Recently, the global authoritative education ranking institution “U.S. News & World Report” announced the 2026 rankings of the best universities in the United States. In the ranking of the best undergraduate business schools for 2026, the MIT Sloan School of Management at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) tied for first place with the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, which had been leading the pack for a long time. This marks the first time that a business school has shared the top spot with the Wharton School.
In the rankings by “U.S. News & World Report,” the Wharton School has consistently held the top position, maintaining its first-place ranking for the past four years. Over the past eight years, it has also been ranked first in the undergraduate business school rankings by Poets&Quants for seven consecutive years.
With over 10,000 undergraduate students (and an additional 14,000 graduate students), the Wharton School has a significantly higher proportion of female students, accounting for 54% of the student body. However, its acceptance rate is only 5%, placing it fifth in the “U.S. News & World Report” rankings for lowest acceptance rates. In specialized rankings, the Wharton School ranks first in finance and second in management, marketing, quantitative analysis, and real estate disciplines.
Pennsylvania University’s revered business school now shares the top spot with a school that has less than half its undergraduate student population of 4,535 students. MIT Sloan School of Management has the same acceptance rate as the Wharton School but has a higher proportion of male students, exceeding 50%. MIT has also been ranked first in production/management and quantitative analysis disciplines.
For many years, MIT has consistently held the second position, including in recent years jointly ranking second with the Haas School of Business at the University of California, Berkeley. This year, Haas School of Business slipped to third place, followed closely by the fourth-ranked Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan and the fifth-ranked Stern School of Business at New York University.
The managing editor of the education department at “U.S. News & World Report,” Dr. LaMont Jones, said, “For over forty years, the best university rankings have been a trusted and data-supported resource for students and parents navigating the complex college search process.”
“It (the rankings) reflects changes in the landscape of higher education and provides an important starting point for finding schools that align with academic and personal goals,” he added.
The following are the 11 business schools selected by “U.S. News & World Report” as having the best undergraduate business programs:
Location: Cambridge, Massachusetts
Undergraduate Business: Rank 1 (tied)
National University Ranking: 2
Tuition and Fees: $64,730
Undergraduate Enrollment: 4,535 (Fall 2024)
Test Scores: 1520-1580 (SAT), 34-36 (ACT)
Reputation Score: 4.7
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology is a private institution founded in 1861. It ranks second among the most innovative schools for 2026. The four-year graduation rate is 83%. Six years after graduation, the median salary for alumni is $131,633.
Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Undergraduate Business: Rank 1 (tied)
National University Ranking: 7
Tuition and Fees: $71,236
Undergraduate Enrollment: 10,013 (Fall 2024)
Test Scores: 1510-1570 (SAT), 34-36 (ACT)
Reputation Score: 4.7
The University of Pennsylvania is a private university established in 1740. It ranks fifth in lowest acceptance rates. The four-year graduation rate is 86%. Six years after graduation, the median salary for alumni is $90,555.
Location: Berkeley, California
Undergraduate Business: Rank 3
National University Ranking: 15
Tuition and Fees: $55,323 (Out-of-state), $17,721 (In-state)
Undergraduate Enrollment: 33,469 (Fall 2024)
Reputation Score: 4.6
The University of California, Berkeley is a public university founded in 1868. In the 2026 best university rankings, UC Berkeley ranks first among top public schools. The four-year graduation rate is 80%. Six years after graduation, the average salary for alumni is $74,919.
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