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MBA Acceptance Rates at the Top 20 US Business Schools

By Linda Mohamed

Choosing a business school isn’t an easy job. There are many aspects of the application process to take into consideration, such as GMAT and GRE scores, essays, references and interviews, and of course, whether the business school is a good fit for you and your career progression.

But there’s another key component to think about when applying to business school: acceptance rates.

Acceptance rates represent how many applicants are admitted into a school’s MBA program, and they’re a great indicator of how competitive it really is to land a spot on your MBA of choice.

Some schools and their MBA programs are more difficult to land a spot than others. To help you narrow down your options, we’ve compiled a list focusing on the acceptance rates at the top 20 US business schools.

The most competitive top schools

Stanford Graduate School of Business is the most competitive school on the list, overtaking its Ivy League rivals with an acceptance rate of 6.9 percent. During the two-year full-time MBA program, students follow a core general management curriculum that includes the basics of business administration as well as a customizable curriculum with elective courses. The average GMAT acceptance score is the highest on the list at 734.

Harvard Business School follows Stanford as the second most competitive school in the US, with an acceptance rate of 11.5 percent and a GMAT score of 728. HBS’ MBA is a full-time, two-year residential program with different teaching activities and a busy social calendar.

MIT Sloan School of Management, ranked third best in the world according to the QS Global MBA Rankings 2020 , is the third most competitive school on the list with an acceptance rate of 14.6 percent. Columbia Business School, Haas School of Business and The Wharton School follow closely, with 16.4, 17.7 and 23.1 percent respectively.

The least competitive top schools

Tepper School of Business at Carnegie Mellon is the third least competitive school on the list, with an acceptance rate of 42.8 percent and an average GMAT score of 687. The school’s MBA program is known as having among the fastest ROI among the schools in our global ranking.

Questrom School of Business follows as the second least competitive school, with an acceptance rate of 49.6. Its full-time MBA offers a mix of traditional b-school courses with unique electives that help students expand their skillset.

However, Kelley School of Business at Indiana University is the least competitive program in our top 20, with nearly half (49.9) of applicants securing a spot on the MBA program. The school also has the lowest average GMAT score at 666.

Other top schools you may want to consider applying to because their acceptance rates are slightly more forgiving are Cornell SC Johnson College of Business, McCombs School of Business and Tuck School of Business.

How to ace your application

The application process to get into a top MBA program is rigorous, but don’t let the amount of work involved discourage you – it’ll be worth it once you get in and start your MBA journey.

Here at TopMBA , we have compiled a comprehensive step-by-step to-do list on how to earn a spot at these prestigious business schools – click here to access it.

This article was originally published in June 2020 . It was last updated in August 2024

Want more content like this Register for free site membership to get regular updates and your own personal content feed.

Linda was a Content Writer at TopMBA, creating content about students, courses, universities and businesses. She recently graduated in Journalism & Creative Writing with Politics and International Relations, and now enjoys writing for a student audience. 

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Gre prep online guides and tips, graduate school acceptance rates: can you get in.

Even the most qualified and confident applicants worry about getting into grad school. But don’t panic! Graduate school acceptance rates, which give the percentage of applicants that were admitted to a particular school or program in an academic year, can help you determine how likely you are to get into a given program.  But where can you find grad school admissions statistics?

In this article, we’ll first investigate the trends and factors associated with graduate school acceptance rates. Then, we’ll take a look at some of the current acceptance rates and give you expert tips on how to find acceptance rates for your programs. Finally, we’ll show you how to determine your odds of getting into grad school.

Graduate School Acceptance Rates: Factors and Trends

Grad school acceptance rates are the same as any other acceptance rate: the lower the acceptance rate, the more selective the school or program is. Similarly, the higher the acceptance rate, the less selective the school or program is. As with undergrad acceptance rates, grad school acceptance rates vary widely, from extraordinarily selective (less than 5 percent) to incredibly lenient (nearly 100 percent).

Unlike undergrad rates, though, grad school acceptance rates are usually calculated for specific programs or departments and  not for entire universities. This is because with grad school, you are essentially applying to an individual program rather than an overall institution (as you did for undergrad).

Now that we’ve covered all of the basics, let’s look at a few key trends. Our research indicates there are three major factors that help determine grad school acceptance rates:

• School or program prestige
• Degree type
• Amount of funding

Let’s look at how each of these factors influences grad school acceptance rates.

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#1: School or Program Prestige

How prestigious a particular grad school or program is can affect its overall competitiveness and selectivity. In general, the more prestigious a program is, the more competitive it’ll be and thus the lower acceptance rate it’ll have.

An easy way to determine school or program prestige is to consult official rankings, such as those listed on  U.S. News . (Grad schools are typically ranked by field or program and   not by overall institution.)

For example, a 2017  U.S. News  list of the best political science grad programs  ranked Duke’s political science program at #7 and Northwestern’s at #23. Because both of the programs have fairly high rankings, it’s safe to assume they’re probably quite selective.

And this is true: in 2016,  Duke  reported a mere 10 percent acceptance rate to its political science doctoral program, while  Northwestern  reported a 12 percent acceptance rate.

#2: Degree Type

Another major factor is degree type. Generally,  doctoral programs tend to be more selective than master’s programs (though this isn’t always the case as I’ll explain in a moment). This trend is likely due to the fact that doctoral programs often look for higher-quality applicants with proven academic track records and more relevant experience in their fields.

For example, in 2016  University of Michigan’s math doctoral program  had a 17.2 percent acceptance rate, whereas its master’s program  had a much higher 31.8 percent rate. In this case, the doctoral program is clearly tougher to get into than the master’s program.

Still,   master’s programs can have lower acceptance rates than doctoral programs. If we were to take the University of Michigan’s grad programs in computer science and engineering, we’d find that the doctoral program has  a 15 percent acceptance rate  and the master’s  an even lower 8 percent acceptance rate .

Additionally, M.F.A. programs are particularly cutthroat. In 2015, the creative writing M.F.A. program at UT Austin’s James A. Michener Center for Writers only admitted 12 out of 678 applicants — that’s a mere 1.8 percent acceptance rate !

#3: Amount of Funding

Funding, too, plays a big role in how selective a grad program is.

Well-funded  programs typically receive more applications than those offering little to no aid, thereby raising their selectivity. Competition is especially fierce for fully funded programs — possibly because fewer people are willing to go into debt for grad school.

Compared to fully funded doctoral programs, fully funded master’s programs are somewhat rare and thus pretty competitive. UT Austin’s Creative Writing M.F.A. program, for instance, is not only a prestigious program but also one of the most well-funded Creative Writing M.F.A. programs in the country: it  offers full tuition remission and a $27,500 stipend per academic year . It’s no wonder, then, that its acceptance rate is below 2 percent!

What Are the Current Graduate School Acceptance Rates?

For this section, we’ve scoured the internet to bring you a robust assortment of acceptance rates for popular U.S. grad schools.

Before we dive in, note that not all institutions calculate grad school acceptance rates using the same methodologies. Some offer only a single acceptance rate for all of their grad schools put together, while others offer individual rates by school, field, or program.

Now, let’s see how selective these schools really are!

*Statistics for NYU are based on the number of enrolled students and not the number of admitted students. Therefore, expect actual acceptance rates to be slightly higher.

How to Find Graduate School Acceptance Rates: 4 Methods

Unfortunately, grad school admissions statistics tend to be more difficult to find than undergrad acceptance rates.  But there are ways to search for them — you just have to do a lot of digging and possibly a little reaching out.

Below are our top four methods for finding grad school acceptance rates for the programs you’re applying to.

#1: Consult School Websites

By far the most reliable resources for grad school admissions statistics are  school websites.

