Ross School of Business – University of Michigan

FAQ

What is the tuition for Ross's MBA program?

The tuition for Ross’s MBA program is $67,114 for Michigan residents and $72,114 for non-Michigan residents per year. The total cost of the Ross MBA program is $92,399 for in-state students and $97,399 for non-Michigan residents; this includes budgeted living expenses.

How hard is it to get into Ross's MBA program?

The acceptance rate for Ross is 35.9% It is important to consider the acceptance rate in the context of the student profile of those who are admitted. For example the average GMAT score is 722.

What is the average GMAT score for admission to Ross's MBA program?

The average GMAT score for the incoming class at Ross is 722. The GMAT range is middle 80% 690 - 760.

Does the Ross MBA program accept the GRE?

Yes. The Ross MBA program has accepted the GRE for a few years now.

What is the average GRE score for admission to Ross's MBA program?

The average GRE score for the incoming class at Ross is 160 for both Quant and Verbal.

What is the minimum number of years of work experience required for admission to Ross's MBA program?

Ross 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 5 years of experience.

What is the average number of years of work experience for admission to Ross's MBA program?

The average number of years of work experience among students in Ross's MBA program is 5.

What is the average starting salary for graduates of the Ross MBA program?

The average starting salary for Ross MBA graduates is $136,679. The salary will vary by industry, with consulting and finance jobs generally commanding the higher salaries.

How long is Ross's full-time MBA program?

Ross offers a traditional 2 year MBA program.

What are the application deadlines for Ross's MBA program?

The Round 1 MBA application deadline is September 20, 2021. The Round 2 application deadline is January 10, 2022. The Round 3 deadline is April 4, 2022.

What percent of Ross MBA students are women?

The percentage of the class at Ross that are women is 46%.

What type of interview does Ross use for MBA admissions?

Ross offers interviews by invitation. The interviews are resume-based. This means the interviewer has not had access to the application materials. Ross also offers an option team exercise, for invited interviewees.

VIDEOS

Admissions

The Class Profile

The average GMAT score among the 398 students in the Ross Class of 2023 was 722, with 80% of the class scoring between 690 and 760.  

The majority of the Class of 2023 came from quantitatively focused academic backgrounds; a full 42% of students have undergraduate degrees in business, while 32% entered with a degree in STEM fields (science, engineering, mathematics, or technology) and 28% in the humanities. Students in the Class of 2023 entered the MBA program with an average of 5 years of work experience. The class consists of 28% international students from 42 countries. Women constitute 46% of the Class of 2023, and 36% of the class identify as U.S. students of color.

Application Procedures

Prospective students can apply to Ross in one of four admissions periods, which typically occur in mid-September, early January, late March, and early June. To be considered for admission to the MBA program, applicants must submit a current résumé, application form, essays, undergraduate and postgraduate transcripts, one letter of recommendation and a nonrefundable $200 application fee.  The admissions committee also requires that applicants submit GMAT or GRE scores and, if applicable, scores from the TOEFL or IELTS exams. Michigan Ross is offering candidates to the Full-Time MBA 2020-2021 application cycle the ability to request a waiver for the standardized test requirement. Candidates may apply to waive academic proficiency tests (GMAT, GRE) and English proficiency tests (TOEFL, IELTS, and PTE).

The school notes that participation in a “team exercise” held either on campus in Ann Arbor or at one of several international locations is highly recommended.  Interviews are required for admission to the program and are conducted on an invitation-only basis, typically by a member of the admissions staff or an alumnus.

Application Checklist

• Data Forms
• GMAT/GRE and TOEFL/IELTS Score(s)
• Résumé
• Application Fee
• Recommendation
• Academic transcripts
• Essays

Interview Reports

Michigan Ross Interview Questions & Report: Round 2 / Alumnus / Zoom

Interview questions: – Why is an MBA right for you at this point in your career? – Why Ross? – Tell me about a time you dealt with something that changed unexpectedly. – Tell me about a time you had to motivate your peers (follow-up: how did you deal with push-back on this). – Tell […]

Michigan Ross Interview Questions & Report: Round 2 / Alumnus / Zoom

Pretty short about 15 min. Interviewer was nice, but was taciturn. Probably the chillest interview. 1. Walk me through your resume. 2. Why MBA? 3. Why Ross? 4. Talk about a time you worked with ppl with diff backgrounds. 5. Talk about a time you failed. 6. Talk about a time you needed help.

