The Dartmouth Tuck School of Business has released its profile of the MBA Class of 2026. The 296 incoming first-year students have again broken the school’s record for average GMAT score. They bring a wealth of professional experience and academic achievement to the MBA program.
“The academic experience at Tuck is intentionally designed to challenge students in a trust-based environment and foster transformative personal development,” said Lawrence Mur’ray, executive director of admissions and financial aid, in the school’s press release. “Tuck MBA candidates need strong intellectual aptitude, but just as important, they should be ready to stretch their horizons, explore new ideas, and invest in the interdependent success of their classmates. The members of the Class of 2026 check every box.”
Class Demographics
The Dartmouth Tuck MBA Class of 2026 reflects a dynamic and diverse community, with 44% of the class being women. Of U.S. students, 29 percent are minorities, which includes Native Americans, African Americans, Asian Americans, Hispanics/Latinx, and Native Hawaiians. Thirty percent of the class are international students, representing 41 countries by citizenship and 38 by professional experience. LGBTQ+ identifying students make up 7 percent of the class, and 15 percent are first-generation college students.
| Women | 44% |
| Countries Represented (by citizenship) | 41 |
| International Students | 30% |
| Average Work Experience | 5.75 years |
Academic and Professional Background
The average undergraduate GPA compared to last year’s class rose from 3.49 to 3.6. The Tuck MBA Class of 2026 showcases an impressive academic diversity, with students hailing from 178 different institutions and representing 63 unique undergraduate majors. Among them, 45 percent had studied the arts, humanities, and social sciences. Twenty-six percent had pursued STEM majors while another 26 percent of students come from business backgrounds. Thirteen percent of the incoming MBAs already hold an advanced degree. This blend of academic disciplines creates a vibrant, intellectually rich learning environment at Tuck.
| Average Undergraduate GPA | 3.6 |
| Percent majoring in arts, humanities, social sciences | 45% |
| Percent majoring in science, technology, engineering, and math | 26% |
| Percent majoring in business | 26% |
The average GMAT score of 727 broke the school’s record, which was previously 726 for the Class of 2025, again. GRE scores were submitted by 46 percent of admitted students, and both the Quant and Verbal averages were 161.
| Average GMAT Score | 727 |
| GMAT Score Range | 650-780 |
| GRE Verbal Average | 161 |
| GRE Quant Average | 161 |
| Percent Submitting GRE Scores | 46% |
Students bring an average 5.75 years of professional experience with them through 231 unique employers. Consulting professionals make up 25 percent of the class, up 8 percent over last year, with 23 percent having experience in financial services. Thirteen percent hail from the technology industry while 10 percent in had worked in nonprofit and/or government. Another nine percent have pre-MBA work experience in healthcare, pharmaceuticals, or the biotech industries.
