How to Choose the Best Executive MBA Program for You
For senior professionals who already have an established career, or those who don’t want to take a year or two out of work to study for an MBA, there’s an alternative: the Executive MBA.
This part-time MBA program is tailored to senior leaders with at least five years of work experience under their belt (though most participants have 10-15 years of experience). Like an MBA, an EMBA will equip you with the management skills to further your business career, but with more flexible delivery that makes it easier to fit studying into your demanding day-to-day role.
Over two years, you’ll refresh your knowledge of fundamental topics like accounting, marketing, and economics while developing enhanced decision-making, mindset, and innovation skills. Plus, as a part-time student, you’ll be able to apply your leadership skills immediately in your current role—a benefit your employer will certainly value.
Not to mention, you’ll likely experience a pretty significant salary boost after your EMBA. Graduates at some of the top-ranked programs see salary lifts of upwards of 100%, a benefit that can, in some ways, justify the high costs associated with an EMBA.
If you’re interested in leveling up your career—perhaps into the C-suite—then an EMBA can be highly impactful. But how to choose an EMBA when there are so many schools and programs?
How to Choose an EMBA: 7 Essential Factors to Consider
1. School Reputation
While rankings shouldn’t be your only deciding factor when choosing a business school, attending a top-ranked school can have advantages, including widening your network and accessing exclusive industry connections.
For the second year in a row, the Executive MBA at Oxford Saïd Business School topped the 2025 QS EMBA Rankings. Meanwhile, the most recent Financial Times (FT) placed Shanghai-based CEIBS’ Global EMBA at number one.
Other schools that consistently rank among the best in the world for their EMBA programs are IESE Business School, MIT Sloan School of Management, and INSEAD.
Bear in mind that MBA and EMBA rankings can vary considerably. Consequently, when comparing programs, it’s worth keeping an eye out for business school accreditations such as AACSB, EQUIS, and AMBA. Accreditation by either AACSB or EQUIS is a prerequisite for inclusion on the FT EMBA rankings.
2. EMBA Specializations
If you work in a field or industry that requires specialist knowledge, there may be an EMBA program with an in-depth specialization that matches your career aspirations.
EMBA specializations are designed for executive-level professionals, offering industry-specific expertise alongside advanced leadership skills such as decision-making under pressure and balancing stakeholder interests.
An MBA specialization will also provide exclusive networking opportunities with industry leaders, enabling you to learn from the best in your field.
At HEC Paris, EMBA students can follow one of eight specializations, addressing topics including board governance, AI, and financial decision-making. At Warwick Business School, a healthcare specialization explores change management and digital innovation and would suit professionals looking to take on senior leadership roles in healthcare organizations.
Some US business schools offer STEM-designated EMBA programs, which means their curriculum is focused on science, technology, engineering, and math. The EMBAs at Columbia Business School and Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Business are STEM-certified and include core courses and optional electives in technical subjects like data science, marketing analytics, and cybersecurity.
3. Professional Development
At the most senior levels of management, how you act as a leader is as important as what you know. As a result, a common element of EMBA programs is professional development, which can involve leadership coaching, mentorship, and resilience training.
Although most business schools will include some form of professional development teaching in their EMBA programs, the kind of training and the number of opportunities you have to explore professional development can vary.
For example, Kellogg School of Business is known for prioritizing professional development; EMBA students participate in personalized and ingrained leadership development activities throughout their studies. Students build a picture of their management abilities through team-building exercises, coaching, and assessments, better preparing them for high-level leadership positions.
You should also research each school’s career service, particularly if you’re pursuing an EMBA to switch careers or industries. Your school’s careers department will provide valuable support along your graduate journey and may have specific industry or company connections that will be useful when networking.
4. Cost
Like most graduate business degrees, an Executive MBA can come with a high price tag. At some top-ranked schools, tuition fees alone can total over $200,000—add to that travel costs to seminars and additional fees for study trips or program materials, and studying for an EMBA is a massive financial decision.
The good news is that EMBA costs vary considerably depending on the program you choose and the country you study in. The Executive MBA programs at MIT Sloan and IESE Business School both rank among the top five in the world, but at $214,174 and $94,000, there’s a significant difference in tuition fees.
Likewise, your living costs will stay relatively stable if you’re attending a fully online EMBA or studying at a school nearby. If you can choose from multiple business school campuses, opting for the location closest to your home country will save on costs—but remember to consider what kinds of networking opportunities will be available with local companies, too.
Company sponsorship is a common path to an EMBA, where your employer covers tuition fees (and potentially other costs). However, most schools offer scholarships for students who must self-fund.
The good news is that EMBA graduates see significant salary increases, which can contribute to your considerations of degree cost. The average increase for graduates of the top 10 Executive MBA programs within the FT ranking is 85%; graduates of Fudan University School of Management and ESCP Business School see the most significant increases (110% and 114%, respectively).
5. Class Profile
Business schools are known for their diversity, and in the EMBA classroom, you’ll meet people from a wide variety of countries and industries. While the average age of the EMBA participant is consistent across schools (typically between 30 and 40 years old), students come from sectors as diverse as finance, energy, and aerospace.
If participant diversity is essential to your experience, you can consult diversity ratings on popular EMBA rankings. These stats are typically based on the percentage of women and the number of nationalities on each program.
According to the QS EMBA ranking in 2025, the best Executive MBA programs for diversity are at SKEMA Business School, Oxford Saïd, and ESADE Business School. No US business schools are in the top 10 for EMBA diversity—these schools are more likely to place high for employer reputation.
6. Format and Curriculum
Most Executive MBA programs will take around 18-21 months to complete on a part-time basis, but program format and delivery can vary. If your priority is studying alongside your full-time job, opt for a program with minimal in-person sessions; on the INSEAD Flex EMBA, you’ll spend eight weeks of 20 months out of work and in class.
If you’re looking for more contact time with your peers and faculty members, you may prefer a program with regular evening or weekend classes. At London Business School, 80% of first-year EMBA classes are delivered in person, while the remainder is self-paced online learning. Meanwhile, Warwick Business School is known for its innovative online learning environment—its Global Online MBA regularly ranks in the top three globally.
In general, an EMBA curriculum won’t vary considerably between different programs. However, if there are specific subjects you know you want to explore, such as sustainability, a program will likely delve into them in more detail.
7. Alumni Network
The people you meet, the location of your school, and the networking opportunities you get will all impact your future career after an EMBA. But your school’s alumni network can also provide transformative mentorship and learning long after you’ve graduated.
According to the FT’s EMBA 2024 rankings, the University of California at Irvine: Merage, Antwerp Management School, and Michigan State University: Broad have the best alumni networks. This score is determined by alumni ratings, giving insight into how real EMBA graduates value the quality of their school’s alumni network.
There’s no doubt that an EMBA will be a transformative experience. However, with various factors to consider, including cost, location, and delivery, choosing a program that matches your preferences, budget, and, perhaps most importantly, your career aspirations is essential.