Your Chances at Marshall: Acceptance Rate & Other Factors

2023-2024 Application Cycle: Special Note for Round 2 and Round 3 Applicants Invited for an MBA Interview

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Unfortunately, there’s no way to answer to this question with certainty, as business schools do not publish figures on interview invites.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:

  • The post-interview decision will still depend on the strength of your application: outstanding applicants will have a better chance both pre- and post-interview.
  • Less competitive applicants—with lower GMAT scores, sub-optimal employers, and a less prestigious undergraduate degree—will be under more pressure to impress than a highly competitive applicant.
  • Anyone can have a surprising interview—for better or for worse.

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.

See Your Interview Prep Options

Do you want to attend one of the top business schools in the country? Your research on the best MBA programs will likely involve trying to decide which schools you fit best with, as well as which schools you’ve got the best chances of getting into. To help answer your questions, we’ve put together some fast facts covering key admission factors to help you determine your odds of getting accepted into the USC Marshall MBA Program.

If you’re wondering how difficult it is to get into the USC Marshall, 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 the University of Southern California – Marshall School of Business and help you understand whether your profile is a good fit for the USC Marshall MBA program.

(Note: This page highlights Marshall’s full-time MBA program. The other program options at Marshall are the Part-Time MBA, and the Executive MBA program.)

Fast Facts: Marshall MBA

Acceptance Rate25%
GMAT Average722
GPA Average3.5
Avg. Years Work Experience5.5

Source: USC Marshall, Class of 2025 data

USC Marshall School of Business

Undergraduate Majors Represented in Marshall’s MBA Program 

The top undergraduate majors represented in Marshall’s MBA program are Business/Commerce (32%),
Engineering/Computer Science (16%), Economics (13%), and Sciences (14%).

Top Undergraduate Universities from Marshall’s MBA Class

The undergraduate universities most represented in Marshall’s MBA class profile are: 

  • University of California, Los Angeles
  • The University of Southern California
  • University of California, Irvine
  • University of California, Berkeley
  • University of Wisconsin-Madison
  • University of Utah
  • Penn State
  • Harvard University
  • University of California, Davis
  • Santa Clara University

If your undergraduate college is listed above, that means that Marshall 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 Marshall, and it is one indication that the business school has found students who have completed their undergraduate education at these universities to be successful.  

Do You Have Enough Time to Apply in Round 2?

Take our quiz and find out whether you should submit in Round 2—
or whether you should wait to apply next year.

Marshall’s Top Pre-MBA Industries

Marshall’s top pre-MBA industries are Financial Services (19%), Technology (14%), Healthcare (13%), and Consulting (10%).

Looking at the pre-MBA industries shows you whether your profile is well-represented at Marshall. 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.

Top Pre-MBA Employers Represented at Marshall

The pre-MBA companies that are most represented in the Marshall MBA class are: 

What does Marshall value?

USC Marshall seeks candidates who have solid work experience – individuals who have progressed in their careers, have a strong GPA, detailed letters of recommendation, and demonstrate interest and engagement in the world. USC Marshall is the global school in the heart of creative capital and looks for individuals who are leaders, but they cannot be reduced to one quality, skill, or interest.

Interested in finding out more about Marshall? Visit our USC Marshall overview page.

Elevate your chances of admission to the USC Marshall MBA program with the support of our dedicated team of MBA admissions consultants.

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Learn why “success rates”
are not to be trusted

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for your needs

Prep for your consultation calls