ESSEC vs SDA Bocconi for Luxury MBA — which has better outcomes?

Question

Looking at ESSEC and SDA Bocconi for a luxury MBA. Both seem solid in brand partnerships and location, but I’m not sure which one offers better industry access, placements, or salaries after graduation.

Which one is better overall if ROI and breaking into luxury roles are the main goals?

Which one is better overall if ROI and breaking into luxury roles are the main goals?

B.K Sharma · Accepted Answer

If the goal is breaking into the luxury sector, especially with brands like LVMH, Chanel, or Cartier, ESSEC probably has the edge. Their MBA in Luxury Brand Management is well-established and deeply connected to the French luxury industry. Students often work on real projects with LVMH maisons, and some of these lead to internships or full-time roles.
Being near Paris gives ESSEC students access to brand HQs, trade shows, and exclusive networking events. That said, French fluency helps a lot &mdash; many HQ roles expect at least basic proficiency, especially for strategy or marketing positions.
SDA Bocconi is strong too, particularly for Italian brands like Gucci, Armani, or Moncler. Both schools report similar starting salaries (&euro;45K&ndash;&euro;60K), but ESSEC tends to have a slight advantage in placing grads into top-tier fashion houses.
If ROI and direct access to global luxury brands are key, ESSEC feels more connected to that world, especially if you&rsquo;re open to learning French.

T Mehta · Answer

Both are strong, but the better choice really depends on the kind of luxury career you're aiming for. Bocconi gives you better access to Italian fashion houses &mdash; placements with brands like Ferragamo, Zegna, and Valentino are more common. The school&rsquo;s location in Milan also means constant exposure to fashion events, showrooms, and visiting professionals.
ESSEC is more connected to the French side of the industry &mdash; LVMH, Kering, L&rsquo;Or&eacute;al &mdash; and has broader exposure across fashion, beauty, and accessories. Their alumni network in Paris is quite active, and it helps when it comes to hidden roles or referrals in the industry.
Salary-wise, they&rsquo;re both in the same range &mdash; usually &euro;45K&ndash;&euro;60K to start. ESSEC grads might see more variety in post-MBA roles, from brand management to retail innovation, while Bocconi leans more toward fashion marketing and operations.
If you're aiming for French luxury, ESSEC has the edge. For Italian fashion, Bocconi makes more sense.

Divakshi Arora · Answer

For a Luxury MBA, ESSEC generally has stronger outcomes compared to SDA Bocconi. ESSEC is directly tied to the LVMH Chair and has partnerships with Richemont, Kering, and Chanel, which means students often secure internships and projects with these firms during the program. The school&rsquo;s Paris location also matters, as most luxury houses are headquartered in France.
Placement reports show ESSEC luxury MBA graduates entering roles like brand manager, retail strategy associate, and product marketing manager with average salaries around &euro;65,000&ndash;70,000, climbing higher after two to three years. Tuition is about &euro;53,000, and with salaries at this level, many students recover the cost within 2&ndash;3 years. SDA Bocconi has a strong fashion and design edge due to Milan&rsquo;s industry network, but placements lean more toward Italian and European brands. If the primary aim is ROI and direct access to global luxury firms, ESSEC offers the clearer path.

Mansih K · Answer

If the goal is to break into luxury, both ESSEC and SDA Bocconi have strengths, but the experience and outcomes differ.

ESSEC has unmatched connections to French luxury houses &mdash; students regularly land projects and jobs at LVMH, Cartier, and Herm&egrave;s. Salaries start around &euro;65,000, with long-term mobility across Europe and Asia. About 90% of graduates are employed within three months, making outcomes consistent.
SDA Bocconi leverages its Milan base, giving strong exposure to fashion, lifestyle, and design. Alumni placements often include Gucci, Armani, and Prada, where roles focus more on brand strategy and operations.
Class sizes at Bocconi are slightly larger, which can expand peer networks but also add competition for top roles. ESSEC&rsquo;s smaller cohort makes access to recruiters more personal.
One overlooked point: Bocconi is slightly more cost-effective on tuition, which may tilt ROI for those aiming at Italian or European luxury firms.

For global luxury management careers, ESSEC edges ahead, but Bocconi works well if Milan-based fashion and lifestyle brands are the priority.
 For more details you can read these blogs on "ESSEC MBA" and "SDA Bocconi MBA"

V Gupta · Answer

When it comes to a Luxury MBA, both ESSEC and SDA Bocconi have strong reputations, but they differ in focus and outcomes. ESSEC is widely regarded as the stronger choice for luxury brand management, mainly because of its LVMH Chair and partnerships with brands like Chanel, Cartier, and Dior. Its location near Paris &mdash; the heart of global luxury &mdash; gives direct access to top-tier internships and networking events.
Bocconi, on the other hand, excels in business fundamentals and offers exposure to Italy&rsquo;s luxury ecosystem &mdash; fashion houses like Gucci, Prada, and Armani. While placement rates are high for both, ESSEC grads tend to secure more roles in Paris-based luxury groups with higher starting salaries, whereas Bocconi offers a slightly broader business scope.
If your goal is ROI and career entry into luxury management, ESSEC holds a clear edge due to its stronger brand links and placement outcomes.