MBA at Marshall School of Business vs McCombs School of Business

MBA at Marshall School of Business vs McCombs School of Business

Collegedunia Team logo

Collegedunia Team Content Curator

Content Curator

Deciding between an MBA at Marshall School of Business (University of Southern California) and McCombs School of Business (University of Texas at Austin) involves key considerations. McCombs offers a strong program with a focus on entrepreneurship, energy, and technology, leveraging its location in Austin's business ecosystem. Marshall provides a collaborative environment and strengths in entertainment and technology industries due to its LA location. Your decision should align with your career goals, preferred campus atmosphere, and learning style. McCombs excels in entrepreneurship and industry connections, while Marshall offers a personalized experience and industry strengths in the entertainment sector. Consider these factors to make an informed decision.

Overview Comparison
Marshall Business SchoolMcCombs School of Business
ranking (overall)# 50 Financial Times 2025
# 24 Financial Times 2021
# 36 Financial Times 2020
# 39 Financial Times 2025
# 40 Financial Times 2021
# 40 Financial Times 2020
ProgramsUG Programs -3
PG Programs -8
Doctorate Programs -5
UG Programs -12
PG Programs -4

Top Courses Comparison

Top Courses Comparison

ranking# 49 for Business by Times Higher Education 2025
# 72 for Business by QS World University 2025
# 16 for Business by US News 2025
# 51 for Business by Times Higher Education 2025
# 53 for Business by QS World University 2025
application-#1941 Applicants
# 260 Admissions
# 13 % Acceptance Rate
exam scoresIELTS - 6.5/9PTE - 61/90TOEFL - 90/120IELTS - 7.5/9TOEFL - 105/120
documents required#Letter of Recommendation + Statement of Purpose#Letter of Recommendation + Statement of Purpose
Comparison Notes

The Marshall School of Business comes under the University of Southern California and is located in Los Angeles. The McCombs School of Business is a business school at the University of Texas, in Austin.

  • Graduates from Marshall experienced a salary increase of 121% while those from McCombs only got 98%. Marshall has better value for money.
  • US News ranks Marshall and McCombs at #17 and #18 respectively, while Financial Times places the two at #36 and #40 respectively.
  • The two colleges have similar class sizes.
  • Both schools have a good percentage of female students, at 40%.
  • However, McCombs has more international students at 20%, compared to Marshall’s 12%.
  • Applicants to Marshall are automatically considered for merit scholarships. In addition to that, they have the opportunity to apply for CGSM fellowships.
  • Applicants to McCombs are also automatically considered for cash awards and tuition waivers, and other fellowships are available with the Forte Foundation, Reaching OUT MBA, and Teach for America. International students may get the chance to be selected as Sylff Global Fellows.
  • Both cities have fairly moderate climates. Austin experiences more rainfall, but LA has less extreme temperatures, so generally, LA is considered to have a more comfortable climate.

Both the schools are quite similar in their rankings and facilities provided. Even though Austin is a flourishing city, it is advisable to do an MBA from Marshall in Los Angeles because there are more global business opportunities available in that area.