Head to head

ESSEC Business School vs emlyon business school

The ESSEC Business School and emlyon business school Master in Management programs, compared side by side on the numbers that decide it — ranking, fees, salary, selectivity and class profile.

ESSEC Business School versus emlyon business school Master in Management, compared on ranking, tuition, salary, selectivity and class profile.
Metric ESSEC Business School emlyon business school
FT ranking 2025 #10 #12
QS ranking 2025 #3 #16
Tuition €38,500 (Intensive 1yr) – €79,000 (Flexible 2yr Singapore) €44,000 (2 years)
Median salary $119k $108k
Employment rate 99% 93%
GMAT range 620–710 600–700
Duration 12–36 months (flexible track) 24 months (extendable to 36 with gap year)
Class size 800 750
Average age 23 22
International 35% 28%
Female 50% 48%
Location Cergy, France Lyon, France

The short version

  • On the Financial Times 2025 ranking, ESSEC Business School (#10) sits ahead of emlyon business school (#12).
  • On graduate salary, ESSEC Business School leads at $119k.
  • On tuition, ESSEC Business School is the more affordable option at €38,500 (Intensive 1yr) – €79,000 (Flexible 2yr Singapore).

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.

ESSEC Business School full profile → emlyon business school full profile →

Narrow it down — free tools

Build your shortlist Torn between ESSEC Business School and emlyon business school? Get a ranked shortlist matched to your budget, target career and profile in about a minute. Track their deadlines See ESSEC Business School and emlyon business school’s application rounds — and every other European MiM’s — in one live timeline.

Frequently asked

Is ESSEC Business School or emlyon business school ranked higher?
On the Financial Times 2025 Masters in Management ranking, ESSEC Business School places #10 and emlyon business school #12, 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 emlyon business school?
Tuition is €38,500 (Intensive 1yr) – €79,000 (Flexible 2yr Singapore) at ESSEC Business School and €44,000 (2 years) at emlyon business school. Compare like for like before concluding — headline tuition can mix EU/EEA and non-EU rates — and add living costs in Cergy versus Lyon, since the lower tuition is not always the cheaper city overall.
Which has higher graduate salaries, ESSEC Business School or emlyon business school?
ESSEC Business School reports the higher graduate salary ($119k) against $108k at emlyon business school. 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 emlyon business school?
ESSEC Business School generally looks for around 620–710; emlyon business school generally looks for around 600–700. 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 emlyon business school?
There is no universal winner. The right pick depends on your target career, where you want to live and work (Cergy, France versus Lyon, France), 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.