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Introducing the MBA Class of 2020

A quick look at the new MBA students by the numbers.

One of six sections of first-year MBA students in the Class of 2020  | Courtesy of MBA Student Life
One of six sections of first-year MBA students in the Class of 2020 | Courtesy of MBA Student Life

October 23, 2018

In September, Stanford Graduate School of Business welcomed 419 new MBA students from across the globe as the academic year and classes began last month.

The members of the MBA Class of 2020 are notably diverse, coming from 306 organizations and 63 countries; in all, 42% are international students. U.S. minorities make up 27% of the class, and 41% of the class are women.

Fourteen percent of the class comes to Stanford GSB with previous advanced degrees. The average GMAT score is 732, and the average undergraduate GPA for U.S. schools is 3.72. Students are alumni of 172 undergraduate institutions, a 4.9% increase over last year.

The Class of 2020’s employment background is also quite varied. Students join from 306 organizations, with investment management/private equity/venture capital, consulting, and technology making up the top three industry categories. Government/education/nonprofit jobs come next, and consumer products and services round out the top five.

Stanford GSB’s MBA Program received 7,797 applications for the incoming class, a slight decrease from last year’s record-high applicant volume of 8,173.

“Although the number of applicants and students will vary from year to year, what remains constant is our students’ commitment to becoming leaders who will transform their industries and communities,” said Kirsten Moss, assistant dean and director of MBA admissions and financial aid. “We’re currently experiencing the fourth industrial revolution, and the MBA degree and Stanford GSB experience are more valuable than ever in the face of sweeping change. Our focus remains to not just equip students to take the next step on the ladder, but also to identify problems, take action, and lead this new revolution.”

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