What is the Triple Crown Accreditation?
Triple Crown Accreditation shows that a business school has earned recognition from three top accreditation bodies: AACSB, AMBA, and EQUIS. Achieving just one accreditation is difficult. Earning all three reflects a school’s exceptional commitment to continuous improvement and global business education standards.
Just like topping master’s rankings, it’s a prestigious sign that few can claim. In fact, as of April 4, 2025, 139 business schools globally hold triple accreditation from AACSB, AMBA, and EQUIS, or around 1% of the world’s business schools.
The accreditation bodies evaluate schools on teaching quality, research standards, international outlook, and industry connections. Each applies strict, independent criteria for approval.
Because only a small number of institutions worldwide hold this triple accreditation, it’s a powerful marker of excellence, credibility, and international relevance. For students, it signals a school that meets the highest expectations in academia, career preparation, and global reputation.
Three Accrediting Bodies: AACSB, AMBA, EQUIS
Each of the three independent accreditations, AACSB, AMBA, and EQUIS, serves a different purpose, giving triple crown-accreditated universities a well-rounded evaluation.
AACSB Accreditation
The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) is a U.S.-based body evaluating schools on mission, faculty, and curriculum. It assesses nine standards across three categories: strategic management, learner success, and thought leadership.
Accreditation takes three to five years to achieve and includes self-assessment and peer reviews. Following initial accreditation, AACSB runs a continuous improvement review (CIR) that is due to extend from five years to six as of July 1, 2026.
Only 6% of business schools worldwide are AACSB-accredited, making it one of the most selective recognitions in higher education.
AMBA Accreditation
The Association of MBAs (AMBA) focuses solely on postgraduate business programs and MBA accreditation rather than entire schools. This distinguishes it from AACSB and EQUIS, which look at institutions as a whole.
Business schools that apply must pass through four stages: the initial stage, pre-assessment, assessment, and post-assessment. However, the accreditation is not permanent. To promote continuous improvement, successful programs undergo a review every five years. This involves revisiting the assessment and post-assessment stages.
Even more exclusive than AACSB, only 2% of business schools boast AMBA accreditation for their programs. Therefore, AMBA-accredited courses convey a high level of prestige to prospective students and graduates.
EQUIS Accreditation
The European Quality Improvement System (EQUIS), established by the European Foundation for Management Development (EFMD Global), describes itself as “the leading international system of quality assessment, improvement, and accreditation of business schools”.
Its wide-reaching scope of assessment looks at:
- Programs
- Students
- Faculty
- Research and development
- Executive education
- Resources and administration
- Internationalization
- Ethics, responsibility, and sustainability
- Connections with the world of practice
The comprehensive process takes from two to three years and involves a self-assessment and a peer review visit. Successful applications receive either a five-year accreditation, a three-year accreditation, or non-accreditation. Schools must then apply for re-accreditation before their time frame expires.
Benefits of Triple Accreditation For Business Schools
Is triple accreditation important? Absolutely. It’s more than a badge; it signals world-class education and global recognition.
For schools, it reinforces a culture of continuous improvement, innovation, and accountability in teaching and institutional strategy. For students, it means learning at a school that meets the highest global standards in business education.
EDHEC is a French business school with Triple Crown Accreditation. It cites the benefits of triple accreditation as confidence in the quality of a program as well as that of the institution’s faculty, facilities, student experiences, and career support.
AMBA goes into more detail, pointing out that Triple Crown Accreditation universities attract top-tier faculty and students. This extends into strong alumni networks with competitive career opportunities worldwide.
Triple-Accredited Business Schools in Europe
Europe is home to the largest proportion of triple-accredited business schools compared to other continents. How come so many triple-accredited business schools are based there? Of 139 institutions worldwide, 85 are in Europe. The United Kingdom takes the lead with 26 institutions, followed by France with 19.
Well-known names such as INSEAD, Esade, and London Business School are unsurprisingly part of the elite group of triple-accredited business schools in Europe. They retain their Triple Crown status by continuing to evolve and improve, whether it’s through a focus on emerging technologies or international exposure. However, institutions continue to qualify, with Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham Business School, and ZHAW School of Management and Law in Switzerland joining the list in 2024 and 2025.
Triple-Accredited MBA Programs
Earning a triple-accredited MBA can significantly boost your academic and professional trajectory. These programs guarantee academic rigor, global relevance, and a strong employer reputation.
Graduates often benefit from increased career mobility, access to global job markets, and stronger salary outcomes. Whether you want to switch industries, move abroad, or launch your own venture, a triple-accreditation MBA offers the content and contacts for you to succeed.
Triple Crown Accreditation is not a one-and-done process. It encourages continued excellence in line with academic and industry changes. In particular, AMBA regularly reviews programs to ensure that they maintain the highest standards in:
- Teaching
- Learning and curriculum design
- Career development and employability
- Student, alumni, and employer interaction
How to Choose a Triple Crown Accredited University
When choosing a university with Triple Crown Accreditation, remember that prestige is just one of the factors you need to look at.
Here’s a step-by-step guide for choosing a triple-accredited university.
- Start by confirming a school’s accreditation status on the official AACSB, AMBA, and EQUIS websites. Don’t rely on marketing claims.
- Consider program structure, teaching methods, and specializations that match your career goals. Not all triple-accredited schools offer the same strengths in their curricula.
- Explore the school’s global partnerships, exchange programs, and international experiences, especially if you’re targeting a global business career.
- A strong alumni network can also signal value. Reach out to past graduates for insights into post-program outcomes and career support.
- Finally, compare faculty expertise, campus culture, and employer engagement. These details are vitally important to building the right network.
Following these steps will help you make a balanced choice, rather than allowing accreditation to play a disproportionate role in your decision-making.
How Important is Triple Crown Accreditation?
So, is triple crown accreditation important? In short, yes. It is a cast-iron guarantee of quality in career outcomes and international recognition. It reflects global credibility, academic excellence, and a serious commitment to continuous improvement, qualities valued by both students and employers.
So, if you’re aiming for strong career outcomes and international recognition, a triple-accredited school is worth serious consideration. However, when choosing the right place to study, you need to align prestige with personal fit and alignment with your own career goals.
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