Olin Business School – Washington University in St. Louis

FAQ

What is the tuition for Olin's MBA program?

The tuition for Olin's MBA program is $64,250 per year.

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

The average GMAT score for the incoming class at Olin is 684.

Does the Olin MBA program accept the GRE?

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

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

Olin 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 4.1 years of experience.

What is the average number of years of work experience for admission to Olin's MBA program? (or, What is the average age of a Olin MBA student?)

The average number of years of work experience among students in Olin's MBA program is 4.1. On average, Olin students are 28 years old.

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

The average starting salary for Olin MBA graduates is $118,000.

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

Olin offers a traditional 2 year MBA program.

What are the application deadlines for Olin's full-time MBA program?

The Round 1 MBA application deadline is September 21, 2022. The Round 2 deadline is November 9, 2022. The Round 3 deadline is January 22, 2023. The Round 4 deadline is March 22, 2023. Then, rolling admissions begin.

Admissions

The Class Profile

For the Class of 2023, 86 Olin MBA students had an average age of 28 and 4.1 years of work experience. Forty-three percent of the class is female, while 25% are underrepresented minorities. In addition, 40% of students are international. The class earned an average GMAT score of 684 and an average GPA of 3.3. Thirty-seven percent of the students have a business/economics background and 36% percent of students have an academic background in natural science/engineering/STEM. Twenty-seven percent had studied humanities and social studies.

Application Procedures

Unlike many schools, Olin’s application does not require an application fee. Instead, applicants must submit an online application, a current one-page résumé, two required essays, standardized test scores, academic transcripts, one professional recommendation, and a career plan. The GMAT or GRE is required, and international students must submit TOEFL or IELTS scores. Applicants must also have the equivalent of a U.S. bachelor’s degree. In addition, applicant interviews are conducted by invitation only. Applicants are typically notified of their application’s status within two months of submission. 

Application Checklist

• Online Application
• One-Page Résumé
• Two Required Essays
• GMAT or GRE test scores (unofficial)
• Academic Transcripts (unofficial)
• Official TOEFL, IELTS, or PTE scores (international applicants)
• One Professional Recommendation
• Career Plan

Interview Reports

Washington U. / Olin Interview Questions & Report: Round 3 / Aimee Williams Adcom / On Campus

I had an overall great interview experience at Olin. Aimee was warm, welcoming, and made me feel right at ease. At the beginning of the interview she explained her background and what questions she would be asking me. She informed me that she would be asking me 9-10 questions, and would give me some time […]

Washington U. / Olin Interview Questions & Report: Round 4 / Adcom / Skype

The following WUSTL Olin MBA interview questions & report were submitted to Clear Admit by a Round 4 applicant. Good luck to them! Had the interview with Ashley Lautzenheiser. it was a quick interview that lasted for 10 mins only. She asked typical questions: Introduce yourself Why MBA? Why now? 3 things you look for in […]

Wash-olin Q&As

Admissions Director Q&A: Mikale Elliott of WashU Olin

In this edition of our Admissions Director Q&A series, we land in St. Louis, Missouri, to learn about Washington University’s Olin Business School. Mikale Elliott, Graduate Programs Recruiter at WashU, spent her undergraduate career at the University of Missouri–Columbia studying business communication and gaining experience recruiting underrepresented minorities. After graduating, she took a non-traditional pathway […]

Admissions Director Q&A: Ruthie Pyles Stiffler of WashU Olin Business School

In this edition of our Admissions Director Q&A, Ruthie Pyles Stiffler, the associate dean of graduate enrollment management for WashU Olin Business School at Washington University in St. Louis, digs into the value and culture of their full-time MBA program. Ruthie oversees the admission, recruitment, reporting, financial services and talent acquisition divisions for Olin’s graduate […]

Washington U. / Olin LiveWire and DecisionWire

Academics

Faculty

Olin’s faculty consists of 77 tenured or tenure track members, 27 full-time lecturers and professors of practice, 45 adjunct lecturers and other visiting and emeriti faculty. Their areas of expertise include accounting, economics, finance, leadership, management science, marketing, operations & manufacturing management, and organizational behavior. In addition, the faculty contribute to Olin’s five business research centers, which cover topics such as consumer analytics, economics research, and financial research. 

