Guides: Business School Insider’s Guides

mbaMission’s Northwestern’s Kellogg School of Management Insider’s Guide

mbaMission’s Northwestern’s Kellogg School of Management Insider’s Guide

More than 100 years old, the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University is a medium-sized MBA program that consistently places near the top of reputable MBA rankings lists, and for the past four decades or so, the school has billed itself as a pioneer of collaborative learning.

Located just outside Chicago in Evanston, Illinois, Kellogg is known for its collegial atmosphere and its outstanding innovators in the field of marketing. However, the school offers more than just marketing expertise. In fact, for years, Kellogg has been quietly placing significant proportions of its MBAs into consulting and finance positions. Still, it offers students eight majors from which to choose, providing a true diversity of specialization areas.

At Kellogg, experiential learning is emphasized, and students often act as catalysts for the creation of new courses and for the subsequent addition of these courses to the curriculum. Furthermore, Kellogg emphasizes teamwork and mitigates competition among classmates by structuring classes so that students form flexible study groups and evaluate each other consistently. Another testament to this sense of community is the way the school fosters ethical responsibility throughout student life. Upon enrollment, all students agree to abide by the Kellogg Honor Code, engendering a commitment to “the highest levels of integrity, professionalism, and respect for others, both inside and outside the classroom,” declares the school’s site, where it also states that the purpose of the code is “to promote our values of integrity, professionalism, and respect for others so that each student can fully develop intellectually and professionally within our community.”

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  • Class size: Smaller versus Larger
  • Curriculum: Flexibly versus Mandatory Core
  • Pedagogy: Lecture versus case method
  • Academic Specializations/Recruitment Focus: Resources and Employers
  • Professional Specializations
  • Location: Urban Campus versus College Town
  • Facilities: Shaping the Academic/Social Experience
  • Alumni Base: Opportunities to Engage
  • Rankings and Reputation: Important Metrics or Arbitrary Measures?
  • The Dean: Francesca Cornelli
  • Notable Professors and Unsung Heroes
  • Social/Community Life
  • Academic Summary
  • Admissions Basics
  • Northwestern University (Kellogg) Essay Tips, 2024-2025
  • Northwestern Kellogg Class Profile (Class of 2025)
  • Kellogg School of Management Employment Statistics (Class of 2023)

Northwestern Kellogg FAQs

How prestigious is the Kellogg MBA?

The Northwestern Kellogg MBA program consistently ranks among the top ten programs in the world. Northwestern University is a prestigious private university that, despite not being included in the Ivy League, is renowned worldwide for its innovative research. Kellogg is perhaps best known for its marketing program and global learning experiences. The immersive MBA program builds its students leadership skills with a global mindset.

Is the Kellogg 1-year MBA worth it?

Students in the Kellogg one-year typically report positive career outcomes after graduation. Out of the Class of 2023, approximately 83% received a job offer within three months of graduation. In previous years, this figure has hovered between 91% and nearly 98%. The average base salary among the Class of 2023 was $153,683 and the median base salary was $147,500. Approximately 75% of the Class of 2023 reportedly received a signing bonus, which on average was $27,609.

The Kellogg one-year MBA program is an undoubtedly rigorous and time-consuming experience, but the career boost that most graduates receive from earning the degree is often worth the time and effort. Approximately half of each incoming class in the one-year MBA program have more than five years of work experience at the time of matriculation. Having more than a few years of work experience can be beneficial in the decision making that goes into the post-MBA career planning.

What is the Kellogg Northwestern MBA acceptance rate?

The Kellogg MBA program received 4,316 applications during the 2022–2023 application season. Out of the 4,316 applicants, 1,439 individuals were accepted to the program. This means that the Kellogg MBA program acceptance rate is approximately 33.3%.

The Kellogg MBA program is highly selective. However, do not let the selective process defer you from applying if you believe that your application stands out positively. Make sure that your application represents you fully and the admissions committee will certainly assess your candidacy in a fair manner.

What GPA do you need for Kellogg MBA?

The Kellogg MBA program does not have a minimum GPA requirement for admission. The Kellogg Class of 2025 had an average GPA of 3.7, with a GPA range of 2.8–4.0. The GPA range demonstrates that although a competitive GPA is always a positive factor in the application, any GPA is simply that—one aspect of a larger picture.

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