MBA accreditation: List of 100 triple crown business schools

Professionals seeking to equip themselves with the right knowledge and skills to take on higher management positions often find it helpful to enrol into a master’s in business administration (MBA) programme that comes with the right accreditation.

An accredited MBA can add specific business skills to your toolkit that can all work in your favour and support your career goals. MBA programmes with solid accreditation have been helpful in opening new and bigger career opportunities and promotions that lead to improved remuneration and compensation.

MBA programmes come with a financial and time cost factor – an MBA programme from a reputable higher learning institution can set you back by about US$100, 000. Given the hefty cost, prospective MBAs need to find the right business school and the right MBA programme that can guarantee a good return of investment.

MBA graduates who complete accredited programmes are found to enjoy good prospects for employment in any industry. In fact, 84% of those who graduated from the 131 MBA programmes ranked by U.S. News found employment within three months, according to a survey of recent graduates.

Types of accreditation for MBA programmes

Accreditation from a reputable organisation is one good way to check the quality of a business school that can help you decide if the programme you are evaluating is worth pursuing.

The three highly coveted international accreditations for business schools offering MBA programmes are awarded by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB), The Association of MBAs (AMBA), and the European Quality Improvement System (EQUIS).

There are other institutes that award accreditations for business schools and MBA programmes around the world however, business schools that are accredited by AACSB, AMBA, and EQUIS are referred to as the “triple crown” business schools.

In 2019, there were at least 90 business schools located around the world that were accredited by all three of the main international organisations: AACSB, AMBA, and EQUIS.

As of April, this year there are 100 triple crown accredited business schools with operations in 37 countries around the globe.

AMBA MBA accreditation

Up until last year, about 50% of all AMBA-accredited business schools offering MBA programmes and other business programmes were located in Europe or the United Kingdom.

AMBA has committed to limiting the number of business schools it accredits to 300, and currently accredits 275 Business Schools in 75 countries.

AMBA’s rigorous accreditation is international in scope and reach, and AMBA works under the belief that accredited programmes should be of the highest standard and reflect changing trends and innovation in postgraduate management education.

Its accreditation process reflects this commitment to fostering innovation, and demanding business schools to perform at the highest level.

The AMBA accreditation is awarded by evaluating the quality of a business school’s strategy, mission, faculty, students, curriculum, and assessment.

AACSB MBA accreditation

AACSB accreditation awarded to business schools represents a positive evaluation of the school’s mission, operations, faculty qualifications and contributions, and business programmes.

In 2019, over 800 institutions held an AACSB accreditation for their undergraduate and postgraduate business programmes. 75% of accredited institutions were based in the United States while the remaining 25% were business schools were in Britain, France, and Canada.

EQUIS MBA accreditation

EQUIS focuses on awarding accreditations to institutions that offer undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral business programs, including MBA programmes.

EQUIS evaluates the governance, strategy, programmes, students, faculty, research and development, executive education, contribution to the community, resources and administration, internationalisation, and corporate connections of a business school.

There are about 180 EQUIS-accredited schools around the world and over 50% of these schools are in Europe or the UK.

100 triple crown business schools around the globe, listed by country below:

Argentina

IAE Universidad Austral, Buenos Aires

Australia

QUT Business School, Queensland University of Technology

Monash University

The University of Sydney Business School

Austria

Vienna University of Economics and Business, Vienna

Belgium

Vlerick Business School, Ghent

Brazil

EAESP – Fundação Getúlio Vargas, São Paulo

Insper, São Paulo

Canada

HEC Montreal, Montreal

Telfer School of Management, University of Ottawa, Ottawa

Chile

Adolfo Ibáñez University, Santiago

China

Antai College of Economics and Management, Shanghai Jiao Tong University

Beijing Institute of Technology

Lingnan College, Sun Yat-sen University

Sun Yat-sen Business School, Sun Yat-sen University

School of Economics and Management, Tongji University

University of International Business and Economics

Zhejiang University

Xiamen University

Hong Kong (China)

School of Business, Hong Kong Baptist University

Costa Rica

INCAE Business School, Alajuela

Colombia

Universidad de los Andes, Facultad de Administración, Bogota

Denmark

Copenhagen Business School, Copenhagen

Aarhus University BSS, Aarhus

Egypt

American University in Cairo, Cairo.

Finland

Aalto University School of Business, Helsinki

Hanken School of Economics, Helsinki and Vaasa

France

Audencia Nantes

EDHEC (École des hautes études commerciales du nord)

EMLYON Business School

ESSCA School of Management

ESSEC Business School

ESC Rennes School of Business

Grenoble School of Management

HEC Paris (Ecole des Hautes Etudes Commerciales)

ICN Graduate Business School

IÉSEG School of Management

INSEAD (Institut Européen d’Administration des Affaires)

KEDGE Business School

Montpellier Business School

NEOMA Business School

Toulouse Business School

Germany

European School of Management and Technology

Frankfurt School of Finance & Management

Mannheim Business School

TUM School of Management

India

Indian Institute of Management Calcutta

Indian Institute of Management Indore

Indian School of Business, Hyderabad

Ireland

University College Dublin, Michael Smurfit Graduate School of Business/UCD Quinn School of Business

Italy

SDA Bocconi School of Management, Milan

Mexico

EGADE Business School, Tecnológico de Monterrey, Monterrey, Guadalajara and Mexico City.

Instituto Tecnológico Autónomo de México, Mexico City.

The Netherlands

Maastricht University, School of Business and Economics, Maastricht

Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University Rotterdam, Rotterdam

University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam Business School, Amsterdam

New Zealand

University of Auckland Business School, Auckland

University of Waikato Faculty of Management, Hamilton

Victoria University of Wellington, Victoria Business School, Wellington

University of Canterbury Business School, Christchurch

Nicaragua

INCAE Business School

Norway

BI Norwegian Business School

Peru

Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú – CENTRUM

Poland

Kozminski University, Warsaw

Portugal

Católica Lisbon School of Business & Economics

Nova School of Business and Economics

Singapore

Lee Kong Chian School of Business

Slovenia

SEB LU – School of Economics and Business

South Africa

University of Cape Town Graduate School of Business, Cape Town

University of Stellenbosch Business School, Cape Town

Henley Business School, Johannesburg

Spain

ESADE Business School and ESADE University Faculties, Barcelona

IE Business School, Madrid

IESE Barcelona

Sweden

School of Business, Economics, and Law, Gothenburg

Switzerland

IMD Lausanne

The University of St. Gallen

Thailand

Thammasat Business School, Thammasat University, Bangkok

USA

Hult International Business School, Campuses in Boston, San Francisco, London, Shanghai, and Dubai

UK

Adam Smith Business School, University of Glasgow

Alliance Manchester Business School, University of Manchester

Aston Business School, Aston University

Birmingham Business School, University of Birmingham

Bradford University School of Management, University of Bradford

Cass Business School, City University London

Cranfield School of Management, Cranfield University

Durham University Business School, Durham University

University of Edinburgh Business School, Edinburgh University

University of Exeter Business School, University of Exeter

Henley Business School, University of Reading

Imperial College Business School

Lancaster University Management School, Lancaster University

Leeds University Business School, University of Leeds

London Business School

Loughborough University School of Business and Economics, Loughborough University

Manchester Metropolitan University Business School

Newcastle University Business School, Newcastle University

Open University Business School

University of Sheffield Management School, University of Sheffield

Strathclyde Business School, University of Strathclyde

Warwick Business School, University of Warwick

Venezuela

Instituto de Estudios Superiores de Administración