Head to head

INSEAD vs Nova School of Business and Economics

The INSEAD and Nova School of Business and Economics Master in Management programs, compared side by side on the numbers that decide it — ranking, fees, salary, selectivity and class profile.

INSEAD versus Nova School of Business and Economics Master in Management, compared on ranking, tuition, salary, selectivity and class profile.
Metric INSEAD Nova School of Business and Economics
FT ranking 2025 #3 #4
QS ranking 2025 #5 #39
Tuition €57,870 €11,650 (3-semester base)
Median salary $127k $123k
Employment rate 92% 94%
GMAT range 640–730 620–710 (recommended, not mandatory)
Duration 14–16 months 18 months
Class size 217 69
Average age 22 23
International 95% 93%
Female 36% 50%
Location Fontainebleau, France Lisbon (Carcavelos), Portugal

The short version

  • On the Financial Times 2025 ranking, INSEAD (#3) sits ahead of Nova School of Business and Economics (#4).
  • On graduate salary, INSEAD leads at $127k.
  • On tuition, Nova School of Business and Economics is the more affordable option at €11,650 (3-semester base).
  • Geographically they are a different bet entirely: INSEAD in France, Nova School of Business and Economics in Portugal.

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.

INSEAD full profile → Nova School of Business and Economics full profile →

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

Frequently asked

Is INSEAD or Nova School of Business and Economics ranked higher?
On the Financial Times 2025 Masters in Management ranking, INSEAD places #3 and Nova School of Business and Economics #4, so INSEAD 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, INSEAD or Nova School of Business and Economics?
Tuition is €57,870 at INSEAD and €11,650 (3-semester base) at Nova School of Business and Economics. Compare like for like before concluding — headline tuition can mix EU/EEA and non-EU rates — and add living costs in Fontainebleau versus Lisbon (Carcavelos), since the lower tuition is not always the cheaper city overall.
Which has higher graduate salaries, INSEAD or Nova School of Business and Economics?
INSEAD reports the higher graduate salary ($127k) against $123k at Nova School of Business and Economics. 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 INSEAD or Nova School of Business and Economics?
INSEAD generally looks for around 640–730; Nova School of Business and Economics generally looks for around 620–710 (recommended, not mandatory). 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 INSEAD or Nova School of Business and Economics?
There is no universal winner. The right pick depends on your target career, where you want to live and work (Fontainebleau, France versus Lisbon (Carcavelos), Portugal), 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.