Start your search by consulting program and departmental pages, particularly admissions and FAQ pages. Look out for any statistics-related keywords or phrases, such as “admission(s) rates,” “acceptance rates,” “enrollment,” “facts and figures,” etc. Use ctrl+F to move swiftly through large chunks of text.

Not all schools publish grad admissions information online, and those that do don’t always report it in the same way as others. For example, Princeton offers a handy PDF  containing acceptance rates for all academic fields of study. On the other hand,  Notre Dame  gives separate admissions charts for each of its grad programs (which you can access by selecting a program and then clicking “Admissions Statistics”).

Additionally, many schools release admissions statistics without explicitly publishing acceptance rates.  In this case, it’s your job to take the statistics provided and use them to calculate an acceptance rate. To find the acceptance rate of a school or program, you’ll need the following information:

• The total number of applicants in a year
• The total number of applicants granted admission  that year

The acceptance rate equals the total number of applicants offered admission divided by the total number of applicants and then multiplied by 100, or:

$$\acceptance \rate = {\number \of \applicants \offered \admission}/{\total \number \of \applicants}100$$

Be sure to  avoid conflating the number of students who were  offered admission   with the number of students who accepted their offers of admission. These two concepts sound alike but are actually different. What you’re looking for is the first statistic — that is, the number of admitted students (regardless of whether they decided to enroll).

If you’re having trouble finding admissions statistics by browsing school websites, search on Google for “[Your School] graduate acceptance rate” and see if any relevant school pages appear. While searching for acceptance rates to use in the table above, I consistently swapped “acceptance rate” with similar phrases, such as “admission(s) rate,” “facts and figures,” “student statistics,” “admittance rates,” and “admission(s) statistics.”

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Don’t be afraid to get creative! You can also use phrases like “Ph.D. admissions statistics” or “master’s admissions statistics” to narrow your search even further. Try to think outside the box as you do your research. What are other ways people talk about acceptance rates?

#2: Check  U.S. News

If your school or program doesn’t offer any admissions statistics on its website, go to  U.S. News . This website offers official rankings of grad programs as well as lists of the most (and least) selective programs in various fields.

For example, I found a 2016 list of the most competitive online M.B.A. programs  and a 2015 list of the most competitive online graduate engineering programs .

If U.S. News doesn’t offer any relevant lists for you to use, try skimming the current grad school rankings to gauge how competitive your program is compared with others in the same field.

#3: Search Other Websites

One less reliable method for looking up grad school admissions statistics is to  look for (unofficial) websites discussing acceptance rates for your school or program.

The Grad Cafe’s  admissions results  section is a solid place to start. Here, applicants post whether they’ve been accepted, rejected, or waitlisted for grad programs.

Search for your program to get a rough feel for how many acceptances and rejections go out each year. You might notice that certain types of applicants are more active than others. Creative Writing M.F.A. applicants, for example, are prolific posters in winter and spring (during admissions season).

Occasionally, Google itself will provide you with grad school acceptance rates, but this only appears to work consistently for well-known law schools, medical schools, and business schools.

Additionally, while using Google, don’t assume that any acceptance rates that pop up are directly connected to your search terms. For example, when I searched “stanford graduate acceptance rate,” Google gave me this result:

This 4.8 percent acceptance rate is  not  the acceptance rate for Stanford’s grad programs (what I searched for) but rather the acceptance rate for undergrads. So always cross-check any statistics Google gives you.

You can also consult grad school data websites such as  Peterson’s and StartClass . Take their grad school acceptance rates with a grain of salt, though — their data isn’t always verifiable online. If possible, try to compare any data you find on these types of websites with the school websites themselves or U.S. News .

#4: Contact Schools

If the internet isn’t giving you the help you need, call or email your schools. Be polite but upfront: ask whether the school calculates acceptance rates for grad programs and where you can find this information online (if available).

If a school refuses to divulge admissions statistics or simply doesn’t report acceptance rates, see if they can give you estimates for how many applications they receive each year, or for how many acceptances they usually extend to applicants in your program.

Graduate School Acceptance: What Are Your Odds?

By this point, you might be wondering how likely it is you’ll actually get into the grad program you wish to attend. After all, acceptance rates are pretty broad — they tell you what everyone’s odds are but not your odds specifically.

Below are three easy steps for determining your odds of getting into grad school, including advice on when it’s better to go for it or choose another program.

Step 1: Check Program Requirements

First, go to your program’s website and pinpoint the admissions requirements page. Now, ask yourself:  do you meet all of the program’s basic requirements? If not, you’ll likely wind up with a rejection (and might not even be able to apply).

However, if you’re still interested in applying, contact the program and ask if they’ll make an exception for you. Your chance of getting accepted is still low, but you’ll at least have your application considered.

If your program strongly recommends qualities you lack, don’t interpret this as an automatic rejection. Sometimes, applicants can make up for deficiencies in other ways. For example, if your undergrad GPA is 3.1 and your program recommends applicants have a minimum 3.2, don’t write off the program — you might still have a shot at getting in as long as the rest of your application is solid.

On the other hand, even if you meet all of a program’s requirements, you’re not necessarily a shoo-in. Remember, all other applicants have met these requirements, too, so you’ll need to find a unique way to make your application stand out.

Step 2: Find Average GRE Scores and GPAs

Your next step is to look up your program’s average GRE scores and GPA  to see how your own scores and GPA compare with those of previously admitted applicants.

You can usually find GRE score information on admissions requirements or FAQ pages. You can also search on Google for “[Your School] [Your Program] average GRE scores.” For step-by-step instructions on how to find average GRE scores, check out  my article on average GRE scores by school .

For GPAs, you can use the same basic methodology. Check admissions requirements and FAQ pages and use ctrl+F to search for “GPA.” If GPA information is available, you’ll most likely come across minimum GPAs or average GPAs (or both). For more tips on how to find GPA information for your grad schools, read our guide .

Now, compare your own GRE scores and GPA with the averages you’ve found. Below are all possible scenarios and what they mean for you and your odds of getting into the program:

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• Your GRE scores and GPA are both  higher than your program’s averages:  Congratulations! You have an excellent chance of getting accepted, especially if the rest of your application is equally impressive. Keep up the great work!
• Your GRE scores and GPA are both  about the same as your program’s averages:  You’re doing pretty well! You are just the type of applicant your program is looking for. The only drawback is that you probably won’t stand out as much from other applicants who have similar GRE scores and GPAs. So take time to make your application sparkle (I’m looking at you, statement of purpose).
• Your GRE scores and GPA are both lower than your program’s averages (or just one of the two is lower):  It ain’t over ’til it’s over! You can still make up for your deficiencies in other ways. While you can’t change your GPA, you can retake the GRE . If your GPA is low, a great strategy for combating this is to discuss it in your statement of purpose, taking care to highlight any external factors that contributed to the low GPA as well as any attributes of yours that prove you’re indeed ready for grad school.

Step 3: Decide Whether to Apply

Now, we get to the final question: do you apply to the program or not?  This is a vague question that’s difficult to answer as is. The real questions you should be asking yourself are as follows:

• Do I meet all of the program’s basic requirements?
• Do I meet most or all of the program’s expectations of applicants (in terms of GRE scores, GPA, etc.)?
• Is the program’s acceptance rate extremely low?
• Do I really like this program?

Although acceptance rates and GRE/GPA comparisons are helpful, don’t base your decision to apply solely on how difficult the program is to get into. We can’t know for sure what kind of applicant a grad program is looking for or who they’re willing to make an exception for.

Take a moment to think deeply about how interested you are in this particular program. Be realistic about your chances of getting in — but don’t cross the line into pessimism. If you don’t meet most or all of a program’s expectations and you’re not super invested in it, consider applying elsewhere.

But if you meet some, most, or all of a program’s expectations and you’re extremely interested in enrolling, give the application a go. Remember, it’s totally normal (and even encouraged) to have a few reach schools. Plus, you’ll never get in if you don’t apply!

