# Best Private University MBA Programs

> CollegeRanker Agent Insights — structured data for AI systems
> Updated: 2026-08-03 | Schools: 50 | Category: MBA
> Source: https://www.collegeranker.com/rankings/best-private-mba

## Methodology

Private university MBA programs ranked by graduate outcomes

CollegeRanker uses a 4-pillar algorithm: Academic Quality (15-20%), Economic Outcomes (30%), Social Mobility (25-35%), Value & Affordability (20-25%). Social mobility data from Raj Chetty's Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Card (30M+ anonymized tax records). No subjective surveys.

## Summary

When considering an MBA, prospective students often seek programs that not only provide a solid education but also lead to strong career outcomes. These private university MBA programs are notable for their high graduation rates and impressive post-graduate earnings, which can make a significant difference in a graduate's financial future. For instance, graduates from the University of Pennsylvania enjoy an average earning of $111,371 after completing their degree.

What sets these top programs apart is their focus on graduate outcomes, including earnings, completion rates, and manageable debt. The schools listed below have demonstrated a commitment to preparing students for success in the workforce, as evidenced by their strong graduation rates and average earnings. For example, Cornell University boasts a graduation rate of 95% and average earnings of $104,043, highlighting its effectiveness in fostering successful careers.

Take Washington and Lee University and Washington University in St. Louis as examples. While both schools provide solid education, Washington and Lee has higher average earnings at $94,810 compared to Washington University’s $86,182. However, the tradeoff is notable: Washington and Lee also has a higher average debt of $19,500 versus $17,500 at Washington University. These details can help students narrow their choices based on personal priorities and outcomes that matter most to them.

## Key Findings

- Cornell University graduates earn an average of $104,043, with a graduation rate of 95%.
- The University of Pennsylvania has the highest earnings on the list at $111,371 and a 97% graduation rate.
- Washington and Lee University graduates face an average debt of $19,500, which is higher than many peers.
- Average earnings across these top programs stand at $82,724, reflecting strong return on investment.