Michigan Ross Interview Questions & Report: Round 2 / Alumnus / Zoom

Very direct interview style, without a lot of conversation. I was surprised at how abruptly we sent from one question to the next. The interviewer became much more conversational after I began asking my questions near the end of our interview. Her questions included: 1) Why Ross; 2) Why MBA; 3) Why now; 4) Tell […]

Michigan Ross Interview Questions & Report: Round 2 / Second-Year Student / Zoom

Interviewer was a bit flat, but not overly cold. The person had to reschedule a few times due to care-giving responsibilities and informed me the interview would last precisely 40 minutes. She provided time updates during the interview and informed me there would be six questions: 1) Tell me about yourself. 2) Why MBA? (I […]

Michigan Ross Interview Questions & Report: Round 2 / Alumnus / Zoom

My alumni interviewer was very warm, which made the experience a lot more enjoyable. We started the conversation with the interviewer providing me with background on her career. Then we dived into the expected interview questions: 1. Walk me through your background? 2. Why MBA? 3. Why now? 4. Why Ross? After discussing those preliminary […]

Michigan Ross Interview Questions & Report: Round 2 / Second-Year Student / Zoom

Started off with the interviewer giving me a little of their background. Then they asked: – Walk me through your resume. – Why MBA/Why now? – Why Ross? Then we transitioned to some classic behavioral interview questions like: Tell me about a time you received negative feedback. Tell me about a time where you worked […]

Michigan Ross Interview Questions & Report: Round 2 / Second-Year Student / Zoom

50 Minute interview that was resume based. (2 mins Introduction, 45 Mins Interview, 3 mins my questions) Questions (All Behavioral) – Tell me about when you added value. – Tell me about a time you demonstrated innovative leadership. – Tell me about a time when you had to consider a perspective that was not your […]

Michigan Ross Interview Questions & Report: Round 2 / Second-Year Student / Zoom

Resume based. -Tell me about your resume. -Why MBA? -Why Ross? -Tell me about a time you worked with people with a different background than you. -Tell me about a time when you felt your manager was headed in the wrong direction, and what you did about it. -Tell me about a time when you […]

Michigan Ross Interview Questions & Report: Round 1 / Second-Year Student / Zoom

Relatively informal-feeling conversation. He asked me many of the “standard” interview questions such as why Ross, why an MBA, tell me about a time when you led a team, tell me about a time when you disagreed with a superior and how you handled it…etc. It then took a slight twist when he shifted gears […]

Michigan Ross Interview Questions & Report: Round 1 / Second-Year Student / Zoom

The interview was over Zoom. It was professional, they reviewed my resume in-depth, and all initial questions were based from my resume. Asked Why and MBA, Why Ross, Why specific industry and how will Ross help you get there. The interviewer surprised me by asking in depth questions relating to my military career.

Ross Q&As

Admissions Director Q&A: Soojin Kwon of the University of Michigan Ross School of Business

In this edition of our Admissions Director Q&A, learn all about the Stephen M. Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan.  Soojin Kwon is the Managing Director for Full-time MBA Admissions and Program and a lecturer of Business Communication at Michigan Ross. Soojin has led MBA Admissions since 2006 and, since 2016, also […]

Admissions Director Q&A: Soojin Kwon of the Michigan Ross School of Business

Welcome to another edition of our series, Admissions Director Q&A!  This week, we are excited to feature Soojin Kwon, the Managing Director for Full-time MBA Admissions and Program at the Michigan Ross School of Business. Kwon has led MBA Admissions since 2006 and, since 2016, the student experience and academic advising of the MBA programs. […]

Admissions Director Q&A: Soojin Kwon of Michigan’s Ross School of Business

We began interviewing admissions directors at leading business schools back in 2008, and we circle back regularly to capture changes and new developments in the dynamic field of graduate management admissions. We are thrilled to continue the Clear Admit’s Admissions Director Q&A Series with Soojin Kwon, who has led MBA admissions at the University of Michigan’s […]

Ross LiveWire and DecisionWire

Academics

Faculty

There are approximately 150 full-time faculty members at Ross, with an additional 70 or so adjunct or visiting professors, whose classes span 13 areas as well as the undergraduate, master’s and Ph.D. programs. Ross’s professors also contribute to the school’s 20 research centers and institutes, which range in focus from entrepreneurship to tax policy research.

