QS Executive MBA Ranking 2026 | Oxford Saïd Is No. 1 Again

Oxford University’s Saïd Business School finished first in QS Quacquarelli Symonds 2026  QS Executive MBA Rankings for the third straight year.

It’s a three-peat for Oxford University’s Saïd Business School.  

QS Quacquarelli Symonds released its 2026  QS Executive MBA Rankings this week (April 29),  and Oxford Saïd ranked No. 1 for the third straight year.   

The QS ranking evaluated 216 EMBA programs from 55 countries on employer reputation, academic leadership, executive profile, diversity, and career outcomes. QS also ranked 31 joint EMBA programs.  

Oxford Saïd is followed by HEC Paris for the second straight year. Massachusetts Institute of Technology Sloan School of Management, meanwhile, climbed one spot to No. 3 while IESE Business School in Spain fell one spot to No. 4. 

Two U.S. schools – Northwestern’s Kellogg School of Management and Yale School of Management – tied for No. 5. 

QS’ TOP 10 GLOBAL EXECUTIVE MBAS 

Oxford Saïd’s EMBA has welcomed more than 1,400 students onto the program since its inception in 2004.

The 22- to 24-month program is geared to experienced senior executives and known for its diverse student body, global leadership, and entrepreneurial mindset. The typical class is between 65 and 70 students from 38 countries and 33 employment sectors.

While Oxford didn’t take the top spot in any of QS’ individual metrics, it placed highly in most of them, finishing sixth in employer reputation and eighth in thought leadership. 

Where it separates is diversity. The program ranks No. 2 in that category, well ahead of HEC Paris at No. 30 and MIT Sloan School of Management at No. 77. 

“We are incredibly proud and honoured to have been recognised by QS as offering the world’s best Executive MBA at Saïd Business School, and for the third consecutive year,” says Mette Morsing, Interim Dean at Oxford Saïd.

“Our students, faculty and staff are at the forefront of building impact through progressive education, ever evolving to cater to the needs and ambitions of our modern leaders, and engaging their unique expertise to make business a positive force for shaping a world we all aspire to live in.”

U.S. AND EUROPEAN SCHOOLS STILL DOMINATE

European and U.S. schools dominated the top of the QS EMBA Ranking, accounting for the first 13 spots and 28 of the top 30. Of those, 11 are located in the United States, six in the United Kingdom, five in France, and three in Spain. 

In all, 66 U.S. schools made the list, more than any other country or territory. MIT Sloan was the highest-ranked U.S. school (No. 3 globally) followed by Yale SOM  and Northwestern Kellogg (No. 5), and University of Pennsylvania’s The Wharton School (No. 8). UC Berkeley Haas School of Business (No. 11) rounded out the top five for U.S. programs. 

France had the second largest showing with 14 EMBA programs and the UK with 11. Overall, Europe had 74 programs on the list, including the top two. 

France had the second largest showing with 14 EMBA programs and the UK with 11. Overall, Europe had 74 programs on the list, including the top two. 

Two French schools landed in the world’s top 10. HEC Paris continues to dominate on the strength of its employability, thought leadership, and career outcomes finishing 14th, 9th, and 12th in the metrics respectively.

Across QS’ metrics, French programs captured five No. 1 finishes, more than any other country, with career outcomes standing out in particular. Three French schools take the top spot in that category. ESSEC Business School debuted on the QS list at No. 12, the highest entry among first-time programs. It posts strong diversity metrics, ranking fourth, and ties for first in career outcomes. 

India’s top-ranked EMBA comes from Indian Institute of Management Bangalore, which landed at No. 64, down 14 spots year over year. It holds up best in employer reputation, ranking No. 42 despite a five-place drop, and comes in at No. 47 for career outcomes. No other Indian program cracked the top 100. 

In Canada, Rotman School of Management slipped from No. 28 to No. 30, pulled down by declines in career outcomes and executive profile. Ivey Business School is the only other Canadian program in the top 50, at No. 48. 

China placed two schools in the top 50. Peking University HSBC Business School ranks No. 47, followed by Fudan University School of Management at No. 50. Meanwhile, Shanghai University of Finance and Economics stands out for career outcomes, ranking among the strongest globally. 

NEXT PAGE: QS Best In Class + 27 Joint Programs Ranked