UCLA Anderson School of Management is a prestigious institution known for its rigorous MBA program. In order to be considered for admission, prospective students must meet certain academic metrics, with a mean GPA of 3.4 and a middle-80% GPA range of 3.1 to 3.8. Additionally, the mean GMAT score is 709 with a middle-80% GMAT range of 640 to 760.

In order to be competitive for admission to the UCLA MBA program, applicants should aim to have a strong undergraduate GPA within the middle-80% range. It is also important to perform well on the GMAT, as the mean score of accepted students is 709. Meeting or exceeding these academic metrics can strengthen an applicant’s overall profile and increase their chances of being admitted to the program.

The admission process at UCLA Anderson School of Management is highly competitive, with a focus on academic excellence and well-rounded candidates. In addition to meeting the GPA and GMAT requirements, applicants must also submit a completed application, letters of recommendation, essays, and participate in an interview. The admissions committee carefully reviews each application to select a diverse class of students who have the potential to succeed in the rigorous MBA program.

Academic Metrics	Statistics
Mean GPA	3.4
Middle-80% GPA Range	3.1 – 3.8
Mean GMAT	709
Middle-80% GMAT Range	640 – 760

What does UCLA Anderson look for?

Alex says good candidates will demonstrate how they have gone “above and beyond” in pretty much everything they have done, including at an undergraduate level.

Candidates who are, or have been, active participants within their community, classroom, and workplace stand out the most during the admissions process.

However, it isn’t enough to just be a member of a club or volunteer initiative. Alex wants candidates in leadership positions, who have sought more responsibility, dealt with challenging situations, or attempted to make a change that aligns with their own personal values.

He recounts an occasion where a group of students initiated a vote to introduce non-disclosure agreements, to hide their grades from prospective employers.

Anderson then agreed to implement this change—b-school is about more than getting good grades.

“We’re looking for those students who are fearless, who want to come in and make their own impact on the campus,” Alex explains. “We work with them to make sure the environment is much better off than when they came on the campus as a first-year student.”

UCLA GMAT Scores: What GMAT Score Is Needed For UCLA Anderson School?

 Jeff Miller  May 1, 2021

Reading Time: 12 minutes

Last Updated on February 8, 2022

If you’ve been researching business schools in the top 20, you’ve probably come across the UCLA Anderson School of Management. Ranked #18 on U.S. News’ 2022 list of the Best Business Schools, the UCLA MBA program attracts students — and big-name, post-MBA employers — from around the world. Of course, UCLA MBA admissions are pretty competitive, so earning an impressive GMAT score can be an important way to ensure that your MBA application stands out among the pack at this popular program.

In this article, we’ll take a look at the UCLA GMAT averages and UCLA GMAT Score Ranges for students accepted to the Anderson School’s full-time MBA program, as well as some other key facts about UCLA Anderson’s MBA class of 2022. I’ll also give you some essential questions to consider when thinking about how your applicant profile measures up, and some strategies for determining what GMAT score you need to be competitive.

First, let’s take a look at an important UCLA business school statistic to keep in mind when setting your GMAT goals: the acceptance rate.

• The UCLA MBA Acceptance Rate
• UCLA Anderson MBA Class Profile: Class of 2022
• UCLA MBA GMAT Scores: A 5-Year View
• Balancing Your GMAT Score With Other Factors
• Determining What Score You Need for UCLA Anderson
• Evaluating GMAT Section Scores
• Staying in the “Safe Zone”

The UCLA MBA Acceptance Rate

Given that the UCLA Anderson School consistently lands in the top 25 of MBA rankings, you won’t be surprised to learn that the acceptance rate at the UCLA MBA program has generally hovered in the low to mid-20% range, although acceptances did spike for the class of 2022. Let’s take a look at what we know about the acceptance rate for the full-time MBA program at Anderson over the past 5 years.

UCLA MBA Acceptance Rate: Incoming 2016-2020

Incoming Year	Acceptance Rate
2020	34.4%
2019	26%
2018	24.3%
2017	22%
2016	21%

*2020 data sourced from U.S. News data; data on prior years sourced from Poets & Quants.

While we can’t be certain why the acceptance rate increased so significantly for the incoming class in 2020, it wouldn’t exactly be a leap to guess that COVID-19 had something to do with the change. The fact is, numerous top business schools reported substantial increases in MBA applications during the 2019-2020 admissions cycle, and many of those schools also reported higher acceptance rates.

