Whartonite Definition

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Updated August 08, 2023
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Whartonite Whartonite

Investopedia / Laura Porter
Definition
A Whartonite is a graduate of the Wharton School of Business.

What Is a Whartonite?

"Whartonite" is a colloquial term used to refer to graduates of The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. Because of the Wharton School's reputation in the financial sector, the term "Whartonite" is often associated with professionals in industries such as investment banking, investment management, private equity, and venture capital.

In some cases, the term can be used in a derogatory manner, referring to a professional with an attitude of superiority or arrogance. In this sense, it is associated with the negative stereotypes that sometimes surround the financial sector.

Key Takeaways

  • "Whartonite" is a term referring to graduates of The Wharton School, the prestigious business school at the University of Pennsylvania.
  • It can have a negative connotation, implying that the person in question has a superiority complex.
  • Wharton is widely considered among the best business schools in the world, with its undergraduate and graduate programs regularly ranked among the top 5 in global business school rankings.
  • The school offers a variety of majors for both undergraduate and graduate students and has a large alumni network of many prestigious graduates.

The Wharton School

The Wharton School was established in 1881 by the industrialist Joseph Wharton. It is widely referred to simply as "The Finance School," due to having long been rated as the preeminent school for those pursuing careers in finance.

Despite its reputation for producing graduates who work for Wall Street and other financial firms, Wharton also boasts MBA majors in a diverse range of subjects, including healthcare management, marketing, real estate, and environmental, social, and governance (ESG) factors.

The school has been expanding outside of its Pennsylvania location. It launched an Executive MBA program in 2001, through which students can complete their studies out of a newly-established campus building located in San Francisco. Similarly, the school opened the Penn Wharton China Center in 2015, a new campus located in Beijing that aims to strengthen Wharton’s connections and influence in the Greater China region.

Rankings and Alumni

Wharton is widely regarded as one of the world's top institutions for business education. U.S. News & World Report ranks Wharton's MBA program as the third best in the United States. It ranks its undergraduate business program as number one.

Those looking for examples of individual Wharton graduates will have no shortage of people to choose from. In fact, Wharton boasts a large alumni network for its MBA program of 100,000 graduates. It is no surprise that some among them are very prominent indeed: including Sundar Pichai, CEO of Alphabet; John Sculley, former CEO of Pepsi, and Peter Lynch, the one-time manager of Fidelity's Magellan Fund. Elon Musk and Warren Buffett both also attended Wharton as undergrads, though Buffett transferred out before graduating.

Is Wharton Better Than Harvard?

Wharton's MBA program is ranked better than Harvard's by U.S. News & World Report: number three and number five, respectively; however, for undergraduate purposes, Harvard is a better-ranked school that offers a variety of more subjects for students while Wharton is business focused.

How Much Does Wharton's MBA Cost?

The first-year of Wharton's MBA program costs $124,476, which includes tuition and fees, room and board, books and supplies, and health insurance. Second-year costs are $122,476.

How Hard Is It to Get Into Wharton Grad School?

Wharton's MBA program is extremely difficult to get into. The school receives between 6,000 and 7,000 applicants a year and accepts approximately 1,000 of those.

Is Wharton School an Ivy League School?

Yes, The Wharton School is an Ivy League school as it is part of the University of Pennsylvania, which is one of the eight Ivy League schools. The other schools are Harvard, Princeton, Columbia, Cornell, Dartmouth, Yale, and Brown. The term "Ivy League" applies only to U.S. schools, which were originally tied together through athletics before the formation of the United States. They are now considered to be some of the best schools in the world and admittance into them is extremely competitive.

The Bottom Line

Whartonites are those individuals that graduated from The Wharton School, one of the most prestigious business schools in the world. The Ivy League school offers undergraduate and graduate programs in a wide range of majors, not only finance, with graduates going on to find employment in many successful companies.

Article Sources
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  2. Wharton. "Wharton MBA Majors & Specialties."

  3. Wharton. "Wharton San Francisco at a Glance."

  4. Wharton (Penn Wharton China Center). "About the Center."

  5. U.S. News & World Report. "Best Undergraduate Business Programs Rankings."

  6. U.S. News & World Report. "2023-2024 Best Business Schools."

  7. Business Because. "Wharton School Notable Alumni | 14 Famous MBAs."

  8. Wharton. "Alumni and Network."

  9. U.S. News & World Report. "2022-2023 Best National University Rankings."

  10. Wharton. "Wharton MBA Financial Aid and Tuition."

  11. Wharton. "Wharton MBA Admissions FAQs." Select "How Many Applications Do You Receive Each Year for the MBA Program?"