Kellogg MBA: acceptance rate, tuition, GMAT and salary (2026)
Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University · Evanston, Illinois · Data checked Nov 4, 2026 · Sources
Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois ranks #5 in our composite of the four major MBA rankings. The Class of 2027 full-time class has 534 students, with a average GMAT of 687 on the Focus Edition scale. Tuition is $88,536 per year (2026-27 Two-Year MBA tuition (first-year table)), within a published annual budget of $130,072. Graduates in the Class of 2025 employment report earned a median base salary of $175,000.
- Class of 2025 Two-Year MBA median total compensation of $205,000
- 90% of Class of 2025 had accepted a role within six months of graduation
Admissions and class profile
| Class year | Class of 2027 |
|---|---|
| Applications | — |
| Class size | 534 |
| Acceptance rate | — |
| Median GMAT | — |
| Average GMAT | 687 (Focus) |
| GMAT middle 80% | 515–775 |
| GRE (verbal / quant) | 162 / 162 |
| Undergraduate GPA | 3.68 |
| Work experience | 5.1 years |
| Average age | — |
| Women | — |
| International students | 37% |
GMAT figures are on the Focus Edition scale (205–805), which is not directly comparable with classic 200–800 scores.
Tuition and cost of attendance
| Tuition per year | $88,536 |
|---|---|
| Basis | 2026-27 Two-Year MBA tuition (first-year table) |
| Published cost of attendance per year | $130,072 |
| 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 | — |
| With offers 3 months after graduation | — |
Where graduates go
| Industry | Share of class |
|---|---|
| Consulting | 38% |
| Financial Services | 21% |
| Technology | 19% |
Frequently listed employers: McKinsey & Company, Bain & Company, Boston Consulting Group, J.P. Morgan, Amazon, Google, Microsoft.
Application deadlines
| Round | Deadline |
|---|---|
| Round 1 | Sep 9, 2026 |
| Round 2 | Jan 6, 2027 |
| Round 3 | Mar 31, 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 Kellogg ranks
| Ranking | Edition | Position |
|---|---|---|
| Composite (this site) | Average of the four lists below | #5 |
| U.S. News | 2026 Best Business Schools (Full-Time MBA) | #4 |
| Financial Times | Global MBA Ranking 2026 | #11 |
| Bloomberg Businessweek | Best Business Schools 2025-26 (US) | #5 |
| QS | QS Global MBA Rankings 2027 | #13 |
Positions are cited from each publisher's latest edition; see the methodology. A dash means the school was not listed in that edition.
Compare Kellogg with similar schools
Other top MBA programs in Illinois
- University of Chicago Booth School of Business (#7 composite)
Frequently asked questions
What is the acceptance rate at Kellogg?
Kellogg does not publish an admit count, so an exact acceptance rate is not available. Use the class size and test-score range on this page to judge selectivity.
What GMAT score do you need for Kellogg?
The average GMAT for the Class of 2027 class was 687 on the GMAT Focus Edition scale, with the middle 80% of the class between 515 and 775. There is no published minimum, and the school accepts the GRE as well.
How much does the Kellogg MBA cost?
Tuition is $88,536 per year (2026-27 Two-Year MBA tuition (first-year table)), and the school's full annual cost-of-attendance budget, including fees and living expenses, is about $130,072. 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 Kellogg MBA?
The Class of 2025 employment report shows a median base salary of $175,000.
Sources
Official pages from Kellogg School of Management; each figure above was read from the page listed on the date shown.
- https://www.kellogg.northwestern.edu/programs/full-time-mba/class-profile/ (accessed Nov 4, 2026)
- https://www.kellogg.northwestern.edu/admissions/financial-aid/ft-fin-aid/ (accessed Nov 3, 2026)
- https://www.kellogg.northwestern.edu/news/blog/2025/12/17/class-2025-career-outcomes-top-employers/ (accessed Nov 3, 2026)
- https://www.kellogg.northwestern.edu/programs/full-time-mba/career-services/career-outcomes/ (accessed Nov 3, 2026)
- https://www.kellogg.northwestern.edu/news/blog/2026/06/10/full-time-mba-application-live/ (accessed Nov 3, 2026)
- https://www.kellogg.northwestern.edu/
Data notes: Class of 2027 (Two-Year MBA only) stats read 2026-11-04 in a browser from the class profile page's animated counters: 534 students, GPA 3.68 (range 2.7-4.0), GMAT Focus average 687 with displayed range 515-775 (GMAT Legacy average 733, range 680-770), GRE V 162 (149-170) and Q 162 (146-170), 5.1 years work experience, 37% international, 9% U.S. veterans. GMAT/GRE ranges are as displayed; the page does not say whether they are full or middle-80% ranges. Applications, admits, women_pct and avg_age are not published on the profile page or the Class of 2027 welcome blog post, so remain null. Mean salary and median signing bonus (overall) not stated; employed_3mo_pct null because Kellogg reports 90% accepted within SIX months (not 3). Median base $175,000 is for the Two-Year MBA. Deadlines page did not name the entering class; assumed 2026-27 cycle (entering 2027). Round 3 date is 2027-03-31. founded/program_length_months not verified.