YOU might not think an MBA is worth it, but judging by the number of applications received this year, a lot of other people believe otherwise. With the recession in full swing, MBA programs have never been more popular.
The nation’s 476 MBA programs reportedly received 200,000 completed applications as of late June. The weakest schools received fewer than 10 applications, but the strongest received upwards of 10,000.
According to the Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC), top-tier schools received an average of 1,554 applications this summer.
Harvard, in particular, is on a roll. It received the second most applications ever this year, up 5% from last year. Although Harvard might seem like the best program, you have a better shot of getting in there than you would Stanford. Stanford receives 2,000 less applications than the Ivy rival, but they accept a mere 6.5% to Harvard’s 9.5%.
So which schools are the most popular of all?
Note: Ranks were determined by number of applications reported by PoetsandQuants.com. *An asterisk indicates that the number applies for the full-time Class of 2012 entering this fall. All other numbers are for the previous year.
Applicants: 1,729
Seats: 250
Percentage of seats per applicants: 14%
Source: PoetsandQuants.com
Applicants: 1,873
Seats: 300
Percentage of seats per applicants: 16%
Source: PoetsandQuants.com
Applicants: 2,002*
Seats: 275
Percentage of seats per applicants: 14%
Source: PoetsandQuants.com
Applicants: 2,224
Seats: 220
Percentage of seats per applicants: 10%
Source: PoetsandQuants.com
Applicants: 2,284
Seats: 260
Percentage of seats per applicants: 11%
Source: PoetsandQuants.com
Applicants: 2,689
Seats: 310
Percentage of seats per applicants: 12%
Source: PoetsandQuants.com
Applicants: 2,697
Seats: 500
Percentage of seats per applicants: 19%
Source: PoetsandQuants.com
Applicants: 2,790
Seats: 225
Percentage of seats per applicants: 8%
Source: PoetsandQuants.com
Applicants: 2,573*
Seats: 260
Percentage of seats per applicants: 10%
Source: PoetsandQuants.com
Applicants: 3,041
Seats: 360
Percentage of seats per applicants: 12%
Source: PoetsandQuants.com
Applicants: 3,506*
Seats: 450
Percentage of seats per applicants: 13%
Source: PoetsandQuants.com
Applicants: 3,626*
Seats: 240
Percentage of seats per applicants: 6.6%
Source: PoetsandQuants.com
Applicants: 3,843
Seats: 590
Percentage of seats per applicants: 15%
Source: PoetsandQuants.com
Applicants: 4,625
Seats: 370
Percentage of seats per applicants: 8%
Source: PoetsandQuants.com
Applicants: 4,782*
Seats: 400
Percentage of seats per applicants: 8%
Source: PoetsandQuants.com
Applicants: 5,587*
Seats: 635
Percentage of seats per applicants: 11%
Source: PoetsandQuants.com
Applicants: 6,819*
Seats: 860
Percentage of seats per applicants: 13%
Source: PoetsandQuants.com
Applicants: 6,885
Seats: 740
Percentage of seats per applicants: 11%
Source: PoetsandQuants.com
Applicants: 7,536
Seats: 385
Percentage of seats per applicants: 5%
Source: PoetsandQuants.com
Applicants: 9,524*
Seats: 910
Percentage of seats per applicants: 10%
Source: PoetsandQuants.com
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