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Owen Graduate School of Management – Vanderbilt University

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Class Size 175
Women 29%
Mean GMAT 703
Median GPA 3.4

The Vanderbilt Owen Graduate School of Management offers a full-time MBA option that can be completed in two years. The college provides students with a flexible curriculum to develop subject-level expertise to change or catapult careers. With a globally-renowned faculty and many career-focused options for study, the Vanderbilt MBA appeals to students who value a targeted business education across a wide variety of disciplines.

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FAQ

What is the tuition for Vanderbilt’s MBA program?

The tuition for Vanderbilt’s MBA program is $71,250 per year. The total cost of the Vanderbilt MBA program is $107,172 per year; this includes budgeted living expenses.

What is the average GMAT score for admission to Vanderbilt’s MBA program?

The average GMAT score for the incoming class at Vanderbilt is 703.

Does the Vanderbilt MBA program accept the GRE?

Yes. The Vanderbilt MBA program has accepted the GRE for a few years now.

What is the average GRE score for admission to Vanderbilt’s MBA program?

The average GRE Quant score for Vanderbilt's MBA incoming class is 159. The average GRE Verbal score for Vanderbilt's MBA incoming class is 159.

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

Vanderbilt does not state a minimum requirement for years of work experience. The average years of work experience for the latest MBA class at Vanderbilt Owen is 6.

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

The average starting salary for Vanderbilt MBA graduates is $154,052. The salary will vary by industry, with consulting and finance jobs generally commanding the higher salaries.

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

Vanderbilt / Owen offers a traditional 2 year MBA program.

What are the application deadlines for Vanderbilt's full-time MBA program?

The Round 1 MBA application deadline is October 8, 2024. The Round 2 application deadline is January 8, 2025. The Round 3 deadline is February 25, 2025. The Round 4 deadline is April 1, 2025. After May 15, admissions are rolling.

What percent of Vanderbilt MBA students are women?

The percentage of the class at Vanderbilt that are women is 29%.

Admissions

The Class Profile

The Class of 2026 is comprised of 175 students. The class has a median undergraduate GPA of 3.4, an average GMAT score of 703, and a mean GRE score of 318. Women comprise 29% of the class and international students made up 30% of the class. The members of the Class of 2026 averaged 6 years of work experience before matriculating.

Application Procedures

Vanderbilt Owen gives its MBA applicants the choice of applying in one of several admissions rounds, which usually take place from early October through the spring. Domestic applicants have five rounds, while international applicants have four. The application requirements for Vanderbilt Owen include completing the school’s online application and submitting two short written statements, a video response, a résumé, a letter of recommendation, $200 application fee, and unofficial college transcripts. Applicants must also report an official standardized test score for either the GMAT, GRE, or Executive Assessment, or apply to receive a test waiver to submit with their application, and, when applicable, TOEFL/IELTS/Duolingo English Test scores. An evaluative interview is required for admission.  During the open interview period between late September and late November, all applicants can schedule a virtual interview beginning 24 hours after starting the application.  Beginning in December, interviews will be offered by invitation only to applicants who have submitted a completed application.

Application Checklist

  • Online Application
  • Application Fee
  • Official GMAT,GRE, or Executive Assessment test scores or Approved Test Waiver
  • Unofficial Transcripts
  • Résumé
  • Two Short Written Statements
  • Video Response
  • A letter of recommendation
  • Official TOEFL, IELTS, or Duolingo English Test scores (international applicants)

