Top Consulting Firms for Prestige (2025)

This article will provide you with the latest ranking of the most prestigious consulting firms across key regions, including North America (NA), Europe, the Middle East, Africa (EMEA), and Asia-Pacific (APAC). Overall, MBB dominated these lists.

Read more about the top management consulting firms in general and by practice: Top Management Consulting Firms (2025)

Methodology

Definition

What is prestige?

Prestige is the reputation, status, and perceived value of a firm or position within an industry. It reflects how others view the importance, influence, and quality of the work or the organization. A prestigious firm or role is often associated with high standards, elite networks, and greater career opportunities.

Why does prestige matter to consultants?

Most consultants don’t stay in the industry forever. Having a top consulting firm on your resume and building strong networks there makes it easier to land future roles, whether in corporate strategy, government, startups, or smaller firms. A prestigious firm not only gives you valuable experience but also opens doors and expands your professional connections for the long term.

Source of data

In this article, we use Vault.com as the main source for the rankings. You’ll find lists of top management consulting firms for prestige, ranked by region.

You can find links to the original sources under each ranking list for further reading.

MConsultingPrep’s database

MConsultingPrep Team have compiled data from the source above and from Consultancy.org into structured data sheets. In this article, we use those sheets to analyze the rankings and draw comparisons.

You can access the full database here: 2025 Ranking Database of Management Consulting Firms | MConsultingPrep 

The most prestigious consulting firms in North America (2025) (Vault.com)

Methodology:

Survey respondents were asked to rate their own firm across a variety of factors that affect their daily working lives. Firms were then ranked in each category based on the average rating assigned by their own consultants. One of the factors is the firm's prestige.

Full ranking list: 

Original article: Best Consulting Firms to Work For | Most Prestigious - Vault 

The most prestigious consulting firms in Europe, the Middle East and Africa (2025) (Vault.com)

Methodology:

Survey respondents were asked to rate their own firm across a variety of factors that affect their daily working lives. Firms were then ranked in each category based on the average rating assigned by their own consultants. One of the factors is the firm's prestige.

Full ranking list: 

Original article: Best EMEA Companies to Work For - Vault 

The most prestigious consulting firms in Asia - Pacific (2025) (Vault.com)

Methodology:

Survey respondents were asked to rate their own firm across a variety of factors that affect their daily working lives. Firms were then ranked in each category based on the average rating assigned by their own consultants. One of the factors is the firm's prestige.

Full ranking list:

Original article: Most Prestigious Consulting Firms in Asia-Pacific 

Key observations from Vault.com - 2025 Best consulting firms for prestige

MBB vs. Big Four: What are the overall ranking differences?

Overall performance:

MBB firms dominated the top three positions in all three lists, with the mean position of #2 across the board.

In contrast, the Big Four ranked much lower, with most of their firms falling outside the top 10. Their mean positions ranged from #8.25 to #16.75.

Top #1 Position:
MBB secured the #1 position in all three lists, while none of the Big Four firms reached the top spot.

Top 5 Rankings:

All three MBB firms were consistently within the top 5 across all lists, whereas none of the Big Four firms made it into the top 5.

Top 10 Rankings:
MBB maintained a full presence in the top 10 of all three lists, while the Big Four had no firms in the top 10.

A closer look at the MBB firms

The MBB firms consistently held the top three positions across all three lists.

In each list, McKinsey ranked #1, BCG ranked #2, and Bain ranked #3.

A closer look at the Big Four firms

Deloitte led the Big Four in two out of three lists. In the remaining one, it ranked second among the group. Deloitte’s best position was #4, its worst was #9, and the mean position was #8.33.

PwC led the group in one list. In the two remaining, it came in second. PwC’s best position was #6, its worst was #14 and the mean position was #10.33.

EY usually placed third among the Big Four. It held this spot in two out of three lists, just falling behind KPMG in the APAC list. EY’s best position was #10, its worst was #20 with the mean position of #16.

KPMG often ranked lowest among the group. It came in fourth in two lists, just higher than EY in the APAC list as mentioned above. KPMG’s best position was #13, its worst was #24 and the mean position was #18.

A closer look at Accenture

Accenture’s rankings were not particularly high and it was typically positioned between the firms of the Big Four.

Its best position was #9, its worst was #18, with a mean position of 12.67.

Something you should notice…

Prestige is a subjective concept

The prestige of a consulting firm is influenced by various factors like industry specialization and geographical presence. It also depends on different perspectives, the prestigious for customers will be different from the prestigious for applicants.

Remember, each consulting firm excels in specific areas, and the most prestigious firm for you will be the one that aligns with your goals and provides the value you are seeking.

Don’t rely solely on the ranking lists

Although the ranking lists above were made by reputable teams with a wide range of data, they don’t always offer the best insights for deciding where you should work. These rankings are often based on the personal preferences of consultants, without a relative or contextual perspective. What one person sees as a strength, another might see as a weakness. 

In that sense, the rankings can be quite subjective.

In addition, overall rankings often lacked nuances. They don’t reflect the specific factors that might matter most to you. That’s why it’s important to look beyond the list.

Key nuances to consider when choosing a workplace

Beyond the firm’s prestige, there are other key factors to consider when making your decision, including:

• Salary, bonuses and other benefits

• Work/life balance

• Firm culture

• And more

These aspects will have a direct impact on your day-to-day experience, so think carefully about what matters most to you.

We'll be publishing blog posts that dive deeper into these factors for different consulting firms soon. Stay tuned!

Ask consultants for review

One of the most practical ways to identify if that firm is truly the right fit is to directly ask consultants for review. Experiences can vary between firms, and even between different offices of the same firm.

That’s why you should reach out to at least three consultants working in the specific offices you want to apply for. Their perspective will provide you with the most reliable and relevant information to help you make your decisions.

 

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