Foster School of Business – University of Washington
The Michael G. Foster School of Business University of Washington is based in Seattle, Washington. The school offers full-time, evening, and executive MBA options, as well as a Technology Management MBA and a Global Executive MBA. They also feature a Hybrid MBA, which is primarily completed online. The campus is close to a variety of neighborhoods as well as the headquarters of major companies such as Microsoft, Amazon and Starbucks.
LiveWire Data Dashboard
FAQ
What is the tuition for Foster's MBA program?
For the 2024-2025 academic year, the tuition is $41,160 per year for Washington residents and $57,831 for non-residents.
What is the mean GMAT score for admission to Foster's MBA program?
The mean GMAT score for the incoming class at Foster is 700.
Does the Foster MBA program accept the GRE?
Yes. The Foster MBA program has accepted the GRE for a few years now. The Foster full-time MBA program also accepts a completed Test Optional Summary of Qualifications in place of the GMAT/GRE.
What is the mean GRE score for admission to Foster's MBA program?
The Foster MBA mean GRE scores are 159 Verbal and 160 Quantitative.
What is the minimum number of years of work experience required for admission to Foster's MBA program?
Foster 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 6 years of experience.
What is the average number of years of work experience for admission to Foster's MBA program? (or, What is the average age of a Foster student?)
The average number of years of work experience among students in Foster's MBA program is 6. The average age of a Foster MBA student is 28 years.
What is the average starting salary for graduates of the Foster MBA program?
The average starting salary for Foster MBA graduates is $151,322. The salary will vary by industry, with consulting and finance jobs generally commanding the higher salaries.
How long is Foster's full-time MBA program?
Foster offers a traditional 2 year MBA program.
What are the application deadlines for Foster's full-time MBA program?
The Round 1 MBA application deadline is October 1, 2024. The Round 2 application deadline is January 7, 2025. The Round 3 deadline is March 12, 2025.
What percent of Foster MBA students are women?
The percentage of the class at Foster that are women is 32%.
What type of interview does Foster use for MBA admissions?
All applicants to the full-time MBA program must submit a video interview after submitting the application for their application to remain under review. Select applicants will be invited to a one-on-one interview on Zoom with a staff member of Foster MBA admissions.
Admissions
Class Profile
The full-time MBA Class for 2026 numbers 118 students. On average, students have six years of work experience. The class is 32% women, and international students also make up 46% of the student population. Fifty-nine percent of U.S. students identify as students of color. Twenty-nine percent hail from a military background. The mean GMAT for this class was 700 with undergraduate GPAs at a mean of 3.4. For those who took the GRE, their mean scores landed at 160 Quant and 159 Verbal.
Twenty-eight percent of the class had majored in engineering during their undergraduate years. Nineteen percent had majored in business. Ten percent earned degrees in economics and 13% in math/computer science. Sixteen percent of candidates reported being the first in their family to attend college. Thirteen percent of the new class already hold advanced degrees.
Application Procedures
Applicants are required to hold a U.S. bachelor’s degree (or its equivalent). GMAT or GRE scores, or a Test Optional Summary of Qualifications are required for all applicants. If the GMAT or GRE are taken multiple times, the Foster admissions committee will accept the highest score; however, GMAT and GRE scores are only valid for five years, and the test scores must be reported by the application deadline. For applicants whose native language is not English, they will need submit evidence of English language proficiency either an academic degree from a regionally accredited institution in the United States or from an institution in Australia, the Bahamas, Canada, Ireland, Jamaica, New Zealand, Singapore, South Africa, Trinidad and Tobago, or the United Kingdom, or official documentation from an institution not listed above that all instruction was in English. Applicants can also show proof of English language proficiency via TOEFL, IELTS, or Duolingo English Test scores, with minimum scores of 100 iBT / 100 MyBest, 7.0, or 130, respectively.
The completed application includes an online application profile, two required essays, a résumé, two letters of recommendation, all prior transcripts, an official GMAT or GRE score report or a Test Optional Summary of Qualifications, a video interview submission, and a nonrefundable $90 application fee. Work experience is highly valued, but not required to apply for the full-time MBA. There are also two optional essays for the application. Once a student’s application is received, the candidate may be invited to complete an admissions interview via Zoom.
