Head to head
ESSEC Business School vs Università Bocconi
The ESSEC Business School and Università Bocconi Master in Management programs, compared side by side on the numbers that decide it — ranking, fees, salary, selectivity and class profile.
ESSEC Business School
Università Bocconi
FT ranking 2025
#10
#13
QS ranking 2025
#3
#10
Tuition
€38,500 (Intensive 1yr) – €79,000 (Flexible 2yr Singapore)
€36,000 (2 years)
Median salary
$119k
$115k
Employment rate
99%
95%
GMAT range
620–710
600–720
Duration
12–36 months (flexible track)
24 months
Class size
800
280
Average age
23
23
International
35%
41%
Female
50%
50%
Location
Cergy, France
Milan, Italy
The short version
- On the Financial Times 2025 ranking, ESSEC Business School (#10) sits ahead of Università Bocconi (#13).
- On graduate salary, ESSEC Business School leads at $119k.
- On tuition, Università Bocconi is the more affordable option at €36,000 (2 years).
- Geographically they are a different bet entirely: ESSEC Business School in France, Università Bocconi in Italy.
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 ESSEC Business School or Università Bocconi ranked higher?
- On the Financial Times 2025 Masters in Management ranking, ESSEC Business School places #10 and Università Bocconi #13, so ESSEC Business School 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, ESSEC Business School or Università Bocconi?
- Tuition is €38,500 (Intensive 1yr) – €79,000 (Flexible 2yr Singapore) at ESSEC Business School and €36,000 (2 years) at Università Bocconi. Compare like for like before concluding — headline tuition can mix EU/EEA and non-EU rates — and add living costs in Cergy versus Milan, since the lower tuition is not always the cheaper city overall.
Which has higher graduate salaries, ESSEC Business School or Università Bocconi?
- ESSEC Business School reports the higher graduate salary ($119k) 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 ESSEC Business School or Università Bocconi?
- ESSEC Business School generally looks for around 620–710; Università Bocconi generally looks for around 600–720. 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 ESSEC Business School or Università Bocconi?
- There is no universal winner. The right pick depends on your target career, where you want to live and work (Cergy, France versus Milan, Italy), 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.