Key Takeaways: Graduate School Acceptance Rates

Grad school acceptance rates quantify for us the selectivity of grad schools and programs. More specifically, acceptance rates tell us  what percentage of applicants were offered admission to a particular grad school or program. 

With grad school, acceptance rates are often reported for individual schools or programs,  not  entire universities. Acceptance rates can vary widely depending on program prestige, the type of degree you’re seeking, and how much (or how little) funding a program offers.

Unlike undergrad acceptance rates, grad school acceptance rates are somewhat difficult to locate online. You can look for them using any of the following four methods:

• Peruse school websites
• Check grad school facts and lists on  U.S. News
• Browse other websites and forums such as The Grad Cafe
• Call or email your schools

When trying to determine your  odds of getting into a program, look at your program’s requirements as well as the average GPA and GRE scores of previously admitted applicants to your program. If your GRE scores and GPA are comparable to those of your program, you have a decent shot at getting accepted. If one or both are lower than your program’s averages, however, you can always try to  raise your GRE score  with a retake or address your GPA in your statement of purpose.

At the end of the day, what ultimately matters isn’t that you get accepted to a highly competitive grad program but that you make the right decision for you and you alone!

What’s Next?

Need help with your grad school application?  Learn about the most common grad school requirements  and get tips on how to write a grad school CV or resume !

Is your GPA good enough for grad school ?  Read our in-depth guide to learn how you can make up for a less-than-stellar GPA and ultimately raise your chances of getting into the school of your dreams.

Do you have to take the GRE for grad school ? When are grad school deadlines ?  Check out our guides for answers to these questions and more.

Ready to improve your GRE score by 7 points?

Author: Hannah Muniz

Hannah graduated summa cum laude from the University of Southern California with a bachelor’s degree in English and East Asian languages and cultures. After graduation, she taught English in Japan for two years via the JET Program. She is passionate about education, writing, and travel. View all posts by Hannah Muniz

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Frequently Asked Questions

• Does work experience matter?

In general, work experience is not necessary though it may be A) an indication of success in another field B) a source of future research ideas and C) a signal of legitimacy at more management-focused schools (e.g., Wharton, Harvard). Both Megan and Stephen had work experience with Megan working at Deloitte for three years and then working as a lab manager and Stephen working at McKinsey for two years and then at a start-up university in Vietnam. From our survey of admitted applicants, 50% worked in a non-research job before applying. When Stephen was considering applying to grad school directly after graduation, his advisors at Harvard urged him to work first in order to learn about “the big questions that managers cared about.” In general, most programs seem to value applicants gaining work experience before beginning grad school, though this is not a requirement. However, this can greatly vary by field with some valuing work experience much more highly.

• Do I need to get a master’s degree before applying to a PhD?

No. You do not need to get a master’s degree before applying to a PhD (neither Megan or Stephen have master’s degrees). In fact, of our 46 surveyed admitted students only 12 had completed a master’s degree or only ~26%. Getting a master’s degree might be a good choice, however, if you want to get additional research experience or are trying to gain support from new faculty members. Nonetheless, it is not a requirement like it is in other countries. It is possible that programs may have higher expectations from applicants holding graduate degrees, so it is advisable to use the time well if your plan is to obtain a master’s degree before applying to PhD programs.

• What are my chances of getting in?

Across top business school programs, the acceptance rate seems to range between 4% and 7%. For most business school programs, the cohorts are extremely small with usually four to five students admitted and two to three students matriculating each year. From our understanding, some PhD programs are more competitive than others (e.g., business economics seems to be one of the most competitive), so it is important to recognize variation across your field. Of the admitted students, they on average were accepted to ~50% of the schools they applied to which indicates a “winner-take-all” market where the top applicants receive multiple offers and some applicants may receive none.

These acceptance rates are only useful in the abstract; when thinking about your probability to get accepted, it is important to condition on your own background and abilities. Do you have research experience? Do you have good grades from a top institution? Do you have interests that relate to the faculty’s interests? Do you do research before applying (e.g., by reading a guide like this)?

• How many schools should I apply to?

Apply to all the programs that in your opinion will make a fine researcher out of you and where you are likely to be happy for 5 years. It costs about $100-$150 per application, and most applications require similar materials. So go ahead and apply to as many programs as you like; applying to as many as 15 to 20 programs is quite common. If you are slightly unsure, apply anyway. Once you are admitted you can then talk to professors in the department before deciding whether or not to attend.

• Should I write to professors before I apply?

This depends. Write only if you have questions which cannot be answered by reading publicly available material and by talking to graduate students. If you are interested in working with a particular professor, sending him/her a short email outlining your interests can help sometimes. Your mileage will vary, but if you can get them excited about your application then that is obviously a positive. If you write and don’t get a reply, don’t be disheartened – professors at most schools are incredibly busy and they get many emails from a large number of graduate students. In general the more senior the professor and the more prestigious the school, the lower your chances of getting a reply. So go ahead and apply nonetheless, they will have a good look at your application when you apply through the official channels.

• What happens at visit days?

If you are admitted to a PhD program, most schools will fly you out to visit their campus for one to two days. These visit days are generally structured such that there is a meeting with the PhD faculty coordinator in the morning, a slew of back-to-back 1-1 meetings with faculty, a campus tour, and a dinner with current PhD students and faculty. These visits are an opportunity for you to get a feel for the campus and the life of current PhD students. Remember that your “performance” in meetings with faculty no longer has any bearing on your admission to the program, and do your best to relax and enjoy the visits!

• Should I visit a school if I do not think I will accept their offer?

We would encourage you to attend any interview or visit day to which you are invited. It is very possible that you will find that seeing the school and talking with faculty members changes your opinion of the school and the program. Similarly, you may find that programs that you thought were your top choices are no longer so appealing when examined up close. If you decide after the visit that you still would not choose to attend the program, be as diplomatic and courteous as you can when communicating that decision. Ultimately, by embarking on the PhD journey, you are entering a community of scholars. It is valuable for your long term career success (especially when you go on the academic job market) to get to know other members of the community even if you do not end up attending their school.

• How do the finances work out?

In general the stipend is enough to comfortably cover expenses and leave some over. If you are living with your spouse, it can be harder to manage though it is possible to get through without major debt. As stated before, starting salaries in business schools are pretty attractive! If you are working at the moment or if you are finishing school and have lucrative job offers, remember that the real cost of attending graduate school is in the wages lost while in school. Similarly, those coming from the corporate world might have to make significant lifestyle changes. General statements in this regard are difficult to make since backgrounds vary considerably depending on personal and financial situations and family commitments.

• What is the typical age of graduate students in business?

Graduate students are usually between 22 to 35 years old when they start. The typical graduate student is around 24-25 years old, though those over 30 are fairly common. In general, there is a definite bias towards those in their mid and late twenties, but if you are significantly older (above 40) you should talk to PhD program coordinators at schools that interest you. It has been done before.

• What percentage of students do not finish their business school PhD?

It is difficult to find reliable data to answer this question, and it will vary greatly by program and year. However, from our conversations at top programs it appears that somewhere between 15-20% of all PhD students do not finish their degree. Many will leave with an exit “masters” where they complete two years of course work and then do not complete their dissertation. It can be helpful to (diplomatically) ask questions about this during visit days, or through private conversations following visits, because this metric can be an important indicator of how a given doctoral program operates and its degree of commitment to student success.

• What percentage of students do not continue in academia after finishing a PhD?

This is another case where reliable data is scarce, because this exit path is somewhat stigmatized (though perhaps less so in the field of finance). Some business schools seem to have more students exiting to industry than others. For example, many students from schools located in the San Francisco Bay Area seem to go into tech after graduating. This percentage will vary widely by school and by field, but it seems that somewhere between 20-30% will choose not to continue in academia based on our limited sampling. Within some fields (e.g., operations research and management) this percentage may be higher (exceeding 40% at some programs in recent years).

