The Yale School of Management (SOM) has made headlines with its highest-ever MBA acceptance rate for the Class of 2025, reflecting a broader trend of declining MBA applications during the 2022-2023 cycle.
Yale SOM’s acceptance rate climbed to an unprecedented 33% for the incoming MBA class, marking a significant increase from the previous year’s 28%. This surge in acceptance rate was driven by two main factors: admitting 119 more applicants, a 13.3% rise from the previous year, and enrolling fewer students, reducing the class size from 347 to 339.
Yale’s decision to admit more students aligns with a trend seen in other top business schools like the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. However, the school’s yield rate, the percentage of admitted students who ultimately enroll, experienced a slight decline from 39% to 33%.
Diverse and Impressive Student Body
Yale SOM continues to prioritize diversity within its MBA ranks. The Class of 2025 boasts a varied and impressive student body, representing 46 countries and hailing from 199 different academic institutions. Notably, 16% of students are first-generation college graduates, while 16% hold previous graduate degrees.
The class exhibits a broad range of professional experiences, with 81% coming from the private sector and the remaining 19% from the nonprofit and public sectors. Over 250 different employers are represented, including well-known companies like SpaceX, Meta, Tesla, and Deloitte. Moreover, 23 veterans of the United States military and 29 Silver Scholars enrich the class.
The report also highlights the diverse undergraduate majors and prior industries of the incoming MBA class. STEM backgrounds continue to be a popular choice, representing 35% of the students, while economics, business, and humanities/social science majors round out the academic diversity.
In terms of prior industries, the class is varied, with the most common employers including the U.S. Army, Deloitte, Ernst & Young, McKinsey & Company, and Capital One.
Academic Readiness and Test Scores
The Class of 2025 exhibits impressive academic readiness, with an average GMAT score of 723. Notably, one student was accepted with a GMAT score as low as 580, showcasing the school’s willingness to consider a wide range of applicants.
The acceptance of GRE scores saw 37% of students submitting scores, with an average GRE score of 329. The class’s undergraduate GPA averaged 3.63, with a range from 2.94 to 4.0.
While Yale SOM has seen an increase in acceptance rates and a slightly lower median GMAT score, its commitment to diversity and inclusion remains a key focus, creating a dynamic and multifaceted MBA class for the future.
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