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Top 25 Business Schools' Acceptance Rates & Class Profiles (2026)

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 November 3, 2024

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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:

MBA Acceptance Rates Overview

MBA ProgramAcceptance Rate
Stanford GSB5-6%
Harvard Business School9%
University of Pennsylvania Wharton School of Business11-12%
University of Chicago Booth12%
Northwestern University Kellogg School of Management20-21%
MIT Sloan17.8%
Columbia University Business School15.26%
University of California Berkeley Haas School of Business17.6%
Yale University School of Management23.7%
Dartmouth College Tuck School of Business22-23%
NYU Stern School of Business25.7%
Duke University Fuqua School of Business22-25%
University of Michigan Ross School of Business20%
University of Virginia Darden School of Business26-36%
Cornell University Johnson Graduate School of Management39.6%
Carnegie Mellon University Tepper School of Business27%
University of Southern California Marshall School of Business28-30%
University of California Los Angeles Anderson School of Management9.9%
University of Texas Austin McCombs School of Business28.5%
University of North Carolina Chapel Hill Kenan-Flagler Business School44-51%
Georgetown University McDonough School of Business16.2%
University of Washington Foster School of Business40-41%
Indiana University (Bloomington) Kelley School of Business38%
Vanderbilt University Owen Graduate School of Management35-40%
Rice University Jones Graduate School of Business39.5%

1. Stanford Graduate School of Business (GSB)

GSB Class Profile (2026)

  • Women: 44%
  • Students of Color: 53%
  • International: 39%
  • First-Generation: 12%
  • Average Years of Work Experience: 5.1
  • Average GPA: 3.75
  • Average GMAT: 738
  • Average GRE: 163 (Verbal), 164 (Quantitative)

GSB Acceptance Rate: 5-6%

  • Number of Applicants: 7,295
  • Class Size: 424

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

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2. Harvard Business School (HBS)

HBS Class Profile (2026)

  • Women: 45%
  • International: 35%
  • First-Generation: 11%
  • Average Years of Work Experience: 5
  • Average GPA: 3.69
  • Median GMAT: 740 (Verbal: 42, Quantitative: 49)
  • Median GRE: 163 (Verbal and Quantitative)

HBS Acceptance Rate: 9%

  • Number of Applicants: 9,856
  • Class Size: 930

If you’re looking to get a better understanding of HBS, you’re in luck! Read our articles on all things HBS here:

3. University of Pennsylvania Wharton School of Business

Wharton Class Profile (2026)

  • Women: 47%
  • International: 31%
  • LGBTQ+ Students: 10%
  • First-Generation: 11%
  • Average Years of Work Experience: 5
  • Average GPA: 3.6
  • Average GMAT: 732
  • Average GRE: 162 (Verbal), 163 (Quant)

Wharton Acceptance Rate: 11-12%

  • Number of Applicants: 7,322
  • Class Size: 866

Read through some more of our resources on Wharton here:

4. University of Chicago Booth

Booth Class Profile (2024)

  • Women: 42%
  • Countries Represented: 66%
  • International: 35%
  • First-Generation: 11%
  • LGBTQ+: 9%
  • Veterans: 10%
  • Average Years of Work Experience: 5
  • Average GPA: 3.6
  • Average GMAT: 730
  • Average GRE: 161 (Verbal), 163 (Quantitative)

Booth Acceptance Rate: 12%

  • Number of Applicants: 5,125
  • Class Size: 632

For a better overview of Chicago Booth’s curriculum and admissions process, read through our resources here:

5. Northwestern University Kellogg School of Management

Kellogg Class Profile (2026)

  • Women: 50%
  • First-Generation: 10%
  • International: 40%
  • LGBTQ+: 11%
  • Average Years of Work Experience: 5
  • Average GPA: 3.7
  • Average GMAT: 733
  • Median GRE: 162 (Verbal), 163 (Quantitative)

Kellogg Acceptance Rate: 20-21%

  • Number of Applicants: *This year's numbers not released
  • Class Size: 524

Check out more on Kellogg’s MBA program with the following resources:

