Duke Fuqua

Test-optional is taking over the MBA world, but what do the top MBA admissions committees want to see?

Duke University's Fuqua School of Business offers an MBA program distinguished by its collaborative culture, grounded in the inclusive "Team Fuqua" spirit. Located in Durham, North Carolina, Fuqua provides a global business education that emphasizes both intellectual growth and real-world application, supported by a strong community ethos. Unique to Fuqua is its Leader of Consequence initiative, which aims to cultivate adaptable, thoughtful leaders poised to navigate and shape the ever-changing business landscape. The program's integration of rigorous academic theory with experiential learning, including the renowned Fuqua Client Consulting Practicum, positions its graduates to make a meaningful impact across industries and sectors worldwide.

Duke Fuqua's MBA program received 3,539 applications and accepted 727 candidates, translating to an acceptance rate of 20.5%. The yield rate stands at 54.9%, reflecting a strong commitment from accepted students to join the program.

Fuqua considers a variety of test scores for admission, including GMAT, GMAT Focus, GRE, and the Executive Assessment (EA). Applicants can submit any of these scores, as there is no preferred test. Additionally, updated scores can be submitted even after the application has been initially filed.

At Duke Fuqua, the majority of MBA students come from Engineering or Natural Sciences (37%) and Business & Accounting (30%), with a significant representation from Liberal Arts (15%) and Economics (12%). The middle 80% of students have an undergraduate GPA range between 3.1 to 3.89, and 18% are first-generation college students.

The students entering Duke Fuqua's MBA program come from diverse professional backgrounds, with the average student bringing in 6.1 years of work experience, which is among the highest averages when compared to other top MBA programs. Financial Services and Technology are the leading industries represented, each comprising 18% and 15% of the cohort, respectively.

After completing the MBA program at Duke Fuqua, the majority of graduates pursued careers in consulting, making up 43% of the employment sector, followed by financial services at 21%. The class of 2023 saw a significant engagement in consulting, with a marked increase from the previous year. Top employers included Boston Consulting Group, McKinsey, and Deloitte. The strong performance in job acceptances reflects the value of Duke's MBA graduates to a diverse range of industries.