## Rankings

| Rank | School | Location | Graduation | Earnings (10yr) | Net Price | Median Debt | Debt/Earnings |
|------|--------|----------|------------|-----------------|-----------|-------------|---------------|
| 1 | [Cornell University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/cornell-university) | Ithaca, NY | 95% | $104,043 | $28,690 | $14,000 | 0.13x |
| 2 | [Washington and Lee University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/washington-and-lee-university) | Lexington, VA | 94% | $94,810 | $23,781 | $19,500 | 0.21x |
| 3 | [Rice University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/rice-university) | Houston, TX | 95% | $89,718 | $13,370 | $11,000 | 0.12x |
| 4 | [University of Pennsylvania](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/university-of-pennsylvania) | Philadelphia, PA | 97% | $111,371 | $28,699 | $15,715 | 0.14x |
| 5 | [Babson College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/babson-college) | Wellesley, MA | 93% | $123,938 | $40,514 | $20,000 | 0.16x |
| 6 | [University of Notre Dame](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/university-of-notre-dame) | Notre Dame, IN | 96% | $99,980 | $26,780 | $19,000 | 0.19x |
| 7 | [Emory University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/emory-university) | Atlanta, GA | 91% | $80,137 | $22,585 | $18,250 | 0.23x |
| 8 | [Washington University in St Louis](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/washington-university-in-st-louis) | St. Louis, MO | 94% | $86,182 | $21,786 | $17,500 | 0.2x |
| 9 | [Carnegie Mellon University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/carnegie-mellon-university) | Pittsburgh, PA | 93% | $114,862 | $31,944 | $21,750 | 0.19x |
| 10 | [Brigham Young University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/brigham-young-university) | Provo, UT | 82% | $75,790 | $15,564 | $11,069 | 0.15x |
| 11 | [Claremont McKenna College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/claremont-mckenna-college) | Claremont, CA | 93% | $104,736 | $28,849 | $13,500 | 0.13x |
| 12 | [Georgetown University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/georgetown-university) | Washington, DC | 95% | $103,494 | $40,815 | $15,500 | 0.15x |
| 13 | [Bentley University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/bentley-university) | Waltham, MA | 88% | $120,959 | $37,930 | $25,023 | 0.21x |
| 14 | [Boston College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/boston-college) | Chestnut Hill, MA | 91% | $103,937 | $41,704 | $19,000 | 0.18x |
| 15 | [University of Southern California](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/university-of-southern-california) | Los Angeles, CA | 92% | $92,498 | $32,740 | $18,000 | 0.19x |
| 16 | [Boston University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/boston-university) | Boston, MA | 89% | $83,238 | $24,402 | $23,250 | 0.28x |
| 17 | [Wake Forest University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/wake-forest-university) | Winston-Salem, NC | 90% | $78,158 | $28,719 | $21,500 | 0.28x |
| 18 | [University of Richmond](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/university-of-richmond) | University of Richmond, VA | 86% | $76,178 | $31,309 | $21,000 | 0.28x |
| 19 | [Brigham Young University-Idaho](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/brigham-young-university-idaho) | Rexburg, ID | 55% | $53,406 | $8,221 | $13,969 | 0.26x |
| 20 | [Trinity University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/trinity-university) | San Antonio, TX | 83% | $71,668 | $23,464 | $22,954 | 0.32x |
| 21 | [Northeastern University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/northeastern-university) | Boston, MA | 90% | $92,538 | $30,915 | $24,250 | 0.26x |
| 22 | [Santa Clara University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/santa-clara-university) | Santa Clara, CA | 88% | $109,183 | $50,062 | $19,162 | 0.18x |
| 23 | [Saint Johns University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/saint-johns-university) | Collegeville, MN | 76% | $76,786 | $25,672 | $27,000 | 0.35x |
| 24 | [Texas Christian University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/texas-christian-university) | Fort Worth, TX | 86% | $68,424 | $36,660 | $21,500 | 0.31x |
| 25 | [Lehigh University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/lehigh-university) | Bethlehem, PA | 89% | $105,584 | $36,931 | $21,960 | 0.21x |
| 26 | [Christian Brothers University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/christian-brothers-university) | Memphis, TN | 55% | $57,478 | $9,854 | $27,000 | 0.47x |
| 27 | [University of San Diego](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/university-of-san-diego) | San Diego, CA | 83% | $86,522 | $30,365 | $22,940 | 0.27x |
| 28 | [Loyola University Maryland](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/loyola-university-maryland) | Baltimore, MD | 80% | $82,652 | $30,574 | $27,000 | 0.33x |
| 29 | [William Jewell College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/william-jewell-college) | Liberty, MO | 64% | $59,268 | $17,562 | $24,498 | 0.41x |
| 30 | [Wofford College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/wofford-college) | Spartanburg, SC | 82% | $68,964 | $18,732 | $25,732 | 0.37x |
| 31 | [Villanova University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/villanova-university) | Villanova, PA | 92% | $100,423 | $43,756 | $25,874 | 0.26x |
| 32 | [New York University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/new-york-university) | New York, NY | 88% | $82,509 | $37,050 | $20,500 | 0.25x |
| 33 | [University of Tulsa](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/university-of-tulsa) | Tulsa, OK | 73% | $61,408 | $15,000 | $21,500 | 0.35x |
| 34 | [Trevecca Nazarene University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/trevecca-nazarene-university) | Nashville, TN | 54% | $49,378 | $16,813 | $18,744 | 0.38x |
| 35 | [Gonzaga University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/gonzaga-university) | Spokane, WA | 87% | $78,892 | $35,119 | $24,454 | 0.31x |
| 36 | [Berea College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/berea-college) | Berea, KY | 60% | $43,150 | $6,106 | $3,591 | 0.08x |
| 37 | [University of Rochester](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/university-of-rochester) | Rochester, NY | 85% | $79,042 | $29,278 | $21,000 | 0.27x |
| 38 | [Saint Peter's University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/saint-peters-university) | Jersey City, NJ | 61% | $57,815 | $12,199 | $20,500 | 0.35x |
| 39 | [University of Portland](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/university-of-portland) | Portland, OR | 80% | $82,804 | $28,210 | $21,370 | 0.26x |
| 40 | [North Park University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/north-park-university) | Chicago, IL | 57% | $59,572 | $16,948 | $25,500 | 0.43x |
| 41 | [Mount St. Mary's University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/mount-st-marys-university) | Emmitsburg, MD | 62% | $64,072 | $22,655 | $25,391 | 0.4x |
| 42 | [Stevens Institute of Technology](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/stevens-institute-of-technology) | Hoboken, NJ | 88% | $108,772 | $41,346 | $27,000 | 0.25x |
| 43 | [University of Denver](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/university-of-denver) | Denver, CO | 77% | $71,155 | $36,131 | $21,844 | 0.31x |
| 44 | [George Washington University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/george-washington-university) | Washington, DC | 85% | $90,873 | $36,586 | $20,449 | 0.23x |
| 45 | [Skidmore College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/skidmore-college) | Saratoga Springs, NY | 82% | $69,363 | $32,297 | $19,500 | 0.28x |
| 46 | [University of the Pacific](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/university-of-the-pacific) | Stockton, CA | 68% | $78,445 | $25,447 | $19,500 | 0.25x |
| 47 | [University of Dayton](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/university-of-dayton) | Dayton, OH | 81% | $75,537 | $29,533 | $23,250 | 0.31x |
| 48 | [Franklin and Marshall College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/franklin-and-marshall-college) | Lancaster, PA | 85% | $76,124 | $36,425 | $19,000 | 0.25x |
| 49 | [Kalamazoo College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/kalamazoo-college) | Kalamazoo, MI | 79% | $65,590 | $19,072 | $26,077 | 0.4x |
| 50 | [Seton Hall University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/seton-hall-university) | South Orange, NJ | 70% | $70,196 | $31,446 | $22,750 | 0.32x |

## Data Sources

- U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (https://collegescorecard.ed.gov)
- Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Card (https://opportunityinsights.org/data)
- Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
- Times Higher Education World University Rankings
- NCES IPEDS

## Citation

CollegeRanker. "Best Private University MBA Programs." CollegeRanker.com, 2026-08-03. https://www.collegeranker.com/rankings/best-private-mba

## License

This data summary is provided for informational purposes. Underlying data from federal sources (College Scorecard, IPEDS) is public domain. Opportunity Insights data is available under their data use agreement at https://opportunityinsights.org/data/.