If you’re beginning your application process to get into an MBA program, you might be wondering about the demographics of your future peers and the average age of MBA graduates. Specifically, you might want to know if you will be the same age as most of your fellow MBA students in business schools.
This article will discuss the average age of MBA students, if there is such a thing as too young or too old to get into an MBA program, and how work experience factors into this, among other frequently asked questions related to these concepts.
The average MBA student is around 28-29 years old, with most students ranging from mid-twenties to early thirties. However, the average age of MBA students varies a lot and many applicants above and below this average age are admitted to MBA programs.
| Top MBA Programs | Average Age |
|---|---|
| Harvard Business School | 27 |
| Stanford GSB | 27 |
| UPenn Wharton | 28 |
| Northwestern Kellogg | 28 |
| University of Chicago Booth | 28 |
| Columbia Business School | 28 |
| MIT Sloan | 28 |
| Dartmouth Tuck | 28 |
| Berkeley Haas | 28 |
| UVA Darden | 27 |
| Yale School of Management (Yale SOM) | 28 |
| Duke Fuqua | 29 |
| University of Michigan Ross | 27 |
| University of Texas, Austin McCombs | 28 |
| Cornell University, Johnson | 28 |
| UCLA Anderson | 28 |
| NYU Stern | 28 |
| Carnegie Mellon Tepper | 28 |
| UNC Kenan-Flagler | 28 |
| Emory Goizueta | 28 |
| USC Marshall | 28 |
| Georgetown McDonough | 28 |
| Indiana Kelley | 28 |
| UW Foster | 29 |
| Rice Jones | 29 |
There is no easy answer to this question.
If you get your MBA degree earlier, you could get a jumpstart on reaching your career goals. An MBA degree can make you a more attractive candidate for competitive jobs and provide you with enviable networking opportunities.
However, a drawback could be your limited professional experience. With less professional experience, you may struggle to keep up with the demanding coursework and you may not have defined career goals unlike experienced candidates.
There are numerous advantages to pursuing your MBA program with about five years of work experience after college. Not only will you benefit from the knowledge and the networking opportunities while earning your MBA, but you will have enough real-life business experience to add value to your class, in addition to having defined career goals for after graduation.
Older candidates with more professional experience may benefit less from MBA programs since they have more hands-on business experience than their peers. For example, classroom discussions might be less beneficial for older candidates since their peers will not have anything new to teach them.
Business schools typically expect applicants to have at least five years of work experience. This ensures that an MBA student will be able to meaningfully contribute to class discussions and keep up with the rigorous learning schedule.
Since many applicants outside the typical age range of MBA programs successfully apply to MBA programs from top business schools each year, there is no such thing as “too old.”
MBA admissions committees value diversity, so older applicants should not be dissuaded from pursuing an MBA purely based on their age.
Online MBA and part-time MBA programs are often attractive for older applicants than full-time MBA programs as they provide more flexibility to accommodate potential family or career commitments.
On the other hand, for younger students, there is such a thing as “too young.” If an applicant has not completed their undergraduate degree or has no relevant work experience, they will have a very difficult time getting into any MBA program let alone a top business school.
Some schools offer the option of deferred admission enabling college students without work experience to apply for an MBA program and if they get admitted they can postpone their studies for a period of time while they gain the relevant experience.
Executive MBA (EMBA) programs have students who are typically older with more work experience. Students in EMBA programs tend to be in their late thirties to early forties and typically have close to ten years of work experience.
Executive MBA programs are a good fit for business professionals who hope to advance their careers and fill their skill gaps without leaving their current position to become a full-time MBA student.
Confused as to which kind of MBA would be the perfect choice for you? Read our article comparing full-time, part-time and executive MBA programs.
Older applicants to an MBA program at a business school should highlight their age in their application as an asset to their prospective MBA class. This will help the admissions team view them in a favorable light. Due to their age and extended experience as a working professional, they will be able to add a diverse perspective to class discussions.
MBA programs are made up of students of all ages. Although it’s true that most MBA students are between 25 to 32 years old, do not let that dissuade you from pursuing an MBA degree if you do not fit into the average MBA age range.
If you are a less-traditional applicant and want some further guidance, please reach out to an experienced MBA admissions consultant. They will be able to give you more insight into your chances of being accepted to your target MBA program and explain the steps you could take to increase these chances by impressing the admissions committee.
