HEC Paris Tops FT EMBA Rankings for 2021

The latest Financial Times ranking for Executive MBA programs worldwide saw HEC Paris ranked first overall, after ranking third a year ago.

The HEC Paris Executive MBA is thrilled to announce it has been named the world’s best EMBA program in The Financial Times’ 2021 EMBA rankings.

The ranking is based on a host of stringent criteria. A non-exhaustive list of these include salary increase, career progression, work experience, international faculty and students, gender balance in participants and faculty, in addition to CSR rank.

Sustained excellence

Particularly noteworthy was the considerable salary increases enjoyed by alumni. EMBA alumni reported an average pay increase of 95 percent three years after graduation, an upward salary trend that falls neatly in line with HEC Paris alumni salary increases from across the school’s core programs. This phenomenon was noted by FT’s annual overall Business School rankings, in which HEC Paris also placed first.

The HEC Paris EMBA performed well across the board en route to securing the top spot in the FT ranking.

Andrea Masini, Associate Dean of HEC Paris’ MBA Programs, said that the ranking is a tribute to the extraordinary talent—and elite work ethic— of the individuals that make up the EMBA.

“The Financial Times ranking is a testament to the exceptional quality of education our participants receive. It is a trulyworld-class experience in a crowded global Executive MBA marketplace,” said the Associate Dean.

“We are delighted and deeply proud to be considered the best Executive MBA program in the world. Our alumni leave this program as exemplary leaders, equipped with the tools to address global economic challenges, and the steadfast resolve to build more ethical companies, and to tackle society’s most pressing issues,” he said.

A group effort

The Trium Global Executive MBA, a joint EMBA between HEC Paris, London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) and NYU Stern School of Business, came in fifth globally. This marks a staggering twenty consecutive years in which  the TRIUM EMBA has ranked among the top five global programs.

Each year, the HEC Paris Executive MBA challenges its participants to reassess their views of business, to develop innovative leadership skills, and to learn how to adapt their skills to the ever-changing economic environment across the sectors of digital technology, energy, finance, consulting, entrepreneurship, luxury, and more.

Congratulations to the faculty and participants on this exceptional achievement.


More CEOs of Fortune Global 500 companies have graduated from HEC Paris than any other university in Europe. Nearly 4,000 graduates are currently CEOs, CFOs, or have founded their own companies. According to the Financial Times, the HEC Paris offers the best EMBA program in the world; click here to learn more.

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