Rome Business School has risen to 2nd place in Italy in the QS Executive MBA Rankings 2026 and stands as the leader in Rome, recording a 33-position improvement in the global ranking compared to last year. This result is driven by significant growth in key indicators of the QS methodology: Career Outcomes, which reached 42nd in Europe (up 30 positions globally), and Executive Profile, which climbed to 36th in Europe, marking an 81-position leap globally—one of the most significant increases in the entire ranking.
The Executive MBA’s performance consolidates Rome Business School’s position in a leading international ranking, which in its tenth edition evaluated 215 Executive MBA programs across 58 countries. The QS methodology relies on key indicators such as Career Outcomes, Diversity, Executive Profile, and Employer Reputation to measure a program’s ability to impact participants’ careers and attract qualified managerial profiles in highly competitive environments.
Compared to last year, QS highlights a significant leap for Rome Business School’s Executive MBA in the Career Outcomes indicator—42nd in Europe, with a 30-position global advancement—confirming the program’s impact on participants’ professional growth. The average salary increase for students is 45%, with 82% reporting they have applied the skills acquired during the master’s program to their current roles.
This success is supported by a strongly practice-oriented approach, integrating activities such as Business Practice Labs—experiential learning paths led by managers and developed with companies like IBM—and Global Trends Labs, focused on analyzing major global shifts. The program also features direct involvement from top recruiters including Oracle and Deloitte. The journey is further enhanced by individual coaching, supporting the development of immediately applicable skills and career evolution. Additionally, the 14 International Bootcamps in destinations like Silicon Valley, Doha, London, and Paris offer immersive weeks of case study analysis in direct contact with partner companies and universities, including those at Babson and Rome.
The Executive Profile indicator stands out with excellent results, analyzing class composition in terms of professional experience and current managerial responsibilities. It rose by 81 positions globally, reaching 36th place in Europe. This reflects the growing seniority of participants and the quality of the managerial profiles in the classroom—increasingly composed of experts aimed at roles of rising responsibility.
“The most valuable aspect of my experience at Rome Business School was the professional networking and stimulating discussions with colleagues. Engaging with industry-expert faculty and peers with solid professional backgrounds allowed me to evaluate and improve my operational strategies,” says Valerio Abbatecola, program student and Business Development Expert at ENI Live.
Regarding other indicators, Rome Business School’s Executive MBA ranks 30th in Europe for Diversity and 64th in Europe for Employer Reputation, reflecting recruiters’ appreciation for the quality of the graduates. The result in the Thought Leadership indicator was more moderate, with the program placing 72nd in Europe, still contributing to the overall ranking score.
Rome Business School continues to strengthen its standing in major international rankings, including the QS International Trade Rankings (where the MBA ranks 1st in the world for Graduate Outcomes), QS World University Rankings, CEO Magazine Global MBA Rankings, Eduniversal Best Masters Ranking, QS Stars Rating, THE Impact Rankings, and the Positive Impact Rating—all highlighting quality of education, employability, and social impact.
