Kaplan Test Prep Survey: American Business School Leaders Remain Convinced that MBA Programs in the U.S. are Stronger than MBA Programs in Europe and Asia

NEW YORK–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Leaders of American business schools continue to believe in their
ability to better prepare their students for business management roles
than their European and Asian counterparts, even as European and Asian
business schools continue to stay competitive in the global rankings. Of
the nearly 125 U.S. business schools surveyed by Kaplan Test Prep in its
annual admissions officers survey, almost all (97%) think American
business schools better prepare their students for the business world
than European business schools do. This indicates a slight increase from
95% in 2014, the last time Kaplan asked this question. In comparing
themselves to their Asian counterparts, practically the same percentage
of U.S. b-school admissions officers (96%) believe American business
schools are stronger, which also shows an uptick from 2014, when it was
92%.

When asked why they believe business schools in the United State are
stronger than those in Europe and Asia, admissions officers often cited
accreditation, portability and cachet, seemingly keeping American
students in mind when coming to their conclusions:

• “American MBA degrees are more valuable around the world. That might
  speak to what the world thinks. The curriculum might be the same but a
  U.S. degree sells better.”
• “Business education is very location-centric, so you want to go to a
  school near where you’re planning to launch your career because their
  connections will be strong in that area.”
• “As long as the school is accredited through the Association to
  Advance Collegiate Schools of Business, the degree carries about the
  same weight, but without any concrete evidence, I think American
  schools are a little better.”

This high degree of confidence comes as the European-based INSEAD
(Institut Européen d’Administration des Affaires), with campuses in
France, Singapore and the United Arab Emirates, remains the number one
ranked program for the second year in a row, according to The
Financial Times’s global rankings, with London Business School and
Judge Business School at the University of Cambridge also continuing to
rank well. Some business school admissions officers who were surveyed,
however told Kaplan that they couldn’t offer an opinion on European or
Asian business schools, however, because they didn’t know enough about
programs outside the United States.

Kaplan’s survey comes at time of great change in business school
admissions trends, as political events in the United
States and the United
Kingdom may prompt many prospective MBAs around the world to
consider attending business school elsewhere.
And in India, a
blockbuster report last year found that fewer than one in 10
graduates from business schools on the subcontinent are “employable,”
causing many Indians to seek a second MBA degree abroad.

“With the job market expanding and salaries rising, an MBA at a top
ranked business school with a strong global reputation remains a sound
investment, regardless of location,“ said Brian Carlidge, executive
director of pre-graduate and pre-business programs, Kaplan Test
Prep.“It’s important to consider that if you attend a business school
overseas and its brand isn’t well known outside that particular country,
you could be at a disadvantage when seeking employment back home or in
another nation. Reputation matters with global employers and that needs
to be part of aspiring MBAs’ decision-making process.”

For more information about Kaplan’s survey, contact Russell Schaffer at
212.453.7538 or russell.schaffer@kaplan.com.

*The survey was conducted between August 2016 and October 2016 of
admissions officers at 124 business schools in the United States. Among
the 124 business schools are 5 of the top 25, as ranked by U.S. News &
World Report.

About Kaplan Test Prep

Kaplan Test Prep (www.kaptest.com)
is a premier provider of educational and career services for
individuals, schools and businesses. Established in 1938, Kaplan is the
world leader in the test prep industry. With a comprehensive menu of
online offerings as well as a complete array of print books and digital
products, Kaplan offers preparation for more than 100 standardized
tests, including entrance exams for secondary school, college and
graduate school, as well as professional licensing exams for attorneys,
physicians and nurses. Kaplan also provides private tutoring and
graduate admissions consulting services.

Note to editors: Kaplan is a subsidiary of Graham Holdings Company
(NYSE: GHC)

Contacts

Kaplan Test Prep
Russell Schaffer, 212-453-7538
russell.schaffer@kaplan.com
Twitter:
@KapTestNews, @KaplanGMATPrep