[ghaff]

I'm not sure if it's to the same degree as law degrees, but there's definitely a strong element of credential value from top schools. The conventional wisdom for law degrees is that, if you can't get into a top school, most people shouldn't bother. That's probably at least somewhat true with MBAs as well.

[gamblor956]

Many people go to law school for reasons other than working in BigLaw wasting their lives away in an office. For example, a great number of lawyers (and budding law school students) work for (or want to work for) for smaller firms, or in-house at companies, or at non-profits, and go home in the evenings to their friends and families.

But yes, if you plan to go to law school solely because you want to make money, it's not worth it unless you go to a top school or graduate at the literal top of your class.

[storgendibal]

There is a pretty strong power law in effect for the ROI on an MBA depending on the strength of the school. https://gmatclub.com/forum/value-of-a-top-10-mba-213365.html