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How to get into Harvard Business School: 6 tips, including navigating the new essay prompts

Preston Fore is a staff writer at Fortune Recommends, covering education and its intersection with business, technology, and beyond. Preston graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he studied journalism and global studies. His previous work can be found in The Daily Tar Heel and CNN. 

Jasmine Suarez is a senior editor at Fortune Recommends, where she was hired to build and launch the department in 2022. Before joining Fortune, she was a senior editor at Business Insider , where she led various verticals on the personal finance team .   In the past, she’s worked for Red Ventures, Adweek, McGraw-Hill, Pearson, and more. 

So you’re thinking about applying to earn your MBA. And not just any MBA—but a degree from Harvard Business School , consistently ranked as one of the country’s elite programs. Not only does the school often top Fortune’s ranking of the best MBA programs , but it also produces the most Fortune 1000 CEOs .

Your application checklist is primed with a high GPA, top GMAT test scores , and professional experience to match. But each year, thousands of Harvard hopefuls don’t make the cut. The time, effort, and thought it takes to prove to Harvard that you’ve earned that coveted spot is just as rigorous as its two-year, full-time MBA program.

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What sets the application process apart is its “introspective” nature, HBS officials, students, alumni, and MBA experts agree. HBS doesn’t want to hear about how great it is, but how you, as an MBA candidate, can make it even better. 

In 2022-23, Harvard received 8,149 applications for its full-time MBA program and extended admission to 938 candidates (that’s a nitpicky 8.69% acceptance rate). What’s the secret to competing among the world’s future business leaders? 

“It’s more of an art than it is a science,” says Shaifali Aggarwal, an HBS graduate who is the founder and CEO of Ivy Groupe , an MBA admissions consulting firm. “There is no formula, per se.”

HBS’s new essay prompts

A new challenge awaits applicants to the class of 2027: new criteria for candidate evaluation and admissions essays. Historically, HBS has had just one essay prompt, asking students in 900 words or less simply what the admissions team should know more about. Now, students will have to tackle three questions: 

“Business-Minded Essay: Please reflect on how your experiences have influenced your career choices and aspirations and the impact you will have on the businesses, organizations, and communities you plan to serve. (up to 300 words)

Leadership-Focused Essay: What experiences have shaped who you are, how you invest in others, and what kind of leader you want to become? (up to 250 words)

Growth-Oriented Essay: Curiosity can be seen in many ways. Please share an example of how you have demonstrated curiosity and how that has influenced your growth. (up to 250 words)”

These three themes—business, leadership, and growth—are the main characteristics HBS says candidates must prove they embody in order to be accepted into HBS.

The changes may be in an effort to connect the essays with topics prospective employers ask during the recruiting process for summer internships and full-time employment, shares the team at Stacy Blackman Consulting , a firm which is made up of several former HBS admission officers. 

They encourage prospective students to be genuine and leverage creative themes or threads across the three essays to ensure one’s application cohesively stands out—and is not solely based on a story of successes and accomplishments.

“Go deep. Get personal. Make sure the reader feels genuineness and authenticity. Make them get goosebumps while they are reading,” they tell Fortune . 

For those interested in pursuing a Harvard MBA, don’t be put off by the new criteria and essays; in fact, consider it a new opportunity. Fortune has 6 tips for how you can tackle them and eventually get into the best business school in the nation:

• Consider why you want the degree
• Don’t focus solely on test scores and GPA to carry your application
• Choose your recommenders carefully
• Show—don’t tell—your story (with the new essay prompts)
• Memorize your application & practice explaining your “whys”
• Reflect on your interview

1. Consider why you want the degree

Before anything else, applicants to HBS need to take them to think. Consider your goals and motivations. Do you want to go to Harvard just because it’s Harvard? Or is there something in particular that excites you about pursuing an MBA , especially from one of the best schools in the world. (Don’t forget, this will be an endeavor that will cost you close to $250k).

Harvard employs the case study method, using scenarios from real business leaders . Students debate approaches for protagonists to take in a variety of situations and challenges across multiple industries. In total, students tackle a whopping 500 cases during their two years at Harvard. Cold-calling and fast-paced debates are an essential component of an HBS education. Consider whether that’s an environment where you would sink or swim.

“I think if you feel like this is something you want, you should shoot your shot. Most people that get in are not expecting to get in. It’s just something that’s a dream of theirs,” says Erik Rasmussen , who graduated from HBS in 2024 and now consults prospective students.

HBS charges a $250 nonrefundable application fee via credit card for its traditional MBA program. Active duty military members are exempt as well as those who are experiencing financial hardship. For the latter, applicants must submit a need-based waiver request.

2. Don’t focus solely on test scores and GPA to carry your application

Students admitted to Harvard Business School in 2023 on average had a 3.73 undergrad GPA, 4.9 years of work experience, and a 740 median GMAT score. While these can indicate success, they don’t guarantee admission. HBS students come from engineering, economics, social sciences, business/commerce, and math and physical science backgrounds, with no one undergrad program representing a majority of admitted students.

HBS accepts either the GMAT (10th or FOCUS edition) and the GRE as its standardized testing requirement. About two-thirds of the class of 2025 submitted GMAT and about one-third submitted GRE. If you are not a great test taker, try a practice test of both to see which you preform better with.

Keep in mind that test scores and GPA are just numbers; they are no indication of truly who you are as a person. Focusing on your letters of recommendation, essay, interview, and post-interview reflection will help you differentiate your candidacy.

Rasmussen says he was admitted to HBS despite having a slightly lower than average GMAT as well as number of years of work experience. And while HBS does not have a minimum requirement for students to apply, experts agree that being similar to the class profile can only tremendously help and put less pressure on the other materials to supplement.

“Schools are going to use the GMAT and the GRE and the GPA as a rubric of, can you handle the rest of the curriculum because they want to make sure that they’re accepting people who will succeed in the classroom and not struggle,” Aggarwal explains.

3. Choose your recommenders carefully

Accompanying your application are two letters of recommendation, which should illustrate HBS pillars. While the school notes that there is no set formula for who is best suited to be a recommender, former supervisors, colleagues, or an outside-of-work collaborator are examples of who could work. Moreover, while a good recommender could be an HBS alum or senior leader at your company, it’s more important to have someone who knows you well to speak on your behalf. 

A recommender can be a great person to vouch for any holes or caution flags in your application, such as a lower-than-average years of work experience or gap in your resume. Moreover, they can explain in detail how you are business-minded, leadership -focused, and growth-oriented. Having them provide examples of your interpersonal skills and quantitative abilities can be especially great.

Making sure your recommenders are also prepared and fully aware of your whole self, including employment and extracurricular history as well as future goals, are key, Rasmussen says.

4. Show—don’t tell—your story (with the new essay prompts)

Writing a response to the HBS essay prompts is not something you can respond to quickly or in one setting. Neither should you copy your response sent to another school. It takes time to reflect on your past and plan your future—and to illustrate it through a well-crafted story catered specific to HBS.

While the admission essays are new for the first time in several years, it is a prime opportunity for students since the admissions counselors have no previous years to base your responses on.

Critical points to hit in your essay responses: Why now is the right time to pursue your MBA, what your goals are, what you’re hoping to get from the program to get you where you want to be, and (in a non-generic way) why you want to earn your MBA. Do these things by showing—not telling, meaning rather than explicitly stating some ideas, express it through unique details and examples.

“You have to be realistic about being vulnerable and telling a real story and really taking the time to reflect on who you want to portray in your essay,” Rasmussen suggests, adding that instead of explaining that, for example, you have a dream to become a CEO of a biotech company, instead think about:

• What does that goal mean to you? 
• What are the deeper parts of you as an individual, and how does that relate to your goal?
• How does your goal fit into how you can contribute to society?

