Each edition of a ranking is a continuity, but also a new beginning. This 2024 version of the list of best business schools, produced by The Student in partnership with L’Express, is no exception to the rule. Unsurprisingly, the immovable HEC is racing in the lead. But now, the second step of the podium welcomes two schools, since Essecthe traditional runner-up, is joined this year by the ESCP.
A tie due to the good performance of the latter, particularly with regard to the exposure of students to the international dimension. Calculated using several criteria, this is based in particular on the number of nationalities welcomed (teachers and students): a point on which ESCP excels, since the establishment boasts a multi-campus DNA.
This year, the second step of the podium welcomes two schools, since Essec, the traditional runner-up to HEC, is joined by ESCP.
© / THE EXPRESS
A rather stable top 10
The rest of the hierarchy shows great stability, with Edhec and Emlyon tied for fourth place. Next comes Skema, in sixth position, again like last year. Iéseg maintains its seventh place in the general ranking and its place as the best post-baccalaureate school. She is followed by Neoma, tied for eighth place with Audencia, who moves up one step. It is the Toulouse establishment TBS Education which closes this top 10 – this was already the case in 2023.
Beyond that, a greater number of movements can be observed. One of the reasons is the methodology, which, like every year, has evolved to be as close as possible to the changes made by establishments and the expectations of students and their families. The professionalizing dimension, in particular, has been rethought (see methodology below).
Corollary: if certain schools lose several places, this is not necessarily synonymous with a drop in quality. This may mean that the elements highlighted in the 2024 rankings are not among their strong points or, quite simply, that they have progressed less quickly than establishments close to them. Concretely, if Essca, EMLV and Ipag show a decline, this does not mean that their training offer has deteriorated.
ISC Paris gains six places
On the other hand, certain schools are recording real dynamism in this vintage. This is the case of ISC Paris which gains no less than six ranks and takes a nice 16th place. The school is making this breakthrough thanks to good performance on the quality of its international partners, but also on its rate of graduates having obtained a permanent contract, which reaches the perfect figure of… 100%. Climbing five steps and placing 21st, ESC Clermont also scores points on its partnerships and stands out with its 52.7% of work-study students. A strength since this last element becomes, this year, a classification criterion in its own right.
This is also the advantage of Istec (54.3% of work-study students) which gained six positions (28th) this year. The establishment also displays good figures regarding its social openness. For its part, the EBS moved up four ranks (32nd), in particular thanks to the good salaries of its graduates, who receive on average 41,282 euros twelve months after leaving.
Finally, Excelia BS, IMT-BS and ICD each grab two places. Their share of work-study students constitutes a strong point for them. The same goes for EM Normandie, which is also benefiting from its new “triple crown”: it now holds the three international labels sought by management schools: AACSB, Equis and AMBA.
Training that secures access to employment
One thing is certain: all the establishments in this list offer quality training, with a major school program delivering a master’s degree and allowing rapid integration into the job market, with very good salary levels. According to data collected from 2023 alumni, remuneration would climb even higher than last year, with an average of 42,754 euros. The Prize for Excellence.
The 2023-2024 business school ranking is based on a solid methodology based on 85 criteria, divided into four main themes: academic excellence, professionalization, international excellence and social openness. Obtaining the DD & RS label allows you to obtain a bonus point.
For each criterion, we collected public data, school data and surveyed 2022 graduates during the summer. Some of these themes are evolving significantly this year, as a continuation of our methodological overhaul initiated in 2022 – 2023. This is the case for the professionalization section and the international section. Discover these changes in detail in our ranking and on letudiant.fr.
An article from the special report of L’Express “The 2024 Palmarès des grandes écoles de commerce”, published in the weekly of December 14
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