The Ohio State University Max M. Fisher College of Business’s MBA program is located on the main campus in Columbus, OH. Fisher offers a Full-Time MBA (on-campus), a Working Professional MBA (on-campus, online or both), and an Executive MBA program. Hallmarks of their MBA programs include:
The tuition for Fisher's MBA program is $31,347 for Ohio residents and $62,538 for non-Ohio residents and international students, per year.
The average GMAT score for the incoming class at Fisher is 673 on the legacy test and 653 on the GMAT Focus.
Yes. The Fisher MBA program has accepted the GRE for a few years now.
The average composite GRE score for the incoming class at Fisher is 320. The GRE middle 80% range is 311 to 331.
Fisher does not state a minimum requirement for years of work experience. However, it is important for candidates to be aware that they are being considered against other candidates with an average of 4.7 years of experience.
The average number of years of work experience among students in Fisher's MBA program is 4.7.
The average starting salary for Fisher MBA graduates is $123,525.
Fisher offers a traditional 2 year MBA program.
The Early MBA application deadline is September 14, 2026. The Round 1 deadline is October 13, 2026. The Round 2 deadline is January 18, 2027. The Round 3 deadline is March 8, 2027. The Round 4 deadline is April 1, 2027. The final deadline is May 3, 2027. Rolling admissions begin after the last deadline.
Forty-five new MBA students joined Fisher in the Fall of 2025. Thirty-eight percent of them pursued undergraduate degrees in business. Another 15% had studied social sciences and 18% studied arts & sciences. Twenty-nine percent had majored in engineering. Their average GPA was 3.49.
Upon matriculation at Ohio State Fisher, students averaged 4.7 years of full-time work experience. The average GMAT score of incoming students clocked in at 673 on the legacy test and 653 on the GMAT Focus while the average GRE composite score was 321. In total, 44% of students in the Class of 2027 are international and 31% are women. Fisher did not report figures for domestic minorities.
Ohio State Fisher conducts admissions on a rolling basis, with a strong preference that applications are submitted by April 1st for international students and May 3rd for domestic students. Applications submitted after those dates are only considered if there is room left in the program. Given the availability of merit-based scholarships, applicants are encouraged to apply early.
The application requirements for Ohio State Fisher include: all academic transcripts, an essay, a video interview, a GMAT or GRE score, résumé or LinkedIn profile, application fee ($60 for domestic students; $70 for international students), two references (preferably professional contacts), and TOEFL or IELTS scores for international applicants (exemptions available). The Duolingo English Test is accepted as an alternative English proficiency test, but the school notes that this option may not be available in future terms. Interviews are required and offered by invitation only. In-person interviews are available on campus. Candidates who cannot make it to campus have the option of scheduling a live, web-based interview.
Ohio State Fisher employs over 230 faculty members, who teach across ten academic areas and contribute to Fisher’s eight research centers. The professors bring both academic research and real-world business knowledge to the classroom, as many also serve as high-level professionals in addition to their teaching roles.
In addition to a theoretical base in business administration, Fisher prides itself in its action-based learning opportunities, such as field-based courses and business plan competitions, among other offerings. The full-time MBA program begins with a required Pre-Term Experience, during which new students are introduced to the college and MBA core and participate in coaching and career development, among other forms of development. Core courses and experiential learning make up the entire first year to establish a foundation for electives and major courses in the second year. Each academic year is broken down into two semesters, and there are two seven-week sessions per semester. Some courses will span the entire semester, while others will be either the first or last seven-week session of the semester. During the spring semester, students can participate in a Global Applied Project (GAP), a three-credit consulting project for an institution outside of the United States. The summer between the first and second years may be spent in an internship.
Full-time MBA students need 60 credits to graduate; 27 of these credits come from core courses, while 6 hours come from experiential learning and 27 are dedicated to electives, which allow students to focus their MBA. Instead of majors, Fisher MBA students may pursue optional pathways in topics such as finance, marketing, as well as strategy, leadership, and consulting to support their career interests.
In addition to the full-time program, Fisher also offers an MBA for working professionals and an executive MBA. The MBA for working professionals requires 48 credit hours to complete and classes are held in the evenings and weekends to enable students to maintain their jobs during the day. The MBA for working professionals usually takes just under three years to complete; however, this is flexible as students may enroll in as few as 1.5 credit hours per semester or as many as 9 credit hours per semester, allowing students to finish in as little as two years. Working professional MBA students must complete 27 credits of core classes and 21 elective credits. The Executive MBA is geared towards high-potential professionals recommended by their employers. Classes take place three days a month over 17 months. This program also includes domestic and international immersion trips.
Fisher College of Business also partners with other colleges of Ohio State University to offer seven dual degree options. Applicants must be admitted to each program separately and the options include the following: MBA/JD, MBA/MD, MBA/Master of Environment and Natural Resources, MBA/Master of Public Administration, MBA/PharmD, MBA/Specialized Master in Business-Analytics, and MBA/Master in Health Administration.
ces, MBA/Master of Public Administration, MBA/PharmD, and MBA/Master of Health Administration.
