MBA Acceptance Rates – 2025
March 10, 2025
With some MBA programs touting single-digit acceptance rates, applying for an MBA can be stressful. It’s no surprise, after all, that the schools below are some of the world鈥檚 best institutions for an MBA. That being said, MBA acceptance rates depend on a variety of factors — GPA, GRE, work experience, and more. If you鈥檙e ready to apply to MBA programs, or simply planning ahead, it’s tough to know what school is right for you. To give you a better idea, we鈥檒l take a look at the top 25 most selective MBA programs to get into. These rankings are based on their 2025 MBA acceptance rates, from most to least selective.
MBA Acceptance Rates 鈥 2025
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MBA acceptance rate: 8.4%
As one of the top business schools in the world, Stanford’s single-digit acceptance rate should come as no surprise. More surprising is the program’s diversity. In a recent admission cycle, over a third of Stanford’s 400+ new students and over 10% were first-gen students. To be sure, standing out from the other 7000+ applicants will be a challenge — the average GMAT score was 738 and the average GPA was 3.75 — but with 88% of recent grads receiving a job offer, applying to Stanford is worth the effort.
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MBA acceptance rate: 13.2%
Another big-name school, the Harvard Business School (HBS) received over 8000 applicants in a recent year. With a yield rate of about 87%, HBS attracts some of the strongest students in the world. Of the 1000 or so students it accepts every year, about 10% are first-gen and 35% are international students. Though it’s going to be challenging to stand out in the HBS applicant pool (the median GMAT was 740), the chance to have “Harvard” on your diploma is too great to pass up.
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MBA acceptance rate: 17.8%
Though MIT’s Sloan School has a lower yield rate than the other top three schools (43%), the 1000 or so students it accepts every year are academic superstars. With a median GMAT of 730 and a median GPA of 3.7, those accepted to MIT surely have their choice of MBA program. The Sloan school also offers an innovative “Leaders for Global Business” (LGO) program, which combines an MBA with a Master of Science degree. It’s worth noting that LGO graduates had, on average, 2.7 job offers by the time they graduated.
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MBA acceptance rate: 22.4%
Touting itself as a place where “Ivy League intellect meets real-world impact,” the Columbia Business School accepts roughly 1,200 of its 5000+ applicants. Though it has a lower yield than some of its competitors (56%), the 600+ who eventually enroll boast an average GMAT score of 732 and an average undergraduate GPA of 3.6. Offering 17 curricular pathways, students at Columbia can focus on asset management, entrepreneurship, data analytics, and more.
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MBA acceptance rate: 22.1%
Students at Duke’s Fuqua School of Business can choose between four different MBA schedules — daytime, accelerated daytime, executive, and weekend executive. Given this program’s flexibility and prestige, it’s no surprise that of the 3000+ applicants, only about 700 were accepted. Applicants to Duke bring a wealth of previous experience — with an average of 6 years work experience (and a middle GPA range of 3.17-3.89), students are motivated to build on their already impressive careers. It’s no wonder then that almost 95% of graduates are employed three months after graduation.
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MBA acceptance rate: 22.9%
As one of the 20 best MBA programs in the nation, the USC Marshall School of Business MBA generally accepts about 700 of its 3000+ applicants. Of these, With over 100,000 USC Marchall alumni, graduates of this program join an active and supportive alumni network. Like other programs on this list, Marshall’s applicants are first-rate. With an average GMAT of 722 and an average GPA of 3.5, you’ll need to study hard to join the ranks of USC’s alumni.
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MBA acceptance rate: 23%
Enrolling 244 in a recent entering class (out of 667 accepted), the Berkeley Hass School of Business has a yield rate of about 37%. Like the other schools on this list, its students are academic heavy-hitters, with a 94% GMAT percentile and a median GRE Quant score of 162. Benefitting from its San Francisco location, Berkeley touts its diverse student population — 42% of its students are women and 19% are LGBTQ+. According to US News, Haas graduates earn $8.25 million over their lifetime, topped only by Harvard and Stanford.
