Stanford Graduate School of Business
The Stanford Graduate School of Business, or Stanford GSB, is located on the eastern side of Stanford University’s campus in Palo Alto, California. Stanford’s MBA program is known for its small size, which creates an intimate academic setting. Due in part to its close proximity to Silicon Valley, the school is also well recognized for its strengths in entrepreneurship and the high-tech industry. The MBA program places a noted focus on fostering positive change, as evidenced by its motto, “Change lives. Change organizations. Change the world.”
FAQ
What is the tuition for Stanford’s MBA program?
The tuition for Stanford’s MBA program is $79,860 per year. The total cost of the Stanford MBA program is $126,465 per year; this includes budgeted living expenses.
How hard is it to get into Stanford’s MBA program?
The acceptance rate for Stanford is slightly above 5%. 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 738.
What is the average GMAT score for admission to Stanford’s MBA program?
The average GMAT score for the incoming class at Stanford is 738.
Does the Stanford MBA program accept the GRE?
Yes. The Stanford MBA program has accepted the GRE for a few years now.
What is the average GRE score for admission to Stanford’s MBA program?
The average GRE score for the incoming class at Stanford is 164 Verbal and 164 Quantitative.
What is the minimum number of years of work experience required for admission to Stanford’s MBA program?
Stanford 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 Stanford’s MBA program?
The average number of years of work experience among students in Stanford’s MBA program is 5.
What is the average starting salary for graduates of the Stanford MBA program?
The average starting salary for Stanford MBA graduates is $189,010 with an average signing bonus of $42,249. The salary will vary by industry, with consulting and finance jobs generally commanding the higher salaries.
How long is Stanford’s full-time MBA program?
Stanford offers a traditional 2 year MBA program.
What are the application deadlines for Stanford’s MBA program?
The Round 1 MBA application deadline is September 12, 2023. The Round 2 application deadline is January 4, 2024. The Round 3 deadline is April 9, 2024.
What percent of Stanford MBA students are women?
The percentage of the class at Stanford that are women is 46%.
What type of interview does Stanford use for MBA admissions?
Stanford offers interviews by invitation. The interviews are resume-based. This means the interviewer has not had access to the application materials.
Admissions
The Class Profile
Admission to Stanford GSB’s MBA program is highly competitive—6,190 MBA hopefuls applied to the Class of 2025, and 431 ultimately matriculated. The average GMAT score among the enrolled students in this class is 7387. Thirty-nine percent of the class opted to take the GRE instead of the GMAT, and they averaged 164 in the Verbal section and 164 in the Quant section. The average GPA for the new class was 3.77.
Twenty-six percent of students in the Class of 2025 hold undergraduate majors in engineering. Twenty-one percent majored in economics. A fifth studied business/commerce and 15% majored in math or science. Thirteen percent earned degrees in social sciences.
Students in this class have an average of 5 years of work experience. Prior to attending Stanford, 19% came from investment management, private equity, or venture capital roles, and another 17% had worked in consulting. Thirteen percent of the class hailed from the technology sector. Ten percent of the class previously worked in government, education, or the nonprofit sector while nine percent have worked in consumer products and services.
Thirty-seven percent of first-year students are international citizens, dual U.S. citizens or U.S. permanent residents. Finally, women comprise 46% of this class, and 50% identify as a member of a U.S. minority group.
Application Procedures
Stanford GSB offers three rounds of admission, which usually take place in late September, early January, and early April. Along with filling out an online application about their biographical information and career history, applicants must submit essays, a résumé, transcripts from all undergraduate and graduate academic institutions attended, and a $275 application fee. In addition, two letters of reference are required, one from a workplace supervisor and one from a peer.
Applicants must also submit GMAT or GRE scores and, if needed, a TOEFL, IELTS, or PTE score. Interviews are conducted on an invitation-only basis and are required for admission to the MBA program. The bulk of interviews are executed by alumni located around the world; members of the MBA Admissions staff also conduct interviews.
Application Checklist
Essay Topic Analysis
Recommendation Questions
Stanford Q&As
Stanford GSB LiveWire and DecisionWire
Academics
Faculty
Across its seven academic areas, Stanford GSB employs 119 tenured and tenure-track professors resulting in a six-to-one student-faculty ratio. In addition to teaching classes, these scholars and practitioners also help staff the school’s 10 research centers and research programs, which cover topics from entrepreneurial studies to global supply chain management.
Curriculum
The full-time MBA program is designed to take place across six quarters of roughly 11 weeks apiece. Classes are held during the fall, winter, and spring, and students are encouraged to spend the summer between the first and second years completing an internship. Autumn Quarter of the first year of the MBA program typically begins in mid- September and ends in mid-December. Classes resume for Winter Quarter in early January and last until late March; Spring Quarter runs from early April through mid-June. The second year is structured very similarly, with the exception that Autumn Quarter courses begin a week later.
As at most MBA programs, professors at Stanford GSB use a mix of teaching methods, such as case studies, lecture and discussion, and team projects. Stanford GSB students spend the first year of their MBA studies completing both core and distribution requirements. The first quarter is devoted entirely to core requirements, with both Winter and Spring quarters dedicated to finishing the core as well as undertaking distribution requirements and electives. In addition, each first-year student must fulfill a Global Experience Requirement by contributing to a project abroad. Students can meet this requirement by working abroad over the summer through the Global Management Immersion Experience, completing an exchange program with Tsinghua University in Beijing, or participating in a student-initiated service or global study trip.
Throughout the second year, students can take up to 18 courses total and are free to choose from over 100 elective courses across 10 academic departments. Students may also cross-register for courses at other Stanford University graduate schools. Stanford GSB does not offer any formal MBA majors, but students can earn a Certificate in Public Management and Social Innovation.
