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Ross School of Business – University of Michigan

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CLASS SIZE 379
Women 43%
MEAN GMAT 719
% INTERNATIONAL 43%

The Stephen M. Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan is located in the town of Ann Arbor and is part of the university’s undergraduate and graduate student body of over 48,000. In addition to its full-time MBA program, Ross also offers an Online and a Weekend part-time MBA, a 15-month Global MBA, and an Executive MBA. Ross is well regarded for its action-based learning approach—as evidenced by MAP, the consulting project that all first-year students must complete, and a wide range of student-led funds spanning multiple asset classes—as well as its extensive university resources, and career placement across a broad range of industries.

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FAQ

What is the tuition for Ross's MBA program?

The tuition for Ross’s MBA program is $70,392 for Michigan residents and $75,392 for non-residents.

How hard is it to get into Ross's MBA program?

The acceptance rate for Ross is 20% It is important to consider the acceptance rate in the context of the student profile of those who are admitted. For example the average GMAT score is 719.

What is the average GMAT score for admission to Ross's MBA program?

The average GMAT score for the incoming class at Ross is 719. The GMAT range is middle 80% 670 - 760.

Does the Ross MBA program accept the GRE?

Yes. The Ross MBA program has accepted the GRE for several years now.

What is the average GRE score for admission to Ross's MBA program?

The average GRE score for the incoming class at Ross is 160 for Verbal and 162 for Quant.

What is the minimum number of years of work experience required for admission to Ross's MBA program?

Ross does not state a minimum requirement for years of work experience. However, it is important for candidates to be aware that they are being considered against other candidates with an average of 5.8 years of experience.

What is the average number of years of work experience for admission to Ross's MBA program?

The average number of years of work experience among students in Ross's MBA program is 5.8.

What is the average starting salary for graduates of the Ross MBA program?

The average starting salary for Ross MBA graduates is $162,946. The salary will vary by industry, with consulting and finance jobs generally commanding the higher salaries.

How long is Ross's full-time MBA program?

Ross offers a traditional 2 year MBA program.

What are the application deadlines for Ross's MBA program?

The Round 1 MBA application deadline is September 14, 2023. The Round 2 application deadline is January 11, 2024. The Round 3 deadline is April 4, 2024.

What percent of Ross MBA students are women?

The percentage of the class at Ross that are women is 43%.

What type of interview does Ross use for MBA admissions?

Ross offers interviews by invitation. The interviews are resume-based and conducted by an alum.

Videos

Ross Full-Time MBA Program Introduction

Learn more about how the Michigan Ross Full-Time MBA prepares students to drive meaningful change in all areas of business: https://michiganross.umich.edu/graduate/full-time-mba

Experience a Michigan Ross MAP Project

The Michigan Ross MBA MAP projects are the most intense, real-life learning experiences available in graduate business education. In seven weeks, teams of students tackle pressing challenges for sponsor organizations all over the world. Follow one team to Brazil as they work on a market entry project for the world’s largest consumer packaged goods company, Procter & Gamble.

Admissions

The Class Profile

The average GMAT score among the 379 students in the Ross Class of 2025 was 719, with 80% of the class scoring between 670 and 760. The average GRE was 160 in Verbal and 162 in Quant.

Thirty-four percent had earned undergraduate degrees in business. Forty-four percent entered with a degree in STEM fields (science, engineering, mathematics, or technology) and 22% in the humanities. Students in the Class of 2025 entered the MBA program with an average of 5.8 years of work experience. International students comprise 43% of the class, representing 39 countries. Women constitute 43% of the Class of 2025, and 43% of U.S. students identify as a member of a minority ethnic group.

Application Procedures

Prospective students can apply to Ross in one of three rounds or “admissions periods.” To be considered for admission to the MBA program, applicants must submit a current résumé, application form, essays, undergraduate and postgraduate transcripts, one letter of recommendation, and a non-refundable $200 application fee. The admissions committee also requires that applicants submit GMAT, GRE, MCAT, LSAT, PCAT or DAT scores and, if applicable, scores from the TOEFL, PTE or IELTS exams. Michigan Ross offers candidates the ability to request a waiver for the standardized test requirements.

Interviews are required for admission to the program and are conducted on an invitation-only basis by an alum.

Application Checklist

  • Data Forms
  • GMAT/GRE and TOEFL/PTE/IELTS Score(s)
  • Résumé
  • Application Fee
  • Recommendation
  • Academic transcripts
  • Essays

Essay Topic Analysis

Need help with your essays? Get our experts' advice.

