Head to head

HEC Paris vs ESSEC Business School

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

HEC Paris versus ESSEC Business School Master in Management, compared on ranking, tuition, salary, selectivity and class profile.
Metric HEC Paris ESSEC Business School
FT ranking 2025 #2 #10
QS ranking 2025 #1 #3
Tuition €57,700 €38,500 (Intensive 1yr) – €79,000 (Flexible 2yr Singapore)
Median salary $142k $119k
Employment rate 99% 99%
GMAT range 640–730 620–710
Duration 24 months 12–36 months (flexible track)
Class size 400 800
Average age 23 23
International 40% 35%
Female 48% 50%
Location Jouy-en-Josas, France Cergy, France

The short version

  • On the Financial Times 2025 ranking, HEC Paris (#2) sits ahead of ESSEC Business School (#10).
  • On graduate salary, HEC Paris leads at $142k.
  • 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.

HEC Paris full profile → ESSEC Business School full profile →

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

Frequently asked

Is HEC Paris or ESSEC Business School ranked higher?
On the Financial Times 2025 Masters in Management ranking, HEC Paris places #2 and ESSEC Business School #10, 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 ESSEC Business School?
Tuition is €57,700 at HEC Paris and €38,500 (Intensive 1yr) – €79,000 (Flexible 2yr Singapore) at ESSEC Business School. 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 Cergy, since the lower tuition is not always the cheaper city overall.
Which has higher graduate salaries, HEC Paris or ESSEC Business School?
HEC Paris reports the higher graduate salary ($142k) against $119k at ESSEC 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 HEC Paris or ESSEC Business School?
HEC Paris generally looks for around 640–730; ESSEC Business School generally looks for around 620–710. 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 ESSEC Business School?
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 Cergy, 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.