The tag line of Columbia Business School (CBS) is “at the very center of business,” a marketing pitch that fits the school very well. MBA candidates say CBS’s New York City location stands out—for the access students have to industry leaders, alumni, notable faculty drawn from the local community, and plentiful opportunities for in-semester internships and experiential learning.
As one of the top-ranked business schools in the United States, Columbia Business School typically draws approximately 7,000 applicants a year for its August- and January-entry programs, with an intended total class size of roughly 800–950 students. MBA candidates want to join the ranks of powerhouse alumni such as famed investor Warren Buffett (MS ’51) and modern-day start-up success Siggi Hilmarsson (MBA ’04), who founded the Siggi’s yogurt brand, now sold in supermarkets globally. Although Columbia Business School is best known for its finance program, more graduates entered the consulting field (36.3%) than financial services (35.7%) in 2023, and interest in technology has soared in recent years, with 10.8% of graduates entering the industry in 2023. The five companies that hired the most Columbia Business School graduates in 2023 were McKinsey & Company, Boston Consulting Group, Bain & Company, Amazon, and Mogan Stanley. Earning a spot in this competitive program requires time, effort, and preparation, and mbaMission offers several resources and services to help you on your application journey.
Columbia Business School Insider’s Guide
Our Columbia Business School Insider’s Guide takes an in-depth look at life as a CBS student. Informed by insights from students, alumni, program representatives, and MBA admissions officers, this robust guide offers detailed descriptions of the school’s location, class size, curriculum, teaching methods, facilities, alumni involvement, and rankings, as well as courses, faculty, and clubs related to the most common career paths for Columbia MBA program graduates. Learn more about CBS’s cluster system, core curriculum, Master Classes, and hybrid teaching method, in addition to the Leadership Lab, the Jerome A. Chazen Institute’s Global Immersion Program classes and Global Study Tours, the famed Value Investing Program, the Paul Milstein Center for Real Estate, and the Tamer Center for Social Enterprise. The Columbia MBA Program Insider’s Guide also discusses opportunities to bond with classmates via such things as CBS Follies and the Fall Ball.
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Columbia Business School Essay Analysis, 2024–2025
Columbia Business School (CBS) requires all its applicants to submit a short-answer goal statement of just 50 characters. In addition, January applicants must respond to a second short-answer question about why they have selected the alternative program start date, while August entry applicants are asked to describe their plans for the summer between the first and second year of the program. Both of these responses are limited to 50 characters, as well. All candidates must also provide three somewhat concise essays. Like the goal statement, CBS’s first essay prompt is about candidates’ career aspirations but focuses on the long term, and the additional length (500 words versus 50 characters) demands much more depth. For their second essay, applicants must discuss their active role in an inclusive experience, and for the third, they are asked to describe their vision for their time in the CBS MBA program and the role they anticipate playing in creating this experience. Together, by balancing professional aspirations with more personal, values- and character-based topics, the school’s essays should provide candidates with sufficient opportunity to provide a well-rounded impression of themselves as aspiring CBS MBAs.
In our MBA essay analysis, we provide in-depth guidance on each of Columbia Business School’s 2024–2025 essay questions:
- Short Answer Question: What is your immediate post-MBA professional goal? (50 characters maximum)
- Essay 1: Through your resume and recommendation, we have a clear sense of your professional path to date. What are your career goals over the next three to five years and what is your long-term dream job? (500 words)
- Essay 2: The Phillips Pathway for Inclusive Leadership (PPIL) is a co-curricular program designed to provide students with the skills and strategies needed to develop as inclusive leaders. Through various resources and programming, students explore and reflect on the following five inclusive leadership skills: Mitigating Bias and Prejudice; Managing Intercultural Dialogue; Addressing Systemic Inequity; Understanding Identity and Perspective Taking; and Creating an Inclusive Environment. Please respond to one of the [prompts] below. Describe a time or situation when you had the need to utilize one of these five skills, and tell us the actions you took and the outcome. (250 words)
- Essay 3: We believe Columbia Business School is a special place with a collaborative learning environment in which students feel a sense of belonging, agency, and partnership – academically, culturally, and professionally. How would you co-create your optimal MBA experience at CBS? Please be specific. (250 words)
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Columbia Business School MBA Class Profile (Class of 2026)
MBA Applications Received |
7,487 |
Enrolled |
972, divided into 14 clusters |
January-Entry Class Size |
238, divided into four clusters |
August-Entry Class Size |
734, divided into ten clusters |
GMAT Scores (Average) |
732 |
GMAT Scores (Range) |
600–780 |
GRE Verbal Score (Average) |
162 |
GRE Verbal Score Range |
146–170 |
GRE Quantitative Score (Average) |
162 |
GRE Quantitative Score Range |
143–170 |
Undergraduate GPA (Average) |
3.6 |
Average Years of Work Experience |
5 |
Women |
44% |
Minority of U.S. Origin |
44% |
International Citizens |
46% |
Columbia Business School MBA Rankings
The 2023 Poets&Quants national ranking placed the Columbia MBA program at number four, and Bloomberg Businessweek ranked the school fifth domestically in 2023–2024. In the 2023 Financial Times rankings, Columbia Business School was ranked second in the United States and third internationally. In the 2024 U.S. News & World Report survey, the school tied with Michigan Ross and Duke Fuqua at 12th place and was ranked within the top five in the following specialty areas: real estate, executive MBA, finance, and international.
Columbia Business School MBA 2024 Acceptance Rate
The Columbia MBA program boasts an acceptance rate of approximately 19%, making it highly selective. This prestigious program attracts ambitious and driven individuals from around the globe, eager to join a community of leaders and innovators. With its rigorous application process, Columbia seeks candidates who not only demonstrate academic excellence but also possess a unique blend of leadership potential, professional achievements, and a commitment to making a positive impact in their industries.
For prospective MBA students, understanding Columbia’s competitive acceptance rate is crucial in preparing a standout application. Aspiring applicants are encouraged to highlight their distinct experiences, articulate their career goals with clarity, and showcase how they align with Columbia’s values and vision. By doing so, candidates increase their chances of joining this elite cohort and gaining access to unparalleled resources, a powerful alumni network, and transformative career opportunities.
Columbia Business School MBA Deadlines (2024–2025 Application Season)
January Term Round 1
June 18, 2024
January Term Round 2
September 5, 2024
Round 1
September 10, 2024
Round 2
January 7, 2025
Round 3
April 5, 2025