What are M7 Business Schools: A Complete Guide on M7 MBA
M7 business schools, also known as Magnificent Seven, are a group of seven elite US business schools.
M7 business schools, also known as Magnificent or Magic Seven, are a group of seven elite US business schools. The purpose of forming this group was to create an exclusive network of top-tier business schools, where the deans meet twice a year to share insights and news related to graduate management education.
List of M7 Business Schools
- Stanford Graduate School of Business
- The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania
- Harvard Business School
- Columbia Business School
- Chicago Booth School of Business
- Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management
- MIT Sloan School of Management
M7 Business Schools Rankings
| M7 Business schools | US News (2023) | Forbes (2019) | Bloomberg (2022-23) | FT (2023) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stanford Graduate School of Business | 6 | 2 | 1 | 6 |
| Wharton – University of Pennsylvania | 3 | 5 | 7 | 1 |
| Harvard Business School | 5 | 4 | 2 | 4 |
| Columbia Business School | 11 | 7 | 8 | 1 |
| Chicago Booth School of Business | 1 | 1 | 2 | 7 |
| Kellogg School of Management | 2 | 3 | 4 | 9 |
| MIT Sloan School of Management | 4 | 7 | 6 | 11 |
MBA Class Profile 2025
Applications and Enrollment:
| M7 Business Schools | Harvard | Stanford | Wharton | Kellogg | Chicago Booth | MIT Sloan | Columbia |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Applications Received | 8,149 | 6,190 | 6,194 | N/A | 4,184 | N/A | 5,895 |
| Total Enrolled | 938 | 431 | 874 | 529 | 637 | 409 | 900 |
| Enrollment rate | 11.5% | 6.96% | 14.1% | N/A | 15.2% | N/A | 15.3% |
| % Women | 45% | 46% | 50% | 48% | 42% | 46% | 44% |
| % International | 39% | 36% | 31% | 39% | 36% | 40% | 47% |
| Average GPA | 3.73 | 3.77 | 3.6 | 3.7 | 3.6 | 3.61 | 3.5 |
| Median GMAT | 740 | 738 | 728 | 731 | 730 | 729 | 730 |
Key Insights:
- Stanford GSB had the lowest enrollment rate (6.96%)
- Wharton had the highest percentage of women in its class (50%)
- Harvard Business School had the highest median GMAT score (740)
MBA Cost and Post-MBA Salary
The average MBA cost for M7 business schools is approximately $105,894 per year, including tuition and living expenses. For a full-time MBA at M7, you need to shell out more than $200,000 total.
| Business School | Total 2-Year MBA Cost | 2023 Tuition Fee | Median Base Salary | Median Signing Bonus |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stanford GSB | $250,854 | $79,860 | $182,500 | $30,000 |
| Columbia Business School | $249,518 | $84,496 | $175,000 | $30,000 |
| Wharton | $243,044 | $87,370 | $175,000 | NA |
| Northwestern Kellogg | $237,691 | $81,015 | $175,000 | $30,000 |
| Chicago Booth | $237,222 | $80,961 | $180,000 | $33,000 |
| MIT Sloan | $229,175 | $84,200 | $170,000 | $30,000 |
| Harvard Business School | $227,944 | $74,910 | $175,000 | $30,000 |
M7 Graduates – Top Industry Placement
The top 3 industries where M7 grads find employment are Consulting, Technology, and Finance.
| M7 Business school | Consulting | Finance | Technology |
|---|---|---|---|
| Harvard Business School | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| Stanford GSB | 3 | 1 | 2 |
| Wharton | 3 | 1 | 2 |
| Columbia Business School | 2 | 1 | 3 |
| Kellogg | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| Chicago Booth | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| MIT Sloan | 1 | 3 | 2 |
Alumni Network at M7 Business Schools
| M7 Business Schools | Alumni network ranking |
|---|---|
| Stanford Graduate School of Business | 1 |
| Harvard Business School | 2 |
| Wharton | 5 |
| Kellogg | 10 |
| Columbia Business School | 12 |
| MIT Sloan | 17 |
| Chicago Booth | 23 |
Notable Alumni by School:
Harvard Business School (~85,000 alumni in 173 countries): Sheryl Sandberg (Facebook COO), Michael Bloomberg (Founder of Bloomberg)
Stanford GSB (30,000+ alumni): Mary Barra (CEO of General Motors), Phil Knight (Co-founder of Nike)
Wharton (~100,000 alumni in 153 countries): Sundar Pichai (CEO of Google), Elon Musk (CEO of Tesla)
Columbia Business School (45,000+ alumni): James P Gorman (CEO of Morgan Stanley), Vikram Pandit (Former Citigroup CEO)
MIT Sloan (140,000 alumni): John W Thompson (Chairman of Microsoft), Brian Halligan (CEO of HubSpot)
M7 Business Schools – FAQs
What are M7 business schools?
The M7 business schools are Harvard, Stanford, Kellogg, Chicago Booth, Columbia, MIT Sloan, and Wharton — a group offering outstanding MBA curricula, strong networking, and career development.
What GMAT score do I need to get into M7 B-schools?
The average GMAT score for the M7 MBA class of 2025 is 730+. You need to score at least 730 to make your application worthy.
How many years of work experience is required?
The average work experience for the M7 class 2025 is 5 years. Ideally, you should have at least 4 years of work experience.
Where do M7 MBA Graduates get placed?
The top 3 industries are Consulting, Technology, and Finance.
Related Articles
Everything about Deferred MBA: Top Schools and Admissions Process
Designed for ambitious students who want to secure their spot at a top business school early.
Read Article →
Stanford MBA Class Profile 2025, Employment Reports 2023, Fees, Scholarships, Admissions
Stanford Business School is one of the most widely known business schools in California and across the globe.
Read Article →
Harvard MBA Class Profile 2025, Employment Reports, Average Salary, Fees, Scholarships
Harvard Business School (HBS), which is part of the Ivy League and M7, is consistently ranked as one of the best business schools in the world. The Harvard MBA…
Read Article →