Aggarwal says the essay space is a place to step back and have introspection: think strategically about your life and what you want to do in the future; how do your experiences connect to what you want your future to look like; and what’s your overall motivation.

It can be helpful to friends, family, and others who know you well to help reflect on your own life and be able to better craft an authentic response to the essays, Aggarwal adds. 

All of this is especially important in the context of generative AI tools, like ChatGPT , being an elephant in the room when it comes to admissions. While applicants may think the technology may be able to write elegant essay responses, generative AI is still not perfect; it still lacks human authenticity and cannot incorporate your real-world life experiences into your writing. Plus, it’ll be a little awkward in the interview when you do not sound like the person (or thing) that wrote the essay.

5. Memorize your application & practice explaining your “whys”

HBS typically invites one in five applicants for a 30-minute interview, which may be on-campus, in a hub city or on Zoom. Unlike other programs, only HBS admissions board members conduct interviews. And believe it or not, these officials likely spend more time preparing than you. 

Your interviewer will know your application to a T. They’ll know the classes you took your freshman year of college, where you had your first internship, in which clubs you were involved—and even where you went to high school. They know your story from your essay. 

To nail the interview is to know yourself and to justify your decisions. Aggarwal says the interviewer will be looking to see truly what perspective you can bring to the classroom and can you handle being on your feet.

“Once you get to the interview stage, then you have to just be who you were in your application,” Rasmussen says. “The more authentic you are from that, the more you’re able to back up what you’ve said, I think the stronger you perform.”

Googling HBS interview questions won’t be very helpful, as every interview is tailored to the applicant. To prepare for the hot seat, memorize your application and practice explaining your “whys.”

Be also prepared to be human. Aggarwal says they might ask you about a recent news event or about the industry as a whole.

“It’s not only understanding your story, but understanding the space that you’re in. So, it’s a lot of prep that is required for 30 minutes,” she says.

6. Reflect on your interview

Within 24 hours of the interview, applicants must submit a follow-up letter—the last piece of the puzzle.

The post-interview reflection takes the traditional thank-you note a step further and allows applicants to have the last word. Applicants can expand on topics addressed during their interview and bridge any gaps in their application. It’s also another opportunity for HBS to understand how applicants synthesize conversations, says Aggarwal, who counsels prospects for top MBA programs.

There’s no prescription for the structure or length of the reflection, but it should be concise and direct. It’s not something that you can prepare for since no two HBS interviews are alike.

The takeaway

Any MBA program is a huge investment —of both your time and money. The decision to apply could take months or years. 

Before and during the application process, do your research, speak with current students and professors, listen to information sessions and webinars, and spend time on campus. Think beyond the two years you’ll spend at HBS. Investigate industries you’re interested in pursuing and connect with HBS alum to hear their stories. 

It is also important to not put all of your eggs in one basket. Apply for more schools than just HBS; you never know which will surprise you as being the best fit. 

“I always tell people that you might want to broaden your net a little bit because even if you think you have all the credentials to get into your top one or two schools, you don’t really know completely what’s going on the back end,” says Rasmussen. “You might get through their process, but you might actually just fall through and do really well in another process. So, it’s all a very complicated game you have to play.”

Frequently asked questions

How difficult is it to get into harvard business school.

Getting into Harvard Business School is very difficult. Only about 8.69% of students who apply get accepted. Of those who do, the average median GMAT score is 740, and the average number of years of work experience is 4.9.

What GPA do you need for Harvard Business School?

There is no minimum GPA requirement to get into Harvard Business School, but the average GPA for the class of 2025 was 3.73.

Can an average person get into Harvard Business School?

Yes, Harvard Business School accepts students from a wide variety of industries, undergraduate education sectors, and even countries. For the class of 2025, 45% of students were women, 39% were international students, and 11% of students were first-generation college students.

Check out all of Fortune’ s rankings of degree programs , and learn more about specific career paths .

• Choose from our rankings of the best MBA programs to find the next phase of your educational journey.
• This list helps those looking for MBA program options that do not require submission of test scores to apply.
• Our directory of the most affordable online MBA programs can help you find the school that best fits your budget.
• You can work towards your career goals on your own time by selecting from our list of the best part time MBA programs .
• To help you pick the program that’s the best fit for you, we made this list of the best executive MBA programs .
• Interested in earning your MBA online? Here’s our ranking of the best online MBA programs .

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The Harvard Business Analytics Program is an online certificate program designed for established leaders in any industry. The program leverages a rigorous cross-disciplinary curriculum to help students not just analyze data but understand it, translate it, and incorporate it into strategy at the top levels of their organizations.

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How To Get Into Harvard Business School: Acceptance Rate

Harvard Business School (HBS) is famous worldwide and is located at Harvard University in Boston. It was founded in 1908 and still ranks among the top business schools in the world. Though the rankings may vary each year, HBS consistently ranks among the top five graduate business programs yearly. 

Since a Harvard MBA is so renowned, you must put much time and effort into the application. The application procedure is somewhat similar to that of other MBA colleges. However, Harvard's admissions committee has certain expectations you need to fulfill to get accepted. 

This guide will help you understand everything you need to know about how to get into Harvard Business School. 

Harvard Business School Acceptance Rate: 11.5%

The HBS acceptance rate is 11.5% , reflecting its highly competitive admissions process. With 8,149 applications received, only 938 students were admitted. This low acceptance rate underscores the school's commitment to selecting exceptional candidates with academic excellence. 

If you hope to gain admission into HBS, ensure you have an extremely strong application and submit everything on time. Please note that this acceptance rate is an estimate because many MBA programs have stopped releasing this. 

How Hard Is It to Get Into Harvard Business School

With an acceptance rate of 11.5%, Harvard Business School is very selective. This means that out of every 100 applicants, only approximately 11 or 12 are admitted. To increase your chances of acceptance, it's important to have a strong academic record, impressive professional achievements, outstanding test scores, compelling essays, and glowing recommendation letters.

Harvard Business School Admissions Statistics

Here are the average GPA, test scores, and work experience of Harvard Business School applicants to help you better understand what they expect from them. 

Harvard Business School Average GPA: 3.73

The average GPA of admitted applicants applying to Harvard Business School is 3.73. Although HBS doesn’t have a minimum GPA requirement, you should aim for a minimum of 3.7. It’s always best to aim for a 4.0. It’s important to note that HBS does look at other factors of an applicant's application; however, your GPA is very important. 

Harvard Business School Average GMAT Score: 740

The Harvard GMAT average for admitted applicants is 740. HBS only requires one test score, so it’s your choice if you want to submit a GMAT or GRE score. Remember that HBS GMAT scores are competitive so if you do submit a GMAT score make sure it's considered competitive. 

Harvard Business School Average GRE Score: 163

The median GRE score for Harvard Business School admitted applicants is 163. Due to HBS being extremely competitive, aim for a GRE score higher than 163. You’ll have the choice to submit either the GRE or GMAT, so ensure you have the best score for whatever test you write. 

Employed After Graduation: 80% 

80% of Harvard Business School graduates are employed after graduation. They often land jobs at leading companies in different fields.

Average Year of Work Experience: 4.9 Years

The average work experience for HBS-admitted applicants is around five years. The top industries admitted applicants worked in were consulting, consumer products/retail/e-commerce, financial services, and healthcare. If you want to be considered competitive, ensure you meet the average work experience of admitted applicants.

Job Enrollment After Graduation

After graduating from Harvard Business School (HBS), students follow many different paths. Around 73% of graduates look for jobs, with 86% of them getting job offers.

