Financial Times ranks four Catalan Business Schools among the world’s best in Management

Catalonia has consolidated its position as a hub for world-class management education, with four of its business schools included in the latest Financial Times Masters in Management 2025 ranking. IESE Business School leads the Spanish presence at number 16, followed by ESADE Business School in 24th position, EADA Business School in 36th place, and IQS School of Management at number 78.

This recognition places Barcelona among the global cities with the strongest educational ecosystems, with three institutions ranked within the top 40 worldwide. It highlights the city's ability to attract and develop international talent, reinforcing Catalonia's growing reputation as a destination for global executives and professionals seeking high-quality education.

The Financial Times ranking is considered one of the most influential in the sector and assesses 137 programs accredited by AACSB or Equis. Its methodology combines alumni surveys and institutional data, weighting factors such as graduate salaries and career progression, employability, value for money, diversity of students and faculty, international mobility, and sustainability indicators. In this year's edition, Swiss institution St. Gallen once again topped the ranking, ahead of HEC Paris and INSEAD, while Asian schools such as Tsinghua University and Shanghai Jiao Tong University strengthened their presence in the global top 10.

Catalonia, a major pool of qualified talent

Catalonia is also home to one of Europe's most dynamic higher education systems, with 12 universities offering 591 undergraduate degrees and 687 master's programs. Each year, these institutions produce a large pool of highly qualified professionals, fueling the region's innovation-driven economy and providing international companies with access to top talent across diverse fields.

The strong performance of Catalan schools underlines the international competitiveness of the region's academic offering, aligned with global trends such as increasing demand for programs with strong international exposure, a focus on sustainability, and high graduate employability. At a time when many young professionals are choosing master's programs in management as an alternative to the MBA, Catalonia's institutions demonstrate their ability to combine academic excellence with professional outcomes, further enhancing the region's attractiveness for both talent and investment.