Interview Reports

Ross Q&As

Michigan / Ross LiveWire and DecisionWire

MBA LiveWire

March 20, 2024 12:54pm ET
Accepted to Michigan / Ross
Round: Round 2
Received via phone on March 13, 2024
GPA: 3.71
GRE: 327
Program Type: Traditional Two-Year
Post MBA Career Name: Consulting
Application Location: India
March 20, 2024 7:37am ET
Accepted to Michigan / Ross
Round: Round 2
Received via email on March 14, 2024
GPA: 3.65
Program Type: Traditional Two-Year
Post MBA Career Name: Finance
Application Location: Trinidad and Tobago
March 20, 2024 7:10am ET
Accepted to Michigan / Ross
Round: Round 2
Received via phone on March 13, 2024
GPA: 3.71
GRE: 327
Program Type: Traditional Two-Year
Post MBA Career Name: Consulting
Application Location: India
March 18, 2024 10:21pm ET
Rejected at Michigan / Ross
Round: Round 2
Received via email
GPA: 3.78
GMAT: 680
Program Type: Traditional Two-Year
Post MBA Career Name: Finance
Application Location: Midwest
Note:

Veteran with 6 years experience

March 18, 2024 11:13am ET
Waitlisted at Michigan / Ross
Round: Round 2
Received via portal
GRE: 324
Program Type: Traditional Two-Year
Post MBA Career Name: Consulting
Note:

I’m the perfect candidate to WL it appears 😉

March 16, 2024 7:49pm ET
Accepted to Michigan / Ross
Round: Round 2
Received via phone on March 15, 2024
GPA: 4.1
GRE: 325
Program Type: Traditional Two-Year
Application Location: Florida
Note:

Shocked and grateful to receive a $40k/year scholarship! Best of luck everyone!!

March 16, 2024 3:18am ET
Accepted to Michigan / Ross
Round: Round 2
Received via portal March 16, 2024
GPA: 2.87
GRE: 334
Program Type: Traditional Two-Year
Post MBA Career Name: Consulting
Application Location: China
March 15, 2024 8:53pm ET
Accepted to Michigan / Ross
Round: Round 2
Received via phone on March 14, 2024
GPA: 3.33
GMAT: 720
Program Type: Traditional Two-Year
Post MBA Career Name: Consulting
Application Location: US

MBA DecisionWire

Sta
March 26, 2024 4:39pm ET
Enrolled: Stanford GSB
Admitted: Berkeley / Haas $
$90000
,
U. Chicago Booth , Northwestern / Kellogg , Stanford GSB
Applied: Northwestern / Kellogg, Stanford GSB, UPenn / Wharton, MIT Sloan, Harvard Business School, U. Chicago Booth, Berkeley / Haas
Entering Year: 2024
Post MBA Career: Consulting, Investment Banking, Venture Capital
GRE: 330
GPA: 3.7
Location: East Coast
Notes:

Once I got the GSB admit, it was pretty straightforward, but was having a hard time deciding between the 3 dual-degree programs I loved (MBA/MS in Biomedical Sciences at Booth, MMM at Kellogg, and MBA/MPH at Haas). Was rejected w/o an interview at HBS and Wharton, which was frustrating, but ended up where I was meant to! Good luck folks!

?
March 26, 2024 1:21pm ET
Enrolled: Undecided
Admitted: Dartmouth / Tuck , London Business School , Michigan / Ross , UPenn / Wharton
Applied: Dartmouth / Tuck, London Business School, Michigan / Ross, UPenn / Wharton
Entering Year: 2024
Post MBA Career: Consulting, Technology Companies: Bain, BCG, McKinsey, Other
GRE: 327
GPA: 3.17
Notes:

Military, so scholarship doesn’t affect much due to GI Bill. Can’t decide if studying abroad is worth the risk of European markets, and stateside if Whartons reputation outweighs the potentially better social fit at Tuck.