Curriculum

Professors at Ross teach using a mix of case studies, classroom discussion and lectures with an emphasis on experiential learning. This emphasis is particularly notable in the school’s Multidisciplinary Action Projects (MAP), in which teams of students spend a term completing consulting projects for real companies. Ross also offers a variety of courses, extracurricular opportunities and competitions for students looking for further practical experience. First-year students are typically divided into six sections of approximately 80 students each, and each section takes the same required first-year courses together.

The academic year for the full-time MBA program begins in early September and ends in late April. The first year is divided into four seven-week terms, with students taking three to four classes for the first three terms and concluding with MAP for the last term in late spring. Students at Ross may also pursue a term-long independent study project if they are in good academic standing. In the second year, students take elective courses that last either seven or 14 weeks. There are short breaks between the fall, winter and spring terms.

Ross requires each full-time student to complete 57 credits worth of classes in two years in order to graduate with an MBA degree. A total of approximately 30 of those credits are completed through the 10 core courses first-year students take. These courses span from accounting to marketing and are almost all eligible to be waived.  To waive core courses or other degree requirements, students may opt for an exam, demonstrate prior academic or professional experience in the material or cite a professional designation such as a CPA. Along with the core courses, students must also complete the required course “Competing in the Global Business Environment” and fulfill requirements in communication and business law by choosing from a list of eligible courses or securing a waiver. Ross students are required to complete at least 25 credits worth of electives, 10 of which can be graduate coursework in other University of Michigan departments. While Ross does not offer any majors, the school does break down its courses by department and offers career path guides to aid students in selecting elective courses. Students looking to gain further exposure to international business may also spend a semester studying abroad at one of Ross’s 19 exchange partner schools.

Other MBA Degree Options

In addition to its two-year full-time MBA program, Ross offers an online and weekend part-time MBA programs, a 21-month Executive MBA program, and a 16-month Global MBA in which students spend three months abroad in Asia followed by thirteen months in Ann Arbor. Ross has established more than 20 dual degrees with other University of Michigan – Ann Arbor departments in areas such as law, engineering, education and more regionally based studies. Students also have the option to create their own dual degree programs within the University.

Academic Departments at Ross

• Accounting
• Business Communication
• Business Economics and Public Policy
• Business Law
• Finance
• Management and Organizations
• Marketing
• Strategy
• Technology and Operations

Degree Offerings at Ross

Full-time MBA Program
https://michiganross.umich.edu/graduate/full-time-mba

Online/Weekend (Part-Time) MBA Program
https://michiganross.umich.edu/programs/evening-mba

Global MBA Education
https://michiganross.umich.edu/programs/global-mba

Executive MBA Education
https://michiganross.umich.edu/programs/executive-mba

Campus Life

Clubs, Conferences & Competitions

Students at Ross contribute to an extensive range of clubs and other extracurricular activities. Currently, there are over 70 clubs open to full-time MBA students, covering professional, community, diversity and social interests. One popular club is the Community Consulting Club (CCC), through which undergraduate and graduate students perform nonprofit consulting projects for Southeastern Michigan organizations. Members of the CCC complete 10 to 15 projects per year, such as designing a growth strategy for the Ann Arbor Hospice or creating a base of corporate sponsors for Habitat for Humanity. Ross students may also participate in more traditional career-based clubs such as the Finance Club and the General Management Club or in more casual, socially oriented clubs like the Ice Hockey Club and Risky Business, the rock band at Ross. Ross’s clubs and research centers work to host a number of conferences each year on topics including business in Asia, and energy-efficient markets, among others.

