Harvard Business School (HBS) vs Stanford Business School
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Harvard Business School vs Stanford Business School: In this article, we are going to be talking about Harvard Business School and how it is different from Stanford Business School. Candidates should note that this particular article is dedicated to comparing the MBA programmes of the two universities. Read: Stanford University vs Harvard University
- Harvard Business School vs Stanford Business School – Business School & Application Process
- Harvard Business School vs Stanford Business School – Average Class Profile
- Harvard Business School vs Stanford Business School - ROI
- Harvard Business School vs Stanford Business School - MBA course highlights
Harvard Business School vs Stanford Business School – Business School & Application Process
In this section, we are going to introduce our readers to the business schools of the universities. We are also going to talk about the important application details that students must adhere to as part of the admission process.
| Parameters |
Harvard Business School |
Stanford Business School |
|---|---|---|
| About the School | Founded in 1908, the Harvard Business School is the graduate business school of Harvard University located in Boston, Massachusetts. | Established in 1925, The Stanford Graduate School of Business is the graduate business school of Stanford University, located in Stanford, California. |
| Business School Ranking |
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| Popular Courses |
Read: Harvard Courses & Fees |
Read: Stanford Courses & Fees |
| Duration | 2 years | 2 years |
| Entry Requirements |
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| Eligibility Criteria |
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| Application fees | USD 250 = INR 18.6 Thousand | USD 275 = INR 20.46 Thousand |
| Start your online application | Candidates looking to apply to the MBA course at Harvard University apply on the official website here: https://apply.hbs.edu/apply/ |
Candidates looking to apply to the MBA programme at Stanford University application on the official website here: https://www.gsb.stanford.edu/programs/mba/admission/application-materials |
Harvard Business School vs Stanford Business School – Average Class Profile
In this section, we are going to be talking about the Masters of Business Administration (MBA) average class profile. This is for candidates to get a good perspective of what they are really against in securing a seat at the university's business school.
| Parameters |
Harvard Business School |
Stanford Business School |
|---|---|---|
| Work Experience | 5 years | 4.8 years |
| Bachelors GPA / Percentage | 3.69 | 3.78 |
| GMAT Score Average | 730 | 738 |
| Percentage of International Students | 37% | 47% |
Harvard Business School vs Stanford Business School - ROI
No MBA course is complete without a glance at the return on investment. Take a look at the first-year tuition fees for the universities and return on your investments in popular jobs along with their salaries expectations.
| Parameters |
Harvard Business School |
Stanford Business School |
|---|---|---|
| First Year Tuition Fees |
INR 54,63,202 |
INR 55,57,379 |
| Other expenses in 1st Year |
INR 29,45,993 |
INR 27,04,447 |
| Business School Graduates & Alumni Salaries - by Job (source: emolument) |
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| Business School Graduates & Alumni Salaries - By Degree (source: emolument) |
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| Popular Recruitors |
A T Kearney | IBM | Accenture | Credit Suisse | Google | Amazon | Adobe | American Express | Amadeus | Barclays Bank | BMW. Read: Harvard University Placements FAQs | Accenture | McKinsey | Google | VISA | Bank of America | Amazon.com | Apple | Facebook | Orange. Read: Stanford University Placements and Salaries |
Harvard Business School vs Stanford Business School - MBA course highlights
In this section, we are going to be talking about the MBA course highlights for the universities.
| Harvard Business School | Stanford Business School |
|---|---|
| Harvard Business School offers a two-year, full-time MBA program with a general management curriculum focused on real-world practice |
Stanford GSB, nestled in the heart of Silicon Valley, is a one-of-a-kind program that has redefined the business school experience |
| Becoming a student at HBS means joining a global community that propels lifelong learning and career support alongside peers, faculty, and staff who will both challenge you and cheer you on as you find and accelerate your path |
Here, students will be pushed and challenged by best-in-class faculty and supported by their classmates in an environment unlike anywhere else |
| Through the rich case- and experience-based curriculum at Harvard Business School, students build deep general management and leadership skills, setting the foundation for lifelong impact on how they lead |
Students will work closely with students from all around the world and of all different backgrounds |
| Students may take any combination of courses—up to five courses per semester—and also have the opportunity to cross-register for courses in other select graduate programs |
Students will study courses like Ethics in Management, Financial Accounting, Managerial Skills, Managing Groups and Teams and Leadership Labs |
Candidates can get in touch with our Shiksha Study Abroad Counsellors for more information on university admissions.
Harvard University and IIT are very well-known institutions worldwide and have their own strengths as well as weaknesses. According to the QS World University Rankings 2025, Harvard University has claimed the spot #4 in Best Global Universities, whereas IIT Bombay ranks #118 in the same category. On the basis of world workings, Harvard University has an upper hand.
Mentioned below is the comparison between both the universities on the basis of some other parameters that can help you choose the better university for you:
Parameters | Harvard University | IIT |
|---|---|---|
Acceptance Rate | 4% | <1%* |
| QS Rankings | #4 | #118 - IIT Bombay #150 - IIT Delhi #222 - IIT Kharagpur |
Annual Tuition Fee (B.Tech) | INR 45.1 L | 8 L - 20 L |
| Average Package | 175,000 (INR 1.45 Cr) | INR 23.5 LPA |
*the acceptance rate of IIT is much lower than that of Harvard since the number of applicants applying to IIT is much larger.
Students at Harvard can choose their major according to their preference. However, IIT's majors are allotted according to the candidate's score/percentile. Also, Harvard accepts applicants on the basis of their overall profile. Whereas, IITs accepts candidates solely on the basis of their score/percentile.
The university offers a top-notch environment, the best academic opportunities, technical & career training, etc. The university boasts over 1000 international students who represent more than 95 countries. Additionally, international students highly enjoy the facilities provided by the University of North Dakota. The UND is one of the largest research universities in the United States for international students.
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Stanford University and the IITs are very well-known institutions worldwide and have their own strengths as well as weaknesses. According to the QS World University Rankings 2026, Stanford University has secured the spot #3, whereas IIT (Bombay) ranks #129. On the basis of world workings, Stanford University has an upper hand.
Given below is the comprehensive comparison between both the universities on the basis of some other parameters:
Parameters
Stanford University
Acceptance Rate
4%
<1%*
#3
#129
Annual Tuition Fee (B.Tech)
INR 58 L
INR 8 L - 10 L
USD 185,00 (INR 1.6 Cr)
INR 23.5 LPA