That said, even before the COVID-19 pandemic, we can see that the UCLA MBA acceptance rate was ticking up slightly year by year. At this point, it’s too early to say whether the larger increase in acceptances during the 2019-2020 admissions cycle represents a “new normal,” but I wouldn’t be surprised if the acceptance rate dropped back down at least a few percentage points post-pandemic.

UCLA MBA Acceptance Rate 2023

UCLA Anderson MBA has recorded a competitive acceptance rate of 12% for the class of 2024. The previous year trends have demonstrated that it is not a cakewalk to get into the renowned UCLA Anderson MBA program. Students are required to score competitive scores in Exams to study in the USA to get accepted into UCLA Anderson. A comparative analysis of the acceptance rate for UCLA MBA over the years is given below:

Intake Year	Acceptance Rate
2021	12%
2020	35%
2019	31%
2018	24%
2017	22%

UCLA MBA Class Profile of 2024

The UCLA MBA Class of 2024 consists of 330 students from over 43 countries across the globe. The average GPA of the admitted students ranges between 3.1-3.8. Apart from that, the students are also required to submit a competitive GMAT score of 711. Over 61% of the class holds a work ex. Of 3-6 years, which makes the average work experience of the class of 2024, six years. The admitted students come from diverse professional backgrounds such as High-Tech, finance, Consulting, etc. The graph below shows the pre-industry experience of MBA class of 2024

UCLA MBA International Student Enrollment

The MBA Program at UCLA Anderson has a diverse student body consisting of over 47% international citizens belonging to 43 countries across the world. Out of the total student body,35% are women and 28% are minority communities.

UCLA MBA GPA Requirements

International applicants with just a three-year undergraduate degree may be admitted if the Admissions Committee determines that their entire academic profile and overall application are strong enough.

• You should submit scanned copies of your academic records with your application. Only applicants invited to interview should send us official hard-copy documents upon request.
• Records needed from schools outside the United States include multiple documents as described on the International Students page.
• We understand the differing rigor of schools and grading scales around the world, and we always evaluate academics within their own context, without converting them to any other system. Grades on scales other than the American 4.0 standard should NOT be converted for reporting purposes on the application. No discrepancy should exist between what you report and what we see on your transcripts.
• Undergraduate majors of all kinds are welcome in the class. View our class profile to view the undergraduate majors of students in the class.
• Quantitative preparation is key for performance in our core requirements, so all math-related courses and grades (plus the GMAT-quant score) get special scrutiny.
• Grade trends are important, and we like to see averages that get better over time as undergraduates learn to thrive in their chosen major. We give you the benefit of the doubt for occasional difficulty in classes, but our students tend to show a consistent level of functioning above their peers.
• If you want to bolster your academic profile, you could complete additional coursework now and submit the transcript with the application for consideration. MBA-related classes such as calculus, statistics, accounting or finance are preferred.
• Professional certifications such as CFA, CPA, Chartered Accountant, etc., can add value to your profile and there is a section in the application to note them.
• Undergraduate courses taken in a term at another institution (e.g., during an exchange program) do not require an additional transcript as long as they appear on the degree-granting school’s transcript. You should submit transcripts for all coursework taken after secondary school (high school).
• To facilitate our evaluation of your degree(s), you may choose to supply a course-by-course credential evaluation report from  World Education Services along with the scanned documents from your school.

Candidates must hold a completed undergraduate degree in order to enroll in our MBA program. Usually this is a four-year bachelor’s degree, or its equivalent in other countries.

GMAT/GRE

All applicants are required to take the  Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) or  Graduate Record Examination (GRE), though no minimum score is required. For an idea of the typical range we admit, see the latest class profile.

The GMAT and/or GRE test date must be no earlier than five years before the application submission date to be valid, and not later than the deadline date for the round in which you are applying.

We primarily evaluate your top score, but all scores reported to UCLA Anderson are visible to the Admissions Committee.

Current graduate students at the UCLA School of Law or UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine may submit their LSAT or MCAT scores, respectively, in lieu of a GMAT or GRE score.

• Within the  MBA application, you must report the test date and score you want the Admissions Committee to evaluate.
• Applications cannot be reviewed without complete test scores (as self-reported by the candidate or officially by the GMAT or GRE office), and applications are only reviewed in the round when scores are received.
• Official GMAT score reports are sent electronically upon your request from Pearson VUE to UCLA Anderson MBA Admissions (with the School Code 2NZ-2F-24). Official scores are required for admission but not for applying.
• Official GRE score reports are sent electronically upon your request from the Educational Testing Service (ETS) to UCLA Anderson MBA Admissions (with the school code 0771). Official scores are required for admission but not for applying.
• We primarily evaluate your top score, but all scores reported to UCLA Anderson are visible to the Admissions Committee.
• No minimum GMAT score is required, and the Admissions Committee has the flexibility to consider all scores in the context of your overall academic preparation and management potential.
• For further information and testing arrangements, please visit the GMAT or GRE website.

