The UCLA Anderson School of Management is grappling with a significant decline in MBA applications, with a drop of almost 30% over the past two years, according to the recently released MBA Class of 2025 profile. In 2022-2023, the school received 2,180 applications, marking an 11.8% decline in just one year and a nearly 30% decrease from the record year of 2021 when over 3,000 applications were received.
UCLA is not alone in experiencing a decline in MBA applications; other prestigious institutions have reported similar trends. For example, the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania also saw a second year of application declines. While some schools continue to see growth in applications, the severity of the decline at other institutions raises concerns about the future of MBA programs.
The decline in applications at UCLA Anderson led to a reduction in class size, with 30 fewer seats offered in 2022-2023 and another 30-seat reduction for the MBA Class of 2025, resulting in a class size that is approximately 17% smaller than the previous year’s cohort. Additionally, the class’s average GMAT score dropped to 710.
Despite these challenges, UCLA Anderson maintains its appeal to international students, with 48% of the class coming from abroad—a school record. This may be attributed to the school’s consistent presence in national rankings, its California location, and its offering of scholarships and financial aid opportunities. However, one factor that may deter prospective students is the school’s high cost, ranking fifth in estimated two-year program expenses among U.S. MBA programs.
In terms of undergraduate backgrounds, business majors constitute 26% of the MBA Class of 2025, while engineering majors make up 19%. The class boasts an average of 5.7 years of work experience, with 59% reporting between 3 and 6 years of experience.
UCLA Anderson maintains a middle-80% undergraduate GPA range of 3.1-3.8, consistent with previous student intakes.
The decline in MBA applications at top schools like UCLA Anderson is indicative of the changing landscape of graduate business education, posing challenges and opportunities for institutions to adapt to evolving student preferences and market dynamics.
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