6. Massachusetts Institute of Technology Sloan

Sloan Class Profile (2026)

  • Women: 49%
  • Minority Students: 15%
  • First-Generation: 10%
  • International: 40%
  • Average Years of Work Experience: 5
  • Average GPA: 3.7
  • Median GMAT: 730
  • GRE Range: 157-168 (Verbal), 159-170 (Quantitative)

Sloan Acceptance Rate: 17.8%

  • Number of Applicants: *This year's numbers not released
  • Class Size: 433

For more information on MIT Sloan, read our guides:

7. Columbia University Business School

Columbia Class Profile (2026)

  • Women: 44%
  • Minority Students: 43%
  • International: 47%
  • Average Years of Work Experience: 5
  • Average GPA: 3.5
  • Average GMAT: 730

Columbia Acceptance Rate: 15.26%

  • Number of Applicants: 5,895
  • Class Size: 900

Read more articles on Columbia Business School’s MBA programs here:

8. University of California Berkeley Haas School of Business

Haas Class Profile (2026)

  • Women: 42%
  • Minority Students: 51%
  • First-Generation: 15%
  • International: 38%
  • LGBTQ+: 19%
  • Veterans: 7%
  • Average Years of Work Experience: 5.6
  • Average GPA: 3.65
  • Average GMAT: 730
  • Average GRE: 161 (Verbal), 162 (Quant)

Haas Acceptance Rate: 17.6%

  • Number of Applicants: *This year's numbers not released
  • Class Size: 295

If you’re looking to get a better understanding of Berkeley Haas, we recommend looking through some of our articles here:

9. Yale University School of Management (SOM)

Yale SOM Class Profile (2026)

  • Women: 39%
  • Students of Color: 56%
  • International: 48%
  • LGBTQ+: 12%
  • First-Generation: 20%
  • Average Years of Work Experience: 4.9
  • Average GPA: 3.69
  • Median GMAT: 730
  • Median GRE: 164 (Verbal), 166 (Quantitative)

Yale SOM Acceptance Rate: 23.7%

  • Class Size: 347

Curious to learn more about Yale SOM? Look no further! Read our articles here:

10. Dartmouth College Tuck School of Business

Tuck Class Profile (2026)

  • Women: 44%
  • Minority Students: 29%
  • International: 30%
  • LGBTQ+: 7%
  • Students with children: 4%
  • First-Generation: 15%
  • Average GPA: 3.6
  • Average GMAT: 727
  • Average GRE: 161 (Verbal), 161 (Quantitative)

Tuck Acceptance Rate: 22-23%

  • Class Size: 296

Read more on Darmouth’s MBA program here:

Coach Recommendations

To give yourself the best chance of getting into a top MBA program, we highly recommend working with a Leland expert MBA admissions coach. Below are some of our top coaches, browse all of them here.

11. New York University Stern School of Business

Stern Class Profile (2026)

  • Women: 47%
  • Minority Students: 46%
  • International: 40%
  • LGBTQ+: 11%
  • Veterans/Active Duty: 11%
  • Average Years of Work Experience: 5
  • Average GPA: 3.64
  • Average GMAT: 733
  • Average GRE: 164 (Verbal), 164 (Quantitative)

Stern Acceptance Rate: 25.7%

  • Number of Applicants: 4,550
  • Admitted Students: 1,141
  • Class Size: 352

For a better overview of NYU Stern’s programs, read our articles here:

12. Duke University Fuqua School of Business

Fuqua Class Profile (2026)

  • Women: 51%
  • Students with Color: 56%
  • First-Generation: 18%
  • International: 41%
  • Military: 11%
  • Have a Partner: 37%
  • Average Years of Work Experience: 6
  • Average GPA (middle 80%): 3.17-3.89
  • GMAT Range: 660-760
  • GRE Range: 305-330

Fuqua Acceptance Rate: 22-25%

  • Class Size: 427

If you’re looking for more info on Duke’s MBA program, check out our articles here:

13. University of Michigan Ann Arbor Ross School of Business

Ross Class Profile (2026)

