collageHarvard Business School is known for attracting some of the most talented and accomplished business professionals from around the world. These students bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to the campus, making for a dynamic and stimulating learning environment. Typically, MBA students at top business schools like HBS are in their late 20s to early 30s, but there are also younger students who are admitted to these prestigious programs.
To be considered for admission to Harvard Business School, applicants must have a strong academic background, with a focus on quantitative skills such as mathematics and statistics. In addition, applicants must have a minimum of two years of full-time work experience, though most students have significantly more than this.
The admission process at Harvard Business School is highly competitive, with only a small percentage of applicants being accepted each year. In addition to submitting academic transcripts, standardized test scores, and letters of recommendation, applicants must also complete multiple essays and participate in an interview. The admissions committee looks for candidates who demonstrate leadership potential, strong interpersonal skills, and a clear vision for their future career goals.
MBA Average Age in USA
When it comes to the ideal age to enter a highly ranked MBA program, there’s little variance. Some 18 of of the 25 highest ranked MBAs in the U.S. boast an average age of exactly 28 years. The exceptions? Stanford, Harvard, Virginia Darden and Michigan Ross are just a year younger at 27, while the University of Washington’s Foster School of Business and Rice University’s Jones Graduate School of Business are a year older at 29.
The average age of entering MBA students at the top US business schools is 27-28 years old. That has held fairly steady for several years. The Harvard MBA average age is on the younger end at 27, with an average of 4.9 years of work experience. That puts the average MBA graduate age at 29 or 30.
=Averages, of course, are just that: averages. At Stanford, the average 28-year-old first-year MBA student brings 53 months of work experience into the classroom (by the way that is the least amount of work experience of any top 25 program). But the actual range at Stanford is between zero and 14 years which would likely make the oldest person to enter the GSB this year 37 or 38 years old. That is clearly an outlier, no doubt a military veteran who is using the MBA to make a transition into civilian life.
It’s not all that different at the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School where the age range is between zero and 16 years, making the oldest student in the newly entered Class of 2021 close to or at 40 years of age. At Carnegie Mellon’s Tepper School of Business, the average amount of work experience is 5.7 years though the median is a bit shorter at 5.1 years. The middle 80th percentile of the latest entering class in 2019 is between three years and 8.3 years.
| Top MBA Program | Average Age | Years of Work Experience | Average MBA Graduate Age |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stanford | 27 | 5 | 32 |
| Harvard | 27 | 4.9 | 29 |
| Virginia Darden | 27 | N/A | N/A |
| Michigan Ross | 27 | N/A | N/A |
| University of Washington’s Foster School of Business | 29 | N/A | N/A |
| Rice University’s Jones Graduate School of Business | 29 | N/A | N/A |
Average Age Of Entering MBAS: Why Full-Time MBA Programs Prefer 20-Something
At many of the European business schools, the average age tends to run a little higher. INSEAD, for example, boasts an average age of 29 with six years of work experience. But 22% of INSEAD’s latest class of 1,020 MBA students boast over seven years of work experience, while just 5% have three or fewer years of work experience on their resumes. The 497 students in London Business School’s MBA Class of 2021, meantime, average five years of work experience but range from a low of two to a high of 14 years.
The youngest average age for a Top 50 MBA in the U.S.? That distinction belongs to the entering MBAs at two public universities: the University of Florida and the University of Georgia where the average age is 26, with just 41 and 39 months of work experience, respectively
Why do full-time MBA programs prefer 20-somethings? It’s because they have just the right amount of experience in the world of work to make valuable contributions in class yet are not entirely set in their ways. They are open to learning and changing which makes them ideal students in a full-time MBA program. But the numbers also reflect the self-selecting nature of an MBA applicant pool. Truth is, there are far more applicants to full-time programs who are in the 26 to 28 age range so it only goes to reason that more of them will be admitted and enrolled.
Harvard MBA Average Age
Is 35 too old for Harvard MBA?
A sizable group of 153 students, or 16.4%, entered at the age of 25, with three years of work behind them. … Only 7.2%, or 67 students in the Class of 2017, entered Harvard’s MBA program at age 30 or above, with eight to more than ten years of work experience. So once you hit 30, the odds quickly diminish for an admit.
Is there an age limit for MBA in Harvard?
The oldest candidates in Harvard, Stanford, Wharton and other top schools for Full-time MBA programs are in the 37-38 year age group. They are in the minority.
harvard mBA requirements
Harvard Business School Admission Deadlines 2023
Most students apply to Harvard Business School for the globally recognized MBA program. Applications are submitted round wise and the school has two rounds. Some application deadlines for top programs at the institute are as follows:
Harvard Business School Application Deadlines
| Program | Application Deadline |
|---|---|
| M.B.A | Round 2 Deadline[4 Jan, 2023], Round 2 Admission Decision[29 Mar, 2023], Round 1 Deadline[7 Sep, 2022], Round 1 Admission Decision[8 Dec, 2022] |
| M.B.A Entrepreneurship | Round1 Deadline[7 Sep, 2022], Round 2 Deadline[4 Jan, 2023] |
| M.Sc/M.B.A Biotechnology – Life Sciences | Fall Application Deadline[1 Jan, 2023], Winter Application Deadline[1 Nov, 2022] |
| M.B.A Finance | Round 2 Deadline[28 Apr, 2022], Round 2 Admission Decision[1 Jul, 2022] |
Harvard Business School Admission Decision
Harvard Business School generally announces its decision within 3 months after the application deadline. For MBA applicants decision date will be as follows-
- For Round 1 – December 8, 2022
- For round 2 – March 29, 2023
Students, who have submitted a 2+2 application for deferred admission in HBS MBA program will be notified about the interview in June 2022, if selected.
