How is this different from US News rankings?

Rankings collapse everything into one number that favours research output and graduate salaries. The radar lets you see, for example, that Stanford has the highest prestige but Wharton has stronger finance recruiting — both true, neither captured by a single rank.

Should I score programs against my goals or against each other?

Against each other first to understand the trade-offs, then re-weight against your goals. A program scoring 6 on location for the average applicant might score 10 for you if you're set on that city.

Does this work for one-year and part-time programs?

Yes — adjust the ROI axis for the shorter time out. One-year programs typically score higher on ROI and lower on network strength than two-year programs.

Education & Academic

MBA Program Comparison Radar Chart Template

Compare MBA programs across academic prestige, ROI, network strength, career services, curriculum flexibility, and location.

Used 578 times

Program A
Program B
Program C

About this template

An MBA program comparison radar helps applicants decide where to spend $200K and two years of their life. Academic prestige, ROI, network strength, career services, curriculum flexibility and location together describe what a program actually delivers beyond a ranking number. Useful for shortlisting schools, preparing for campus visits and the negotiation conversation with your spouse about why you want to move to Boston.

Attributes included

Academic Prestige
Brand recognition with employers and admissions selectivity.
ROI
Salary uplift relative to total cost, including opportunity cost of two years out.
Network Strength
Alumni reach, mentorship culture and willingness of alumni to actually help.
Career Services
Quality of recruiting infrastructure and outcomes in your target industry.
Curriculum Flexibility
Elective range and willingness to let you build a non-standard programme.
Location
Whether the city supports your career and life goals during and after.

Sample items

Program A
Program B
Program C

How to use the MBA Program Comparison template

1Click "Use this template" to load the preset attributes and sample data into the builder.
2Rename attributes or items to match your context — every value is editable inline.
3Adjust scores using sliders or by typing values directly. Toggle items on or off to compare subsets.
4Pick a color theme, then export your chart as PNG or SVG, or share a live link.

Frequently asked questions

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