MBA at McCombs School of Business vs Kelley School of Business

Overview Comparison
McCombs School of BusinessKelley School of Business
ranking (overall)# 40 Financial Times 2021
# 40 Financial Times 2020
# 37 Financial Times 2019
# 38 Financial Times 2021
# 40 Financial Times 2020
# 43 Financial Times 2019
ProgramsUG Programs -10
PG Programs -8
Doctorate Programs -4
PG Programs -6
Doctorate Programs -8
Cost to StudyAverage Tuition Fees   38730
[For UG Program]
Average Tuition Fees  48000
[For PG Program]
Hostel + Meal - 13500 Per Year
Average Tuition Fees  52483
[For PG Program]
Hostel + Meal - 10668 Per Year

Top Courses Comparison

Top Courses Comparison

ranking# 50 for Business by Times Higher Education 2023
# 23 for Business by Academy Ranking of World Universities 2021
# 170 for Business by Times Higher Education 2023
# 8 for Business by Academy Ranking of World Universities 2021
application#1941 Applicants
# 260 Admissions
# 13 % Acceptance Rate
#385 Applicants
# 135 Admissions
# 35 % Acceptance Rate
exam scoresGMAT - 650/800GRE updated - 318/340IELTS - 6.5/9TOEFL - 79/120GMAT - 670/800GRE updated - 302/340IELTS - 7/9TOEFL - 100/120
Admission Criteria/Better to Have

GPA of 3.42 average and preferably 704 GMAT Score. Average Work Experience required around 6 years.


GPA of 3.34 average and preferably 666 GMAT Score.Average Work Experience required around 5.6 years.


cost to studyTotal Cost (Tuition + Living) -24516Total Cost (Tuition + Living) -52483
Return on Investment/Average Package#Average Salary88705#Average Salary115000
documents required#Letter of Recommendation + Statement of Purpose#Letter of Recommendation + Statement of Purpose
Comparison Notes

McCombs School of Business, University of Texas, and Kelley School of Business, Indiana University, are tied to rank #40 in the Financial Times MBA Rankings 2020. Some facts to keep in mind about them are:

  • Kelley has a smaller class size of 135, as compared to McCombs’ 260. 
  • Of this class, female students comprised 40% at McCombs, whereas in Kelley it was 33%.
  • McCombs only has 20% international students while Kelley has 36%. 
  • The majority of the class at McCombs had business or economics as their undergraduate majors, while those at Kelley had business as theirs.
  • Kelley offers more full tuition scholarships and fellowships, though McCombs has a few unique opportunities for international students, such as the Sylff Global Fellowship.
  • Both colleges have similar employment rates, but Kelley graduates received 35% more salary increase than those from McCombs.
  • Both schools had a majority of graduates go into the consulting sector post MBA.

Considering the financial benefits and program specifics, Kelley would be a better option for MBA than McCombs.