Columbia Business School MBA: acceptance rate, tuition, GMAT and salary (2026)
Columbia Business School, Columbia University · New York, New York · Data checked Nov 4, 2026 · Sources
Columbia Business School at Columbia University in New York, New York ranks #8 in our composite of the four major MBA rankings. The Class entering 2025 (January and August entry) full-time class has 982 students, with a average GMAT of 734. Tuition is $93,908 per year (2026-27 tuition, MBA August entry first-year budget), within a published annual budget of $143,030. Graduates in the Class of 2025 employment report earned a median base salary of $175,000, and 92% had offers within three months of graduation.
- Students can enter in August or January; about 30% enter in January
- Class of 2025 graduates accepted roles at 346 organizations, over 200 hiring CBS MBAs for the first time
Admissions and class profile
| Class year | Class entering 2025 (January and August entry) |
|---|---|
| Applications | 7,477 |
| Class size | 982 |
| Acceptance rate | — |
| Median GMAT | — |
| Average GMAT | 734 |
| GMAT middle 80% | 610–780 |
| GRE (verbal / quant) | 163 / 163 |
| Undergraduate GPA | 3.60 |
| Work experience | 5.0 years |
| Average age | — |
| Women | 46% |
| International students | 41% |
Tuition and cost of attendance
| Tuition per year | $93,908 |
|---|---|
| Basis | 2026-27 tuition, MBA August entry first-year budget |
| Published cost of attendance per year | $143,030 |
| Program length | — |
| Formats offered | full-time |
Model the ROI with these numbers
See the guides on what an MBA really costs and scholarships and fellowships.
Employment outcomes
| Employment report | Class of 2025 |
|---|---|
| Median base salary | $175,000 |
| Mean base salary | — |
| Median signing bonus | $30,000 |
| With offers 3 months after graduation | 92% |
Where graduates go
| Industry | Share of class |
|---|---|
| Financial Services | 35% |
| Consulting | 33% |
| Technology | 10% |
| Real Estate | 4% |
| Consumer Products | 4% |
Frequently listed employers: Boston Consulting Group, McKinsey & Company, JPMorgan Chase & Co., Amazon, PricewaterhouseCoopers, Bain & Company.
Application deadlines
| Round | Deadline |
|---|---|
| Round 1 | Sep 9, 2026 |
| Round 2 | Jan 5, 2027 |
| Round 3 | Mar 29, 2027 |
Dates are for the application cycle currently open and are checked against the school's page on the date shown above. Confirm on the school's site before relying on them. See the application timeline guide for how the rounds differ.
Where Columbia Business School ranks
| Ranking | Edition | Position |
|---|---|---|
| Composite (this site) | Average of the four lists below | #8 |
| U.S. News | 2026 Best Business Schools (Full-Time MBA) | #7 |
| Financial Times | Global MBA Ranking 2026 | — |
| Bloomberg Businessweek | Best Business Schools 2025-26 (US) | #9 |
| QS | QS Global MBA Rankings 2027 | #14 |
Positions are cited from each publisher's latest edition; see the methodology. A dash means the school was not listed in that edition.
Compare Columbia Business School with similar schools
Other top MBA programs in New York
- Samuel Curtis Johnson Graduate School of Management (#9 composite)
- NYU Stern School of Business (#13 composite)
Frequently asked questions
What is the acceptance rate at Columbia Business School?
Columbia Business School does not publish an admit count, so an exact acceptance rate is not available. It received 7,477 applications for the Class entering 2025 (January and August entry) class.
What GMAT score do you need for Columbia Business School?
The average GMAT for the Class entering 2025 (January and August entry) class was 734, with the middle 80% of the class between 610 and 780. There is no published minimum, and the school accepts the GRE as well.
How much does the Columbia Business School MBA cost?
Tuition is $93,908 per year (2026-27 tuition, MBA August entry first-year budget), and the school's full annual cost-of-attendance budget, including fees and living expenses, is about $143,030. Over a two-year program, budget for two years of these costs plus the salary you give up.
What is the average salary after a Columbia Business School MBA?
The Class of 2025 employment report shows a median base salary of $175,000 plus a median signing bonus of $30,000, with 92% of job seekers holding offers three months after graduation.
Sources
Official pages from Columbia Business School; each figure above was read from the page listed on the date shown.
- https://academics.business.columbia.edu/admissions/mba/class-profile (accessed Nov 4, 2026)
- https://business.columbia.edu/financial-aid/costs/full-time (accessed Nov 4, 2026)
- https://business.columbia.edu/recruiters/employment-report (accessed Nov 4, 2026)
- https://academics.business.columbia.edu/admissions/mba/options-deadlines (accessed Nov 4, 2026)
- https://business.columbia.edu/
Data notes: Figures read 2026-11-04 in a real browser (earlier WebFetch got 403). Class profile is the class entering 2025 (982 enrolled: 758 August + 224 January). avg_gmat 734 is the GMAT 10th (classic) edition average; the GMAT Focus Edition average is 690 (range shown 615-805). GMAT ranges are as displayed on the profile (classic 610-780); the page does not say whether they are middle-80% or full ranges. GRE averages 163V/163Q. Admits not published, so acceptance_rate is null. avg_age not published. employed_3mo_pct 92 is offers at three months; acceptances were 90%. Employment report includes sponsored students. Industry pct are shares of offers by industry in the 2025 report. Deadlines are for August 2027 entry; January 2027 entry deadlines (2026-06-17, 2026-08-13, extended 2026-09-01) are closed.