia (Molson) | 68.7 |
*This ranking favours schools with satisfied students, alumni and recruiters.
The Economist 2021 Full-time MBA ranking*
| School | Rank |
|---|---|
| Schulich | 21 |
| Ivey | 56 |
| Queen's | 57 |
| Concordia | 68 |
| Ryerson | 83 |
| HEC Montréal | 84 |
| Rotman | N/A |
*This ranking favours schools with satisfied students and many international students who find placement in countries with high PPP.
Financial Times Global MBA Ranking 2023*
| School | Rank |
|---|---|
| Rotman | 67 |
| Queen's | 71= |
| McGill | 83 |
| Ivey | 84 |
*This ranking favours schools with strong research programs and many international students who find placement in countries with high PPP. View the methodology.
Frequently Asked Questions
Ivey participates in and provides data for the Financial Times, The Economist and Bloomberg Businessweek.
Take a close look at the ranking methodology and the dimensions they consider and measure. For example, the Financial Times places a greater emphasis on faculty research than other rankings, whereas Bloomberg Businessweek focuses more on student experience and recruiter satisfaction.
Ivey participates in rankings that are globally recognized and are relatively sound methodologically.
We focus our MBA program around the student experience and recruiter satisfaction. Ivey’s program is an action oriented learning experience designed to accelerate your success in the real world. This emphasis on real-world decision-making is especially noticed by recruiters which often value action over theory. Ivey does particularly well in rankings which emphasize student experience and recruiter satisfaction.
