Head to head
University of St. Gallen vs Università Bocconi
The University of St. Gallen and Università Bocconi Master in Management programs, compared side by side on the numbers that decide it — ranking, fees, salary, selectivity and class profile.
University of St. Gallen
Università Bocconi
FT ranking 2025
#1
#13
QS ranking 2025
—
#10
Tuition
CHF 9,987 (full program)
€36,000 (2 years)
Median salary
$140k
$115k
Employment rate
98%
95%
GMAT range
650–740
600–720
Duration
18 months
24 months
Class size
52
280
Average age
23
23
International
50%
41%
Female
50%
50%
Location
St. Gallen, Switzerland
Milan, Italy
The short version
- On the Financial Times 2025 ranking, University of St. Gallen (#1) sits ahead of Università Bocconi (#13).
- On graduate salary, University of St. Gallen leads at $140k.
- Geographically they are a different bet entirely: University of St. Gallen in Switzerland, 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 University of St. Gallen or Università Bocconi ranked higher?
- On the Financial Times 2025 Masters in Management ranking, University of St. Gallen places #1 and Università Bocconi #13, so University of St. Gallen 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, University of St. Gallen or Università Bocconi?
- Tuition is CHF 9,987 (full program) at University of St. Gallen 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 St. Gallen versus Milan, since the lower tuition is not always the cheaper city overall.
Which has higher graduate salaries, University of St. Gallen or Università Bocconi?
- University of St. Gallen reports the higher graduate salary ($140k) 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 University of St. Gallen or Università Bocconi?
- University of St. Gallen generally looks for around 650–740; 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 University of St. Gallen or Università Bocconi?
- There is no universal winner. The right pick depends on your target career, where you want to live and work (St. Gallen, Switzerland 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.