  • Women: 40%
  • Students of Color: 53%
  • International: 36%
  • LGBTQIAS+: 9%
  • Military: 15%
  • First Generation: 22%
  • Average Years of Work Experience: 6
  • Average GPA: 3.42
  • Average GMAT: 728
  • Average GRE: 159 (Verbal), 162 (Quantitative)

Ross Acceptance Rate: 20%

  • Class Size: 396

Read more here:

14. University of Virginia Darden School of Business

Darden Class Profile (2026)

  • Women: 38%
  • Minority Students: 23%
  • International: 30%
  • Military: 14%
  • Average Years of Work Experience: 5.7
  • Average GPA: 3.56
  • Average GMAT: 718
  • Average GRE: 321 (combined)

Darden Acceptance Rate: 26-36%*

*Estimates vary within this range.

  • Class Size: 355

Read more about Darden at our guides here:

15. Cornell University Johnson Graduate School of Management

Johnson Class Profile (2026)

  • Women: 41%
  • Underrepresented Minorities: 22%
  • International: 35%
  • US Military: 13%
  • Average Years of Work Experience: 5.3
  • Median GPA: 3.4
  • Median GMAT: 710
  • Average GRE: 320 (combined)

Johnson Acceptance Rate: 39.6%

  • Class Size: 282

Want more information on Cornell Johnson’s MBA program? Read through some of our articles here:

16. Carnegie Mellon University Tepper School of Business

Tepper Class Profile (2026)

  • Women: 31%
  • Minority Students: 52%
  • International: 39%
  • LGBTQ+: 11%
  • Average Years of Work Experience: 5.7
  • Average GPA: 3.25
  • Average GMAT: 700
  • Average GRE: 323 (combined)

Tepper Acceptance Rate: 27%

  • Class Size: 156

For more info on Carnegie Mellon’s MBA program, check out our articles here:

17. University of Southern California Marshall School of Business

Marshall Class Profile (2026)

  • Women: 35%
  • Students of Color: 20%
  • International: 41%
  • LGBTQ+: 9%
  • US Military: 10%
  • Average Years of Work Experience: 5.5
  • Average GPA: 3.5
  • Average GMAT: 722
  • Average GRE: 160 (Verbal), 163 (Quant)

Marshall Acceptance Rate: 28-30%

  • Class Size: 199

Want to learn more about USC’s MBA program? Read our guides here:

18. University of California Los Angeles Anderson School of Management

Anderson Class Profile (2026)

  • Women: 43%
  • LFBTQ+: 8%
  • US Military: 4%
  • International: 41%
  • Average Years of Work Experience: 5.4
  • GPA Range (middle 80%): 3.1-3.8
  • Average GMAT: 714
  • Average GRE: 162 (Verbal), 165 (Quantitative)

Anderson Acceptance Rate: 9.9%

  • Number of Applicants: 3,079
  • Class Size: 305

Check out more on UCLA’s MBA program with our guides here:

19. University of Texas Austin McCombs School of Business

McCombs Class Profile (2026)

  • Women: 33%
  • Minority Students: 23%
  • International: 29%
  • US Military: 14%
  • First-Generation: 15%
  • Average Years of Work Experience: 6
  • Average GPA: 3.48
  • Average GMAT: 704
  • Average GRE: 159 (Verbal), 162 (Quantitative)

McCombs Acceptance Rate: 28.5%

  • Class Size: 255
  • Dual Degree Students: 22%

See more in our articles here:

20. University of North Carolina Chapel Hill Kenan-Flagler Business School

Kenan-Flagler Class Profile (2026)

  • Women: 31%
  • International: 43%
  • Military: 12%
  • Average Years of Work Experience: 5
  • Average GPA: 3.42
  • Average GMAT: 707

Kenan-Flagler Acceptance Rate: 44-51%

  • Class Size: 249

Curious to learn more about UNC’s MBA programs? Check out our guides here:

21. Georgetown University McDonough School of Business

McDonough Class Profile (2024)

