Wondering about your chances now that you’ve been invited to an interview?
Unfortunately, there’s no way to answer to this question with certainty, as business schools do not publish figures on interview invites.
It is safe to guess that MBA programs interview approximately double the number of people they intend to admit. In crude terms, this means that your chances of acceptance are good—around 50%.
But remember that there are other factors at play which are not reflected in this generalized statement:
Regardless of your initial application, your next step should be to prepare as effectively as possible for your MBA interview—with someone who has interview experience and an understanding of the program you’re applying to.
Menlo Coaching offers personalized, professional MBA interview preparation, tailored to your specific target programs.
If you’re wondering how difficult it is to get into Columbia Business School, then you’ve come to the right place. On this page, we’ll give you a quick overview of what it takes to get into CBS, and help you understand whether your profile is a good fit for Columbia’s MBA program.
Read on to see important key admission factors to help you determine your odds of getting accepted at Columbia Business School.
| Acceptance Rate | Does not disclose |
| GMAT Average | 732 |
| GPA Average | 3.6 |
| Avg. Years Work Experience | 5 |
Note: As many MBA programs elected not to release acceptance rates for the class of 2026, some of our reported acceptance rates are based on estimates.
The top undergraduate majors represented in CBS’s MBA program are Business (30%) , Economics (18%), and Engineering (16%)
The undergraduate universities most represented in CBS’s MBA class profile are:
If your undergraduate college is listed above, that means that Columbia has accepted many applicants with your education background in the past. It also shows that candidates who have gone to these schools have considered applying to Columbia, and it is one indication that the business school has found students who have completed their undergraduate education at these universities to be successful.
Columbia’s top pre-MBA industries are financial services (30%), consulting (25%), and technology (13%).
Looking at the pre-MBA industries shows you whether your profile is well-represented at Columbia. Don’t worry if you don’t see your industry on the list—there might not be many students enrolled from your industry simply because many candidates didn’t apply to the program in the first place. The same goes for the pre-MBA employers data we’ve provided below.
Our free, comprehensive checklist covers everything you need to shop for an MBA admissions consultant.
Our free, comprehensive checklist covers everything you need to shop for an MBA admissions consultant.
✓ Compare pricing across 35+ MBA admissions consulting firms
✓ Learn why “success rates” are not to be trusted
✓ Find the right service model for your needs
✓ Prep for your consultation calls
✓ Compare pricing across 35+ MBA admissions consulting firms
✓ Learn why
“success rates”
are not to be trusted
✓ Find the
right service model
for your needs
✓ Prep for your consultation calls
The pre-MBA companies that are most represented in Columbia’s MBA class are:
Very! Earning a competitive GMAT or GRE score is critical for admission to top MBA programs (competitive meaning 90th percentile or higher) . That’s partly because a high score reflects your potential to succeed in the classroom—and it’s also because business schools rely on high test scores to maintain their position in the rankings.
As with everything else MBA-related, at Menlo Coaching, we take a practical, no-nonsense approach to GMAT and GRE prep. Our curriculum is based on 100% official material and is designed to help you earn a high score in as little time as possible. So if you’re applying for a top MBA program, let us help you get started on the right foot.
Columbia really values building connections with local companies. If you attend Columbia’s MBA program, you will find several opportunities to network with companies in the NYC area. For instance, through CBS’s Immersion Seminars, students can visit top executives in the company’s New York City offices to have candid conversations with them.
Unsure about your fit for Columbia Business School? Our MBA consultants can provide personalized guidance to help you make informed decisions.
Our free, comprehensive checklist covers everything you need to shop for an MBA admissions consultant.
Our free, comprehensive checklist covers everything you need to shop for an MBA admissions consultant.
✓ Compare pricing across 35+ MBA admissions consulting firms
✓ Learn why “success rates” are not to be trusted
✓ Find the right service model for your needs
✓ Prep for your consultation calls
✓ Compare pricing across 35+ MBA admissions consulting firms
✓ Learn why
“success rates”
are not to be trusted
✓ Find the
right service model
for your needs
✓ Prep for your consultation calls
