Top Spanish Private Universities in 2023: Business School Rankings and Industry Ties
IE University, the Alfonso X El Sabio University (UAX), and the University of Navarra sit at the top of Spain’s private universities, recognized by Forbes as the best valued by employers. The publication highlights how these institutions strengthen links with the corporate world to spark innovation and social progress, while also evolving teaching methods to meet modern market demands.
Around the country, enrollment has grown as interest in higher education rises. Between 2008 and 2022, the number of people pursuing a university degree increased by more than 260,000. In Forbes’ assessment, the emphasis shifts to employability rates, projects carried out with industry partners, and social impact. The ranking also notes how quickly programs adapt to labor market needs. The leading three schools solidify their positions by using teaching methods that boost student talent and job prospects.
IE University, headquartered in Madrid with the iconic IE Tower, and Segovia, champions a model that blends research, education, and innovation. The school maintains partnerships with over 3,200 companies and institutions that give students access to notable professional roles. Among the firms where students intern are Amazon, JP Morgan, Danone, and Cuatrecasas. IE also hosts the IE Talent & Careers team, which guides students toward successful careers. This support helps explain why a large share of 2023 graduates are employed shortly after finishing their studies.
Regarding Alfonso X El Sabio University, a 30-year-old institution with campuses in Villanueva de la Cañada and Madrid Chamberí, the school has evolved its delivery model to align with corporate talent needs. Close to 9,000 agreements with companies, including Microsoft, IBM, Santander, Quirón Salud, and Ecoalf, strengthen professional opportunities for students and position UAX as a leader in graduate employability in several rankings. In the past three years, more than 6,000 students participated in nearly a hundred social impact projects with major firms under the UAXmakers program, while a new unified business-technology curriculum has been introduced in the Business & Tech Faculty.
In relation to the University of Navarra, ranked first for employer reputation in Spain by QS World University Rankings 2023 and noted as the most international Spanish university in the CYD rankings, the institution operates four campuses, including one in Pamplona. Navarra runs a Program of Initiation to Business (PIE), a proprietary degree developed with partners from multiple sectors. Its employability initiatives include a Virtual Employment Fair and webinars with corporate partners, alongside a Core Curriculum designed to strengthen students’ intellectual foundations.
Alongside these institutions, Forbes’ top five also includes Cunef University, which maintains more than 750 partnerships with major national and international firms, and Universidad San Pablo CEU, helping firms access student talent through USP CEU’s professional pathways. The list continues with Universidad Europea, Pontifical Comillas, Ramon Llull, Deusto, and Nebrija, collectively rounding out Spain’s ten private universities most valued by employers in Forbes’ latest ranking.
[citation]Forbes Ranking of Spanish Private Universities, 2023, attribution: Forbes.