Partly thanks to these deep roots in the California tech scene, the school is well-known for producing successful alumni in tech and entrepreneurship. Nearly a third of the Berkeley Haas MBA class of 2022 went into tech, with the average annual salary for the class sitting at a massive $152,800.
No wonder, then, that the MBA program is ranked in the top 10 programs in the country by US News and the top 10 MBA programs globally by the Financial Times.
If you’re considering applying to the Berkeley Haas MBA, you need to understand the kind of students that make up this class and how to show off your experience and background in your application.
In this BusinessBecause Breakdown, we investigate the Berkeley Haas MBA class profile for the incoming class of 2025, from GMAT scores to students’ work experience. Here’s what you need to know.
Berkeley Haas MBA Class of 2025 | Overview
Berkeley Haas is unusual among many top-ranked US MBA programs for its relatively small cohort: Just 244 students are enrolled in the class of 2025. Although many students have a “the bigger the better” attitude to MBA programs, smaller programs can allow greater access to professors and deeper connections with your classmates.
Of the 244 students, 41% are women, placing the program fifth in the US for gender equity according to the Financial Times. 14% of students belong to the LGBTQ+ community, and 7% are veterans.
The class also comprises students of diverse nationalities and ethnicities. Nearly half (47%) of the class hails from outside the US, representing a total of 39 countries.
Of the US students, 48% are minorities, with 13% belonging to minority groups that are underrepresented in higher education.
One in 10 students on the Berkeley Haas MBA are pursuing joint degrees. 6% of MBA students are studying the MBA alongside a Master’s in Public Health, and 4% are enrolled jointly with a Master’s in Engineering.
GMAT Scores
The Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) is the standardized admissions test that most business schools use to evaluate candidates.
As a result, perhaps one of the most important things to know about a prospective MBA program is the average GMAT scores of its incoming class. This can give you an idea of the score range to aim for and the caliber of students you’ll be rubbing shoulders with when you enroll.
Unsurprisingly for such a prestigious school, the Berkeley Haas MBA class of 2025 boasts an impressive average GMAT score of 733, with the median score sitting even higher at 740. This means the average Berkeley Haas student scores better than 94% of test-takers.
Even the middle 80% range of GMAT scores for the class of 2025 starts at 680, which is in the 80th percentile. This means that, although a good GMAT score isn’t the be-all and end-all of your MBA application, a good score will give you a stronger chance of admission.
(Remember though, the GMAT is changing, if you're applying late for 2024 entry.)
Undergraduate majors/ GPA
One of the benefits of pursuing a top MBA is not just the demographic diversity of the class, but the range of backgrounds represented. This diversity can broaden your perspective and show you new ways to solve business problems.
The Berkeley Haas MBA class of 2025 provides this kind of diversity. 20% of the class belongs to the first generation in their family to go to college.
Although there is strong representation of STEM subjects, with 23% of students coming from engineering backgrounds and 18% from economics, 11% of the class hail from social science majors.
Across their various majors, the Berkeley Haas MBA class of 2025 performed extremely well. The average undergraduate GPA for the class is 3.64, with the middle 80% ranging from 3.3 to 3.91.
Work experience
Many professionals pursue an MBA because they want to change their career, whether that’s by launching a new business or starting out in a different sector. Studying alongside a broad range of professionals at business school not only helps you understand different approaches to problem-solving but can also give you insight and connections into diverse industries.
Berkeley Haas MBAs have ample experience behind them, coming onto the program after an average of 5.8 years in the workforce. Don’t be deterred if your experience is different, though: The middle 80% range of work experience in the class is from 3.4 years to 9 years.
As for the industries that Berkeley Haas MBAs come from, almost a quarter come from consulting, closely followed by high technology and electronics. 16% come from financial services, with the most popular sectors outside of these three being consumer products, health and biotech, non-profit companies, and the military.
However, students with other aspirations should not be turned off from applying to Berkeley Haas. The school boasts a diverse range of undergraduate disciplines among its students, as well as a diverse range of outcomes for graduates.
Professionals who are serious about applying to the MBA program at Berkeley Haas should ensure that they invest time and energy into GMAT prep, as the high average test scores show that this is a key area of competition for enrollment.
With that said, applicants should try to showcase the full range of their abilities in their application and not simply rest on a good GMAT score. The school clearly values diversity not only in the backgrounds of their students but their aspirations, so put as much thought into your essays as your test prep.
Image © Wayne Hsieh on Flickr, reproduced under this license.