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MBA acceptance rate: 24.8%
Though UPenn’s Wharton School is consistently ranked as the #1 MBA program in the US, its acceptance rate is higher than some of the schools on the list. This is due in part to Wharton’s large class size — 866 in a recent year — which also affects their yield rate — about 50%. With 21 MBA concentrations, there’s no shortage of options for you to personalize your experience at Wharton. Finally, while Wharton has no minimum GMAT or GRE scores to apply, applicants have an average GMAT of 732 and an average GRE Quant score of 163.
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MBA acceptance rate: 25%
Bewilderingly, the NYU Stern School of Business exhorts “Change. Commence It.” — as if that were a completely normal thing to say. At the same time, with 4550 applications in a recent year, Stern’s questionable copywriting doesn’t seem to be affecting its application pool. What’s more, the 352 enrolled students, with an average GMAT of 733 and an average GPA of 3.64, are top-notch.
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MBA acceptance rate: 27.3%
Touting its #2 ranked ROI (return on investment), the MBA program at the Kelly School of Business accepts around 300 of its 1000+ applicants. With its small class size (96 in a recent year), the Kelly School offers a small, tight-knit community. At the same time, applicants to the Kelly School are world-class. In a recent year, the average GMAT score of an accepted student was 683 and the average GRE score was 319. With a mean starting salary of $167,000 (salary and signing bonus), you can’t go wrong with Kelley’s highly ranked program.
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MBA acceptance rate: 27.9%
Leading with the grammatically dubious tagline of “Confront challenge, create change,” the Olin Business School at Washington University in St. Louis promises “a close-knit community, an individualized education, experiential curriculum, [and] exceptional career coaching.” Accepting roughly 225 out of 800 applicants, the Olin Business School enrolls roughly 80 students per year. These accepted students boast impressive stats — a 3.53 average GPA and a 706 average GMAT. With over 40% of a recent cohort consisting of international students, the Olin Business School is a diverse and welcoming option.
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MBA acceptance rate: 28.5%
Ranked in the top 20 MBA programs, Carnegie Mellon’s Tepper School of Business accepts about 1 out of every 3 applicants to its program. Of the roughly 500 students accepted to Tepper per year, about 150 end up enrolling. In a recent year, the enrolled class boasted an average GMAT of 697 and an average GRE of 323. If you’re interested in attending Tepper, the school offers an “Admit.me Index” — an automated profile review to assess your candidacy. Compared to the rest of the schools on this list, Tepper enrolls far fewer women. In a recent year, women constituted only 31% of its incoming class.
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MBA acceptance rate: 29.9%
Each year, the SC Johnson School of Management accepts about 750 students from the roughly 2500 applications it receives. Of those accepted, around 280 enroll. Like all the schools on this list, Cornell’s stats are impressive. The class of 2026 has a median GMAT of 710 and a median GPA of 3.35. In the last two years, Cornell has increased the percentage of under-represented minorities from 22% to 35%. Recently rated #1 for “Best Campus Environment,” Cornell’s SC Johnson School of Management touts itself as “immersive,” “innovative,” and “intentional.”
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MBA acceptance rate: 32.6%
If you’re interested in a Chicago-based school that defines itself as “analytical,” “collaborative,” and “bold,” then the Booth School of Business is for you. Ranked as one of the top five business schools in the US, the Booth School of Business accepts roughly 1200 students per year, of which nearly 50% enroll. Based on their website, accepted students must surely be interested in “impact.” With campuses in Chicago, London, and Hong Kong, the Booth School of Business aims “to bring your bold ideas to fruition.”
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MBA acceptance rate: 32.9%
Though the Yale School of Management has a higher acceptance rate than some of the schools on this list, its yield rate was only 33% in a recent application cycle. Consequently, of the 1000-or-so applicants it accepts, only about 300 end up enrolling. Interestingly, nearly 48% of the class of 2026 is an international passport holder, making Yale one of the more international MBA programs.
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MBA acceptance rate: 33.3%
Named for the same family that brought us a wide variety of breakfast cereals, the Kellogg School of Management accepts roughly 1400 of its 4000 yearly applicants. Of the roughly 500 students that enroll per year, 50% are women and the average GMAT score is 733. Unlike most of the schools on this list, 24% of Kellogg’s enrolled students majored in the humanities.
