Chicago Booth MBA News

Published: October 15, 2026

Clear Admit Webinar Series: Insights into Master in Management Programs, 2026

The Master in Management (MiM) degree has become one of the fastest-growing graduate business programs worldwide, offering recent graduates and early-career professionals the opportunity to gain advanced business training, global exposure, and access to top employers. If you are considering pursuing a MiM, this exclusive webinar will allow you to compare some of the world’s most prestigious programs side by side. Dates: December 1st & December 2nd 2026 Time: 12 pm-1 pm Panel (all times Eastern) Featured Universities and Business Schools This event brings together Read more

Published: October 11, 2026

The Week Ahead: MBA Deadlines, Interview Invites & Decisions, October 12-26, 2026

Welcome back to the series, The Week Ahead, in which we provide a brief rundown of what is happening in MBA admissions this week! Deadlines Continue, Invitations Roll Out Along with the deadlines below, we are predicting that Chicago / Booth and UCLA / Anderson will begin releasing interview invites. Tuesday, October 13: The Ohio State / Fisher has its Round 1 application deadline. Thursday, October 15: Duke / Fuqua is scheduled to release its Early Action Round decisions. Texas / McCombs, USC / Marshall, Indiana / Kelley, Arizona / Carey, UC Irvine / Merage, and Florida Read more

Published: October 1, 2026

2026-2027 Round 1 MBA Interview Invitations Timeline, Powered by MBA LiveWire

As Round 1 MBA applicants await interview invitations, we have compiled this chart about the typical timing of Round 1 interview invitations based on data from MBA LiveWire. Have you received an interview invitation? Be sure to “submit your entry” in MBA LiveWire. School R1 Deadline 2026 2025-2026 R1 Interview Invites Reported Estimated First R1 Interview Invites 2026 Actual First R1 Interview Invite Reported 2026 R1 Decision Date 2026-2027 Berkeley Haas 9/10/2026 9/23/25 -11/10/25 9/23/26 – 10/2/26 9/23/2026 12/10/2026 Cambridge Judge 8/24/2026 9/25/2025 9/28/26 – 10/2/26 TBD 10/15/2026 Chicago Booth 9/15/2026 10/15/25 – 11/3/25 Read more

Published: September 29, 2026

Top In-Person MBA Events to Check Out in October 2026

An essential part of the process when you apply for an MBA is events. On or off campus, formal or informal, in-person MBA admission events are opportunities for applicants to connect with current students and alumni, sit in on classes, meet the admissions team, and take campus tours. Applications for the Class of 2029 are open, and Round 1 deadlines are quickly passing by. Schools are scheduling time for prospective students to visit the campus, meet alumni, and attend information sessions. See below for what’s happening in October of 2026. Why Attend MBA Events? More than just another step in the Read more

Published: September 24, 2026

Clear Admit Webinar Series: Deferred Enrollment MBA Programs, November 2026

Do you have your sights set on deferred enrollment MBA programs? Join us to hear how to amp up your application for these special pathways to b-school. Full-time MBA programs traditionally require several years of full-time work experience, but deferred enrollment MBA programs allow candidates to apply – and secure a seat in a future class – during their senior years of college or final years of masters study. How can you demonstrate your fit for this kind of program? How should you approach the admissions process? Hear directly from leading programs in this two-part Deferred Enrollment MBA Read more

Published: September 15, 2026

Clear Admit Co-Founder Graham Richmond’s Takeaways from LinkedIn’s 2026 MBA Ranking

LinkedIn has released its 2026 ranking of the world’s top 100 MBA programs, with Stanford GSB, Harvard Business School, Wharton, INSEAD and the Indian School of Business occupying the top five spots. But what exactly does the LinkedIn ranking tell prospective MBA students? And how much should they read into the results? Clear Admit Co-Founder Graham Richmond offers seven takeaways. Then, we highlight the changes in the rankings from 2025 to 2026. 1. This is a LinkedIn ranking — in every sense of the word. The first thing applicants need to Read more