?
March 26, 2024 10:10am ET
Enrolled: Undecided
Admitted: Michigan / Ross $
$40000
,
UVA / Darden $
$40000
Applied: UVA / Darden, Michigan / Ross
Entering Year: 2024
Post MBA Career: Consulting Companies: Bain, BCG, McKinsey
GRE: 327
GPA: 3.71
Location: India
Notes:

Need help deciding between the two.
-Darden:pros-recruitment, weather, cons:no connection/engagement from the school, UVA brand unknown
-Ross:pros-community, brand, t10, 40%+ consulting recruitment, cons: weather, not sure if recruitment outcomes will stay 40%+ for consulting, internship outcomes weak for consulting

?
March 25, 2024 7:29pm ET
Enrolled: Undecided
Admitted: Johns Hopkins / Carey , Rice / Jones , UCI Merage , Washington U. / Olin , Other
Applied: Other, Washington U. / Olin, UCI Merage, Rice / Jones, Johns Hopkins / Carey
Entering Year: 2024
Post MBA Career: Technology, Entrepreneurship, Other
Location: Central California
Notes:

Just recently got into all of these MBA programs as well as UC Davis's MBA program. I am primarily basing my decision on what would be the best for my career. Working on a start-up in the healthcare space. UCI/UCD may make sense due to the network I could build in the state I live in, but other schools like WashU/JHU/Rice have more prestige/brand.

Academics

Faculty

There are approximately 150 full-time faculty members at Ross, with an additional 70 or so adjunct or visiting professors, whose classes span 9 areas as well as the undergraduate, master’s and Ph.D. programs. Ross’s professors also contribute to the school’s more than 20 research centers, institutes, and initiatives, which range in focus from entrepreneurship to tax policy research.

Curriculum

Professors at Ross teach using a mix of case studies, classroom discussion and lectures with an emphasis on experiential learning. This emphasis is particularly notable in the school’s Multidisciplinary Action Projects (MAP), in which teams of students spend a term completing consulting projects for real companies. Ross also offers a variety of courses, extracurricular opportunities and competitions for students looking for further practical experience. First-year students are typically divided into five sections of approximately 80 students each, and each section takes the same required first-year courses together.

The academic year for the full-time MBA program begins in early September and ends in late April. The first year is divided into four seven-week terms, with students taking three to four classes for the first three terms and concluding with MAP for the last term in late spring. Students at Ross may also pursue a term-long independent study project if they are in good academic standing. In the second year, students take elective courses that last either seven or 14 weeks. There are short breaks between the fall, winter and spring terms.

Ross requires each full-time student to complete 57 credits worth of classes in two years in order to graduate with an MBA degree. A total of approximately 30 of those credits are completed through the 10 core courses first-year students take. These courses span from accounting to marketing and many are eligible to be waived.  To waive core courses or other degree requirements, students may opt for an exam, demonstrate prior academic or professional experience in the material or cite a professional designation such as a CPA. Along with the core courses, students must also complete the required course “Competing in the Global Business Environment” and fulfill requirements in communication and business law by choosing from a list of eligible courses or securing a waiver. Ross students are required to complete at least 25 credits worth of electives, 10 of which can be graduate coursework in other University of Michigan departments. While Ross does not offer any majors, the school does break down its courses by department and offers career path guides to aid students in selecting elective courses. Students looking to gain further exposure to international business may also spend a semester studying abroad at one of Ross’s 21 exchange partner schools.

Other MBA Degree Options

In addition to its two-year full-time MBA program, Ross offers an online and weekend part-time MBA programs, a 21-month Executive MBA program, and a 15-month Global MBA in which students enroll in three different global leadership experiences. Ross has established more than 20 dual degrees with other University of Michigan – Ann Arbor departments in areas such as law, engineering, education and more regionally based studies. Students also have the option to create their own dual degree programs within the University.

Academic Departments at Ross

  • Accounting
  • Business Communication
  • Business Economics and Public Policy
  • Business Law
  • Finance
  • Management and Organizations
  • Marketing
  • Strategy
  • Technology and Operations

Degree Offerings at Ross

Full-time MBA
https://michiganross.umich.edu/graduate/full-time-mba

Online/Weekend (Part-Time) MBA Program
https://michiganross.umich.edu/graduate/evening-mba

Global MBA Education
https://michiganross.umich.edu/graduate/global-mba

Weekend MBA
https://michiganross.umich.edu/graduate/weekend-mba

Executive MBA
https://michiganross.umich.edu/graduate/executive-mba

Campus Life

Clubs, Conferences & Competitions

Students at Ross contribute to an extensive range of clubs and other extracurricular activities. Currently, there are over 70 clubs open to full-time MBA students, covering professional, community, diversity and social interests. One popular club is the Community Consulting Club (CCC), through which undergraduate and graduate students perform nonprofit consulting projects for Southeastern Michigan organizations. Members of the CCC complete 10 to 15 projects per year, such as designing a growth strategy for the Ann Arbor Hospice or creating a base of corporate sponsors for Habitat for Humanity. Ross students may also participate in more traditional career-based clubs such as the Finance Club and the General Management Club or in more casual, socially oriented clubs like the Ice Hockey Club and Risky Business, the rock band at Ross. Ross’s clubs and research centers work to host a number of conferences each year on topics including business in Asia, and energy-efficient markets, among others.

