Financial Times MBA Ranking 2026: 7 French schools in the world’s Top 100

In total, 128 schools took part in the Financial Times (FT) ranking process for the 2026 edition. To draw up its ranking, the FT surveyed alumni three years after graduating from their MBA: 6,625 former students participated in the survey, a 33% response rate. In addition to alumni feedback, the ranking uses a range of criteria, including graduate employability, salary levels, career progression, the proportion of women on faculty, and the degree of internationalization (both among professors and students).

Two French institutions ranked in the Top 10

Out of 100 schools ranked, in the general ranking, France has seven. The FT explains that all participating schools meet the FT’s entry criteria and are accredited by Equis or the AACSB.

With seven institutions ranked, France is the fourth country with most quotes, behind the US (39), the UK (13) and India.

Out of these seven institutions, two stand out in the Top 10:

• INSEAD ranks 2nd, climbing two places;
• HEC Paris comes in 6th, climbing three places.  

Seven French schools in the general ranking

Five additional French institutions also posted strong performances in this year’s ranking: 

• ESCP Business School, in 22th place;
• ESSEC Business School, which records the largest jump (+23) to reach 24th place;
• emlyon Business School, 41th;
• EDHEC Business School, 47th(+17);
• Audencia (88th).