CBS (Sticker) vs Stern ($$) for Investment Banking?

Admissions

Fortunate to be deciding between CBS and NYU Stern and would really appreciate perspectives from people in IB / MBA recruiting.

Short term goal is to pivot into IB and flexible on medium-long term (IB vs PE).

My understanding is:

  • CBS has the stronger overall brand and slightly better placement into top groups / elite boutiques (Purely hearsay)
  • Stern still places extremely well into IB, especially in NYC (Quantifiable)

I’m trying to figure out whether the incremental upside of CBS is worth the additional cost, especially given post-MBA associate compensation vs long-term optionality. I will not be taking loans and paying out of pocket.

Would especially love input from:

  • people who recruited for IB from either school
  • bankers involved in associate recruiting
  • cross-admits who made a similar decision

Posted May 13, 2026, 6:32 PM UTC

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