Harvard Business School (HBS) receives nearly 10,000 applications each year and typically accepts around 1,000 individuals, making it one of the most selective business schools in the world. The odds of admission are admittedly tough but far from impossible.
Applicants who have their sights set on HBS may look at several factors to determine their chances of acceptance, including average test scores, average GPA, and the most common pre-MBA industries among enrolled students. The 2027 HBS class profile certainly offers a glimpse into what the school is looking for in its applicants and what each incoming class looks like as a whole, but you should not regard the stats as requirements for acceptance. Instead, they represent trends and variation in the applicant pool.
To apply to a school as selective as HBS, you should certainly have the highest possible test scores you can achieve as well as a competitive GPA. However, keep in mind that you and every other applicant are simply pieces of a puzzle constituting a bigger picture of the next potential HBS class.
Table of Contents
Overview of the Latest HBS Class Profile
Key Stats at a Glance
Since the early 1990s, each incoming HBS class has consisted of approximately 900 to 950 students. The class size was only lower for the Class of 2022, which was the first to matriculate after the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. To even things out, the two subsequent incoming classes included roughly 1,000 students each.
HBS receives up to 10,000 applications each year and typically admits around 1,100 individuals, which means that the school’s acceptance rate hovers around 11% to 13% annually. The median GMAT (10th edition) score at HBS has been either 730—as it was for the Class of 2027—or 740 for the past decade or so.
HBS is a decidedly international school, with each incoming class typically consisting of at least one-third international students. One recent class, the Class of 2024, featured more than half (52%) international students. Of the Class of 2027, 37% came to HBS from outside the United States.
Academic Backgrounds
HBS students come from a variety of academic backgrounds. Nearly half of the Class of 2027 come from a STEM undergraduate background; the class features 43% engineering and math/physical sciences majors. Business/commerce and economics (41% combined) are also common backgrounds. These percentages are typical for an HBS class. The previous year, business/commerce and economics majors constituted 43% of the class, and 40% came from STEM-related majors.
Test Scores
As mentioned, the median GMAT Classic score at HBS has been either 730 or 740 for more than a decade. The Class of 2027 profile is the first to feature a median GMAT Focus score, which is 685. The median Verbal and Quantitative GRE scores for the 2027 class are both 164. HBS reports in its class profile that 44% of the Class of 2027 submitted GRE scores, while 34% submitted GMAT Focus scores and 28% submitted GMAT Classic scores. Some students submitted several test scores.
Professional Experience Breakdown
Pre-MBA Industries and Roles
HBS students come from various industry backgrounds, with consulting often leading the pack. Indeed, consulting is the most common pre-MBA industry for the Classes of 2027 (19%) and 2026 (18%). Finance-related fields are typically the second most popular background. Of the Class of 2027, venture capital/private equity (16%) and financial services (10%) are common pre-MBA industries, on par with previous classes. Technology tends to be the pre-MBA industry for a bit more than one-tenth of each class; this figure is 13% for the Class of 2027 and 12% for the Class of 2026.
HBS is known for its entrepreneurial spirit, and 17% of the graduating Class of 2025 reported that they started their own business instead of joining an existing company. Although HBS does not report how many of its accepted students came from entrepreneurial backgrounds, the breakdown of the industries in which graduating students started their own businesses speaks to the diversity of the class. Of the students within the Class of 2025 who started their own businesses, 70% did so in technology, 11% founded companies in health care, 11% in manufacturing, 4% in services, 2% in consumer products, and 1% in entertainment/media. As mentioned, 13% of the Class of 2027 came to the school from a technology background. How many will launch technology-oriented businesses during their two years at HBS?
Leadership and Impact Themes
Regardless of applicants’ backgrounds, HBS seeks demonstrated leadership skills across all career stages. Applicants come to HBS from a variety of industries beyond such “traditional” MBA backgrounds as consulting and finance. For example, 6% of the Class of 2027 have nonprofit/government/education experience and 3% have a military background. Each of these industries allowed the applicants to demonstrate leadership in ways that may not be immediately obvious in a business school environment.