Application Checklist
- Online Application Profile
- Two Required Essays
- Résumé
- Two Letters of Recommendation
- Official GMAT or GRE Scores or Completed Test Optional Summary of Qualifications
- Transcripts
- Proof of English Language Proficiency
- Video Interview Submission (instructions are emailed to applicants 1-3 days after the application round deadline)
- Application Fee ($90)
Essay Topic Analysis
Recommendation Questions
U. Washington / Foster Q&A's
U. Washington / Foster LiveWire and DecisionWire
Academics
Faculty
Foster has 83 faculty members, and 45% of them participate in the review process at a top academic journal. Their work has been included in publications such as the Strategic Management Journal, the Journal of Consumer Research, the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, and Organization Science. There are five academic departments: accounting, finance & business economics, information systems & operations management, management & organization, and marketing & international business.
Curriculum
Over the course of 20 months, the full-time MBA students at the Foster School of Business take both core and elective coursework to complete their degree. The courses are offered on campus, and classes are typically held between Monday and Thursday. In the first year, students take integrated core coursework during the three academic quarters, which are comprised of in-depth modules across a variety of topics. The Autumn Quarter includes 16 credits with topics ranging from financial reporting and analysis to marketing strategy. The Winter Quarter is comprised of 15 credits and includes a business consulting project, statistics, leadership and strategy coursework. The first year concludes in the Spring Quarter, which has ten credits of coursework, covering decision making and operations management. During this quarter, students can also take up to six credits of electives. Second-year students take two core courses covering ethics and macroeconomics, as well as a variety of electives. Forty elective credit s are required for the completion of the program. Students may choose elective courses that cover business economics, entrepreneurship, operations management, and more.
In addition, students must participate in two practical experience activities. They can do so in a variety of ways, including by joining a community board of directors, partnering with law students to provide early-stage business advice through the Entrepreneurial Law Clinic, or studying abroad. Students must compete in the MBA Core Case Competition, which is a business plan competition to test their skills in front of real industry leaders. Students must take on an internship, project, or equivalent during the summer between the first and second years of classes. Lastly, students must take two international perspective activities and the Foster Development sequence.
Other MBA Degree Options
In addition to the full-time MBA, Foster offers options for working professionals and the full-time Global Executive MBA. The Evening MBA takes three years to complete and students take courses on a part-time basis in the evenings. Core courses take place on Mondays and Wednesdays from 6pm-9:30pm, whereas electives are offered Monday through Thursday. The Evening MBA class of 2027 has 90 students, while 70 professionals matriculated in the executive MBA’s class of 2023. The Foster Executive MBA program takes 21 months and 68 credits to complete. Two schedule options are available to accommodate students’ professional lives, travel and personal commitments. In the North America format, the cohort meet once per month for four consecutive days (Wednesday through Saturday). Online learning team meetings and other interactions between meetings, support these in-person meetings. In the Regional format, the cohort meets in-person once or twice per week generally on alternating Fridays and Saturdays. The full-time Global Executive MBA (GEMBA) at the Foster School of Business takes 12 months to complete. The program is geared toward professionals with strong international experience. Meanwhile, the Technology Management MBA (TM MBA) is designed for technology professionals to learn concepts one day and apply them the next. Courses cover topics such as negotiations, microeconomics, and decision modeling. With evening and Saturday classes, and hybrid classes, the TM MBA is geared toward students who are also working professionals. Finally, the Foster Hybrid MBA is 95% online with quarterly in-person Foster Together immersion s. This two-year program is designed for working professionals and is taught by the school’s MBA faculty.
Core Courses at Foster
Year One
- Financial Reporting and Analysis
- Managerial Finance
- Leadership Development
- Building Effective Teams
- Marketing Strategy
- Micro-Economics of Competition and Strategy
- Applied Strategy: Business Consulting Project
- Statistics for Business Decisions
- Leading Teams and Organizations
- Competitive & Corporate Strategy
- Information for Decision Making and Performance Evaluation
- Operation and Supply Chain Management
- Decision Support Models
Year Two
- Ethical Leadership & Decision Making
- Analysis of Global Economic Conditions
Degree Offerings at Foster
Full-time MBA
http://foster.uw.edu/academics/degree-programs/full-time-mba/
Evening MBA
http://foster.uw.edu/academics/degree-programs/evening-mba/
Executive MBA
http://foster.uw.edu/academics/degree-programs/executive-mba/
Technology Executive MBA
http://foster.uw.edu/academics/degree-programs/technology-management-mba/
Global Executive MBA
http://foster.uw.edu/academics/degree-programs/global-executive-mba/
Hybrid MBA (Online)
http://foster.uw.edu/academics/degree-programs/hybrid-mba/
Joint Degree Programs
MBA/JD, MBA/MHA, MBA/MPAcc, MBA/MAIS (International, Japan or Korean Studies)
Campus Life
Clubs and Competitions
Foster MBA students may choose among the school’s 22 student clubs as a member of the Full-Time MBA Association. The clubs are housed under one of three categories: professional, diversity, and extracurricular. There are 12 professional clubs that explore consulting, marketing, operations, finance and strategy among other areas. Diversity in Business and Foster Veterans Association are among the handful of diversity clubs. Challenge for Charity, which is in its 41st year during the 2024-2025 academic year, along with Net Impact, give Foster students the opportunity to give back to their community and affect transformational change. Finally, students’ significant others can socialize through the Blue Dots club, while other extracurricular clubs center around Husky athletics, creativity and wine.
