Despite dropping out of the 2023 Financial Times MBA Ranking after failing to secure enough alumni responses, it remains the MBA program that has topped the list more times than any other degree, including those offered by the likes of Harvard and Stanford.
Known traditionally 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 6,194 applications this year, just 874 students were enrolled, making the overall acceptance rate for the business school just 14.1%. 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 2025, covering GMAT scores, diversity statistics, and students’ prior work experience.
Wharton MBA Class of 2025 | Overview
The Wharton MBA values diversity. Students in the class of 2025 come from 70 different countries, with 31% of the total student body hailing from outside the US.
Among the class of 2025, 11% of the MBA students are LGBTQ+—up from 8% in the previous class—and the class has gender parity with a 50% male and female split. This is higher than average across US business schools.
Among the US students on the program, 9% identify as Black or African America and 7% come from Hispanic or LatinX backgrounds. A further 21% of the class identifies as Asian American and 27% 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 (70 students) and the Health Care Management dual degree (73 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 average GMAT score for Wharton MBA students this year is 728, proving the strong academic prowess of Wharton students. However this is down from the previous two years when successful applicants held average scores of 733. In terms of the GRE, students averaged 162 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—40% of this year’s MBAs come from humanities backgrounds. Among other students, 33% have a STEM background, while 27% have a traditional business undergraduate major.
As for GPA, the Wharton MBA class of 2025 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 3.6, consistent with the previous two years.
Wharton MBA | Pre-MBA Industries
While there is a 20-year range of work experience in the Wharton MBA class of 2025, the average number of years of work experience candidates bring to the program is five. This figure has remained constant for the previous two years, despite the work experience range shifting from 14 years in 2023 to 24 years in 2024.
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 of their work experience during their career so far.
With The Wharton School being one of the best business schools for finance in the US, it’s no surprise that the finance sector is a strong feeder into the class. As many as 14% of the class hail from private equity or venture capital backgrounds, while 9% come from investment banking and 7% from financial services. A further 3% list investment management as their pre-MBA industry.
Another top sector is consultancy, where 27% of the class previously held roles. Other industries represented by Wharton students this year include technology, nonprofits and government, healthcare, consumer packaged goods, the media or entertainment industries.
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 26/9/23.