In line with its emphasis on experiential learning, Ross students are offered multiple opportunities to compete in business-related competitions. For instance, the Leadership Crisis Challenge puts student teams in the position of senior executives facing a crisis scenario at a major company as they compete for a scholarship and other prizes. Meanwhile, the Ross Energy Club offers an annual renewable energy case competition each February in which teams of MBA students from top business schools travel to Ross to present solutions to cases written by the club.

Campus Spaces

The Ross School of Business building lies at the southern end of the University of Michigan’s central campus and encompasses most of the business school’s classrooms, faculty offices and informal meeting areas. The building also includes a large auditorium, a fitness center and a café, in addition to a reception hall and a full-service hotel. Meanwhile, the Davidson Winter Garden—a glass-enclosed lounge area—serves as a common meeting place for students, faculty and guests.

Both on- and off-campus housing is available to full-time MBA students. The Northwood Community Apartments is Michigan’s on-campus housing facility for graduate students, students with families and faculty, though demand for the apartments runs high. Off campus, a majority of students rent apartments in such popular neighborhoods as South U, South of Hill and Southeast Side.

MBA Careers

Career Services

The Office of Career Development (OCD) takes a two-pronged approach to assisting students’ career search efforts. The career counseling staff individually counsels students on their job searches and offers regular career workshops. Meanwhile, the recruiter relations staff oversees the on-campus interview process, job postings and recruiter events. The OCD provides students with a variety of means to meet recruiters, including networking hours, on-campus presentations and off-campus site visits. Interviewing for full-time positions begins the last week of September, and interviewing for internships begins in late January. 

Career Statistics

Roughly 83% of the Ross Class of 2020 seeking employment had received a job offer at the time of graduation, and that number climbed to 90% within three months of graduation. The mean base salary for a Ross graduate was $136,679 with an average signing bonus of $30,987.  Consulting was the most popular function post-graduation, claiming 42% of the class; meanwhile, marketing/sales functions attracted 23% of the class. Fourteen percent took on finance roles. About 12% of 2020 graduates found general management roles, while the rest took positions in operations or other functions.

The most popular industry for the Class of 2020 was consulting, as nearly 36% of students entered that industry.  Almost 25% percent of the class entered the technology industry, while financial services accounted for 12% of the class and 7% entered the consumer goods industry.  Other industries of interest to Ross graduates included healthcare and manufacturing, both receiving roughly four to five percent the class.

Following a common trend among business schools, Ross sent approximately 30% of its 2020 graduates to jobs located in the same region as the school: the Midwestern U.S. About 27% of the class went to the Western U.S., and 20% of the class headed to the Northeast.  An additional 9% of the class took positions overseas, and the remainder opted to work in other regions of the U.S.

Financing

Tuition for the 2021-2022 academic year was $67,114 for Michigan residents and $72,114 for non-residents. With the addition of textbooks, housing expenses and other personal expenditures, Ross estimates that the total cost of attending is $92,399 for in-state students and $97,399 for those from out of state.

To help finance their education, students are automatically considered for scholarships when they are granted admission, and no additional application is necessary. These scholarships are awarded based on academic, professional and personal accomplishments and potential value to the community, with awards ranging from $10,000 to full tuition. Ross also offers scholarships through the Tauber Institute for Global Operations and the Frederick A. and Barbara M. Erb Institute for Global Sustainable Enterprise. In addition, students are encouraged to apply for other scholarships offered by the University of Michigan, as well as private scholarships. Students seeking further financial support may apply for a federal loan through the Federal Direct Lending Program if they are U.S. citizens or permanent residents. International students may secure loans through private lenders, although the school notes that these loans will require a U.S. co-signer.

Cost of Attendance (per year)

Tuition

• MI State Resident $67,114
• Non-MI State Resident $72,114
• Food & Housing $16,998
• Books & Supplies $1,716
• Federal Loan Fees $224
• Personal $6,350
• Mandatory Fees $164
• International Student Service Fees $500 per semester

Total

• MI State Resident $92,399
• Non-MI State Resident $97,399
• International Students under J or F visa $98,399

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