Lancaster has a similar decline, I think most UK schools will have fallen because of the fall of the pound and the weaker interest in hiring nonUK students. Manchester was always a good option for career changers, and I guess there is less demand for them too.

1. Yes it's the same.
2. Illinois seems better value and low risk unless you are targeting a country where MBS has a stronger network.

Yes, Illinois is getting very hard.

Durham's rise can be explained partly by the reduction of the percentage of female students from 67% to 44%. Male students earn more, and that drives the rankings.

Durham's rise can be explained partly by the reduction of the percentage of female students from 67% to 44%. Male students earn more, and that drives the rankings.

Durham's rise can be explained partly by the reduction of the percentage of female students from 67% to 44%. Male students earn more, and that drives the rankings.

Additionally, male students are more likely to be in higher management positions and provide better network. Statistically women are much less likely to be in senior management (sadly) and this reflects in the networking of the cohort

I don't know if this generalization - Durham recruited fewer female students, so they dropped in the ranking - is the whole story.

Look at some of the schools listed in the ranking where the class was majority female: USC, where the % female was 52 percent, rose in the ranking (59 --> 46), where the % female was much lower last year (32%)

Fudan also: the previous year's ranking reported a majority female students in the surveyed class (57%). This year, the surveyed class' % female had increased to 65%, and the school rose in the ranking, with better salary and salary increase stats versus last year.

The reality is a bit more complex. More likely,

Originally I have decided to apply for Manchester Global MBA program but recently I have started to consider to apply for illinois iMBA since it is almost 40% cheaper and it seems iMBA has decent teaching quality with good university reputation.

Originally I have decided to apply for Manchester Global MBA program but recently I have started to consider to apply for illinois iMBA since it is almost 40% cheaper and it seems iMBA has decent teaching quality with good university reputation.

The Illinois program is highly regarded. If you're looking for something in the UK - due to network, etc. - you might also consider programs like Bradford's MBA Distance Learning, which is a better value than Manchester's program and is ranked.