The Best MBAs For Women in 2025

UPDATE: This article was originally posted on May 7, 2019. It has been updated with new information and tips below. 

Helping women meet business goals through education is a great passion of ours here at Ellin Lolis Consulting, especially because so many industries in the business world face gender inequality. 

To help support female leaders in business and beyond, we stay up-to-date on gender-related developments in the MBA world. This ensures that we can help women make the best choices for their MBA experience and future. 

In this post, we discuss why women should pursue an MBA, as well as the best MBAs depending on what your needs and objectives as a woman in business may be.

 

Women and MBAs

Despite decades of progress, women still face significant hurdles in the business world, from unequal pay to underrepresentation in leadership roles. Yet, one powerful tool continues to help level the playing field: the MBA.

An MBA doesn’t just offer women a seat at the table; it also opens the door to higher earning potential, expanded networks, and accelerated leadership development. In fact, research by the Forté Foundation shows that women with MBAs see salary increases of 55–65% within five years of graduation, making it one of the most effective ways to close the gender pay gap.

But success isn’t just about compensation. Top MBA programs today are actively investing in women: increasing female enrollment, offering robust scholarship funding, creating inclusive cultures, and launching specialized clubs, conferences, and leadership initiatives for women in business.

In this post, we highlight the MBA programs that are truly walking the talk—those that not only admit more women, but also equip them to lead, grow, and thrive across industries. Whether you’re looking for a supportive community, a high ROI, or the chance to shatter glass ceilings, these programs are among the best in the world for ambitious women in 2025.

 

Why women should pursue MBAs

If you’re a female, business schools want you! The question is, do you want them?

We think an MBA is a great move for women because of the way it will impact your career. More opportunities, a greater network, and increased problem-solving and leadership skills make for a bright future in business.

Professional Woman’s Magazine writes that an estimated 70% of MBA graduates worldwide are senior managers or board directors. In other words, you have a good chance of having a high-level management position if that’s what you choose. Not only is this good for you, but it’s also good for others who will be empowered by seeing more women leaders as role models.

Business school students often make important connections with other students, professors, and even potential employers through their internship, not to mention the vast alumni network they have access to post-graduation. In fact, most schools now have women in business clubs which allow female professionals to learn from and support one another to reach their goals and expand their capacities.

Looking at it from a personal development point of view, you have even more incentive to sign up for B-School. MBAs offer two intense years of gaining new skills, being pushed out of your comfort zone, and learning about leadership and management – things that will undoubtedly make you grow and change for the better.

You definitely can’t ignore the financial benefits of an MBA: on average, graduates from top business schools can expect to earn six-figure salaries within three years.

Though women typically receive a lower return on investment than their male peers, the return is undoubtedly still high. And with increased leadership skills, what better way to challenge this! With so many business schools eager to increase female enrollment, now is a great time for women to apply for an MBA.

 

What makes an MBA ‘good for women’? 

We will look at factors like:

• Number of women enrolled in the program, 
• Highest income after graduation, and
• The best-paying jobs based on MBA majors. 

These factors will weigh differently for each person; our goal is simply to make your choice an informed one.

 

MBAs with the highest female enrollment

Business schools continue making progress toward gender parity. According to recent reports, many top programs now approach or surpass 45% female enrollment:

• Duke Fuqua: 51% women

• Kellogg: 50% women

• MIT Sloan: 49% women

• Oxford Saïd: 48% women

• Cambridge Judge: 47% women

• Wharton: 47% women 

• NYU Stern: 47%

• Harvard: 45% women 

• London Business School: 45%

• Stanford GSB: 44% women 

• Columbia: 44%

Notably, Wharton became the first M7 school to admit a class that was 52% female in 2021, and it has remained around 50% since—a powerful signal of institutional commitment to gender equity.

While numbers don’t tell the whole story, higher female representation often correlates with a more inclusive, collaborative culture. This means you’re more likely to find like-minded peers, female faculty mentors, and women-driven leadership initiatives throughout your MBA journey.

A more even split in the numbers means that you won’t be learning in male-dominated classes, getting involved in clubs dominated by male perspectives, or feeling like the lone female voice at the school. With more women to collaborate with as you grow your skills and knowledge, you might discover new things about yourself that can help you challenge the status quo in the future!