On campus, the Arthur W. Buerk Center for Entrepreneurship hosts three entrepreneurship competitions for students across the region: the Hollomon Health Innovation Challenge, the Environmental Innovation Challenge, and the Dempsey Startup Competition. The Hollomon Health Innovation Challenge (HIC) focuses on solutions in healthcare, while the Environmental Innovation Challenge (EIC) focuses on solutions to climate and environmental problems. Meanwhile, at the Dempsey Startup Competition, informally known as Dempsey Startup, teams develop a new start-up idea and compete for thousands in prize funds. Student-led start-ups coming out from the three competitions may secure further funding after through the Jones + Foster Accelerator. In addition, the Arthur W. Buerk Center for Entrepreneurship provides support for Foster MBA students entering the global Venture Capital Investment Competition (VCIC).
Campus Spaces
Four of the school’s buildings are located in the University of Washington’s Seattle campus : Dempsey Hall, PACCAR Hall, the Bank of America Executive Center, and Founders Hall. The Eastside Executive Center is located in Kirkland, Washington, and houses the Technology Management MBA. Founders Hall is the newest addition to the Seattle campus and houses 28 team and interview rooms, four executive conference rooms, two 135-seat tiered classrooms, offices for undergraduate, MBA and specialty masters degree programs, and career centers. PACCAR Hall is about one and half the size of Founders Hall at 135,000 square feet. PACCAR Hall is home to several classrooms, meeting spaces, a 250-seat auditorium, faculty offices and the Foster Business Library.
MBA Careers
Career Services
The MBA Career Management provides many ways for students to develop professionally during their time at the school. Offerings include career coaching, online career resources, advisory boards, recruitment and networking events, a mentor program, and company treks. Career coaches can provide students with mock interviews, résumé and cover letter advice, and more.
Career Statistics
Eighty-nine percent of the Foster MBA Class of 2023 accepted job offers within three months of graduation. Their average salary landed at $$151,322 and average signing bonus at $44,537.
Technology remained the most popular industry choice for the latest class, as 39% of 2023 graduates entered the field. Consulting was second, claiming 29% of 2023 graduates. While financial services tends to be a popular field for MBA students, only 5% of Foster MBAs joined the industry. CPG also hired 5% of the latest class.
Financing
For the 2024-2025 academic year, tuition and fees total $41,160 for Washington residents, and $57,831 for non-residents. For the 20 months it would take to complete the full-time MBA, this translates to $82,320 for residents and $115,662 for non-residents in tuition and fees. Expenses, such as room and board, books, transportation and miscellaneous personal items, add to the cost of attendance each year. Foster estimates approximately $29,688 for room and board for a one bedroom, solo occupied apartment over the course of 12 months. The MBA Association Membership Dues and estimated MBA Club Dues are covered with one-time payments of $450 and $200, respectively.
Program Tuition (first year)
Tuition and Fees
- Resident $41,160
- Non-resident $57,831
Room & Board (assuming 1 bedroom, solo occupancy, 12-month est.) $29,668
Books $1,100
Local Transportation $2,108
Personal Expenses $3,344
MBA Association Memb. Dues (paid once for two years) $450
Estimated MBA Club Dues (paid once for two years) $200
Health $3,600
Totals
Resident $82,320
Non-resident $115,662
Recent News
Contact
Mailing Address:
Michael G. Foster School of Business
330 Founders Hall
4215 E Stevens Way NE
Box 353200
Seattle, WA 98195-3200
USA
Phone: (206) 543-4661
Email: [email protected]
Web: http://foster.uw.edu/
X (Twitter): @UWFosterSchool