MBA at Darden School of Business vs UCLA Anderson School of Management

MBA at Darden School of Business vs Anderson School of Management

Overview Comparison
Darden School of BusinessAnderson School of Management
ranking (overall)# 11 Financial Times 2021
# 18 Financial Times 2020
# 23 Financial Times 2019
# 25 Financial Times 2020
# 26 Financial Times 2019
# 17 Bloomberg 2018
ProgramsPG Programs -2
PG Programs -3
Doctorate Programs -2
Cost to StudyAverage Tuition Fees  72800
[For PG Program]
Hostel + Meal - 18176 Per Year
Average Tuition Fees  26544
[For PG Program]
Hostel + Meal - 21600 Per Year

Top Courses Comparison

Top Courses Comparison

ranking-# 21 for Business by Times Higher Education 2023
# 76 for Business by Academy Ranking of World Universities 2021
application-#2865 Applicants
# 360 Admissions
# 12 % Acceptance Rate
exam scores-GMAT - 700/800GRE updated - 326/340IELTS - 7/9TOEFL - 87/120
Admission Criteria/Better to Have

GPA of 3.8 average and preferably 706 GMAT Score. Average Work Experience required around 4.5 years.


cost to studyTotal Cost (Tuition + Living) -Total Cost (Tuition + Living) -67737
Return on Investment/Average Package#Average Salary#Average Salary125000
documents required#Letter of Recommendation + Statement of Purpose#Letter of Recommendation + Statement of Purpose
application dates-Dec 1, 2023 (Application Deadline For 2024 Intake)
Important Notes

Ranked at #18 by Financial Times and #11 by US News, the Darden School of Business is a popular name among American B-schools. The Anderson School of Management of the University of California Los Angeles, on the other hand, ranks at #25 and #16 respectively. Other aspects to consider are


Comparison Notes
  • Employment: 96% of graduates from Darden received employment opportunities within three months of graduation, as opposed to 87% from Anderson. 
  • Salary Increase: Darden graduates also fared better here, with an increase of 128% as compared to Anderson’s 111%. 
  • Out of the total number of students enrolled, in Darden 39% are female and in Anderson 40% are female.
  • Anderson has a bigger international student community, with 36% of the total class being international citizens, whereas the number is only 24% at Darden.
  • Both colleges have very good opportunities for internships, and students have been hired by big companies like Amazon, Bain & Company, Dell, etc.
  • Darden offers more scholarships than Anderson, and the Batten Foundation Scholarship is provided to every MBA student at Darden who attends a global course.
  • Anderson School of Management is located in LA, gives students the big city experience of complete festivals and parties. LA is home to a number of international neighborhoods where one can learn more about different cultures around the world. Further, students can visit many famous beaches and even the world of Hollywood.

Overall, Darden Business School is a better investment in financial terms, but the Anderson School of Management gives one more exposure culturally, which is surely an advantage in the realm of business.