Columbia’s MBA Class of 2023 Defies the Pandemic
See the CBS MBA Class of 2024 profile here.
Columbia Business School‘s MBA Class of 2023 shows no signs of having weathered a pandemic to get where they are. The class profile covers 847 total enrolled students, up from 782 last year. Classes began in August with 614 students and another 233 will begin their studies in January.
Here are some key elements of the profile:
| Average Undergraduate GPA | 3.5 |
| Percent majoring in arts, humanities, social sciences | 19% |
| Percent majoring in science, technology, engineering, and math | 24% |
| Percent majoring in business | 37% |
| Average GMAT Score | 729 |
| GMAT Score Range | 540 – 780 |
| Women | 41% |
| International Students | 48% |
| Average Work Experience | 60 months |
International Students, Women, and US Minority Representation
Women make up 41% of the class, and international students comprise 48% of students. This year US minority representation increased from a third of last year’s class to 40% of students.
CBS reports minority representation using both federal guidelines and multi-dimensional reporting guidelines. Under federal guidelines, students who identify, for example, as Hispanic and any other race are represented as Hispanic only, and students who identify as more than one race are represented as multi-race only. Under the federal reporting guidelines, Black students make up 11% of the class, Hispanic students 9%, Asian Americans 20%, and multiracial students 2%.
Professional and Academic Background
An impressive 37% of students pursued a degree in business before joining the MBA program. STEM students dropped three percentage points to 24% as did humanities degree holders to 19%. Another 18% of students were economics majors, putting the overwhelming majority of the class firmly in the business world.
The average undergraduate dipped just slightly to 3.5. The average GMAT score rose slightly to 729, but the range widened by 20 points on the low end.
Students in the class have an average of five years of professional experience. The industry distribution is largely unchanged from the previous year, with 31% working in the financial services industry, 22% from a consulting background, and 12% in Marketing or media. Another 9% worked in the tech industry, and 7% worked in real estate.
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| Class Size | 75 |
| % Women | 43% |
| % International or Dual Citizens | 64% |
