What is the class profile of the Harvard MBA?

Question

Rohan Dharamchand · Accepted Answer

Harvard Business School's MBA program is designed to reflect the real world's diversity and challenges. The class of 2025, for instance, comprises students from a vast range of backgrounds, industries, and nationalities.
The gender distribution is balanced, with women making up about 45% of the class. This is complemented by a strong international presence, with 39% of students coming from outside the United States. The educational backgrounds vary widely, contributing to a rich academic and professional environment. Students also bring an average of 4.9 years of work experience from sectors like consulting, financial services, and technology, which enhances peer learning. 
This class profile of Harvard MBA provides a quick overview of the Harvard Business School MBA cohort, showcasing its diversity, experience levels, and commitment to gender balance.

Average GMAT 740 (range: 500-790)
Average GRE 163 (range: 145-170)
Average GPA 4.0
Average work experience 4.9 Years
Average agePre-MBA industryMBA2025

-Consulting 17%-Technology 13%-Venture Capital / Private Equity 17%-Consumer Products / Retail / E-Commerce 10%-Financial Services 10%-Manufacturing / Industrial / Energy 7%-Health Care / Biotech 7%-Media & Services 5%

Pre-MBA locationMBA2025

-United States 61%-Europe 10%-Asia 15%-Canada 3%-Middle East 3%-Oceania 1%-Africa 2%-Mexico, Central & South America  5%

Class size MBA2025 - 938

Yash Mothia · Answer

Harvard Business School's MBA program is designed to reflect the real world's diversity and challenges. The class of 2025, for instance, comprises students from a vast range of backgrounds, industries, and nationalities. The gender distribution is balanced, with women making up about 45% of the class. This is complemented by a strong international presence, with 39% of students coming from outside the United States. The educational backgrounds vary widely, contributing to a rich academic and professional environment.
Students also bring an average of 4.9 years of work experience from sectors like consulting, financial services, and technology, which enhances peer learning. The academic rigor is matched by a robust representation of ethnic diversity, ensuring a comprehensive and inclusive educational approach. Harvard MBA class profile exemplifies Harvard's commitment to building a leadership pipeline that is capable of thriving in a global business environment.

Khushi Shukla · Answer

Harvard Business School&rsquo;s MBA program is renowned for its diverse and accomplished student body. The Class of 2024 exemplifies this diversity, with students coming from various academic and professional backgrounds. 
In terms of academic credentials, the average undergraduate GPA is 3.70, and the median GMAT score is 730. The class includes students with degrees in engineering (28%), business/commerce (24%), and economics (19%). Such academic diversity is crucial as it brings multiple viewpoints and expertise into the classroom, enhancing the learning experience for everyone​.
Professionally, the students bring an average of five years of work experience, with significant representation from consulting (16%), venture capital/private equity (16%), and technology (14%). This varied professional background ensures that discussions and case studies are enriched with real-world experiences from different sectors.
The international composition of the class is another highlight. About 38% of the students are international, representing 66 countries. This global perspective is a cornerstone of the HBS experience, fostering a truly international learning environment. Additionally, the gender diversity is notable, with women making up 46% of the class.
HBS also places a strong emphasis on diverse racial and ethnic representation. U.S. minority representation stands at 52%, reflecting a commitment to inclusivity and varied perspectives. This inclusive environment supports robust discussions and a richer educational experience. 
Overall, the Harvard MBA class profile is designed to bring together individuals who are not only academically and professionally accomplished but also diverse in their experiences and perspectives. This blend is essential for fostering an environment where innovative ideas and leadership skills can flourish. 
For those interested in applying, it&rsquo;s crucial to understand that HBS looks for candidates who can contribute to and benefit from this diverse and dynamic environment. The application deadlines for the Class of 2025 are September 7, 2022, for Round 1 and January 4, 2023, for Round 2​ (e-GMAT)​.

Nityam Raghvan · Answer

The Harvard MBA Class of 2024 is an exceptionally diverse and accomplished group of individuals. The class comprises 1,015 students, making it one of the largest classes in recent history. This diversity is reflected in their professional backgrounds, academic achievements, and global representation.
Demographics and Diversity:

Gender: 46% of the class are women, maintaining a strong representation from the previous years.
International Representation: 38% of the students are international, hailing from 66 different countries. This global mix brings a wide range of perspectives to the program.
U.S. Minorities: Using federal guidelines, 52% of U.S. students are minorities. This includes 24% Asian Americans, 11% Black or African Americans, 13% Hispanic or Latino, and 4% multiracial students. When using multidimensional reporting, these figures are adjusted slightly to better reflect multiple identities.

Academic Background:

Undergraduate Majors: The students come from varied academic disciplines:
28% have degrees in engineering.
24% in business/commerce.
19% in economics.
14% in math/physical sciences.
10% in social studies.
5% in arts/humanities.

GPA and Test Scores: The average undergraduate GPA is 3.70. For test scores:

The median GMAT score is 730, with a range from 540 to 790.
The median GRE scores are 163 for both verbal and quantitative sections, with ranges from 147 to 170 for verbal and 150 to 170 for quantitative.

Professional Experience:

Students have an average of 5 years of work experience before joining the program.
Industry Backgrounds: They come from diverse professional fields:
16% from consulting.
16% from private equity/venture capital.
14% from technology.
10% from financial services.
9% from both manufacturing/industrial/energy and consumer products/retail/e-commerce sectors.

Additional Highlights:

The class includes many first-generation college students, accounting for 13% of the cohort.
Students have also demonstrated significant leadership and impact in their previous roles, contributing to industries ranging from military and healthcare to finance and technology.

This diverse and dynamic class structure at Harvard Business School ensures a rich learning environment where students can share unique insights and experiences, fostering a collaborative and inclusive atmosphere for all.

Prateeksha Manral · Answer

Harvard MBA has a diverse and dynamic class profile that reflects its commitment to fostering a rich learning environment. The Class of 2024 at Harvard Business School (HBS) includes 938 students from a wide array of backgrounds and experiences. This class was selected from 8,149 applicants, highlighting the competitive nature of the program.
Key aspects of the class profile include:

Gender Diversity: 45% of the class are women, showcasing HBS's dedication to gender balance.
International Representation: 39% of the students are international, representing 66 different countries. This global mix enriches classroom discussions and learning experiences.
Academic Background: Students come from 275 universities worldwide, with an average GPA of 3.73.
Work Experience: On average, students have 4.9 years of professional experience before joining the program. They come from various industries, including consulting, finance, technology, healthcare, and more.
Test Scores: The median GMAT score is 740, and the median GRE scores are 163 for both verbal and quantitative sections.