When INSEAD introduced its Master in Management (MiM) program in 2019, the Fontainebleau-based business school set itself on a path toward ranking success.
That journey reached a major milestone today (December 1) as INSEAD claimed the No. 1 spot for the first time in The Financial Times’ annual ranking of European business schools. The school made an impressive leap, climbing 17 places from last year—thanks in large part to its MiM program, which was included in its overall score for the first time. This gave INSEAD a presence across all categories in the ranking.
Meanwhile, HEC Paris lost its six-year hold on the top spot, slipping to second place. London Business School fell to third from second, Spain’s IESE dropped to fourth from third, and ESCP—which has campuses across Europe—moved down to fifth from fourth.
MARC ETHIER
Back in 2019, when INSEAD launched its Master in Management program, it marked the beginning of its rise in the rankings.
Today (December 1), that climb reached its peak as INSEAD secured the top spot in The Financial Times’ annual ranking of European business schools. The school’s 17-place surge was fueled by its MiM program, which was factored into its overall score for the first time, ensuring INSEAD now has ranked programs in every category.
HEC Paris, after six years at No. 1, dropped to second. London Business School slid to third from second, Spain’s IESE fell to fourth from third, and ESCP—with its multiple European campuses—dropped to fifth from fourth.
2024 FINANCIAL TIMES EUROPEAN BUSINESS SCHOOL TOP 10
| Rank in 2024 | Rank in 2023 | Rank in 2022 | Three-year average rank | School Name | Location (main campus) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 18 | 15 | 11 | INSEAD | France/Singapore/UAE |
| 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | HEC Paris | France |
| 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | London Business School | UK/UAE |
| 4 | 3 | 6 | 4 | IESE Business School | Spain/US/Germany |
| 5 | 4 | 3 | 4 | ESCP Business School | France/Germany/Italy/Poland/Spain/UK |
| 6 | 5 | 4 | 5 | SDA Bocconi School of Management | Italy |
| 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | EDHEC Business School | France |
| 8 | 9 | 9 | 9 | ESSEC Business School | France/Singapore/Morocco |
| 9 | 6 | 5 | 7 | University of St. Gallen | Switzerland |
| 10 | 8 | 10 | 9 | IE Business School | Spain |
INSEAD’S COMEBACK AFTER A 15-PLACE DROP (2021-2023)
Further down the rankings, some schools made impressive jumps. Two broke into the top 25: Ireland’s Trinity Business School (rising from 32nd to 24th) and the UK’s Cranfield School of Management (climbing from 37th to 25th). Even more dramatically, France’s Skema Business School soared from 71st to 26th—a 45-place leap, the biggest in the ranking—while Germany’s EBS Business School moved up to 50th from 81st.
Portugal’s Porto Business School climbed 14 spots to 39th, thanks to strong improvements across most categories, particularly in Executive Education—ranking 33rd in Custom programs and 28th in Open programs. Its Executive MBA program sits at 56th, making it the second-best in its country.
“We’re thrilled with these results, placing us among the four schools with the biggest rises in this year’s FT ranking, which evaluates 100 institutions,” said José Esteves, Dean of Porto Business School, in a statement. “This recognition fuels our drive to keep delivering innovative education that meets global market needs.”
But the real spotlight was on INSEAD, which had fallen 15 places over two years before this year’s rebound. While it had previously ranked as high as second (2011) and third (2021), it had never taken the top spot until now. This caps off a strong year for INSEAD, including:
- No. 3 in FT’s MiM ranking
- No. 2 globally for its 10-month MBA
- No. 1 in FT’s custom executive education ranking
- No. 1 in Poets&Quants’ international MBA ranking
INSEAD Dean Francisco Veloso told Poets&Quants that this achievement “reflects our consistent excellence—from our world-class faculty delivering impactful programs and research to our ability to drive innovation at every level of business education.”
The Financial Times ranks schools based on their MBA (25%), EMBA (25%), MiM (25%), and executive education programs (Custom 12.5%, Open 12.5%). For MBA, EMBA, and MiM, scores weigh alumni salaries three years post-graduation and salary increases compared to pre-degree earnings.
INSEAD, with FT’s top-ranked MBA in Europe, has MBA graduates earning an average of **198,904∗∗,secondonlytoItaly’sSDABocconi(198,904∗∗,secondonlytoItaly’sSDABocconi(202,534). Its average MBA salary increase is 110%. For MiM grads, the average base salary is $118,984—a 68% jump from pre-degree earnings.
“From nurturing high-potential talent to shaping senior leaders and helping organizations navigate complexity, our programs redefine leadership,” said Veloso, whose school was named Poets&Quants’ Program of the Year last December. “We’re committed to equipping individuals with the skills, agility, and global mindset to lead with lasting impact.”
“In a fast-changing, complex world, INSEAD’s strength lies in our mission: uniting people, cultures, and ideas to develop responsible leaders who transform business and society.”