Kellogg vs Columbia Business School

Which MBA program is right for you?

#5 Overall

Kellogg

Acceptance 20%
Avg. GMAT 727
Avg. Salary $175K
#6 Overall

Columbia Business School

Acceptance 15%
Avg. GMAT 729
Avg. Salary $180K

Head-to-Head Comparison

MetricKelloggColumbia Business School
Ranking#5#6
Acceptance Rate20%15%
Avg. GMAT727729
Avg. GPA3.63.6
Class Size500850
Avg. Salary$175,000$180,000
Employment Rate94%93%
Annual Tuition$76,368$80,472

The Verdict

Choose Kellogg if…

you value collaboration, want the best marketing program, and lean toward consulting.

Full Kellogg Profile →

Choose Columbia Business School if…

you want NYC immersion, lean toward finance, and value the Ivy brand.

Full Columbia Business School Profile →

Why People Compare These Two

Kellogg and Columbia are both M7 programs with different geographic and cultural identities. Kellogg in Evanston is the collaborative leader's school with dominant consulting and marketing placement. Columbia in Manhattan is the finance powerhouse with NYC as its classroom. Applicants choosing between them are usually deciding between consulting/marketing and finance, or between Chicago and New York lifestyles.

The Honest Take

Consulting and marketing vs finance and real estate. Chicago vs Manhattan. Collaborative culture vs independent hustle. The programs attract fundamentally different personality types, and both produce exceptional outcomes. If you visit both, you'll feel the difference immediately.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Kellogg or Columbia better for consulting?

Kellogg places 34% into consulting vs Columbia's 28%. Kellogg is widely considered the top consulting school among M7 programs. Both are MBB target schools.

Is Kellogg or Columbia better for finance?

Columbia places 36% into finance vs Kellogg's 15%. Columbia's Wall Street proximity and value investing heritage give it a decisive advantage for finance careers.