Essay Topic Analysis

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

Interview Reports

Vanderbilt / Owen Q&A's

Vanderbilt / Owen LiveWire and DecisionWire

MBA LiveWire

September 17, 2024 1:53pm ET
Applying to Vanderbilt / Owen
Round: Round 2
Received via portal
Program Type: Traditional Two-Year
Target Career: Non Profit / Social Impact
Application Location: Scottsdale, Arizona
July 23, 2024 3:47pm ET
Rejected from Waitlist at Vanderbilt / Owen
Round: Round 1
Received via email on July 18, 2024
GPA: 2.85
GMAT: 620
Program Type: Traditional Two-Year
June 25, 2024 8:39pm ET
Accepted to Vanderbilt / Owen
Round: Round 5
Received via phone June 25, 2024
GPA: 3.4
Program Type: Traditional Two-Year
Target Career: Marketing
Application Location: California
June 10, 2024 3:39pm ET
Accepted to Vanderbilt / Owen
Round: Round 5
Received via phone June 10, 2024
GPA: 3.5
Program Type: Traditional Two-Year
Target Career: Operations Management
Application Location: United States
June 5, 2024 10:32pm ET
Accepted to Vanderbilt / Owen
Round: Round 5
Received via phone June 5, 2024
GPA: 3.5
Program Type: Traditional Two-Year
Target Career: Operations Management
Application Location: United States
May 16, 2024 2:01pm ET
Interview Invite to Vanderbilt / Owen
Round: Round 5
Received via email May 16, 2024
GPA: 3.85
Program Type: Deferred Enrollment
Target Career: General Management
Application Location: Boston, MA
Note:

From USA and went to top 50 uni (STEM major), undergrad trying to skip deferred enrollment, and got a test waiver. I accidentally bombed the recorded video interview but wrote them an email explaining why I should get a second chance.

May 15, 2024 12:14pm ET
Rejected from Waitlist at Vanderbilt / Owen
Round: Round 2
Received via portal on May 09, 2024
Program Type: Traditional Two-Year
Application Location: India
May 13, 2024 6:10pm ET
Accepted to Vanderbilt / Owen
Round: Round 2
Received via email on April 25, 2024
GPA: 3.77
Program Type: Traditional Two-Year
Note:

Declined the offer because of no $$$ on the deposit deadline day. Still waiting for R3 decision from GSB, HBS, CBS, and Kellogg. If rejected, apply Cornell, Yale, Said, Duke, and Judge in 2026.

MBA DecisionWire

?
November 14, 2024 2:28am ET
Enrolled: Undecided
Admitted: ESADE , IE Business School , IESE
Applied: ESADE, IE Business School, IESE
Entering Year: 2025
Post MBA Career: Consulting, Venture Capital Companies: AT Kearney, Bain, BCG, McKinsey
GMAT: 655
GPA: 3.9
Location: Latam
Notes:

After the program, I aim to join a top strategy consulting firm in Europe. I am still on the "young" side of applicants and I am considering delaying the program for a year (starting in 2026 and not in 2025). I am thinking of applying to other top B-schools with a clearer path to consulting in Europe as a foreigner.

?
November 7, 2024 2:54pm ET
Enrolled: Undecided
Admitted: None
Applied: U. Chicago Booth, Columbia, Cornell / Johnson, Dartmouth / Tuck, Duke / Fuqua, MIT Sloan, Northwestern / Kellogg, NYU Stern, UVA / Darden, Yale SOM
Entering Year: 2025
Post MBA Career: Consulting
GMAT: 730
GPA: 3.73
ND
November 5, 2024 1:36pm ET
Enrolled: Notre Dame / Mendoza
Admitted: Boston College / Carroll $
$66000
,
Notre Dame / Mendoza $
$80000
Applied: Cornell / Johnson, Notre Dame / Mendoza, Georgetown / McDonough, Boston College / Carroll
Entering Year: 2025
Post MBA Career: Investment Banking Companies: Bank of America, Barclays, Citibank, Credit Suisse, Deutsche Bank, Goldman Sachs, JP Morgan, Merrill Lynch, Morgan Stanley, JP Morgan Chase, RBC Capital, Wells Fargo Securities, Other
GRE: 315
GPA: 3.2
Location: Texas
Notes:

2/4 overall. Waitlisted at Cornell. Interview at GTown, but dropped out once I received Notre Dame decision. Notre Dame was my top choice, so very happy with the overall outcome. If anything, I wish I had found the Clear Admit podcast sooner. I would've retaken the GRE and applied to more reach schools. However, very happy overall!

