Designed for mid-career professionals typically with at least four to five years of experience, an MBA offers a range of personal growth and professional development opportunities such as leadership training and a strong business network.
While each school has different entry requirements, there is no fixed MBA age. However, business school can be a significant investment of both time and resources, so it's crucial to give careful consideration to when the right time is for you.
So, using data from US News & World Report, we’ve compiled a list of the average ages of MBA students at top institutions including the likes of The Wharton School and Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management to help you make an informed decision.
Average Age Of MBA Students In The US
1) The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania
Average age of new entrants: 28
Wharton consistently ranks among the top MBA programs, boasting the number one program worldwide, according to the Financial Times and tied for first place in the 2024 US News Ranking.
With an average starting salary exceeding $201k and a strong job placement rate of over 94% within three months of graduation, a Wharton MBA offers a compelling return on investment.
Read the Wharton MBA Jobs and Salary Review
2) Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University
Average age of new entrants: 28
In joint third place among the top business schools in the US, Kellogg School of Management offers several unique MBA programs, such as a specialized AI-focused MBAi program and an MD-MBA.
Nearly 95% of Kellogg graduates land jobs within three months of completing their studies, securing an average starting salary just shy of $200k.
Read the Northwestern Kellog MBA Class Profile
3) University of Chicago Booth School of Business
Average age of new entrants: 28
The 21-month MBA at Chicago Booth promotes a diverse learning environment, with 54 nationalities represented in the class of 2025.
Chicago Booth boasts a 95% job placement rate within three months, with graduates securing an average starting salary of $204k.
Check out our Chicago Booth MBA Application Insider
4) MIT Sloan School of Management
Average age of new entrants: 28
The two-year MIT Sloan MBA came closer than ever to achieving gender parity in 2023 and ranks among the top five business schools in the US.
The school has a track record of propelling graduates to leadership positions, with nearly a quarter of alumni becoming company presidents and CEOs. Some notable names include Carly Fiorina, former president and CEO of Hewlett-Packard Co.; and John Reed, former chairman of Citicorp.
Read our breakdown of the MIT MBA Class Profile
5) NYU Stern School of Business
Average age of new entrants: 28
NYU Stern is consistently recognized as one of the top schools for those aiming to break into the financial sector, offering specialized programs and helping students foster strong connections within the industry.
The school offers impressive career outcomes for MBAs, with graduates averaging a starting salary upwards of $201k.
Check out the NYU Stern MBA Class Profile breakdown
6) University of California Berkeley Haas School of Business
Average age of new entrants: 28
The Haas School of Business offers various funding opportunities across its programs, with 70% of all students receiving some form of financial aid assistance.
Over 90% of Berkeley Haas MBA graduates find employment within three months and land salaries averaging over $188k.
Read the Berkeley Haas MBA Class Profile
7) Yale School of Management
Average age of new entrants: 28
The Yale MBA has a strong track record, with nearly 91% of students finding employment within three months of graduation.
Notable business school alumni include Indra Nooyi, chairman and CEO of PepsiCo, and Gail Harrity, chief operating officer and president of the Philadelphia Museum of Art.
Read the Yale School of Management MBA Jobs and Salary Review
8) Tuck School of Business, Dartmouth College
Average age of new entrants: 28
Tuck School of Business is renowned for its close-knit learning environment and commitment to gender parity, with the MBA program ranking among the top schools for female representation.
Tuck MBAs also find strong salary prospects after their studies, with previous graduates averaging starting salaries of $202k.
9) University of Virginia Darden School of Business
Average age of new entrants: 29
Graduates from the 21-month MBA program at Darden join a broad alumni network spanning over 90 countries and receive lifetime access to career services.
Over 95% of graduates are employed within three months of graduation, with an average starting salary of $201k.
Read the Darden MBA Class Profile
10) Columbia Business School
Average age of new entrants: 28
Ranked among the top three schools in the Financial Times MBA Ranking, Columbia offers strong career outcomes for MBA graduates.
The location in New York City provides students with close access to industry leaders, with more business leaders visiting the Columbia campus than any other top business school.
Read the Columbia MBA Jobs and Salary Review
11) Duke University Fuqua School of Business
Average age of new entrants: 29
Within three months of completing the 21-month MBA program, 94% of graduates receive a job offer and an average starting salary of over $193k.
Read the Duke Fuqua MBA Class Profile
12) University of Michigan Ross School of Business
Average age of new entrants: 28
The Ross School of Business boasts notable alumni including Stacey Stewart, US president of United Way Worldwide, and Roger Frock, former general manager of FedEx.
Among recent MBA graduates, 96% find employment within three months, earning an average starting salary of over $192k.
Read about one alum’s experience at Michigan Ross
13) Cornell SC Johnson College of Business
Average age of new entrants: 28
Cornell MBA applicants can choose between the two-year residential program in Ithaca, NY, and the one-year program in New York City. Among graduates of both programs, nearly 95% receive a job offer within three months of graduation.
Check out the Cornell MBA Class Profile
14) Carnegie Mellon Tepper School of Business
Average age of new entrants: 29
MBA students at the Tepper School of Business can elect to study the General Management curriculum or follow one of four specialized MBA tracks, such as Business Analytics and Technology Leadership.
Graduates can expect an average starting salary of over $192k.
Read about the notable alumni of Tepper School of Business
15) McCombs School of Business, University of Texas at Austin
Average age of new entrants: 29
Beyond core classes, over 70% of coursework in the McCombs MBA is self-selected from over 100 elective courses. Students in the program can also choose a specific concentration to focus their coursework on.
Close to 91% of MBA graduates are employed within three months, earning starting salaries averaging over $183k.
16) Emory University Goizueta Business School
Average age of new entrants: 28
The Goizueta MBA prides itself on fostering an intimate learning environment with five students per faculty member.
The campus is located in Atlanta, Georgia, home to 75% of the world’s Fortune 1000 companies, and over 96% of MBAs are employed within three months of graduating.
17) USC Marshall School of Business
Average age of new entrants: 29
The two-year MBA at USC Marshall aims to shape leaders who prioritize positive impact in business, with courses in problem-solving and decision-making, and the global context of business.
Over 91% of graduates find employment within three months and they go on to earn average starting salaries upwards of $174k.
18) Kelley School of Business, Indiana University
Average age of new entrants: 30
The most affordable MBA on this list, the Kelley MBA comes at just under $29k per year for in-state residents, and just over $54k for out-of-state residents.
Tied at number 20 in the US News Full-Time MBA ranking with California Anderson, the Kelley School of Business is also home to the highest ranking Online MBA program in the US.
Read our Indiana Kelley Online MBA Review
19) UCLA Anderson School of Management
Average age of new entrants: 29
For working professionals, the UCLA Anderson Fully Employed MBA offers classes on weekends and evenings, allowing you to balance your studies with your current responsibilities. The school also partners with the National University of Singapore to offer a Global Executive MBA program.
Read the UCLA Anderson MBA Class Profile
20) UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School
Average age of new entrants: 28
UNC Kenan-Flagler boasts a global alumni network of over 37,000, featuring notable names such as Michele Buck, president and chief executive officer of The Hershey Company, and Richard Allison, director and chief executive officer of Domino’s Pizza Inc.
Nearly 92% of MBAs are employed within three months, and average starting salaries fall just shy of $175k.
It's clear to see that the average incoming MBA candidate at top programs in the US often falls around 28. While this isn't a required age—most MBA classes will have students both above and below that age—it’s clear that this career stage, with a few years of experience, aligns well with the demands and focus of top US MBA programs.
All school data is sourced from the most recent employment report or class profile data published on business school websites.
