Stanford GSB Logo

Stanford GSB

Graduate School (MBA)
Stanford, CA
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Test-optional is taking over the MBA world, but what do the top MBA admissions committees want to see?

Overview

Situated in the heart of Silicon Valley, Stanford Graduate School of Business is emblematic of premier business education, celebrated for its innovative learning approach and distinguished global alumni community. Its dedication to fostering entrepreneurial spirit and leadership skills primes students to thrive in an intricately interconnected global business landscape, providing an educational odyssey that promotes both individual and career development, and preparing its graduates to drive meaningful impact across industries worldwide.

Class Size
431
Region
US West
Acceptance Rate
8.6%
GPA (Average)
3.77
GMAT (Average)
738
Annual Cost of Attendance
$126,465

Application Stats

Stanford Graduate School of Business stands as the most selective top business school, boasting the lowest acceptance rate at just 8.6%. With 80% of admitted students opting to enroll, Stanford GSB maintains the second-highest yield rate among MBA programs, underscoring its reputation as an elite and highly coveted destination for MBA candidates.

Applications Received
6,190
Acceptance Rate
8.6%
Accepted
528
Yield Rate
80%

Demographics

International Students
36%
Countries Represented
55
Women
46%
US Minority
50%

Test Scores

GMAT (Average)
738
GRE Quant (Average)
164
GRE Verbal (Average)
164

Beyond The Numbers

Education

Stanford GSB students come from a variety of academic disciplines, with engineering (26%), economics (21%), and business (20%) as the most common undergraduate majors. They also exhibit academic excellence, holding an average GPA of 3.77. With 11% of students being the first in their families to attend college, the GSB community is enriched with unique perspectives and experiences that contribute to the school's dynamic environment.

Undergraduate Majors
26%
Engineering
21%
Economics
20%
Business
15%
Science & Math
13%
Social Sciences
5%
Arts/Humanities
GPA (Average)
3.77
First Generation
11%

Work Experience

Prior to joining Stanford GSB, students average 5 years of work experience across various sectors. The largest group, at 19%, comes from investment management, VC, and PE. Consulting backgrounds account for 17%, followed by tech at 13%. Other notable fields include government, education, and nonprofits (10%), consumer products (9%), and health/pharma (7%). This mix shows Stanford GSB's draw across both traditional and modern industries.

Pre-MBA Industries
19%
Investment Mgmt / VC / PE
17%
Consulting
13%
Technology
10%
Government, Education, Nonprofit
9%
Consumer Products & Services
7%
Health/Pharma/Biotech
5%
Financial Services
5%
Military
4%
Arts, Media, Entertainment
4%
Cleantech, Energy, Environmental
3%
Manufacturing
1%
Other
Years of Work Experience (Average)
5

Post-MBA

After completing their studies at Stanford Graduate School of Business, a significant 38% of graduates find their calling in finance, with a median base salary of $200,000, underscoring the institution's prominence in this sector. Another 24% join the technology industry with earnings around $177,500, reflecting the school's adaptation to the burgeoning tech sector. Consulting also attracts a notable 15% of graduates, who secure a median base salary of $192,000, indicating the school's effectiveness in preparing students for high-impact roles.

Base Salary (Median)
$182,500
Signing Bonus (Median)
$30,000
Students receiving job offer
89%

2023-24 Application Deadlines

ROUND 1
September 12, 2023
DECISION
December 7, 2023
ROUND 2
January 4, 2024
DECISION
March 28, 2024
ROUND 3
April 9, 2024
DECISION
May 23, 2024

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