A candidate consulting Parcoursup in 2024 no longer just looks at the name of the university. They filter by access rate, percentage of honors in the baccalaureate for admitted students, and sometimes even by job prospects six months later. This evolution profoundly changes the way rankings of economics and management degrees are interpreted, and what emerges in 2024 no longer resembles the rankings from three years ago.
Job Market for Young Graduates: The Filter Rankings Overlook
There is much talk about selectivity at entry, but rarely about what happens at graduation. The latest survey from the Conference of Grandes Écoles (CGE) covering the class of 2025 shows a clear signal: the net employment rate at six months has dropped to 76%, down from just over 80% a year earlier. The proportion of graduates seeking employment has reached its highest level since 2005.
For economics-management profiles, this slowdown directly affects management and business roles. As a result, a ranking that only values access difficulty presents a skewed image. A highly selective degree may lead to a well-ranked master’s program, without professional integration following at the same pace.
Cap Horizon also notes that the gap is widening between general and vocational training. Programs that include long internships or work-study placements from the third year show more stable short-term trajectories. This differential does not appear in any of the major rankings published in 2024.
Ranking Criteria for Economics-Management Degrees: What Changed in 2024
The most consulted rankings (Thotis, Le Figaro Étudiant, Eduniversal) do not measure the same things, and this is the main source of confusion for candidates. To better understand these disparities, consulting the ranking of economics-management degrees helps to identify the emerging trends this year.
Thotis: Selectivity and Volume of Applications
The Thotis ranking is based on four weighted criteria: access rate and number of candidates (coefficient 3 each), percentage of honors (Bien or Très Bien) and percentage of scholarship recipients (coefficient 1 each). The data comes from the Open Data Parcoursup of the Ministry of Higher Education.
This system mechanically advantages well-known Parisian institutions. A degree with a low access rate and many candidates rises in the ranking, even if its employment outcomes are not documented.
Le Figaro Étudiant: Baccalaureate Average as a Marker
The Figaro ranking includes the average baccalaureate score of admitted students. This criterion measures the entry level of students, not the quality of the training itself.
Comparing these rankings without understanding their criteria is like comparing grades on different scales. It is recommended to cross-reference at least two sources before prioritizing preferences.
Attractive Economics-Management Degrees on Parcoursup: Beyond the Top 3
Economics-management is among the fields whose attractiveness is increasing. The Assas degree is among the most selective programs in France in 2024, across all disciplines.
However, focusing on Parisian institutions masks regional dynamics. Several medium-sized universities are gaining attractiveness through specialized programs starting in the second year:
- Dual degrees in economics-management and languages (LEA), responding to the growing demand for international profiles in business
- Enhanced programs in data science and quantitative techniques, aligned with needs in analytical marketing and management control
- Vocational options including tutored projects with local companies, partially compensating for the lack of structured internships in traditional degrees
The attractiveness of a degree is also measured by the diversity of its master’s degree pathways. A program that leads to business law, finance, and digital marketing offers more flexibility than a strictly academic program.
Professionalization in Economics-Management Degree: The Underlying Trend
A service note published in the official bulletin at the end of 2025 formalizes the personalized pathway in professional high school towards tertiary fields, including economics-management. This institutional signal confirms a trend that universities had already anticipated: candidates are arriving with more pronounced operational expectations.
On the side of IAE (Instituts d’Administration des Entreprises), the IAE France network has been promoting the logic of professionalization for several years with work-study programs accessible from the third year. Feedback on this point varies by institution, but IAE that offer real support in companies show higher rates of continuation to master’s programs.
For 2024 candidates, this trend concretely changes the evaluation criteria:
- Check if the degree offers work-study or mandatory internships in the third year, not just theoretical management courses
- Look at the business partnerships displayed by the program, especially in marketing and management fields
- Consult the rates of continuation to master’s programs and the master’s mentions accessible from the targeted degree
A ranking does not replace a direct verification of the educational frameworks published on university websites. It is in the details of the UE (units of teaching) and the hourly volumes that one can see if a degree truly prepares for management sciences or remains a general common core until the third year.
The 2024 rankings outline a useful but incomplete map. A candidate who cross-references Parcoursup selectivity, educational content, and post-graduation employment data has a much more reliable filter than any ranking taken in isolation.