Meanwhile, 27% don’t seek jobs; of these, 13% start their own businesses, 11% are already employed or have company sponsorship, 3% do other things, and 1% continue their education. The median base salary for these graduates is $175,000. A median signing bonus of $30,000 is received by 57%, and a median performance bonus of $40,000 is received by 70%.

Graduates work in various industries: 25% in consulting, 16% in technology, 17% in private equity, and smaller numbers in investment management, health care, manufacturing, nonprofit/government, investment banking, consumer products, other financial services, venture capital, retail, entertainment/media, and services. 

They take roles in finance (33%), consulting (26%), general management (16%), marketing (10%), business development (6%), strategic planning (7%), and other areas (3%).

As for locations, 89% of graduates work in the United States, mostly in the Northeast (54%), followed by the West (16%), Southwest (7%), South (5%), Midwest (4%), and Mid-Atlantic (3%). 

Internationally, 11% work abroad, with 5% in Europe, 3% in Asia, 1% in the Middle East and North Africa, and smaller numbers in Sub-Saharan Africa, Canada, Latin America, and Australia & Oceania. This shows the variety of career paths and good salaries HBS graduates usually get.

What is Harvard Business School Looking For In Applicants?

Harvard Business School evaluates applications by assessing applicants' demonstrated leadership skills, emphasizing collaboration and meaningful dialogue. They also consider analytical aptitude and a drive for lively discussion, seeking individuals capable of mastering complex information and problem-solving. 

Additionally, HBS prioritizes engaged community work, expecting applicants to uphold ethical standards and positively contribute to the MBA program. The school aims to assemble a diverse class reflective of the global economy, fostering a dynamic learning environment enriched by varied perspectives and backgrounds.

Harvard Business School Admissions Requirements 

To apply to Harvard Business School, you’ll need to submit various application materials , these include:

• Undergraduate transcripts
• GMAT or GRE score
• A TOEFL, IELTS, Pearson Test of English (PTE), or Duolingo English Test for non-native English speakers
• Two recommendation letters
• Business resume
• Application fee of $250 or fee waiver
• Post-interview reflection

Ensure your Harvard MBA application is submitted online by the application deadlines. 

Harvard Business School Application Deadlines

Here is a table showing the various Harvard Business School application deadlines to ensure you don’t miss one. 

Source : HBS

Harvard Business School Regular Decision Deadline

The regular decision deadlines for rounds one and two for Harvard Business School’s MBA program are early September and early January. Ensure you have your application materials ready by these deadlines. 

How to Improve Your Chances of Getting Into Harvard Business School

Getting into Harvard Business School can be very overwhelming. The admissions committee at HBS carefully evaluates each applicant before accepting them. Here are a few tips on improving your chances of getting into Harvard Business School:

Begin Your Research Early

Researching Harvard Business School should be the first thing you do before applying. Researching will help you gain insight into what the school can offer and what it stands for. 

You can start learning about HBS by networking with current students, connecting with alumni, and attending admissions events. It’s never too early to start your research into HBS. Although it depends on your time and availability, starting your research one year before you apply is generally a good idea.

Focus on Acing the GMAT/GRE

HBS is looking for applicants who are able to handle the rigors of a business school. While HBS doesn't set a minimum required GMAT or GRE score, you should aim for a competitive score, ideally within or above the class average scores. This is especially valuable if your GPA is on the lower side.

Write an Outstanding Personal Statement

‍You may have all the essential qualities needed to get into HBS, but it will be useless unless you can show Harvard that you are a perfect fit. Write a clear and concise personal statement that will help you stand out. Tell the admissions committee about yourself, your passions, and your work experiences.

The admission committee loves to accept students who are passionate and willing to give back to society. You should aim to let the admissions committee know how you can contribute to the world through your knowledge, potential, and leadership skills. 

In addition, your HBS essay shouldn't just expand on your resume. Admissions committees will want to know the 'why' behind the 'what,' so it's essential to communicate both what you want to achieve and why from your career and business school experience.

Have Valuable Work Experience

‍You should try to collect at least four years of work experience before applying to HBS. Though there is a four-year program at Harvard that allows undergraduate students to get admitted and then work for two years to gain some work experience, you should try to acquire at least four years of work experience before applying to HBS. 

Before applying to HBS, aim to build a strong skill set. HBS is looking for strong leadership skills and an analytical aptitude. HBS welcomes students who can master quantitative concepts and engage in the community by showing respect for others.

You can go for internships that will help to improve your skill set. If you feel that you don't have the required skills, it may just be a matter of looking at your experiences differently. There are likely other aspects of your experiences that can be highlighted in these instances.

Expert MBA Admissions Consulting for Harvard Business School 

Our MBA application consulting helps you get into top business schools like Harvard. We customize every part of your application, from strategy and essays to your resume and interview prep. 

We focus on highlighting your strengths and unique story, making sure your application stands out. With our expert guidance, you'll navigate the application process with confidence and improve your chances of success.

Harvard Business School Essay Prompts

Applicants to the MBA Class of 2027 (starting in fall 2025) need to answer these three essay prompts:

Business-Minded Essay: Please reflect on how your experiences have influenced your career choices and aspirations and the impact you will have on the businesses, organizations, and communities you plan to serve. (up to 300 words)

Leadership-Focused Essay: What experiences have shaped who you are, how you invest in others, and what kind of leader you want to become? (up to 250 words)

Growth-Oriented Essay: Curiosity can be seen in many ways. Please share an example of how you have demonstrated curiosity and how that has influenced your growth. (up to 250 words)

Harvard Business School Interview

After reviewing your written application, you might get invited for a 30-minute interview. The interviewer will be someone from the MBA Admissions Board who has reviewed your application. The interview is a chance for them to learn more about you through a conversation.

Getting an interview is a positive sign but doesn't guarantee admission. It's just one part of the whole application process. Interviews are only given to those invited; you must attend to complete your application.

Interviews can take place on campus, in different cities, or online via Zoom. Whether you're invited and how the interview is conducted don't indicate the status of your application.

Here are some frequently asked questions if you need further clarification on HBS. 

1. Is There a Minimum Age to Get to HBS?‍

No, there is no age restriction to apply to HBS. You can choose from various programs, depending on your goals and preferences.‍

2. Is the GMAT/GRE Compulsory to Get to HBS?‍

Yes, you need to take either the GMAT or GRE to get into HBS. ‍

3. Do I Need to Take an English Proficiency Exam to Get Into HBS?

Yes, you might have to take an English proficiency exam, such as TOEFL or IELTS, unless your native language is English. You can also be waived from the exam if you can submit a transcript showing you graduated from an English medium college/university.‍

4. What is the Application Fee for HBS?‍

The application fee is $250, which has to be paid via credit card.‍

5. Can I Submit a Hard Copy of My Application?

No, you cannot submit a hard copy of your application. You need to use the online application tool to submit your application.‍

6. Can I Reapply to the MBA Program?

Yes, you will need to file a new application, submit the fees, and get at least one new letter of recommendation from someone who hasn’t already written one for you. ‍

7. What is the Deadline to Apply?

Deadlines vary each year so be sure to regularly check the HBS website to see the deadlines for your course. The Round 1 deadline is usually in early September and the Round 2 deadline is normally at the beginning of January. The deadline is 11:59 pm on the date mentioned. 

Final Thoughts

Getting into Harvard Business School can be daunting since it is one of the world’s top business schools. There is no one sure-shot way to get into HBS, but give yourself the best possible chance by following the strategies outlined above.

Start your research early, and make sure to set aside ample time to fill out and review your application thoroughly. Try your best to prove to the admissions committee how you’d be an excellent fit for the HBS, and you will not have to worry about how to get into Harvard Business School.

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The Office of Admissions oversees the application process for prospective students interested in master’s and PhD programs . We answer questions about the online application and work with graduate program admissions committees, who make acceptance decisions.  

Please review information about how to apply before contacting Admissions.

