Meet some new members of the MBA Class of 2026 at Northwestern Kellogg in this edition of Real Humans: MBA Students.
All together, 524 students matriculated in the Kellogg MBA Class of 2026. A full half, 50 percent, are women and 40 percent are international. Based on Federal guidelines, 21 percent of the MBA students identify as Asian American and 17 percent as Hispanic/Latinx. Two percent are Black/African American and another three percent identify as multi-race students. Eleven percent are members of the LGBTQ+ community and six percent are U.S. military veterans.
During their undergraduate years, the Kellogg MBA Class of 2026 averaged a 3.7 GPA. Forty-nine percent earned degrees in business/commerce, followed by 39 percent who pursued STEM majors. Humanities rounded out undergrad degrees at 24 percent. Ten percent of the class were first-generation college students.
Kellogg students arrived on campus with an average slightly above five years of work experience. Thirty-two percent had worked in consulting and 18 percent each came from financial services or the technology industry. Seven percent had been employed in the healthcare sector and five percent each came from media/entertainment or consumer products.
When it came time to take the GMAT, Kellogg MBA students landed an average score of 733. Scores overall ranged from 640 to 780. For those who chose to take the GRE, the median Verbal score came in at 162 and the median Quant score was 163.
As the Northwestern Kellogg MBA Class of 2026 embarks on its journey, each member brings a distinct background, expertise, and passion that together create a rich, collaborative learning environment. With diverse ambitions and past experiences ranging from biotech to marketing, sports management, finance, and tech, these students represent the Kellogg spirit of “high impact, low ego” leadership. In this series, we meet Ryan Ghosh, a former procurement specialist in the biotech sector, who is looking forward to Kellogg’s Healthcare at Kellogg (HCAK) program. Then, Casey Lipton Rubinroit, with experience in product marketing at Sweetgreen, was drawn to Kellogg for its marketing prowess and collaborative culture, while fostering an inclusive community.
Chris Adusei-Poku, with a background in investor relations, chose Kellogg for its focus on ethical, purpose-driven leadership. He aims to use his MBA to explore how sports franchises can drive societal change, a passion rooted in his extensive research on athlete activism. Katherine Cane, transitioning from investment banking, was compelled by the supportive community she encountered at Kellogg’s “Day at Kellogg” event and is keen to advance the school’s footprint in finance through the Advanced Private Equity Experience program. Finally, Serena Kuang, who previously worked in fintech product management, joined the MBAi program to deepen her expertise in AI-driven product management while benefiting from Kellogg’s close-knit culture.
Together, these profiles capture the essence of the Kellogg MBA experience—collaborative learning, community-building, and diverse career aspirations—that make the Class of 2026 a vibrant cohort ready to make a lasting impact. Read on for more about their stories and advice for admissions.