Other MBA Degree Options
Along with its two-year MBA degree, Stanford GSB offers six joint degree programs with other schools within the university. The business school also has one dual degree program, the MD/MBA, that is offered in conjunction with the Stanford School of Medicine. Aspiring GSB students are free to design their own dual degree programs featuring an MBA and a degree in a different field from Stanford or another university. Beyond its MBA offerings, Stanford GSB is home to the Stanford Sloan Master’s Program, a one-year MS in Management program targeted at mid-career managers and executives.
Core Courses at Stanford GSB
Core Requirements
- Data Analysis and Decision Making
- Leading with Values
- Finance I
- Financial Accounting
- Leadership Laboratory
- Managerial Skills
- Managing Groups and Teams
- Microeconomics
- Optimization and Simulation Modeling
- Organizational Behavior
Distribution Requirements
- Finance II
- Human Resource Management
- Information Management
- Macroeconomics
- Managerial Accounting
- Marketing
- Operations
- Strategy
- Strategy Beyond Markets
Global Experience Requirement (one)
- Global Management Immersion Experience
- Global Exploration
- Stanford-Tsinghua Exchange Program
Degree Offerings at Stanford
Full-time MBA Program
https://www.gsb.stanford.edu/programs/mba
Joint Degrees
JD/MBA, MA Education/MBA, MPP/MBA, MS Environment & Resources/MBA, MS Computer Science/MBA, MS in Electrical Engineering/ MBA
www.gsb.stanford.edu/programs/mba/ academic-experience/joint-dual-degrees
Dual Degrees
MD/MBA, MA in International Studies/MBA
www.gsb.stanford.edu/programs/mba/ academic-experience/joint-dual-degrees
Campus Life
Clubs, Conferences & Competitions
Stanford GSB students are given many opportunities for extracurricular involvement. The school has over 50 student-led clubs and organizations that vary in focus from professional to social interests. For instance, the Entrepreneurship Club, one of the largest and most active student clubs at the GSB, provides resources such as workshops, panels, and peer mentorship to its members, who range from aspiring to experienced entrepreneurs. Members of the Finance & Investment Club manage a $150,000 portfolio that is part of the business school’s endowment. Meanwhile, members of the Social Impact Club research how innovation across business, finance, policy, and nonprofit systems can support a better future.
Each year, Stanford GSB students and professors run a variety of events that bring scholars and practitioners to campus to discuss business-related issues. These include such conferences as the Sports Innovation Conference and the Africa Business Forum. GSB students also participate in several business competitions, such as the $100K Challenge run by the Business Association of Stanford Entrepreneurial Students.
Campus Space
The Knight Management Center, the home of the Stanford GSB, lies towards the eastern side of the Stanford University campus in Palo Alto, California. Officially opened in spring 2011, the Knight Management Center is made up of nine buildings featuring plentiful classrooms and study rooms, as well as an auditorium, event center, dining pavilion, and library. The Schwab Residential Center and Jack McDonald Hall make up the Stanford GSB Residences and are both are a short walk away. Additional on-campus housing is also available, each with different advantages. Meanwhile, students seeking to live off campus can find information about local housing through Stanford’s Community Housing Services.
MBA Careers
Career Services
Stanford GSB’s Career Management Center (CMC) provides students with a wide range of career counseling services, including networking events, mock interviews, résumé and cover letter reviews, and one-on-one meetings with CMC advisors. The CMC also organizes informational recruiting events such as Company Networking Nights, as well as the school’s on-campus recruiting schedule. In the 2022-2023 school year, the official On-Campus Recruiting periods runs from mid- to late October for second-year students and from mid-January to early February, with a break for midterms, for first- and second-year students.
Career Statistics
Within three months of graduation, 89% of the Class of 2023 seeking employment had received job offers and 82% of the class had accepted offers. The average starting salary for Stanford MBA graduates is $189,010 with an average signing bonus of $42,249.
Finance was the most chosen industry for the Class of 2023, with 38% of students joining it. Twenty-four percent went into technology and 15% into consulting. Four percent chose to work in healthcare. A quarter of the Stanford MBA Class of 2023 are now dedicating their time to the launch of their new ventures. In regards to sectors, 49 percent started businesses in technology followed by 12 percent in healthcare.
As with many business schools, Stanford GSB placed a large proportion of its graduates, 50%, in the region where it is located: the Western U.S. Thirty-one percent found work in the Northeast, and 7% of the Class of 2023 took jobs outside of the U.S.
Financing
The tuition for the 2023-2024 academic year is $79,860. However, Stanford GSB estimates that single students living on campus will pay $126,465 total in that time given additional costs such as rent and textbooks. Meanwhile, married students should budget for $152,157. The Global Experience requirement can also add $3,000 to $4,500 to the total cost of attendance.
The school only offers need-based fellowships but encourages students to apply for both need- and merit-based outside fellowships. Stanford GSB students who are U.S. citizens can also finance their education through federal and private loan programs. International students, meanwhile, are encouraged to take advantage of the school’s partnership with Star One Credit Union that allows international students to take out loans without a U.S. co-signer. Upon being admitted to the MBA program, students receive detailed instructions regarding how to file for financial aid.
Program Cost (nine-month academic year)
Tuition $79,860
Medical Insurance $7,128
Health Fee $753
Living Expenses
Single Student $18,453
Married Student $34,200
Housing
Single Student $20,271
Married Student $30,216
Total
Single Student $126,465
Married Student $152,157
Recent News
Contact
Mailing Address:
MBA Admissions Office
Stanford Graduate School of Business
Knight Management Center/
McClelland Bldg.
655 Knight Way
Stanford, CA 94305-7298
Phone: 650-723-2766
Fax: 650-725-7831
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.gsb.stanford.edu
Twitter: @StandfordBiz