Collegedunia Team Content Curator
Content Curator
Choosing between an MBA at Tepper School of Business (Carnegie Mellon University) and The Wharton School (University of Pennsylvania) involves significant factors. Wharton is renowned for its rigorous analytical approach and extensive resources, particularly in finance and consulting. Tepper offers a strong analytical focus as well, with strengths in data analytics and operations, emphasizing technology and innovation. Your decision should align with your career goals, preferred campus atmosphere, and learning style. Wharton provides a prestigious education with a global network, while Tepper offers a personalized experience and strengths in technology-driven fields. Consider these aspects to select the program that best suits your professional aspirations and desired MBA experience.
| Tepper School of Business | The Wharton School | |
|---|---|---|
| ranking (overall) | # 49 Financial Times 2025 # 27 Financial Times 2021 # 31 Financial Times 2020 | # 1 Financial Times 2025 # 2 Financial Times 2020 # 4 Financial Times 2019 |
| Programs | UG Programs -12 PG Programs -2 Doctorate Programs -11 | PG Programs -5 Doctorate Programs -7 |
| Cost to Study | Average Tuition Fees 55816 [For UG Program] Average Tuition Fees 45000 [For PG Program] Hostel + Meal - 17944 Per Year | Average Tuition Fees 38732 [For PG Program] Hostel + Meal - 38286 Per Year |
Top Courses Comparison
| ranking | # 18 for Business by US News 2025 # 26 for Business by Times Higher Education 2025 # 56 for Business by QS World University 2025 | # 1 for Business by US News 2025 # 9 for Business by QS World University 2025 # 13 for Business by Times Higher Education 2025 |
| application | #1269 Applicants # 200 Admissions # 15 % Acceptance Rate | - |
| exam scores | Duolingo - 120/160IELTS - 7.5/9TOEFL - 100/120 | Duolingo - 130/160GMAT - 735/800GRE - 325/340IELTS - 7.0/9TOEFL - 100/120 |
| Admission Criteria/Better to Have | GPA of 3.32 average and preferably 680 GMAT Score. Average Work Experience required around 5.4 years. | |
| cost to study | Total Cost (Tuition + Living) - | Total Cost (Tuition + Living) -132404 |
| Return on Investment/Average Package | #Average Salary126250 | #Average Salary |
| documents required | #Letter of Recommendation + Statement of Purpose | #Letter of Recommendation + Statement of Purpose |
| application dates | Dec 3, 2025 (Round 2 Decision Application Deadline For Fall 2026 Intake) Jan 8, 2026 (Round 2 Application Deadline for Fall 2026 Intake) Mar 3, 2026 (Round 3 Application Deadline for Fall 2026 Intake) Apr 21, 2026 (Round 2 Fees Deposit Deadline For Fall 2026 Intake) Apr 29, 2026 (Round 3 Decision Application Deadline For Fall 2026 Intake) May 26, 2026 (Round 3 Fees Deposit Deadline For Fall 2026 Intake) | Jan 6, 2026 (Round 2 Application Deadline For Fall 2026 Intake) Feb 20, 2026 (Round 2 Interview Invitations for 2026 Intake) Mar 31, 2026 (Round 2 Decisions for 2026 Intake) Apr 1, 2026 (Round 3 Application Deadline For Fall 2026 Intake) Apr 17, 2026 (Round 3 Interview Invitations for 2026 Intake) May 12, 2026 (Round 3 Decisions for 2026 Intake) |
Other Popular Comparisons
The brand-value of The Wharton is phenomenal when compared with Tepper Business School. The competition between the MBA program at these two business schools in the US is highly biased towards Wharton for various reasons. Some of these are mentioned below, while some are discussed further.
The Wharton School is highly regarded among employers and the chances of being snapper-up by the employers after an MBA from Wharton are extremely high. Around 81% of the students of MBA class were offered employment right after completion of their course from The Wharton. On the other hand, this percentage for Tepper Business School was 71%.
The Salary increase was though higher for Tepper Business School MBA graduates, 126% as compared to Wharton’s MBA graduates, 107%. However, the value for money that Wharton offers is better than Tepper Business School.
Overall, The Wharton School for MBA is an obvious pick between Tepper Business School and Wharton.



