Curriculum

The Olin school utilizes a platform philosophy through which students may tailor their class choices, internships, and even extracurricular activities to a specific area of study. The five platforms are the following: consulting, corporate finance & investments, entrepreneurship, marketing, and operations & supply chain management. 

Prior to the full-time program’s start in the fall semester, students meet at Washington University’s St. Louis campus, where they take a course that introduces them to Olin’s approach to decision-making and engage in an “Amazing Race”-style competition around St. Louis. Next, students begin the first of three courses of the Global Immersion trips. For the 2023-24 academic year, MBA students take their first course in Washington, D.C., in the summer of 2023 to study global institutions. The fall destination is in Europe and centers around business models in the context of multiple locations. The third destination takes Olin MBA students to Asia, where the course digs deeper into operations. 

During their first semester of study in the fall, Olin MBA students take core courses in various types of management, managerial economics, and financial accounting. In addition, students also partake in industry seminars for their chosen platform of study. In the spring semester, students take core courses in strategic cost analysis and business analytics as well as electives. Following a summer internship, students then take a course in leadership development in the fall, a strategic management course in the spring, and various electives throughout the year. The electives can be chosen based on a student’s platform or other areas of interest. Lastly, class sizes are kept purposefully small. There are currently about 280 full-time MBA students enrolled at Olin. 

To graduate, students are required to complete 67 credit hours, 25.5 of which are electives. The required courses include studies in accounting, financial accounting, management, managerial economics, leadership development, and business analytics. In addition, electives cover everything from strategy consulting to asset management. 

Most courses at Olin are available for the standard three credit hours. To supplement student’s traditional classroom experiences, however, the Olin MBA also offers half- to two-hour courses called “minis.” These mini courses can supplement a student’s platform or other areas of learning, and the two most popular focus on values-based leadership. 

In addition to classwork, the Olin MBA is characterized by its emphasis on experiential learning. Guest speakers, lecturers, internships, and organizations round out the program’s classroom work. In addition, students are encouraged to work with St. Louis nonprofits and startup organizations to address real-life organizational concerns. 

Other MBA Degree Options

In addition to the full-time MBA, the Olin School also offers a professional MBA option as well as an executive MBA. The professional option offers flexible scheduling, and many students are able to finish it within three years. Classes are offered on two evenings per week or in two sessions on Saturdays. Meanwhile, the Executive MBA offers coursework tailored to students who are more advanced in their careers and takes 20 months to complete. Those interested in the EMBA may study in St. Louis, Shanghai, or Mumbai.

Platforms at Olin

• Consulting
• Corporate Finance and Investments
• Entrepreneurship
• Marketing
• Operations and Supply Chain Management

Degree Offerings at Olin

Full-Time MBA Program 

https://olin.wustl.edu/EN-US/academic-programs/full-time-MBA/Pages/default.aspx

Part-Time MBA Program 

https://olin.wustl.edu/EN-US/academic-programs/professional-MBA/Pages/default.aspx

Executive MBA Programs 

U.S. 

https://olin.wustl.edu/EN-US/executive-programs/executive-mba/Pages/default.aspx

Mumbai 

https://olin.wustl.edu/EN-US/executive-programs/executive-mba-mumbai/Pages/default.aspx

Shanghai 

https://olin.wustl.edu/EN-US/executive-programs/executive-mba-shanghai/Pages/default.aspx

Campus Life

Clubs, Conferences, & Competitions

The Olin school has over 30 graduate student clubs and organizations. These include groups related to particular areas of study, such as the Entrepreneurship and Venture Capital Association, as well as affinity organizations, such as the Olin Veterans Association or the Olin Women in Business. 

