Booth vs Kellogg
Which MBA program is right for you?
Booth
Kellogg
Head-to-Head Comparison
| Metric | Booth | Kellogg |
|---|---|---|
| Ranking | #4 | #5 |
| Acceptance Rate | 21% | 20% |
| Avg. GMAT | 730 | 727 |
| Avg. GPA | 3.6 | 3.6 |
| Class Size | 600 | 500 |
| Avg. Salary | $180,000 | $175,000 |
| Employment Rate | 95% | 94% |
| Annual Tuition | $77,841 | $76,368 |
The Verdict
Choose Booth if…
you want maximum curriculum flexibility, love analytical rigor, and lean toward finance.
Full Booth Profile →Choose Kellogg if…
you value collaborative culture, want the best marketing program, and lean toward consulting.
Full Kellogg Profile →Why People Compare These Two
Booth and Kellogg are Chicago's M7 programs, separated by 10 miles and an enormous cultural gap. Booth is the intellectual individualist's school: flexible curriculum, rigorous analytics, and a culture that values independent thinking. Kellogg is the collaborative leader's school: team-based learning, marketing excellence, and a culture that values emotional intelligence. Most Chicago-bound applicants apply to both and choose based on personality as much as career goals.
Academics and Curriculum
Booth's curriculum is radically flexible. Students choose from over 100 electives with almost no required courses after the first quarter. The academic approach is analytical and economics-driven, with faculty who are world-class researchers. Kellogg's curriculum is more structured, with a team-based first year and marketing, management, and strategy as core strengths. If you want to design your own MBA from scratch, Booth gives you the freedom. If you want a curated experience built around leadership and teamwork, Kellogg delivers.
Career Outcomes and Recruiting
Booth places 32% into finance and 26% into consulting. Kellogg places 34% into consulting and 20% into tech. The consulting delta is notable: Kellogg is widely considered the best consulting feeder in the country, while Booth's finance placement rivals Wharton. Both are MBB target schools, but Kellogg graduates tend to dominate the culture-focused consulting firms, while Booth graduates skew toward the analytics-focused ones.
Culture and Community
This is the real deciding factor. Booth's culture is intellectual and independent. Students debate ideas vigorously, choose their own paths, and form communities around shared academic interests. Kellogg's culture is warm, social, and team-oriented. Study groups, social committees, and collaborative projects define the experience. If you visit both campuses, the cultural difference is palpable within minutes.
The Honest Take
Visit both schools. Sit in on a class at each. One will feel right and the other won't. Booth people know they're Booth people, and Kellogg people know they're Kellogg people. The academic and career outcomes are close enough that the cultural fit should drive your decision. Forcing yourself into the wrong culture for two years is a waste of a top-5 MBA.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Booth or Kellogg better for consulting?
Kellogg is generally considered the stronger consulting feeder. Kellogg places 34% of graduates into consulting compared to Booth's 26%. Kellogg's team-based culture aligns well with consulting firm culture, and McKinsey, BCG, and Bain all hire heavily from Kellogg.
Is Booth or Kellogg better for finance?
Booth is the clear winner for finance. Booth places 32% of graduates into finance compared to Kellogg's 15%. Booth's analytical curriculum, flexible course selection, and economics-driven faculty make it one of the top 3 finance MBAs in the world.
Which school has a better culture?
Neither is objectively better. Booth's culture is intellectual, independent, and analytically rigorous. Kellogg's culture is collaborative, social, and team-oriented. The best way to determine fit is to visit both campuses and experience the difference firsthand.