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MBA acceptance rate: 37.6%
UNC’s Kegan-Flagler Business School touts a “values-driven culture [and a] commitment to real-world learning experiences.” With a 32% yield rate, Kegan-Flagler enrolls about 250 of the 776 or so applicants it accepts. Offering concentrations in everything from accounting and business analytics to consulting and entrepreneurship, it’s no wonder Kegan-Flagler receives over 2000 applicants every year.
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MBA acceptance rate: 37.9%
If your MBA dream includes the statement “Hook ‘Em Horns,” then you should probably consider the McCombs School of Business at UT Austin. The good news is that McCombs accepts roughly 40% of the 1800+ applications it receives. What’s more, with a relatively small class size — 255 in a recent cycle — McCombs promises “meaningful relationships with…classmates.” Given the 704 average GMAT score and 159 average GRE verbal score, your chances are good of becoming a Longhorn.
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MBA acceptance rate: 38%
With nearly 3000 applicants in a recent year, the University of Michigan’s Ross School of Business has one of the largest applicant pools on this list. Though it accepts roughly 1000 of these applicants every year, only about 350 end up enrolling. Like many of the schools on this list, Michigan leans hard into its ROI, pointing out that its alums have a starting salary of $175,000 and that 96% have received a job offer within three months of graduation.
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MBA acceptance rate: 39%
If you’re looking for a Texas-based MBA program that shares its name with a starchy staple food, look no further than the Jones Graduate School of Business. What’s more, as Rice accepts about 40% of the roughly 1000 students who apply, your chances are pretty good of getting in. That being said, if you want the “rigorous and relevant” Rice experience, you should aim for a 698 GMAT and a 3.44 GPA.
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MBA acceptance rate: 39.1%
For its 1000-or-so applicants, Emory University’s Goizueta Business School checks all the boxes. From leadership to portfolio management, Goizueta makes sure its students get their money’s worth. With about 25% of accepted students enrolling, Goizueta offers an accessible option to strong candidates. Additionally, Goizueta is one of the few schools to highlight its LQBTQ+ population (8%).
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MBA acceptance rate: 39.4%
Though it accepted nearly 40% of its almost 3000 applicants in a recent year, the Darden School of Business was recently ranked as one of the top ten MBA programs in the nation. Given its student profile, this should come as no surprise. The 355 students in the class of 2026 had an average GMAT of 718 and an average GRE of 321.
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MBA acceptance rate: 40.1%
Boasting that it produces “wise, decisive leaders who better the world through business,” the Tuck School of Business accepts around 40% of the 2000 applications it receives. Of those accepted, around 300 end up enrolling. Though its acceptance rate is higher than many of the schools on this list, a solid 94.6% of its graduates are employed 3 months after graduation. What’s more, graduates have an average base salary of over $170,000. With an average GMAT score of 727 and an average GPA of 3.6, the Tuck School of Business is a world-class institution.
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MBA acceptance rate: 41.6%
Aiming to provide “current and future leaders with the skills to better humanity through business,” the University of Washington鈥檚 Foster School of Business is one of the few schools on this list to articulate an ethical stance. Of the 800 or so applicants in a recent admissions cycle, more than 300 were accepted and 111 ended up enrolling.
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MBA acceptance rate: 40.4%
If you like your MBA with a side of sun, UCLA’s Anderson School of Management might be for you. The good news is that Anderson accepts about 40% of the 2000+ students who apply. Of those accepted, 33% end up enrolling. At the same time, with an average GMAT of 714 and an average GRE of 327, getting into Anderson is no walk in the park.
What do MBA acceptance rates mean?!
You might be wondering what all of these percentages really mean. If anything, consider the numbers as signs that some of the MBA programs will inevitably be harder to get into than others. At the same time, don鈥檛 let these numbers discourage you from applying. Ultimately, lists like this one can help you categorize schools, create a well-balanced list, and decide which to prioritize.
If you鈥檙e considering which undergraduate colleges to apply to, take a look at the top 鈥渇eeder鈥 schools to MBA programs.
Final Thoughts 鈥 MBA Acceptance Rates
MBA acceptance rates should guide, not limit. They serve as a gentle reminder to select safety schools, target schools, and reach schools when thinking about an MBA. With the right planning and realistic parameters, you’re sure to pick an MBA program that’s right for you.
If you have more questions about MBA acceptance rates, check out the links below.
