Karishma,
Might want to take a look at the article below, which does a nice job of analyzing the FT rankings and raises some other points to consider (like the school you select might not be on it next year). This site also has articles on the different rankings and their relative strengths and weaknesses.
https://poetsandquants.com/2011/01/31/wi ... by-the-ft/What are your career goals? You say a good salary and good placement, but in what? This is important to figure out not only to choose the right school (ie can I get there from the school I pick), but also its going to be an important part of a successful application. If the only reason you articulate is that you want more money, I would wager the essays/interview won't go very well. Once you decide where you want to end up (for example consultant for X company), figure out if that company recruits from the schools you are looking at, where and for what positions. Dig a level deeper. If you are international, how do the international students do?
You mention ROI and that you are looking at less expensive programs. Be mindful that the lower investment now can likely mean lower returns in the future. The reason people pay top dollar for top programs is because they realize the returns on that investment. Having a fleshed out idea about where you want to go and what you want your career to eventually look like will make weighing these concerns easier. Despite the fact that the programs you have chosen may not be the most expensive, they are very expensive, in terms of time, effort and actual $$. Check out the guide below as it will provide you with a good jumping off point on how to use the wealth of information available on this site.
p580145-nink-s-guide-on-how-to-navigate-through-gmatclub-for-newbies#p580145