Head to head

University of St. Gallen vs HEC Paris

The University of St. Gallen and HEC Paris 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 versus HEC Paris Master in Management, compared on ranking, tuition, salary, selectivity and class profile.
Metric University of St. Gallen HEC Paris
FT ranking 2025 #1 #2
QS ranking 2025 — #1
Tuition CHF 9,987 (full program) €57,700
Median salary $140k $142k
Employment rate 98% 99%
GMAT range 650–740 640–730
Duration 18 months 24 months
Class size 52 400
Average age 23 23
International 50% 40%
Female 50% 48%
Location St. Gallen, Switzerland Jouy-en-Josas, France

The short version

  • On the Financial Times 2025 ranking, University of St. Gallen (#1) sits ahead of HEC Paris (#2).
  • On graduate salary, HEC Paris leads at $142k.
  • Geographically they are a different bet entirely: University of St. Gallen in Switzerland, HEC Paris in France.

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.

University of St. Gallen full profile → HEC Paris full profile →

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

Frequently asked

Is University of St. Gallen or HEC Paris ranked higher?
On the Financial Times 2025 Masters in Management ranking, University of St. Gallen places #1 and HEC Paris #2, 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 HEC Paris?
Tuition is CHF 9,987 (full program) at University of St. Gallen and €57,700 at HEC Paris. Compare like for like before concluding — headline tuition can mix EU/EEA and non-EU rates — and add living costs in St. Gallen versus Jouy-en-Josas, since the lower tuition is not always the cheaper city overall.
Which has higher graduate salaries, University of St. Gallen or HEC Paris?
HEC Paris reports the higher graduate salary ($142k) against $140k at University of St. Gallen. 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 HEC Paris?
University of St. Gallen generally looks for around 650–740; HEC Paris generally looks for around 640–730. 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 HEC Paris?
There is no universal winner. The right pick depends on your target career, where you want to live and work (St. Gallen, Switzerland versus Jouy-en-Josas, 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.