 

MBAs with great female-oriented opportunities

Apart from simple numbers, you may be interested in the experiential aspects that are offered to women at different MBA programs. While there are certainly extracurricular activities focused on women’s participation and perspectives at every school, there are some that really stand out.

For instance, Duke Fuqua holds an annual Women’s Leadership Weekend, which brings together prospective and current female students to promote inclusivity and mutual support. Harvard also holds an annual event called the Women in Business Conference, which allows students to discuss industry challenges with female professionals and how to overcome them. Stanford has an incredible network of female alumni who support women in the Women in Management Society; additionally, they have the Clayman Institute for Gender Research that innovates on ways to fight gender inequality in the workplace and beyond.

While all top schools offer opportunities for women, not all are the same. We suggest that you look into the clubs and activities related to gender equity at the schools you’re interested in and contact current members or alumni to discuss their experiences.

 

MBAs with female leadership

Another key consideration you may be making in your MBA program decision is female leadership. The following three top MBA programs worldwide are led by female deans:

Michigan Ross: Sharon Matusik

Sharon Matusik became dean of the Michigan Ross School of Business in 2022. Prior to Ross, she served as dean of the Leeds School of Business at the University of Colorado Boulder, where she was known for championing innovation, interdisciplinary collaboration, and inclusive leadership development.

With a Ph.D. from the University of Washington and a background in entrepreneurship, strategic management, and knowledge-based advantage, Matusik brings both research excellence and a deep commitment to shaping the next generation of business leaders. At Ross, she has continued to prioritize access, equity, and career impact—especially for women and underrepresented students.

In her words, “That’s what motivates me day in and day out. The fact that I can help others open up opportunities for themselves through education is just such a powerful thing. And such a powerful role, I think, that higher education plays in our society by providing economic opportunities for people and social mobility through education, I think, is just incredibly powerful.”

Northwestern Kellogg: Francesca Cornelli

Trained as an economist and game theorist, Francesca Cornelli was named Dean of Kellogg just after the 2018-2019 application cycle. It’s especially notable that Cornelli is actually the third straight female dean at Kellogg, considering that many other business schools have yet to name a female dean. 

As a former professor of finance at London Business School, Cornelli is focused on developing the minds and careers of Kellogg students. 

In her words, “My job is not to get students the next job. They will get a job and they will shine. But ten years from now that job may not exist anymore or will be completely different. We live in an era of change and disruption. What we need is to teach people to be adaptable, to see change and to embrace opportunity. So when people ask what is the value of an MBA, I say it’s not your next job. We want to impact all your life, the entire trajectory.”

UPenn Wharton: Erika James

Also on this list is Wharton’s first female dean, Erika James. An award-winning scholar and teacher, James comes to Wharton after five successful years as the dean of Emory Goizueta. In her first year at Emory, James increased faculty by 25% and built an innovation and entrepreneurship lab, all while building one of the country’s most gender-diverse faculties. 

“Erika has consistently and constructively drawn upon her own scholarship in the areas of leadership development, organizational behavior, gender and racial diversity, and crisis leadership,” said Wharton Provost Wendell Pritchett.

James received her bachelor’s degree from Pomona College and holds a Ph.D. from the University of Michigan.

Erika James. Source: https://technical.ly/startups/wharton-dean-erika-james-leadership-advice  

 

Get into a top MBA for women

While these many considerations give a good idea of the business schools that stand out for women, our team at Ellin Lolis Consulting knows that choosing an MBA program is not an easy decision, especially for women. However, there’s no question that business school is a great choice, no matter where you attend. 

With so many schools eager to accommodate female students and provide them with the best opportunities for their futures, now is the perfect time to take this step. And, as a female-founded, female-led team, we have just the expertise you need to make the right decision on which schools to apply to and how to write an outstanding application to get into the program of your dreams.

If you’re ready to start the process of applying for an MBA but you feel a little lost, don’t hesitate to reach out to us here at Ellin Lolis Consulting. We love to help women meet their goals, both toward their MBAs and beyond!