Published: September 15, 2026

Webinar: Unlock Your MBA Future: Exploring Top Great Lakes MBA Programs

Join us for an exclusive virtual webinar hosted by Clear Admit, where we’ll dive deep into the vibrant world of MBA programs near the Great Lakes! Join admissions leaders from Chicago Booth, Northwestern Kellogg, Toronto Rotman, Michigan Ross, and Carnegie Mellon Tepper to explore the Great Lakes advantage. We’ll unpack how Chicago’s finance/consulting hub, Toronto’s global tech and fintech scene, Detroit–Ann Arbor’s mobility & manufacturing ecosystem, and Pittsburgh’s AI/robotics leadership translate into hands-on projects, internships, and post-MBA roles. Learn how each program leverages cross-border networks, corporate HQ access, and alumni communities across the region. Get candid admissions insights, scholarship pointers, and Read more

Published: September 15, 2026

LinkedIn Ranks 100 Full-Time MBA Programs for Career Growth 2026

“Hiring and demand; ability to advance; network strength; leadership potential; and gender diversity.” These are the five “pillars” LinkedIn used to determine the order of the 100 U.S. and international business schools that made their 2026 Top MBA Programs ranking. Stanford GSB takes the top spot once again, with Harvard Business School holding onto #2. Wharton and INSEAD traded spots compared to last year. The Indian School of Business and London Business School held onto their 2025 positions, at #5 Read more

Published: September 15, 2026

Bloomberg Business School Rankings 2026-2027

The Bloomberg Businessweek 2026-2027 Best Business School rankings, covering programs spanning the U.S., Europe & the Middle East, Asia-Pacific region, and Canada, are live. This year, the organization has cut inclusion, which was weighted 6%, from the scoring; the value has been redistributed to the other indexes, which include networking, learning, compensation and entrepreneurship. See insights about these rankings from Clear Admit here. U.S. Results: Bet on Stanford GSB Here is a quick glance at this year’s U.S. top 10 (with 2025-26 rankings in parentheses). Ranking U.S. School Read more

Published: September 13, 2026

The Week Ahead: MBA Deadlines, September 14-18, 2026

Welcome back to the series, The Week Ahead, in which we provide a brief rundown of what is happening in MBA admissions this week! New Application Season Underway! The application season of 2026-2027 is now underway. Monday, September 14, The Ohio State / Fisher has its Early Round application deadline. Tuesday, September 15, Chicago / Booth, Yale SOM, NYU / Stern and INSEAD have their Round 1 application deadlines. Thursday, September 17, Cornell / Johnson has its Round 1 application deadline. How Clear Admit Tools Can Help Visit MBA LiveWire for the latest “buzz” about MBA admissions, including interview invitations and Read more

Published: September 10, 2026

Webinar: Unlock Your MBA Future: Clear Admit Regional Spotlight Series

Unlock your MBA future with our Regional MBA Spotlight Series: six live webinars that show how location shapes outcomes. Hear admissions leaders explain recruiting pipelines, internships, and alumni networks across the Mid-Atlantic, Southeast, West Coast, Great Lakes, Texas, and Northeast. Schools include: Georgetown McDonough, Johns Hopkins Carey, Wharton, UVA Darden; Duke Fuqua, Emory Goizueta, UNC Kenan-Flagler, Georgia Tech Scheller, Vanderbilt Business; Berkeley Haas, UCLA Anderson, UC Irvine Merage, ASU Carey, Washington Foster; Chicago Booth, Northwestern Kellogg, Toronto Rotman, Michigan Ross, Carnegie Mellon Tepper; Rice Business, Texas McCombs, SMU Cox; MIT Sloan, Dartmouth Tuck, NYU Stern, Yale SOM Read more

Published: September 10, 2026

What Is the ROI of an MBA? Admissions Directors on the Benefits That Last a Lifetime