In line with its emphasis on experiential learning, Ross students are offered multiple opportunities to compete in business-related competitions. For instance, the Crisis Challenge puts student teams in the position of senior executives facing a crisis scenario at a major company as they compete for a scholarship and other prizes. Meanwhile, the Ross Energy Club offers an annual renewable energy case competition each February in which teams of MBA students from top business schools travel to Ross to present solutions to cases written by the club.

Campus Spaces

The Ross School of Business building lies at the southern end of the University of Michigan’s central campus and encompasses most of the business school’s classrooms, faculty offices and informal meeting areas. The building also includes a large auditorium, a fitness center and a café, in addition to a reception hall and a full-service hotel. Meanwhile, the Davidson Winter Garden—a glass-enclosed lounge area—serves as a common meeting place for students, faculty and guests.

Both on- and off-campus housing is available to full-time MBA students. Munger Graduate Residencies are one of Michigan’s on-campus housing facilities for graduate students, students with families, and faculty, though demand for the apartments runs high. Off-campus, a majority of students rent apartments within a 15-minute walk of Ross.

MBA Careers

Career Services

The Office of Career Development (OCD) takes a two-pronged approach to assisting students’ career search efforts. The career counseling staff individually counsels students on their job searches and offers regular career workshops. Meanwhile, the recruiter relations staff oversees the on-campus interview process, job postings and recruiter events. The OCD provides students with a variety of means to meet recruiters, including networking hours, on-campus presentations and off-campus site visits. Interviewing for full-time positions begin in the middle of September, and interviewing for internships begins in early January.

Career Statistics

Ninety-six percent of the Ross Class of 2023 seeking employment had received a job offer within three months of graduation. The mean base salary for a Ross graduate was $162,946 with a median signing bonus of $30,000.

The most popular industry for the Class of 2023 was consulting, as 45% of students entered that industry. Roughly 16% percent of the class entered the technology industry, while financial services accounted for 14% of the class and roughly 6% entered the healthcare field. Consumer packaged goods took in about five percent of graduates.

Following a common trend among business schools, the most popular place to accept employment was in the same region as the school: the Midwestern U.S. Thirty-one percent settled there while another 28% headed to the U.S. Northeast. Roughly 19% settled in the U.S. West. The Southwest took in 10.5% of graduates. Two percent opted to work outside of the U.S.

Financing

Tuition for the 2023-2024 academic year is $70,392 for Michigan residents and $75,392 for non-residents. With the addition of textbooks, housing expenses and other personal expenditures, Ross estimates that the total cost of attending is $98,150 for in-state students and $103,150 for those from out of state.

To help finance their education, students are automatically considered for scholarships when they are granted admission, and no additional application is necessary. These scholarships are awarded based on academic, professional and personal accomplishments and potential value to the community, with awards ranging from $10,000 to full tuition. Ross also offers scholarships through the Tauber Institute for Global Operations and the Frederick A. and Barbara M. Erb Institute for Global Sustainable Enterprise. In addition, students are encouraged to apply for other scholarships offered by the University of Michigan, as well as private scholarships. Students seeking further financial support may apply for a federal loan through the Federal Direct Lending Program if they are U.S. citizens or permanent residents. International students may secure loans through private lenders, although the school notes that these loans will require a U.S. co-signer.

Cost of Attendance (per year)

Tuition

  • MI State Resident $70,392
  • Non-MI State Resident $75,392

Food & Housing $18,704
Books $1,844
Loan Fees $224
Other/Personal (Healthcare) $6,820
Registration Fees $166

Total

  • MI State Resident: $98,150
  • Non-MI State Resident $103,150

Contact

Mailing Address:
Stephen M. Ross School of Business
University of Michigan
701 Tappan Street
Ann Arbor, MI 48109
Phone: 734-615-5002
Email: [email protected]
Web: http://michiganross.umich.edu/
Blog: https://michiganross.umich.edu/admissions-blog
Twitter: @MichiganRoss