The ten-year return of investment of a Stanford GSB is estimated to be 325%. Stanford GSB graduates consistently go into high-paying jobs in such fields as consulting, financial services, and technology. The median base salary for the Stanford GSB Class of 2023 was $182,500, the median performance bonus was $50,000, and the median signing bonus was $30,000.
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mbaMission’s Stanford Graduate School of Business Insider’s Guide
The Stanford Graduate School of Business (GSB)’s motto is “Change lives. Change organizations. Change the world.” The GSB consistently places at or near the top of the various MBA rankings and appears to pride itself on providing a personal, collaborative business school experience. Each incoming class has approximately 400 people, so students typically get to know all their classmates by graduation day. In addition, the school’s small size provides students and faculty numerous opportunities to foster relationships across diverse interests, backgrounds, and specializations. Many classes incorporate team projects and study groups, further emphasizing the collaborative nature of the business school experience.
Among the industries 2023 graduates entered, finance was the most popular, claiming 38% of the graduating class. Technology was the school’s second most popular industry in 2023, with 24% accepting positions in this industry. Located near California’s Silicon Valley, the GSB has strong connections to local technology companies and the firms that finance their growth.
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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: Jonathan Levin
- Notable Professors and Unsung Heroes
- Social/Community Life
- Academic Summary
- Admissions Basics
- Stanford Graduate School of Business Essay Tips, 2024-2025
- Stanford GSB Statistics (Class of 2023)
- Stanford Graduate School of Business Employment Statistics (Class of 2023)
Stanford GSB FAQs
Is an MBA from Stanford worth it?
Is Stanford MBA hard to get into?
Stanford GSB is one of the most selective business schools in the world, if not the most selective. During the 2022–2023 application season, Stanford GSB received 6,190 applications and accepted 521 individuals. This means that the acceptance rate in 2022–2023 was 8.4%. For comparison, Harvard Business School had an acceptance rate of 13.2% and Columbia Business School had an acceptance rate of 22.4%.
Is Stanford MBA expensive?
The first-year tuition at Stanford GSB in 2024–2025 is $82,455. The annual overall cost for a single student is estimated at $130,746 and $157,206 for married students. The overall costs include tuition, living expenses, housing, medical insurance, and health fees. The estimated cost does not include the global experience requirement fees.
Stanford GSB offers numerous need-blind financial aid options. The Class of 2023 received approximately $44,000 per year in financial aid.
Is Stanford or Harvard MBA better?
Stanford GSB and Harvard Business School are both considered to be among the top MBA programs in the world. Both programs offer world-class business education experiences and consistently rank among the top five MBA programs in all of the most respected business school rankings. Stanford and Harvard both carry worldwide name recognition and prestige. Stanford is not part of the Ivy League, but both Stanford and Harvard are included in the “M7” that refers to the informal eight-school group of top MBA programs in the country.
To compare Stanford and Harvard would be nearly impossible, since both schools are unique in their approach. Consider what you are looking for in an MBA, including such aspects as curriculum, location, global experiences, and class size. Harvard and Stanford are not fit-for-all schools, but they may turn out to be a great fit for you.