For years, the MBA conversation has been dominated by metrics: starting salaries, signing bonuses, employment rates, and return on investment (ROI). Those figures matter, particularly as candidates weigh the significant financial commitment of business school in an evolving job market. But when Clear Admit posed the same question to admissions leaders across many of the world’s leading MBA programs — “Conversations about MBA value often center on jobs, salaries, and ROI. What are some of the other ways students benefit from the MBA experience that may be harder to quantify upfront?” — their answers revealed a striking Read more

Published: August 31, 2026

Top In-Person MBA Events to Check Out in September 2026

An essential part of the process when you apply for an MBA is events. On or off campus, formal or informal, in-person MBA admission events are opportunities for applicants to connect with current students and alumni, sit in on classes, meet the admissions team, and take campus tours. Applications for the Class of 2029 are open, and Round 1 deadlines are lined up for the next several weeks. Schools are scheduling time for prospective students to visit the campus, meet alumni, and attend information sessions. See below for what’s happening in September of 2026. Why Attend MBA Events? Read more

Published: August 27, 2026

Podcast: Admissions Director Q&A with Donna Swinford of Chicago Booth

Donna Swinford, Associate Dean for Student Recruitment and Admissions for MBA Programs at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, is here to dig deeper into MBA admissions in this special edition of our podcast as part of our ongoing Admissions Director Q&A series. Donna Swinford, Associate Dean for Student Recruitment and Admissions, MBA Programs, Chicago Booth A longtime Chicago resident, Donna has been at Booth since 1997. In 2005, she joined the Office of Admissions, serving in several roles including head of Operations and Evaluation before transitioning to her Read more

Published: August 6, 2026

Admissions Director Q&A: Donna Swinford of Chicago Booth

We are back in the Windy City in this installment of our Admissions Director Q&A to chat with Donna Swinford, Associate Dean for Student Recruitment and Admissions for MBA Programs at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business. Donna is a longtime Chicago resident and has been at Booth since 1997. She joined the Office of Admissions in 2005 and has seen the admissions process at Booth from practically every angle over the course of her tenure, serving in several roles including head of Operations and Evaluation before transitioning to her current Read more

Published: August 3, 2026

Early & Round 1 MBA Deadlines 2026-2027

To help you stay organized, we’ve compiled a chart of the earliest deadlines, including Early Action and Round 1, of the top business schools in one place. For schools that have announced their essay topic(s), you’ll find links to our corresponding Essay Topic Analysis in the “Essay(s) Released” column. We will continue to update this table as more Round 1 MBA deadlines and essay topics are announced. Deadlines are for Round 1 (unless otherwise noted). Last updated: August 27, 2026 School Deadline Decision Essay(s) Released? Application Live? Cambridge / Judge 8/24/2026 Yes Read more

Published: July 30, 2026

Inside the MBA Admissions Process Webinar Series 2026

Explore Top MBA Programs: Free Admissions Webinar Series Join Clear Admit’s exclusive MBA Admissions Webinar Series, a must-attend virtual event for prospective MBA applicants! Get first-hand admissions advice from 30 leading business schools, including HBS, GSB, Wharton and more (full list below). This six-part series is your chance to gain actionable insights and tips to strengthen your MBA Application before you hit submit. Dates: September 22, 23, 24, 29, 30, & October 1 Time: 12 pm-1 pm Panel & 1 pm-1:30 pm Breakout Q&A with Individual Schools (all times Eastern) Read more

Published: July 30, 2026

Top In-Person MBA Events to Check Out in August 2026

An essential part of the process when you apply for an MBA is events. On or off campus, formal or informal, in-person MBA admission events are opportunities for applicants to connect with current students and alumni, sit in on classes, meet the admissions team, and take campus tours. As applications for the Class of 2029 open in the coming weeks, schools will be scheduling time for prospective students to visit the campus, meet alumni, and attend information sessions. See below for what’s happening in August of 2026. Why attend MBA events? Read more