If you are interested in learning more about a program, reach out to the contact noted on the program page. 

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The Visiting Students Program Office assists with inquiries about non-degree programs and the Office of Equity, Diversity, Inclusion & Belonging can answer questions about outreach programs. 

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Business Administration

Harvard Business School offers a two-year, full-time, STEM-designated MBA program with a general management curriculum focused on real-world practice. Becoming a student at HBS means joining a global community that propels lifelong learning and career support alongside peers, faculty, and staff who will both challenge you and cheer you on as you find and accelerate your path. Learn about joint degree programs.

Jointly administered by HBS and the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, the Ph.D. in business administration grounds students in disciplinary theories and methods and trains them to apply these theories and methods in academic research on important business problems. The program has four areas of study: accounting and management, marketing, strategy, and technology and operations management. The program prepares students for a career in academia at top business schools and research institutions around the world.

Top 25 Business Schools' Acceptance Rates & Class Profiles (2024)

An overview of acceptance rates-as well as class profiles-of the top 25 business schools, to help you determine which schools will be the best fit for you.

Posted May 22, 2024

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Crushing Your Round 1 MBA Interviews: Tips From the Experts

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Table of Contents

Applying to business school is a difficult and scary process. The different MBA programs available to students are unique: each has its own specialization, requirements, applicant preferences, and culture. When starting applications, it can be beneficial to get an idea of the different programs’ acceptance rates and class profiles to find out the right MBA program for you.

These acceptance rates will provide a ballpark estimate; however, keep in mind that most schools don’t disclose their official MBA acceptance rates. However, from class enrollment numbers, it's possible to get a rough idea that can provide some context.

For more expert information on how to get into top business schools, check out these free resources:

• The Complete MBA Application Guide
• How to Write a Powerful MBA Essay -- With Examples
• Six Coaches' Best Advice for the MBA Interview
• The Ultimate M7 Essay Guide
• A Comprehensive MBA Application Timeline -- With Chart
• An Expert Coach's Top Tips for Non-Traditional MBA Applicants

MBA Acceptance Rates Overview

1. Stanford Graduate School of Business (GSB)

Gsb class profile (2023).

• Students of Color: 48%
• International: 47%
• First-Generation: 12%
• Average Years of Work Experience: 4.8
• Average GPA: 3.78
• Average GMAT: 738
• Average GRE: 165 (Verbal), 165 (Quantitative)

GSB Acceptance Rate: 5-6%

• Number of Applicants: 7,367
• Class Size: 426

For more info on Stanford’s Graduate School of Business, check out:

• Stanford GSB MBA Curriculum - Core, Electives, & Specializations
• Stanford GSB MBA Essays: Prompts, Tips, & Examples
• Stanford GSB: MBA Tuition & Fees Breakdown
• The 5 Best Classes at Stanford's Graduate School of Business

Acceptance Rates & Yield At The Top 100 U.S. MBA Programs

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2022 was a great year for applicants to the leading full-time MBA programs in the United States.

2023 brought applicants plenty of good news, too.

Acceptance rates at the top B-schools climbed for a second straight year in 2023, rising at more than half of the top 50 MBA programs, including seven of the top 10 in Poets&Quants ’ annual ranking and 18 of the top 25. Five of the elite M7 B-schools saw their acceptance rates climb year over year.

The loosening of schools’ selectivity stems directly from a long-term fragility in interest: MBA applications fell for a second straight year at many schools — including all but two of the 17 top-ranked programs — and are down significantly over the last three years at many top B-schools. Yield, the percentage of admits who actually enroll, fell at a wide majority of schools in P&Q ‘s ranking, including seven of the top 10 schools and 20 of the top 25 — giving B-schools even more incentive to be generous in their admissions.

And B-schools have been generous, with many growing their enrollment: Thirty-five of 53 top schools increased their number of admits from 2022 to 2023, some by more than 100 seats, and about half the top 50 B-schools increased their MBA class sizes. The result: For many MBA candidates, it became easier in 2023 to get into the program of their choice.

ACCEPTANCE RATES & MORE AT THE P&Q TOP 10: 2016 TO 2023

Schools included in 2023 calculations: Stanford, Harvard, Dartmouth Tuck, Columbia, Yale, Duke Fuqua, Cornell Johnson, Virginia Darden, Michigan Ross, NYU Stern

Just 9 b-schools in the top 100 had acceptance rates below 20%.

Acceptance rates climb at some business schools and fall at others every year. Some shifts can be credited to normal market fluctuations — but in 2023, the trend was clearly to open the gates a little wider for those looking to get an MBA. Acceptance rates grew at 31 schools from 2022 to 2023, up from 29 schools from 2021 to 2022; correspondingly, the ranks of schools with highly selective rates shrank: Only nine B-schools in the P&Q top 100 reported rates below 20% in 2023, eight of them in the top 50. In 2022, there were nine schools in the top 50 alone.

Likewise, in 2023 there were 24 B-schools with rates below 30%, 18 of them in the top 50; in 2022, there were 24 in the top 50; in 2021, there were 27.

The elite B-schools are the canaries in the coal mine: In the top 10, seven increased their acceptance rates; while admits and enrollment were down overall across the 10 schools once again in 2023, the cumulative acceptance rate grew significantly for a second straight year, to 27.8% from 22.2% (see table above). One caveat: Because the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania dropped out of P&Q ‘s top 10, the numbers for 2023 are not perfectly comparable to previous years. But even if you dropped Cornell or Stern or Duke or Darden from the table and added Wharton, there would still be a rise in acceptance rate — and, troublingly from a school perspective, a big drop in applications.

Regardless, acceptance rate growth is not restricted to the elite of the elite. In the top 25, only seven schools decreased their rates. In 2022, the same number of top-25 B-schools decreased their acceptance rates — but back in 2021, 21 did. (See the table below for acceptance rates at the top 53 B-schools, and the table on page 5 for rates, applications, admits, class sizes, and yield at the top 100 schools.)

AFTER STANFORD, A PUBLIC B-SCHOOL REPORTED THE LOWEST ACCEPTANCE RATE IN 2023

In the P&Q top 25, the biggest jump in acceptance rate occurred at No. 17 Washington Foster School of Business , where it jumped 13.5 percentage points to 41.6% from 28.1%. Widening to the top 50, the biggest jump was at No. 49 Rutgers Business School , which inflated its rate by 15.8 points to 41.9% from 26.1%.

Not every school made it easier to get in. Big declines in acceptance rates occurred last year, as they do every year. The biggest in the top 25 was at No. 25 Florida Warrington College of Business , whose Hough MBA program dropped its selectivity 5.9 percentage points to 30.2% from 36.1%. In the top 50, the biggest decline was at No. 27 Georgia Tech Scheller College of Business , which fell 12.9 points to 19.4% from 32.3%.

The highest acceptance rate in the top 10 was once again at Dartmouth Tuck School of Business , at 40.1%. Tuck, ranked No. 3 in 2023, has grown its acceptance rate a couple of years in a row, up from 33.4% in 2022 and 29.5% in 2021. In the top 25, the highest rate was at No. 24 Georgetown McDonough School of Business : 61.8%, Georgetown, too, has seen two years of increases, up from 50.9% in 2022 and 48.1% in 2021.

In the top 50, the highest rate was No. 48 Babson Olin Graduate School of Business : 64.3%. And the highest in the top 100: No. 97 Willamette Atkinson Graduate School of Management in Salem, Oregon: 99%.

Stanford Graduate School of Business once again boasted the only sub-10% acceptance rate of any school, clocking in at 8.4%, down slightly from 8.6% last year but still better — from an applicant’s perspective — than the 6.2% of 2021. Apart from Stanford, the lowest rate in the top 50 was not an Ivy League school or an M7: It was No. 50 Ohio State Fisher College of Business, at 12.2%. Harvard Business School was close behind at 13.2%.