Harvard Business School Graduate Admissions
Most of the applicants applying for admission at Harvard Business School are interested in the MBA program. The institute also offers executive education to applicants from countries like China and India.
Source: HBS
Application Portal: Online Application, Application Fee: USD 250 (INR 19,490)
Basic Admission Requirements:
- A degree equivalent to a four-year degree in the United States of America. A three-year degree is also considered equivalent for the same.
- Official transcripts (translated into English).
- GMAT scores: 730 or above (ranging 590-790)
- Proof of English Language proficiency
- TOEFL iBT – Minimum 109
- IELTS – Minimum 7.5
- PTE – Minimum 75
- Duolingo – Minimum 130
- GRE scores
- Two letters of recommendation
- Essay
- Interview (for MBA program)
M.B.A at Harvard Business School
In last admission cycle, a total of 732 students took admission in MBA at Harvard Business School. The enrollments represented 61 countries and 232 universities all together. HBS had also seen 44% women enrollments last year.
International Enrollment Statistics 2021
Source: HBS
Specific Admission Requirements:
The different requirements for admission to both the MBA and Executive Education Program at Harvard Business School are mentioned in the table below:
| Requirements | Master of Business Administration | Executive Programs |
|---|---|---|
| Application Fee | $100 ~ 7,796 INR (2+2 applicants) $250 ~ 19,490 INR (non 2+2 applicants) | No Fee |
| Academic Requirements | 4-year bachelor’s degree or equivalent | Not Required |
| Work Experience | Recommended (Minimum 5 years) | Required (Minimum 10 years of work experience) |
| Transcripts | Required | Not applicable |
| GRE/GMAT | Required | Not applicable |
| English Proficiency requirements | TOEFL iBT: 109 IELTS: 7.5 PTE: 75 | TOEFL iBT: 109 |
| SOP | Required | Recommended |
| LOR for USA | Two Reference letters are required | One required, from either a senior executive or a Harvard Business School graduate |
| Resume | Required | Required |
| Interview | On invitation | On invitation |
Harvard Business School PhD Admissions
Harvard Business School offers PhD in 8 main areas of Business Management which includes Management, Marketing, Strategy, and Health Policy among others. Currently, around 134 students are enrolled on Harvard Business School doctoral programs. Out of this, 45% are international students.
Source: HBS
Candidates with only a bachelor’s degree can apply for a PhD program at Harvard Business School. Undergraduate applicants in their final year are also eligible to take part in the admissions process.
Application Portal: Online, Application Fee: USD 105 (INR 8,147)
Admission requirements for PhD at HBS:
- Completed online application form
- Academic transcripts
- Statement of purpose
- Resume
- GMAT or GRE scores
- English language proficiency test scores
- TOEFL-iBT: Minimum 109
- Three letters of recommendation ( at least one should be an academic letter of reference)
- Optional writing sample (no more than 10 pages)
US Visa for International Students
International students, who do not have US citizenship need to apply for a US Student Visa. Applicants need to show proof of their financial stability to procure the I-20 form, which proves that they have enough funds to afford education in the USA. Form I-20 or DS-2019 is issued only to students who have been accepted for admission to the institute.
Most students need an F-1 student visa. However, if you are applying for executive education at HBS, you should request a 90 day B1/B2 visa.
Visa Application Process –
- Receive I-20 or DS-2019 form from Harvard
- Pay the SEVIS fee using a credit card online
- Complete the DS-160 form
- Apply for the visa
- Schedule interview with the US consulate and embassy
The following documents are required to apply for a visa:
- Passport
- Form I-20/DS-2019
- SEVIS fee receipt
- DS-160 confirmation page
- Proof of funding
Note: The Harvard school you are applying for will assist you in your visa application process more than the Harvard International Office that provides only basic information on the same.
Admissions at Harvard Business School are offered based on the seats available in each program. The admissions committee meets every month and reviews applications. Applicants are intimidated regarding their application status via email. While securing admissions to Harvard Business School may be difficult, getting in would give a major boost to the career of a student. With a secure future, students will have a plethora of fields in business to explore and grow.
harvard mBA fees
2021-2022 Cost of Attendance: Class of 2022 and Class of 2023
| SINGLE | MARRIED | MARRIED WITH ONE CHILD | MARRIED WITH TWO CHILDREN | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TUITION | $73,440 | $73,440 | $73,440 | $73,440 |
| HUHS STUDENT HEALTH FEE (SHF) | $1,242 | $1,242 | $1,242 | $1,242 |
| STUDENT HEALTH INSURANCE PLAN (SHIP) | $4,040 | $4,040 | $4,040 | $4,040 |
| HUSHP FOR STUDENT SPOUSES/DEPENDENTS | $0 | $8,306 | $12,720 | $14,938 |
| COURSE & PROGRAM MATERIALS FEE | $2,550 | $2,550 | $2,550 | $2,550 |
| ROOM & UTILITIES (9 MONTHS) | $14,340* ($1,593/mo) | $22,380** ($2,487/mo) | $28,780*** ($3,198/mo) | $28,780 ($3,198/mo) |
| LIVING EXPENSES (9 MONTHS) | $15,930 ($1,770/mo) | $20,270 ($2,252/mo) | $25,280 ($2,809/mo) | $30,310 ($3,368/mo) |
| TOTAL | $111,542 | $132,228 | $148,052 | $155,300 |
| COMPUTER (VARIABLE; NOT INCLUDED IN ABOVE BUDGETS) | $1,500 | $1,500 | $1,500 | $1,500 |
*based on average area market rate for 2 bedroom apartment w/roommate
**based on average area market rate for 1 bedroom apartment
***based on average area market rate for 2 bedroom apartment
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