  • Women: 30%
  • Minority Students: 14%
  • International: 49%
  • Military: 12%
  • Average Years of Work Experience: 5.6
  • Average GPA: 3.3
  • Average GMAT: 696
  • Average GRE: 319 (combined)

McDonough Acceptance Rate: 16.2%

  • Number of Applicants: 1,642
  • Class Size: 263

If you’re looking to get a better understanding of Georgetown’s MBA program, we recommend looking through more of our articles here:

22. University of Washington Foster School of Business

Foster Class Profile (2026)

  • Women: 32%
  • Students of Color: 59%
  • International: 46%
  • First-Generation: 16%
  • Military: 29%
  • Average Years of Work Experience: 6
  • Average GPA: 3.4
  • Average GMAT: 700
  • Average GRE: 159 (Verbal), 160 (Quantitative)

UW Foster Acceptance Rate: 40-41%

  • Class Size: 118

Read more here:

23. Indiana University (Bloomington) Kelley School of Business

Kelley Class Profile (2026)

  • Women: 28%
  • Minority Students: 21%
  • International: 46%
  • Average Years of Work Experience: 6.3
  • Average GPA: 3.40
  • Average GMAT: 683
  • Average GRE: 158 (Verbal), 161 (Quant)

IU Kelley Acceptance Rate: 38%

  • Class Size: 103

For more info on Indiana University’s MBA program, read our full guide here:

24. Vanderbilt University Owen Graduate School of Management

Owen Class Profile (2026)

  • Women: 29%
  • Minority Students: 19%
  • International: 30%
  • Military: 22%
  • Average Years of Work Experience: 6
  • Median GPA: 3.4
  • Average GMAT: 703
  • Average GRE: 159 (Verbal), 159 (Quantitative)

Owen Acceptance Rate: 35-40%

  • Class Size: 175

25. Rice University Jones Graduate School of Business

Jones Class Profile (2026)

  • Women: 39%
  • Minority Students: 57%
  • International: 41%
  • First-Generation: 27%
  • Average Years of Work Experience: 5.3
  • Average GPA: 3.44
  • Average GMAT: 698
  • Average GRE: 157 (Verbal), 160 (Quantitative)

Jones Acceptance Rate: 39.5%

  • Class Size: 158

Check out more on Rice University’s MBA program with our guides here:

These numbers give a good rough estimate of the class profiles and application cutoffs. However, applications change every year depending on the number and profile of the applicants, and the school’s priorities, and may not line up exactly with past years. Compile the best application you can, and shoot for the stars!

Business School Admissions FAQs

Why is understanding acceptance rates important for MBA applicants?

  • Knowing the acceptance rate of a particular program can help you gague your chances of getting an admissions offer. Acceptance rates are also a telltale sign of how competitive the school can be.

How are acceptance rates calculated?

  • Some schools are proud to publish their official acceptance rates. Others, however, can be a bit more secretive with releasing their numbers, meaning that estimates are made from other data such as class size and the total number of applicants.

How important is the GMAT/GRE score for MBA admissions?

  • Your score from the GMAT/GRE is one of the most important parts of your application because it serves as a prediction of how well students will function in a grad-level program. Still, other factors such as work experience, GPA, and personal essays can play a strong role in your consideration for admissions.
  • For more info on the GMAT and GRE exams, read our article GMAT vs. GRE for Business School—Which Should You Take (and How to Ace Both).

What is the average work experience required for top business schools?

  • Most top MBA programs accept applicants with an average of 4-6 years of professional work experience. However, some schools may accept applicants with less experience if they demonstrate exceptional potential.

What are some key tips for writing a strong MBA application essay?

  • A strong MBA application essay should clearly articulate your career goals, highlight your unique experiences and skills, demonstrate your fit with the program, and reflect genuine self-awareness and motivation.
  • If you’re looking for some tips and tricks to writing your MBA essay, we have a guide just for you! Read: How to Write a Powerful MBA Essay—With Examples

What should applicants consider when choosing which business schools to apply to?

  • Applicants should consider factors such as the school's reputation, program specializations, culture, location, alumni network, career services, and overall fit with their personal and professional goals.

Read next:

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