Work Experience

Although the majority of our students do have full-time work experience, early career and college senior prospective students may still apply.

We evaluate candidates on their work in any given field after the completion of their undergraduate degree. Backgrounds and interests vary widely among our students, but they all share a vision of how the MBA will empower their future.


• Quality of experience is more important than quantity.
• We look at your impact in the context of the time you had and the field you’re in.
• Diverse paths lead to business school, and we find that students learn more when we mix people from every type and level of organization. Your application should show us how you will contribute to the mix of your class.
• We are most impressed by increasing levels of responsibility over time; those who advance faster than their peers are the people we admit first.
• The majority of our students are career-switchers using the MBA to leverage roles in a new field. Others will springboard back into higher positions in their current sectors.
• We admit very few people without at least a year or two of post-baccalaureate work. Our “early career” admits contribute more in terms of academic excellence and contagious study skills.
• Leadership in work, campus or community organizations helps to demonstrate management potential. Show us that you can commit to an organization, create a vision and motivate others to achieve goals together.
• Jobs held prior to completing your undergraduate degree may be listed if desired, but our focus is on post-baccalaureate experience.
• A resume must be submitted with the application and should create a compelling summary of your career, ideally on one page but not more than two pages. However, your resume does not replace the need to complete the Employment Section of the application

Recommendations

New applicants are required to submit two recommendations. Reapplicants only need to submit one new recommendation. Recommendations should be written by individuals who are well acquainted with your performance in a work setting, preferably from a direct supervisor or manager. Here is a sample letter of recommendation for your reference.

Here is the how, who, what, where, when and why of recommendations:

How & How Many: Fill out the details within the recommendations section in the application. Two recommendations are required for new applicants and one new recommendation is required for reapplicants (you may ask an individual who submitted a recommendation for you in a prior year to submit a new one). If you need to change your recommender or their e-mail, click “Exclude” (warning: recommender will lose all work already entered) and re-enter via Add Recommender.

Who: Choose recommenders who can speak to your work performance, capabilities, and potential for graduate studies and future career success. Use your best judgment on whom to ask for a recommendation — direct supervisors are generally preferred, and other options could include current or past supervisors/managers, professional colleagues, and clients (peers, family members, and professors are generally not good selections).

What: The recommendation form asks recommenders to evaluate your strengths and areas of growth, plus rate you across a variety of metrics.

Where: Recommendation forms can only be sent and received electronically so your recommender must have a valid e-mail address.

When: Recommendations should be submitted by the round deadline in which you are applying, and it is your responsibility to ensure we receive recommendations in time. To send a reminder to a recommender, click on the Edit link next to their name and then click the Send Reminder button at the bottom of the pop-up screen. We encourage you to contact your recommenders as soon as possible to give them sufficient time (the recommender’s access code is valid for 180 days from the date you save their information).

Why: We are interested in learning more about your professional past performance, future potential, and overall fit from individuals who have worked closely with you.

Recommendation Questions and Topics*

1. Please provide a brief description of your interaction with the applicant and, if applicable, the applicant’s role in your organization.
2. How does the performance of the applicant compare to that of other well-qualified individuals in similar roles? (E.g. what are the applicant’s principal strengths?)
3. Describe the most important piece of constructive feedback you have given the applicant. Please detail the circumstances and the applicant’s response.

*Please note: Questions and topics listed above are for reference only. Actual submission of letters of recommendation is done online, through the online application system only.

Essays

We look forward to learning about your perspectives and plans via your essay responses. Essays complement the answers you provide throughout the application to show us your whole profile. The best applications are introspective, genuine and succinct in directly answering our questions and showing clear plans for the future.

A) Essay: For the 2021-2022 application year, we have one essay question that is required for first-time applicants and optional for re-applicants:

How have recent events influenced the impact you would like to make in your community, career, or both? (250 words maximum)

We welcome reflection on any events that influenced you in your personal or professional lives, or in society in general, and look forward to learning about specific ways you want to leave your mark.

B) Optional Essay: No preference is given in the evaluation process to those who choose to respond to this optional essay, so please use your best judgment:

Are there any extenuating circumstances in your profile about which the Admissions committee should be aware? (250 words maximum)

Reapplicants

Reapplicants are those who applied to the MBA program within the last two application years, so those who applied three or more years ago are considered new applicants.