Diversity and Representation in the HBS Class
Gender and International Representation
The HBS Class of 2014 reached a gender balance milestone that still holds to this day; for the first time, 40% of the incoming class consisted of women. HBS has surpassed this figure each year since, and the Class of 2027 features 44% women.
International students represent a similar, albeit slightly lower, percentage of each incoming class. For the Class of 2027, this figure is 37%. International students typically represent 30–40% of the incoming class, although the Class of 2024 saw an uptick of 52% international students. In addition, the geographic diversity within each class is notable. The Class of 2027, for example, features students from 62 countries.
HBS takes pride in attracting applicants from all backgrounds. As the school explains on its website, “a truly diverse student bodyfoundation of the Harvard Business School experience.”
U.S. Ethnic Diversity
The percentage of U.S. minorities (per federal guidelines, these include U.S. citizens or permanent residents who identify as American Indian or Alaska Native, Asian American, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, or Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander) has hovered between 40% and 50% for the past three incoming HBS classes and is 42% for the Class of 2027. Prior to the Class of 2025, this figure was largely between 25% and 30% each year.
What the HBS Class Profile Means for Applicants
Interpreting the Data Correctly
As you evaluate the HBS class profile, try not to directly compare your own stats to those of the latest incoming class. Class profiles are a great way to get a sense of a school’s culture as well as what the school is looking for, but they do not define a school or even its class. Numbers are just that—numbers, just like your candidacy is not defined by your test score or your professional background. They offer a snapshot of who you are but are simply the tip of the iceberg in terms of what you have to offer as an individual.
Beyond the Stats: What HBS Really Looks For
HBS is a selective school, and the admissions process is competitive. What HBS is looking for in its applicants extends well beyond traits that can be evaluated during a quick glance of an academic record or a resume. Consider how you portray your leadership skills, how you work in diverse environments, and how you approach new ideas. Instead of trying to fit into a mold of what you believe HBS is looking for, showcase what you can bring to the class.
How to Use the HBS Class Profile Strategically
As you prepare to apply to HBS, evaluate all aspects of your application holistically—not just class stats like test scores and GPA, but also how you portray your strongest skills, what your weaknesses are, and how they could be improved. Your profile goes deeper than numbers, but you need to ensure that you are highlighting your strongest attributes across your entire application. Approach your weaknesses with a constructive mindset. If your test scores are on the lower side, consider investing in test prep and taking the test again. There are very few, if any, singular aspects of an otherwise strong application that could break it. However, highlighting your strengths is always a better bet than downplaying your weaknesses. mbaMission can help you assess your profile and strategy for HBS as well as other top schools—book a free consultation with us to discuss your candidacy.
FAQ
What is the GPA for Harvard’s MBA class profile?
The average GPA within the HBS Class of 2027 is 3.76.
What is the average GMAT score for the latest HBS class?
The average GMAT Classic score within the HBS Class of 2027 is 730, and the average GMAT Focus score is 685. The middle 80% ranges for these scores are 690–770 and 645–735, respectively.
What industries are most represented in the HBS class profile?
Consulting is the most popular pre-MBA industry within the Class of 2027, with 19% of students coming from this professional background. Venture capital/private equity (16%), technology (13%), and financial services (10%) follow.
How diverse is the HBS MBA class?
HBS aims to make each incoming class diverse, and the Class of 2027 is certainly no exception. The class consists of 37% international students from 62 countries and 44% women.
How should I compare my own profile to the HBS class profile?
Direct comparison is rarely beneficial when evaluating class and school fit. As we explain in this blog post, HBS is an undoubtedly great program, but it is not for everyone. Your fit is more important than a comparable profile. Consider this approach: every enrolled student adds their own strengths and diversities to the incoming class at HBS. What would you bring?
Can mbaMission help me assess my fit for Harvard Business School?
Yes! Book a free consultation with one of our consultants to discuss your candidacy. You can also take a deep dive into the culture at HBS by downloading our HBS Insider’s Guide and prep for an admissions interview with our HBS interview tips and our HBS Interview Guide. As you prepare to write your HBS essays, take a look at our latest essay analysis.
