Head to head

Università Bocconi vs Esade Business School

The Università Bocconi and Esade Business School Master in Management programs, compared side by side on the numbers that decide it — ranking, fees, salary, selectivity and class profile.

Università Bocconi
Esade Business School
FT ranking 2025
#13
#24
QS ranking 2025
#10
#12
Tuition
€36,000 (2 years)
€37,500
Median salary
$115k
$117k
Employment rate
95%
91%
GMAT range
600–720
Duration
24 months
15 months
Class size
280
Average age
23
International
41%
Female
50%
Location
Milan, Italy
Barcelona, Spain

The short version

  • On the Financial Times 2025 ranking, Università Bocconi (#13) sits ahead of Esade Business School (#24).
  • On graduate salary, Esade Business School leads at $117k.
  • On tuition, Università Bocconi is the more affordable option at €36,000 (2 years).
  • Geographically they are a different bet entirely: Università Bocconi in Italy, Esade Business School in Spain.

Rankings and salary are only part of the decision — fit with your target career, location, language, and cost of living usually matter more. Read each program in full before deciding.

Frequently asked

Is Università Bocconi or Esade Business School ranked higher?
On the Financial Times 2025 Masters in Management ranking, Università Bocconi places #13 and Esade Business School #24, so Università Bocconi ranks higher. A few places on one table rarely settle the decision, though — programme fit, location and cost usually matter more than the gap.
Which is more affordable, Università Bocconi or Esade Business School?
Tuition is €36,000 (2 years) at Università Bocconi and €37,500 at Esade Business School. Compare like for like before concluding — headline tuition can mix EU/EEA and non-EU rates — and add living costs in Milan versus Barcelona, since the lower tuition is not always the cheaper city overall.
Which has higher graduate salaries, Università Bocconi or Esade Business School?
Esade Business School reports the higher graduate salary ($117k) against $115k at Università Bocconi. Treat headline salary figures as indicative: they reflect each cohort's industry mix and how the school surveys alumni as much as raw earning power.
Do you need the GMAT for Università Bocconi or Esade Business School?
Università Bocconi generally looks for around 600–720; Esade Business School has an admission route that does not require a GMAT or GRE. Test policies change each cycle, so confirm the current requirement on each school's own admissions page before assuming you can skip it.
Should I choose Università Bocconi or Esade Business School?
There is no universal winner. The right pick depends on your target career, where you want to live and work (Milan, Italy versus Barcelona, Spain), the language of instruction, and your budget. Read both full profiles, weigh fit over a handful of ranking places, and if you are still torn, our admissions guide walks through building a shortlist you can defend.