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How to Get Into Columbia Business School: mbaMission’s CBS Insider’s Guide

How to Get Into Columbia Business School: mbaMission’s CBS Insider’s Guide

Given Columbia Business School’s (CBS) reputation for excellence in finance education and its New York City location, people may be quick to assume that the school is little more than a one-trick pony, simply turning pre-MBA bankers into broader post-MBA finance specialists. But over the years, CBS has grown into a diverse school with an emphasis on encouraging teamwork and a sense of community. CBS takes pride in its hands-on approach and diversity, boasting on its website: “No other top MBA program offers our level of real-world exposure.”

Columbia Business School is among the larger U.S. business schools of its caliber, with the most recent graduating class numbering 900 students (including J-Termers; recent class sizes have hovered between 750 and 850 students), and the program is a mainstay in the top ten of most business school rankings, as well as a member of the so-called Magnificent 7, or “M7,” a consortium of top U.S. MBA programs.

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How to Get Into Columbia

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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: Costis Maglaras
  • Notable Professors and Unsung Heroes
  • Social/Community Life
  • Academic Summary
  • Admissions Basics
  • Columbia Business School Essay Tips, 2024-2025
  • CBS Class Profile (Students Entering January and August 2023)
  • Columbia Business School Employment Statistics (Class of 2023)

Columbia FAQs

Is Columbia Business School MBA worth it?

Columbia Business School MBAs tend to find employment quickly after graduation—out of the Class of 2023, 84% received job offers within three months of graduation and 92% had received job offers by the end of the year. Each applicant should calculate their desired return of investment and the salary they hope to gain after graduation and determine whether the effort they would put into their studies at Columbia Business School would be worth it.

Receiving an MBA from Columbia Business School opens numerous career opportunities and choices. Members of the Class of 2023 received an average base salary of $175,000, with an average signing bonus of $30,000. The annual return of investment on an MBA from Columbia Business School is estimated to be approximately 10.2%, which means that a ten-year return of investment would be roughly $760,000.

Is Columbia MBA hard to get into?

Columbia Business School is a very prestigious institution that receives thousands of applications each year and is thus very selective in its admissions process. In 2022–2023, Columbia Business School received 5,430 applications and offered admission to 1,215 applicants. This means that out of the 5,430 individuals who applied to Columbia Business School, approximately 22.4% were admitted. This makes Columbia Business School a very selective school, but these numbers should not discourage hopeful applicants. Ensure that all aspects of your application are in their best state and represent who you are, and the admissions committee will undoubtedly evaluate your application in a holistic manner.

What GPA do you need for Columbia MBA?

Columbia Business School does not have a minimum GPA score required for entry. The Class of 2025 entered Columbia Business School with an average GPA of 3.5. The GPA range for the Class of 2025 was 3.2–3.9. So, although Columbia Business School does not require a minimum GPA score, most applicants have a score of at least 3.0. A score of 3.5 or higher is considered competitive.

What is the GMAT score for Columbia MBA?

Columbia Business School does not have a requirement for a minimum GMAT score. The Class of 2025 had an average GMAT score of 730 and a GMAT score range of 610–790, meaning that all applicants had a score of at least 610. The middle 80% of the Class of 2025’s scores was 700–760. Although Columbia Business School does not have a minimum GMAT score requirement, applicants who have a score on the lower end of the range should try to improve their GMAT score prior to applying, if possible.

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