Published: July 27, 2026

Chicago Booth Opens New Center, Focused on Supply Chain & Applied Technologies

The University of Chicago Booth School of Business has announced the launch of the GEP Center for Supply Chain Innovation and Applied Technologies, a new research hub dedicated to advancing the study and practice of supply chain management in an era increasingly shaped by AI and data-driven technologies. Established with support from GEP, an AI-native procurement and supply chain firm, the center will bring together research, education, and industry collaboration to explore how emerging technologies are transforming global value chains. The new initiative marks Chicago Booth’s thirteenth research center and will be housed within Read more

Published: July 6, 2026

Ten Years of M7 MBA Salary Growth

Base pay for graduates of the M7 business schools has climbed 40% over the past decade. Contrary to some recent assertions that the MBA is declining in value, particularly in post-MBA starting salaries, we take a deeper dive into the historic data. Clear Admit’s Graham Richmond espoused the enduring value of the MBA–but what about the numbers? Below, we review the post-MBA median base salaries for recent graduates from top MBA programs and the salary figures have been increasing. The table below shows median base salary for MBA graduates of the M7 business schools — Read more

Published: July 2, 2026

Weekly Refresh: MBA Essay Questions, Analyzed – Plus Deadlines & Rec Questions

Welcome to Weekly Refresh, a roundup of admissions advice and updates on the Clear Admit site. We continue with updates for the 2026-2027 admissions cycle with some deadlines, essay advice, and recommendation questions. Essay Tips Drafting your application essays? See the latest of our experts’ advice in our Essay Topic Analysis. The following schools recently released their essays—click for our advice: Chicago / Booth Dartmouth / Tuck UCLA Anderson Deadlines Released See the admissions deadlines that have rolled out: Chicago / Read more

Published: June 30, 2026

Top In-Person MBA Events to Check Out in July 2026

An essential part of the process when you apply for an MBA is events. On or off campus, formal or informal, in-person MBA admission events are opportunities for applicants to connect with current students and alumni, sit in on classes, meet the admissions team, and take campus tours. Final round deadlines have passed for fall 2026 intake, but some rolling deadlines continue. In anticipation of admits making decisions on where to go and future applicants taking time during the summer season to check out potential schools, in-person event opportunities are increasing for Read more

Published: June 21, 2026

The Week Ahead: Esade Deadline, INSEAD & Deferred Enrollment Decisions, June 22-26, 2026

Welcome back to the series, The Week Ahead, in which we provide a brief rundown of what is happening in MBA admissions this week! Deferred Enrollment Decisions We are moving closer to the end of the 2025-26 application cycle. Wednesday, June 24, Esade has its final admissions deadline for the 2025-2026 season. Thursday, June 25, Harvard Business School and Chicago / Booth are scheduled to release their deferred enrollment decisions. Friday, June 26, INSEAD is scheduled to have released Round 2 decisions for their January 2027 intake. How “The Wires” Can Help Visit MBA LiveWire for the latest “buzz” about MBA Read more

Published: June 16, 2026

What’s the MBA Really Worth? Alumni from Goldman, JPMorgan, Carlyle, and More Weigh In

Is an MBA worth the time, the cost, the commitment? Rather than answer with statistics, the voices of those who’ve lived it may provide the most convincing case of all. Many graduates featured in our Real Humans: Alumni series joined the financial services industry and we take a close look at their accounts to assess the value of the MBA. Across industries and institutions, recent business school graduates who joined some of the world’s most prestigious firms offer a remarkably consistent answer: Yes, the MBA Read more

Published: June 4, 2026

MBA Essay Insight Webinar Series Summer 2026

We’re sure you’ve already heard that the application essays are a crucial component of the MBA application. So how can you ace this part of the admissions process without the use of sample essays or Artificial Intelligence? Get essay tips straight from admissions representatives at leading business schools during our upcoming MBA Essay Insight Webinar Series! Dates: July 21, July 22, July 23, July 28 & July 29. Time: 12 pm-1 pm Panel & 1 pm-1:30 pm Breakout Q&A with Individual Schools (all times Eastern) Each session will start Read more