Chi
October 19, 2024 9:04pm ET
Enrolled: U. Chicago Booth
Admitted: U. Chicago Booth $
$100,000
,
Columbia , Cornell / Johnson , UNC Kenan-Flagler $
$70,000
,
UVA / Darden $
$80,000
,
Yale SOM $
$50,000
Applied: Yale SOM, UVA / Darden, UPenn / Wharton, U. Chicago Booth, Columbia, Cornell / Johnson, Duke / Fuqua, Harvard Business School, MIT Sloan, Stanford GSB, UNC Kenan-Flagler
Entering Year: 2023
Post MBA Career: Consulting, Investment Banking Companies: Bain, BCG, McKinsey, Morgan Stanley, Other
GRE: 329
GPA: 4.5
Location: Lagos, Nigeria

Academics

Faculty

Thirty professors comprise the Owen MBA faculty for core courses. Eighty-two other faculty members are spread across the school’s ten academic areas: accounting, communications, entrepreneurship, ethics and social responsibility, finance, healthcare, marketing, operations management & quantitative methods, organization studies, and strategy and business economics. They come from a variety of backgrounds and can offer students real-world insight into the workings of major corporations.

Curriculum

The Vanderbilt MBA is designed to be completed in two years, and it requires a minimum of 62 credit hours. To give students an advantage for summer internships, the degree operates on a modular system in which two seven-week “mods” plus an exam week make up one semester of study. This gives students the opportunity to cover a significant amount of material quickly.

In their first year, MBA candidates complete 11 core courses in financial accounting, managerial accounting, world economy, managerial economics, managerial finance, leadership, management communication, strategic management, marketing management, operations management, and managerial statistics. In their second year, students complete 12 credit hours in at least one concentration and a required ethics class. MBA students may pursue concentrations in accounting, consumer psychology and marketing analytics, finance, general management, health care, human and organizational performance, marketing, operations and analytics, and strategy. In addition, students may obtain a career-focused specialization by completing 20 credit hours in brand management, corporate finance, human and organizational performance, or investment management. Students can supplement their concentration or specialization can complete one of three emphases: entrepreneurship, international studies, or sustainability and social impact. Lastly, MBA students may take courses for credit from other Vanderbilt graduate schools such as the Law School, Peabody College of Education and Human Development, or the School of Medicine.

Other MBA Options

In addition to the full-time MBA, Owen offers an Executive MBA. The Executive MBA takes place across 21 months, with classes on alternating Saturdays. It is designed for a variety of professionals, including those seeking management roles or and existing mid to senior managers. Students typically have 11 years of work experience and the curriculum’s foundation is strategy, leadership, and quantitative methods. In their second year, students have the option to choose between two tracks: Executive Edge or Global Immersion. The Executive Edge Track focuses on strategic skills and improving financial acumen. The Global Immersion Track gives Owen students substantial international business experience by placing them in an international cohort in which they complete immersive residencies in Brazil, Canada, Mexico, and the United States.

Concentrations at Owen

  • Accounting
  • Consumer Psychology and Marketing Analytics
  • Finance
  • General Management
  • Healthcare
  • Human and Organizational Performance
  • Marketing
  • Operations & Analytics
  • Strategy

Degree Offerings at Owen

Full-Time MBA

https://business.vanderbilt.edu/mba/

Executive MBA

https://business.vanderbilt.edu/emba/

Campus Life

Clubs, Conferences, & Competitions

Vanderbilt MBA students may work on their networking and leadership skills by joining some of the school’s 37 clubs. Professional, affinity, impact and outreach, activity and leisure , and special interest clubs are all available. For instance, students may get involved with the Owen Finance Club for educational purposes as well as the Owen Cork & Barrel Society for “spirited” socializing with classmates and other professionals. In addition, fun activities such as Closing Bell and the Owen tailgates are offered throughout the year.