Full-Time MBA
https://fisher.osu.edu/graduate/ftmba
MBA for Working Professionals (Part-time MBA)
https://fisher.osu.edu/graduate/wpmba
Executive MBA
https://fisher.osu.edu/graduate/executive-mba
Dual Degree Programs
MBA/JD, MBA/MD, MBA/Master of Environment and Natural Resources, MBA/Specialized Master in Business-Analytics, MBA/Master of Public Administration, MBA/PharmD, MBA/Master in Health Administration
https://fisher.osu.edu/graduate/ftmba/academics/dual-degree-programs
Fisher students benefit from many organizations within the college itself and across the Ohio State University campus. Fisher offers over 20 student clubs, which span professional, cultural, athletic and social interests. Students are also encouraged to launch clubs based on common interests. Of note, Fisher Board Fellows has, since 2004, linked MBA Fisher students with the broader Columbus community. Selected MBA students are placed on the Boards of area nonprofits as nonvoting fellows. Fisher students may also engage the Columbus community through FisherServes, which promotes awareness of civic and social responsibilities through service-based initiatives. Students may also let loose and showcase their talents in the annual production of Fisher Follies.
The Office of ACCESS sponsors the activities of multiple student organizations, each of which host or attend conventions or conferences. For example, the National Black MBA Association Annual Conference and Exposition boasts attendance of 10,000 and is one of the largest professional development and job recruitment events nationwide. Additionally, students from the Fisher Graduate Women in Business attend The National Association of Women MBAs conference, which seeks to empower female MBA students, female business professionals, and employers.
Because of Fisher’s partnerships with many organizations, including some of the 20 Fortune 1000 companies located in Columbus, there are various opportunities to compete in case competitions and “mini” case competitions.
Most classes are taught in Gerlach Hall, one of five buildings comprising the Fisher College of Business campus at Ohio State University. The Fisher campus features 370,000 square feet of space, a state-of-the-art computer network, satellite up-link capabilities, video-on-demand, and nearly 3,000 computer ports. The campus also includes a full-service hotel and restaurant as well as a café with indoor and outdoor seating.
Most students live off-campus. There are numerous options within a short walk or drive to campus. Students may also live in on-campus graduate housing as well as Fisher Commons, an apartment property located on the West side of campus. All students also have access to CABS, the Campus Area Bus Service, which offers multiple stops at or near the Fisher campus.
The Fisher Office of Career Management provides many ways for students to develop professionally during their time at the school. Located in Gerlach Hall, one-on-one attention is provided from day 1. The office provides résumé guidance, basic and advanced interviewing techniques, negotiation skills, and more. Career Foundation Seminars, which include high-level executives from major companies, provide students with overviews of industry opportunities. The career-specific workshops, known as the Career Success Series, also support students’ job searches. On-campus recruiting runs from September to December in the fall, and January through April in the spring. The Office of Career Management also hosts an annual career fair in September, as well as an internship and job fair in February. Fisher students also have access to career fairs held across Ohio State University.
Within three months of graduation, 83% of the Fisher MBA Class of 2024 had job offers. Their average starting salary landed at $123,525 and the average signing bonus came in at $25,481. Financial services topped the list of industry choice at 26%. Consulting and tech followed at 20% and 17%, respectively. Consumer products hired 9% of OSU MBA grads and 6% joined healthcare.
Sixty-six percent of the Fisher MBA Class of 2024 settled in the Midwest. The next most popular destination was the Northeast U.S., which took in 10% of graduates. Six percent headed to the South U.S. Both the West and Southwest saw 5% of graduates.
For the 2026-27 school year, tuition and fees for Ohio residents is $31,347 per year. Non-residents and international students can expect to pay $62,538 in tuition and fees. Students are encouraged to use loans, a semester payment plan, or military benefits for financing.
All applications are considered for merit-based scholarships, which cover up to the full cost of tuition. About 75% of Fisher students receive some form of merit-based funding. Some rely on past academic performance and work experience; however, most are simply based on a candidate’s potential to contribute to the student community. Ohio State also offers a program called “Forever Buckeye,” which allows for in-state tuition for past residents of Ohio. Applicants to Forever Buckeye must have graduated from a public or private Ohio high school and must reside in Ohio during the MBA program.
Scholarships are also available to cover the cost of living. Graduate assistantships can also be a source of help with tuition and other expenses. The admissions committee selects a number of incoming students per year based on their skills and interests; in exchange for 10 hours of work per week, selected students receive a 50% tuition waiver and an additional stipend. The admissions committee may also nominate selected candidates for Fisher MBA Leadership Fellows and merit-based cash awards to aid in the cost of attendance. U.S. citizens and permanent residents can also avail themselves of different loan programs, including the Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan program and Federal Direct PLUS Loan program.
Tuition
Room, Board, Miscellaneous $19,986
Books and Supplies $1,516
Health Insurance $4,108
Total (per 9 months)