MBA ACCEPTANCE RATES AT THE TOP U.S. B-SCHOOLS: 2020 TO 2023

Source: U.S. News & World Report data and P&Q analysis

See pages 2, 3, and 4 for detailed year-to-year data breakdowns on apps, admits, class sizes, and yield at 53 of the top U.S. MBA programs; and see page 5 for this year’s stats for the top 100 U.S. MBA programs.

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All About PhD at Harvard University

• Updated on  
• Dec 6, 2022

Studying for a doctorate or PhD at Harvard University means immersing yourself in one of the world’s most vibrant and important intellectual communities. The diverse PhD programs at Harvard Graduate School of Education take advantage of the University’s remarkable multidisciplinary strengths. The Harvard University PhD enables aspirants to experience cutting-edge interdisciplinary research informed by Cognitive Sciences, Economics , Medicine , Humanities , and more. In this blog, we’ve covered everything you’ll need to know about pursuing a PhD at Harvard University .

PhD in USA: Everything You Need To Know

This Blog Includes:

About harvard university, harvard graduate school of arts and sciences, harvard university phd acceptance rate , harvard university phd programs, research-based doctoral degrees at the harvard graduate school of education, application process , phd in harvard university requirements, living costs.

The Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health’s main aim is to improve public health through learning, discovery, and communication . To achieve this goal, the School conducts research, reproduces knowledge via the higher education, and converts information into evidence that can be shared with the public, policymakers, and practitioners in order to improve population health. They want to achieve the following:

• Deliver an evidence-based educational experience that prepares students to solve public health concerns in the twenty-first century via study, research, and practice.
• To enhance public health locally, nationally, and worldwide, create and preserve a dynamic and inclusive intellectual community with an atmosphere that supports the development of knowledge and skills concerning diversity, equality, cultural competency, and advocacy.
• Create and advance knowledge, as well as its translation into discoveries that lead to improvements in people’s and populations’ health.
• Participate in service activities that help communities better their health.
• Use new communication tactics to raise public knowledge of public health issues and remedies.

From advancing scientific discovery to educating national and international leaders, the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health has been at the forefront of efforts to benefit the health of populations worldwide. As we service society’s evolving health requirements, we will continue to prioritize shaping innovative ideas in our area and successfully conveying them.

The Harvard Graduate School of Arts and Sciences (GSAS) is Harvard University’s largest graduate school, with a total of 12 graduate schools. GSAS, which was founded in 1872, oversees the majority of Harvard’s graduate programs in different fields of study like Humanities, Social Sciences, and Natural Sciences. The aspirants can pursue Harvard University PhD In around 58 disciplines.

The Harvard Graduate School of Arts and Sciences has consistently placed first among graduate institutions to study in usa in terms of academic offerings. A varied group of renowned public officials and scholars have graduated from the School. The vast majority of Harvard’s Nobel Laureates received their education at GSAS. GSAS graduates have gone on to become US Cabinet Secretaries, Supreme Court Justices, foreign leaders of state, and heads of government, in addition to intellectuals and scientists.

The Harvard Graduate School of Arts and Sciences (GSAS) oversees all Harvard University PhD programs and applications are conducted through the GSAS online application system.

Harvard Graduate School of Arts and Sciences has a low and highly competitive acceptance rate . This means that students have to really work or study hard to get admission into Harvard University PhD. The Harvard Graduate School of Arts and Sciences received over 4300 applications for the fall 2020 class of graduate students across all PhD and master’s programs and the university has only admitted 301 applicants. As a result, the acceptance rate for the Harvard Graduate School of Arts and Sciences is 7%. This means that out of every 100 applicants, only 7 applicants could make it to pursue the University of Harvard PhD programs.

Know about How to Get Into Harvard? [Complete Admission Guide] !

The Harvard Graduate School of Education and the Harvard Graduate School of Arts and Sciences offer an integrated PhD program in education. As a PhD student, you will work on innovative interdisciplinary research with researchers from all of Harvard’s graduate schools. Given below are some of the popular specialisations for aspirants to pursue Harvard University PhD programs along with the Harvard University PhD application deadline:

HGSE switched from awarding a Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) to a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Education in the fall of 2014. The Ed.D. was superseded by the Ph.D. in Education, a joint degree given in conjunction with the Harvard Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, to better reflect the program’s research focus since its beginning in 1921, and to deepen relationships with academic departments across Harvard University.

The Ed.D. and Ph.D. in Education programs both provide intensive intellectual instruction to their graduates. Both degrees involve training that builds both knowledge and experience in the spectrum of quantitative and qualitative methodologies needed to undertake high-quality research, reflecting the multidisciplinary character of education. Our alumni do independent research in a variety of disciplines, including human development, learning and teaching, policy analysis and evaluation, institutions and society, and instructional practise, with the objective of having a transformational influence on education research, policy, and practise. Graduates of both programmes have and will continue to hold positions as university professors, researchers, senior educators, and policymakers.

How to Apply for PhD at Harvard University?

The following are the application process and the basic requirements for aspirants to know how to apply for PhD in Harvard University:

• The first item to submit is a digital or online application. Only once the admission committee has received your completed online application form they will examine other application materials such as transcripts, test scores, essays, and so on. The Common Application (Common App), the Universal College Application (UCA), and the Coalition Application are all accepted by Harvard. Any of the application portals can be used to apply to Harvard.
• Following the examination of all submissions, HGSE will invite chosen Ph.D. applicants to participate in a mandatory online interview with members of the admissions committee. 
• The interviews will take place in January, with exact dates to be confirmed.

A complete application to the PhD program typically consists of the following, submitted to the Harvard Graduate School of Arts and Sciences (GSAS):

• Online application form (accessed through GSAS’s website )
• Statement of Purpose
• 3 letters of recommendation
• TOEFL or IELTS .
• Transcript (s)
• Application Fee : 105 USD(7,790 INR)
• Supplemental form for the PhD in Education

Here’s a List of Important Documents Required to Study Abroad

Harvard University PhD Fees

The following table denotes the current PhD in Harvard University fees for the academic year 2022-2023:

This was all you should be knowing about Harvard University PhD programs. Want to study PhD at Harvard University? Connect with our experts at Leverage Edu and kickstart your study abroad journey from today. Call us at 1800572000 to book your first FREE counselling session with us. 

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The Ph.D. Program in the Department of Economics at Harvard is addressed to students of high promise who wish to prepare themselves in teaching and research in academia or for responsible positions in government, research organizations, or business enterprises. Students are expected to devote themselves full-time to their programs of study.

The program prepares students for productive and stimulating careers as economists. Courses and seminars offered by the department foster an intellectually active and stimulating environment. Each week, the department sponsors more than 15 different seminars on such topics as environmental economics, economic growth and development, monetary and fiscal policy, international economics, industrial organization, law and economics, behavioral economics, labor economics, and economic history. Top scholars from both domestic and international communities are often invited speakers at the seminars.  The Harvard community outside of the department functions as a strong and diverse resource. Students in the department are free to pursue research interests with scholars throughout the University. Faculty of the Harvard Law School, Kennedy School of Government, and Harvard Business School, for example, are available to students for consultation, instruction, and research guidance. As a member of the Harvard community, students in the department can register for courses in the various schools and have access to the enormous library resources available through the University. There are over 90 separate library units at Harvard, with the total collections of books and pamphlets numbering over 13 million.  Both the department and the wider University draw some of the brightest students from around the world, which makes for a student body that is culturally diverse and likely unequaled in the range of intellectual interests of its members. These factors combine to add an important dimension to the educational process. Students are able to learn from one another, collaborate on research projects and publications, and form bonds that are not broken by distance once the degree is completed and professional responsibilities lead them in different directions.

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