Reapplicants may answer one or both of the essay questions above as options, and they must provide additional updates within text boxes given in the application for any new test scores, career developments, or other changes since their last application.

Interviews

Interviews are conducted on an invitation basis only after submitted applications are reviewed. An interview must be completed to be admitted to the program.

Applications are reread following the interview, comments are added, and then the Admissions Committee decides whether to make an admission offer.

Interviews are rarely the deciding factor in an admissions decision; instead, they typically mirror or round out information already provided in the application. We are interested in getting to know you as an individual and understanding how you’ll fit into the next class. We assess your communication skills, social skills and readiness for our program.

• Instructions on how to set up an interview are provided at the time of invitation.
• Interviews are conducted via Zoom, and they last approximately 30 minutes.
• All interviews carry equal weight; they are generally conducted by second-year MBA students who are thoroughly trained on our evaluation metrics and on providing current perspectives for candidates.
• Interviews are blind in order to avoid interviewer bias. Your interviewer will receive a copy of your resume in advance but will not see your application.
• Questions are straightforward and generally cover topics already addressed in the application, such as reasons for getting an MBA, short-term and long-term career goals, fit with UCLA Anderson and personal interests.
• Pre-rehearsed speeches do not make for a good interview. You should be prepared to succinctly walk your interviewer through your resume in 2 minutes or less so that there is ample time left to discuss specific areas your interviewer may want to explore with you.
• Remember that the word “interview” implies an exchange of views between people, so be ready with pertinent questions and go with the flow of the conversation.
• Business attire is appropriate for this professional interview, and we check photo identification to ensure integrity.
• After being invited for an interview you should submit official test scores and official academic records to us, as described in your interview invitation.
• Hint: Relax, be genuine and enjoy the opportunity for us to get to know each other.
• We will let you know when we are ready to resume offering on-campus interviews (for those applicants that may wish to interview in person when it is safe). Note that there is no advantage in interviewing in-person or virtually.

TOEFL / IELTS

TOEFL or IELTS scores are required of all international applicants EXCEPT those from a select list of countries. For more information please refer to  UCLA Graduate Division Office English requirements.

Please note that work experience in English is not sufficient for a TOEFL/IELTS waiver; the key factor is being educated in English.

The TOEFL and/or IELTS test date must be no earlier than two years before the application submission date to be valid, and not later than the deadline date for the round in which you are applying.

TOEFL and IELTS Considerations:

• Applicants who were educated in countries where English is not the primary spoken language of daily life are required to take the TOEFL or IELTS, no matter the language used at their school. This includes applicants with degrees from multilingual countries such as India, Nigeria, Pakistan and others.
• No preference is given to either language test and all scores will be evaluated in conjunction with GMAT verbal scores and the AWA (Analytical Writing Assessment) to determine your true proficiency level.
• Applications cannot be reviewed without complete test scores (as self-reported by you or officially by the testing firm), and applications are only reviewed in the round during which your scores are submitted.
• Official TOEFL score reports are sent electronically upon your request from ETS to UCLA Anderson MBA Admissions (with the School Code 4837-02). Official scores are required for admission but not for applying. IELTS are sent electronically upon your request (with school code “Uni of California, Los Angeles-Anderson School of Management”). Please do not send score reports on paper.
• Work experience in English is not sufficient for a waiver of the language exam requirement.
• More information on the university’s testing rules for all international applicants is available under UCLA Graduate Division’s  English requirements.
• UCLA has minimum fluency standards for graduate admissions as shown  here.

Reapplicants

Reapplicants are those who submitted a completed MBA application within the previous two years (that is, who applied for the MBA program starting in 2020 or 2021) and received a final decision. The process to reapply is streamlined:

• Create a new application.
• Indicate on the Program page of the application that you are a reapplicant.
• Submit only one new recommendation (can be same recommender as previous application)
• Watch for decision notifications according to the standard release schedule.

Please note:

• Reapplicants are asked to indicate updates on test scores, career, academics, activities, and/or other changes since their last application (under the Reapplicants section on the Program page of the application.) Highlighting progress made since the prior application is the best way to get a different result this time.
• Reapplicants may answer the Essay question and/or the Optional question, but they are not required.
• You will be evaluated by the same standards as first-time applicants, so there is no disadvantage to reapplying.
• Admission Committee members may see previous applications to provide context.
• Standardized test scores (GMAT, GRE, TOEFL and IELTS) remain on file if previously reported, though scores are subject to expiration dates.
• You may submit new test scores if desired and, of course, higher scores make an application more competitive.