Best Business Schools in Italy: top rankings, courses in English and MBAs

Earning a degree in business provides graduates with versatile skills that can be applied across nearly every sector of today’s economy. Depending on their interests, students may opt for a broad program (such as Business Administration or Business Management) or pursue a more focused path in areas like Marketing, Finance, International Business, or Entrepreneurship. This flexibility makes business degrees not only highly marketable but also adaptable to a wide range of professional opportunities.

This versatility is particularly valuable in a Country like Italy, where millions of small businesses form the backbone of the economy and entrepreneurial activity is deeply rooted in its culture. The food and fashion industries, in particular, offer great employment opportunities for business graduates.

Italy also has one of the world’s top universities for Business and Management, and offers students an excellent environment to put their skills into practice in real-world contexts.

If you are thinking about enrolling in a business school in Italy, keep reading. In this article, we explore the best business schools in Italy using two major benchmarks:

1. The QS World University Rankings 2025
   
2. The Censis Ranking (Centro Studi Investimenti Sociali), an independent Italian research institute.

Top business schools in Italy: QS World University Rankings 2025

According to the QS ranking, the top 10 universities in Italy for Business & Management Studies are:

1. Bocconi University – world rank for subject: 10
   
2. Politecnico di Milano – 64
   
3. LUISS University (Rome) – 67
   
4. University of Bologna (Alma Mater Studiorum) – 129
   
5. Sapienza University of Rome – 251–300
   
6. Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore (Milan) – 301–350
   
7. Politecnico di Torino – 351–400
   
8. University of Milan – 401–450
   
9. University of Rome Tor Vergata – 401–450
   
10. University of Padua – 401–450
    

According to this ranking, Milan and Rome have the highest number of universities ranked for business and management courses.

Business schools in Milan dominate the list, with Bocconi University standing out as the 7th best in the world for Marketing and the 9th for master’s in Management.

Best business universities in Italy: Censis ranking

The Censis ranking evaluates institutions based on facilities, student services, scholarships, internationalization, digital resources, and graduate employability.

The chart is divided into undergraduate, postgraduate, private and public courses.

Top public universities for undergraduate business studies

1. University of Bologna – 110 points
   
2. Ca’ Foscari University of Venice – 106 points
   
3. University of Milan – 102 points
   
4. University of Padua – 101 points
   
5. University of Rome Tor Vergata – 100 points
   

Top private universities for undergraduate business studies

1. Bocconi University – 109.5 points
   
2. Free University of Bozen-Bolzano – 101.5 points
   
3. LUISS University (Rome) – 100.5 points
   
4. LIUC Cattaneo – 99 points
   
5. Link Campus University (Rome) – 92 points
   

Bocconi continues to dominate among private institutions, while Bologna leads among public universities.

For the postgraduate courses, we can still see at the top of the chart Bologna, Milano and Ca’ Foscari University for the public schools, and Bocconi, Roma Luiss and Liuc for the private.

Business courses in English in Italy

Many Italian universities now offer bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Business Management entirely in English, catering to international students. Some popular options include:

• Bocconi University: BSc in International Economics and Management, MSc in International Management, MSc in Marketing Management
  
• LUISS University: BSc in Management and Computer Science, MSc in International Management
  
• University of Bologna: BSc in Management and Economics, MSc in Business administration and sustainability
  
• Ca’ Foscari University of Venice: BSc in Digital Management, BSc in Business Administration and Management, MSc in Global Development and Entrepreneurship, MSc in Tourism Management and Sustainability

Some of these universities charge relatively high tuition fees, but they often provide scholarships that make high-quality education accessible even to students from less privileged backgrounds.

Best MBA Programs in Italy

For those aiming for leadership roles or a career change, Italy hosts some of Europe’s best MBA programs:

• SDA Bocconi School of Management: full-time MBA ranked among the top in Europe and globally, with excellent career placement.
  
• Il Sole 24 Ore Business School: full-time or part-time MBAs and sector-focused programs in finance, marketing, and luxury management.
  
• Bologna Business School (BBS): MBAs with specializations in food and wine, fashion, manufacturing, sustainability and innovation, and design.

Choosing the right business school in Italy

When deciding where to study business in Italy, consider not only the program but also the city, lifestyle, cost of living, and the opportunity to build a community and a network of fellow professionals. Milan and Rome offer strong business ecosystems, while cities like Bologna and Venice combine academic prestige with rich cultural heritage.

If you need guidance during your relocation and study planning in Italy, Welcome Association Italy can help you make a smooth transition. Contact us and get our support.