Those with a Yale MBA stand out to employers and have seen a stellar track record of job offers with top salaries. The 2023-24 employment report shows that 91.5% of students received a job offer within three months and have a median salary of $175k.
So who are the students getting into Yale and onto a path of success? Here, we break down Yale SOM’s class profile data for the class of 2026.
What is the Yale MBA class size and profile?
The Yale SOM full-time MBA class of 2026 has 347 students.
Yale MBA students have an average of 4.9 years of work experience. 24% come from financial services backgrounds, 22% from consulting, and 14% from technology.
The remaining 40% of students predominantly come to Yale SOM from the government, nonprofit, and healthcare industries.
The Yale class of 2026 comprises varying identities and personal backgrounds. Of those enrolled, 56% percent of the class are US students of color, while 16% are underrepresented US students of color. Additionally, 39% are women, 48% are international passport holders, and 12% identify as LGBTQ+.
Yale's class profile sees 42 countries represented (based on primary and secondary citizenship).
Yale may have attracted such a diverse class due to its integrated curriculum and global study opportunities. The Yale SOM curriculum provides its students with a deep dive into the challenges and opportunities of running an organization from multiple perspectives.
A curriculum highlight is a global study week where students visit another business school, study with students from around the world in a virtual international course, or travel for a nonprofit consulting engagement.
What is the Yale MBA acceptance rate?
The Yale MBA acceptance rate for the class of 2026 is 32.9%.
This figure is similar to other top schools such as NYU Stern (31.4%), Chicago Booth (32.6%), and Northwestern Kellogg (33.3%). However, it’s higher than the acceptance rate at the likes of Columbia (22.4%), Harvard (13.2%), and Stanford (8.4%).
It is important to note that these are among the best business schools in the world, so this is still a highly competitive acceptance rate compared to a wider range of b-schools.
What GMAT or GRE score do you need for the Yale MBA?
The middle 80% of the Yale MBA class of 2026 scored between 700 and 760 on the GMAT 10th Edition (the previous GMAT exam, which was updated in February 2024).
Yale’s median score for the GMAT 10th Edition was 720, which is approximately equivalent to 675 in the current GMAT, 11th Edition. Reaching this score would put you above 95.3% of test takers. A strong GMAT score will strengthen your MBA application—so optimizing your test-taking techniques, is a great idea.
In terms of the GRE, Yale's class has a median verbal score of 164 and a median quantitative score of 166.
What is the Yale MBA average GPA?
The Yale class of 2026 earned between a 3.31 and a 3.94 average undergraduate GPA, with a median of 3.68.
This means there were quite a wide range of undergraduate performances amongst the current Yale MBA students. A GPA of 3.94 is an undergrad with almost straight-As, whereas a 3.31 leaves room for some Bs and maybe even a C.
Again, this proves that Yale's admissions committee looks at your entire application—not just your GPA and GMAT scores. The program is competitive, but there is room for a diverse range of backgrounds and experiences.
What are the Yale MBA admission requirements?
The Yale MBA application is entirely online. It's a holistic approach to applications. Yale's admissions committee wants to learn more about your background, goals, and why you wish to attend this business school.
Yale MBA Requirements:
To apply for the Yale MBA, applicants must have earned a four-year bachelor's degree from an accredited US institution or the international equivalent. Applicants must submit the online application (including an essay) and the following materials:
- Transcripts from every college or university attended
- GMAT or GRE score (valid within five years of exam date)
- Two professional recommendations
- Resume
- Application fee
- Video questions and behavioral assessment (links provided after application submission and payment of application fee)
The Round 1 deadline for the September 2025 intake has already passed, but the Round 2 deadline is on January 7th 2025, and Round 3 is on April 8th 2025.
The Yale SOM MBA will give you a top education with a competitive business management and leadership skill set.
A fundamental belief at Yale is the need to leverage connections across function, industry, and region boundaries, which is very possible when you factor in the international nature of the Yale MBA.
If you are lucky enough to score a place in Yale SOM's MBA class, you will be on the path to career success. The Yale network is expansive, with over 10,000 alumni whose careers span multiple industries and functions.
You will also be able to join numerous professional clubs, which will help broaden your knowledge base, and prepare you for interviews and your career beyond Yale.
If this sounds like your ideal MBA, check out our BusinessBecause MBA Application Guide for more information and guidance to support your application.
