Head to head

HEC Paris vs Università Bocconi

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

HEC Paris versus Università Bocconi Master in Management, compared on ranking, tuition, salary, selectivity and class profile.
Metric HEC Paris Università Bocconi
FT ranking 2025 #2 #13
QS ranking 2025 #1 #10
Tuition €57,700 €18,550/year (≈€37,100 over two years)
Median salary $142k $115k
Employment rate 99% 95%
GMAT range 640–730 600–720
Duration 24 months 24 months
Class size 400 280
Average age 23 23
International 40% 41%
Female 48% 50%
Location Jouy-en-Josas, France Milan, Italy

The short version

  • On the Financial Times 2025 ranking, HEC Paris (#2) sits ahead of Università Bocconi (#13).
  • On graduate salary, HEC Paris leads at $142k.
  • On tuition, Università Bocconi is the more affordable option at €18,550/year (≈€37,100 over two years).
  • Geographically they are a different bet entirely: HEC Paris 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.

HEC Paris full profile → Università Bocconi full profile →

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Build your shortlist Torn between HEC Paris and Università Bocconi? Get a ranked shortlist matched to your budget, target career and profile in about a minute. Track their deadlines See HEC Paris and Università Bocconi’s application rounds — and every other European MiM’s — in one live timeline.

Frequently asked

Is HEC Paris or Università Bocconi ranked higher?
On the Financial Times 2025 Masters in Management ranking, HEC Paris places #2 and Università Bocconi #13, so HEC Paris 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, HEC Paris or Università Bocconi?
Tuition is €57,700 at HEC Paris and €18,550/year (≈€37,100 over two 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 Jouy-en-Josas versus Milan, since the lower tuition is not always the cheaper city overall.
Which has higher graduate salaries, HEC Paris or Università Bocconi?
HEC Paris reports the higher graduate salary ($142k) 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 HEC Paris or Università Bocconi?
HEC Paris generally looks for around 640–730; 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 HEC Paris or Università Bocconi?
There is no universal winner. The right pick depends on your target career, where you want to live and work (Jouy-en-Josas, 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.