In addition, many conferences are hosted at Olin. For instance, the Wells Fargo Advisors Center for Finance and Accounting Research (WFA-CFAR) hosts four yearly conferences. The autumnal Corporate Finance Conference covers topics such as corporate control and capital structures, whereas the two-day Nick Dopuch Accounting Conference focuses on accounting research. Next, the Wealth & Asset Management Research Conference promotes a deeper understanding of capital markets. Lastly, the Summer School on financial intermediation and contracting is an intense four-day program that delves into corporate finance and financial markets. 

Competitions are also a part of the Olin experience. For example, the Skandalaris Venture Competition helps promote innovation and the launch of new business ideas. Lastly, as a part of the Integrative Case Experiences, students may participate in a case competition to develop cross-functional learning experiences. In addition, a new entry, the Monsanto-Olin Case Competition, encourages students to learn more about supply chain technology in the agriculture business. 

Campus Spaces

Interested students are encouraged to visit the Danforth campus to learn more about Olin’s offerings and culture. Simon Hall, as well as the newly constructed Knight and Bauer Halls, comprise the campus buildings. In addition, the Knight Center is home to the school’s executive education program. 

Students who do not live in the St. Louis area may contact Quadrangle Housing for information about available apartments. These off-campus apartments are run by an affiliate of Washington University, and some of its spaces are reserved for graduate and professional students. In addition, the Apartment Referral Services can offer help to students seeking housing. 

Furthermore, the city of St. Louis itself acts as a draw for many students. The Olin campus is located near St. Louis’s many museums, entertainment venues, and dining establishments. In addition, the experiential learning focus of the degree encourages students to get involved in consulting projects with nonprofits and for-profits in the St. Louis community. 

MBA Careers

Career Services

The Weston Career Center offers students advising sessions, networking opportunities, and resources from its extensive network of alumni. In addition, students are required to take part in ProDev, the school’s MBA career education program, to keep an eye on their career goals for the duration of their studies. Lastly, the school’s unique platforms program ensures students partake in the coursework, internships, and extracurricular work best suited to their future careers in the consulting, corporate finance & investments, entrepreneurship, marketing, or operations & supply chain management fields. 

In addition, Olin’s alumni base of over 21,000 individuals worldwide can be used for job searching purposes. They are available for networking opportunities and career connections. Furthermore, some alumni participate in the Olin Mentor Program, offering firsthand insight into the real-world workings of many industries. 

Career Statistics

By January 2020, 81% of the Olin MBA Class of 2019 reported accepting a job. Their median base salary landed at $118,000. Technology topped the list of industry choice, as 21% chose the field. Pharma/biotech/healthcare products followed at 20%. Consulting and financial services each took in 16% of the Olin MBA Class of 2019. Three percent or less of the class joined other fields including retail, manufacturing, real estate and others.

Forty-five percent of students settled in the Midwest, while 18% relocated to the West.  Fourteen percent headed to the Northeast U.S. Eight percent started work in the Southwest and 6% in the South. Five percent landed in the Mid-Atlantic region and four percent headed abroad for work.

Financing

For the full-time MBA, the tuition for the fall and spring semesters of academic year 2021–22 is $64,250, or $32,125 per semester. Additional fees, including orientation, health and activities, total $1,668 for the first year. Financial aid is available for many students. First, scholarships and fellowships that may cover up to the full cost of tuition are awarded to select candidates. Full tuition may also be provided by the Consortium for Graduate Study Management as well as the McDonnell International Scholars Academy. Additional aid may be provided by the Forte Foundation, Reaching Out Fellowship, Mr. and Mrs. Spencer T. Olin Fellowship for Women, and the Milford and Leona Bohm Scholarship. In addition, partial to full tuition waivers are available for persons who served in the U.S. Armed Forces.

Lastly, students may qualify for federal Stafford Loan or a Graduate PLUS Loan. Eligibility is determined by students’ FAFSA information. In addition, private loans may also be available for graduate business students from banks.

Estimated Cost of Attendance (2021–2023)

• Tuition 2021-2023: $130,437.50
• Activity Fee: $2,000
• Health & Wellness Fee: $1,076
• Student Government Fee: $520
• Books and Supplies: $2,782
• Room and Board: $17,696
• Personal/Miscellaneous: $5,268

Total for two years:  $161,669

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