In fact, according to the Financial Times MBA Ranking the school's MBA is the best in the world in 2024. The program has topped the list more times than any other degree, including those offered by the likes of Harvard and Stanford.
Known for its strength in finance, Wharton counts itself among the prestigious M7 business schools, an informal grouping of elite private business schools that are famously selective when it comes to admitting MBA candidates.
Out of 7,322 applications this year, just 866 students were enrolled, making the overall acceptance rate for the business school just 11.8%. For those who make it into Wharton, the rewards can be huge: Wharton MBAs can expect to earn median salaries of $175,000 immediately after graduation.
Such selectiveness and prestige means the Wharton MBA application process is highly competitive, and the latest Wharton MBA class profile is as strong as ever.
In this BusinessBecause Breakdown of the Wharton MBA Class Profile, we analyze the Wharton MBA class of 2026, covering GMAT scores, diversity statistics, and students’ prior work experience.
Wharton MBA Class of 2026 | Overview
The Wharton MBA values diversity. Students in the class of 2026 come from 65 different countries, with 31% of the total student body hailing from outside the US.
Among the class of 2026, 10% of the MBA students are LGBTQ+—just slightly down from 11% in the previous class—and 47% are women.
Among the US students in the program, 6% identify as Black or African American and 8% come from Hispanic or LatinX backgrounds. A further 20% of the class identifies as Asian American and 33% as White.
Wharton also surveys the number of students on the MBA class enrolling in dual degree programs. The most popular dual degree programs are the Lauder Joint Degree in International Studies (76 students) and the Health Care Management dual degree (89 students).
READ: Average GMAT Scores For The World’s Top MBA Programs
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Wharton MBA | GMAT & GRE Scores
As with any M7 business school, GMAT and GRE scores for the Wharton MBA are typically on the higher end of the scale. While test scores will not be the sole reason you ace the Wharton MBA application, a high score could improve your chances.
The GMAT scoring system changed in 2024 as part of a new iteration of the test, meaning a good GMAT score for your MBA will now look different to previous years. Alongside an updated exam structure, the GMAT still sees test-takers graded in 10-point intervals, but with the minimum score being 205 and the maximum score being 805 (a change from the previous range of 200-800).
The median GMAT for the Wharton MBA class of 2026 was 732, based on the GMAT scoring scale that was in place in previous years. This score places them at around 685-695 for candidates taking the GMAT after February 2024, which is a score achieved by the top 4% of all GMAT takers.
In terms of the GRE, students averaged 163 in both the verbal and quantitative sections.
Wharton MBA | Undergraduate Majors & GPA
Undergraduate majors and Grade Point Average (GPA) can be a great indicator for the kind of academic environment that will be created by your cohort when you enter an MBA program.
Different specialisms bring different thinking styles and problem-solving approaches into the classroom, and while a humanities major and an engineer might not sound like the perfect mix for an MBA project on paper, in reality they can often produce a deeply thought-out and well-rounded final product.
Wharton is strong in this area—36% of this year’s MBAs come from humanities backgrounds. Among other students, 32% have a STEM background, while another 32% have a traditional business undergraduate major.
As for GPA, the Wharton MBA class of 2026 once again proves that a strong academic background can be an advantage for successful acceptance into a top MBA program. The GPA for this year’s cohort is 3.7, slightly up from the previous two years.
Wharton MBA | Pre-MBA Industries
While there is a 17-year range of work experience in the Wharton MBA class of 2026, the average number of years of work experience candidates bring to the program is five. This figure has remained constant for the previous three years, despite the work experience range shifting from 24 years for the class of 2024 to 20 years for the class of 2025.
Wharton's average work experience is slightly higher than the average for MBA programs generally, indicating a cohort of seasoned professionals at the school.
Though many MBAs are there to switch things up and change their careers—perhaps by pivoting industries entirely or by starting their own venture—the experience they bring from their previous roles will inform the conversations had with classmates, and the networks students can tap into.
However, the school doesn’t ask for a minimum or maximum number of years in the workforce from applicants. Instead, applicants are advised to emphasize the impact their work experience has had during their career so far.
With The Wharton School being one of the best business schools for consulting in the world, it’s no surprise that the consulting sector is a strong feeder into the class, with a massive 28% hailing from that industry.
Another top sector is finance, another expected pre-MBA industry considering the school's stellar history churning out finance professionals. As many as 15% of the class hail from private equity or venture capital backgrounds, while 9% come from investment banking, and 5% from financial services. A further 4% list investment management as their pre-MBA industry.
Other industries represented by Wharton students this year include technology, nonprofits and government, healthcare, consumer packaged goods, the media/ entertainment, energy, real estate, and retail.
Who is the Wharton MBA for?
The Wharton School is a strong choice for MBA candidates who wish to enter the finance industry. A strong percentage of the cohort each year come from finance backgrounds, meaning you’ll be networking with some knowledgeable and well-connected financiers.
Wharton has also established a strong niche in healthcare management, thanks to its dual degree program, and as a world-renowned MBA it can set you up for the competitive field of consulting.
There’s no need to fear if you have a background in humanities, either. If you can explain what you would bring to the Wharton MBA and what kind of impact you’ve made in your previous career, not having a business background won’t put you at a disadvantage.
As with any top business school in the US, a high GMAT or GRE score is important for competing with the best candidates. To stand out as an applicant to Wharton, you should aim for a GMAT score in the 90th percentile.
However, don’t ignore the importance of other sections in the Wharton MBA application. Wharton will be judging candidates on what makes them unique, and what impact they can bring to the world with an MBA degree.
*Wharton MBA class profile data updated on 09/10/24.