Furthermore, the school’s speaker series and workshops offer students additional networking, educational, and career advancement opportunities. For instance, the student-run Vanderbilt Business Distinguished Speaker Series features C-level executives who share their career insights. In addition, the Walker Management Library hosts workshops on data visualization, Bloomberg Terminal, and more.

Lastly, Vanderbilt MBAs are encouraged to take part in case competitions such as the SEC MBA Case Competition. In addition, the school hosts the National MBA Human Capital Case Competition, which encourages students from across the country to present solutions for real-world human capital issues.

Campus Spaces

Located a mile and a half from downtown Nashville, the Owen Graduate School of Management is housed in its own building on Vanderbilt’s campus. The Walker Management Library is also a part of Owen, and it gives students access to helpful databases and technology. 

MBA Careers

Career Services

Owen’s Career Management Center can help guide students toward internships and full-time employment. Resume and cover letter reviews, mock interviews, peer coaching and networking workshops are all available for student use. In addition, Owen hosts on-campus recruiting events and information sessions for any interested organizations. Recruiting events take place throughout the year, and organizations may also post job openings directly to students on Vanderbilt Owen 12Twenty, the school’s full-service career system.

Top hiring companies for Owen students include Amazon, Deloitte, EY, Accenture, PwC, and Alvarez & Marsal.

Career Statistics

Ninety-seven percent of the Class of 2023 received a full-time employment offer within 90 days of graduation. The average base starting salary was $154,052, with an average signing bonus of $34,591. Consulting led the pack of industry choices, as 41% chose the field. Financial services followed at 21% and then health care at 12%. Eleven percent joined technology. Six percent took roles in consumer products.

Thirty-seven percent of the Class of 2023 stayed in the South, with 41 students settling in the Nashville metro area. The next most popular destination was the Northeast U.S., claiming 21% of graduates. Thirteen percent headed to the West while 15% headed to the Midwest. Ten percent took jobs in the Southwest region of the U.S.

Financing

For the 2024–25 school year, tuition is $71,250 and the estimated total cost (including room & board and personal expenses) is $107,172.

All applicants are considered for merit-based scholarships automatically at the time of admission, and these awards range from $10,000 per year to the full cost of tuition. These merit-based scholarships include the Dean’s Scholars Award Program, and donor-funded endowed awards. Awards are based on academics, application strength, and the potential for future professional excellence in management, potential for contributing to the community, and leadership potential. In addition to these scholarships, the school partners with the Forté Foundation and Reaching Out MBA (ROMBA) to provide fellowship opportunities for women and LGBTQIA+ candidates, respectively.  Besides these fellowships, Owens offers the Vanderbilt University Bass Military Scholars Program for select veterans, and other scholarships and opportunities for underrepresented students.

Furthermore, loans and other financial resources are also available for students. Federal financial aid may be awarded to students who are U.S. citizens or U.S. permanent residents. A limited number of graduate student work assignments are available, with work hours typically ranging from 10 to 15 hours a week with a maximum of 20 hours, as well as other on-campus opportunities. Lastly, students are encouraged to consider external funding opportunities aside from scholarships, student loans, and employment.

Estimated Cost of Attendance

  • Tuition: $71,250
  • Transcript Fee: $100
  • Books & Supplies: $500
  • Health Insurance (can be waived if proof of comparable coverage elsewhere): $3,928
  • Maintenance Fee: $1,250
  • Student Services Fee: $648
  • Student Health Fee: $844
  • Loan Fees: $1,808
  • Housing ($1,760 over nine months): $15,840
  • Food: $7,320
  • Personal: $2,158
  • Transportation: $1,526
  • Total: $107,172

Contact

Mailing Address
Vanderbilt University
Owen Graduate School of Management
401 21st Avenue South
Nashville, TN 37203
Phone: 615-322-6469
Fax: 615-343-1175
Email: [email protected]
Web: http://busines.vanderbilt.edu/
Blog: https://blogs.owen.vanderbilt.edu/
X (Twitter): @VanderbiltOwen