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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

December 16, 2024 2:20pm ET
Waitlisted at Vanderbilt / Owen
Round: Round 1
Received via portal on December 12, 2024
GPA: 3.5
EA: 156
Program Type: Traditional Two-Year
December 13, 2024 6:56pm ET
Waitlisted at Vanderbilt / Owen
Round: Round 1
Received via portal December 13, 2024
GPA: 4.48/5
GRE: 321
Program Type: Traditional Two-Year
Target Career: Consulting
Application Location: Nigeria
December 13, 2024 6:29pm ET
Waitlisted at Vanderbilt / Owen
Round: Round 1
Received via portal December 13, 2024
GPA: 3.82
GMAT: 795
Program Type: Traditional Two-Year
December 13, 2024 11:11am ET
Accepted to Vanderbilt / Owen
Round: Round 1
Received via phone December 13, 2024
GPA: 3.65
GMAT: 605
Program Type: Traditional Two-Year
Note:

50% tuition scholarship

December 13, 2024 9:24am ET
Accepted to Vanderbilt / Owen
Round: Round 1
Received via phone December 13, 2024
GPA: 3.4
GMAT: 692
Program Type: Traditional Two-Year
Application Location: India
Note:

Received $$$ too.

December 13, 2024 9:07am ET
Accepted to Vanderbilt / Owen
Round: Round 1
Received via phone December 13, 2024
GPA: 3.76
GMAT: 720
Program Type: Traditional Two-Year
Target Career: Healthcare
Application Location: NYC
Note:

Deans scholar (100% tuition) + Forté fellow

December 12, 2024 2:11pm ET
Accepted to Vanderbilt / Owen
Round: Round 1
Received via phone December 12, 2024
GPA: 3.34
GRE: 328
Program Type: Traditional Two-Year
Target Career: Consulting
Application Location: NYC
Note:

+scholarship

December 12, 2024 1:54pm ET
Accepted to Vanderbilt / Owen
Round: Round 1
Received via phone December 12, 2024
GPA: 8.89
GRE: 330
Program Type: Traditional Two-Year
Target Career: Consulting
Application Location: India
Note:

In with 100k scholarship

MBA DecisionWire

UT
December 19, 2024 6:28pm ET
Enrolled: UT Austin / McCombs
Admitted: UNC Kenan-Flagler $
$60,000
,
UT Austin / McCombs $
$70,000
Applied: Duke / Fuqua, UVA / Darden, UT Austin / McCombs, UNC Kenan-Flagler, Northwestern / Kellogg
Entering Year: 2025
Post MBA Career: Consulting, Private Equity
GMAT: 655
GPA: 3.75
Location: southeast
?
December 19, 2024 5:17pm ET
Enrolled: Undecided
Admitted: Columbia , NYU Stern , UVA / Darden
Applied: UVA / Darden, NYU Stern, Duke / Fuqua, Cornell / Johnson, Columbia
Entering Year: 2025
Post MBA Career: Investment Banking Companies: Bank of America, Barclays, Citibank, Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, RBC Capital, Wells Fargo Securities, Other
Location: Brazil
Notes:

Targeting a career in IB with a focus on real estate. I will likely need to take a $60-80k loan for CBS or Stern (assuming the internship goes as planned). For Darden, the financial burden would be lower since I wouldn’t have to cover housing costs. Still undecided but leaning towards CBS due to its M7 status and NY location. Thoughts?

?
December 19, 2024 12:45pm ET
Enrolled: Undecided
Admitted: Carnegie Mellon / Tepper $
$110000
,
Dartmouth / Tuck $
$30000
,
Rice / Jones $
$150000
,
UCLA Anderson $
$80000
,
USC / Marshall $
$40000
,
UT Austin / McCombs $
$40000
Applied: Carnegie Mellon / Tepper, UT Austin / McCombs, USC / Marshall, UCLA Anderson, Rice / Jones, Dartmouth / Tuck
Entering Year: 2025
Post MBA Career: Investment Banking
GMAT: 675
GPA: 3.5
Location: Texas
?
December 19, 2024 11:46am ET
Enrolled: Undecided
Admitted: Duke / Fuqua $
$60000
,
Harvard Business School , Michigan / Ross $
$20000
,
Northwestern / Kellogg , UPenn / Wharton $
$30000
Applied: UPenn / Wharton, Northwestern / Kellogg, Michigan / Ross, Harvard Business School, Duke / Fuqua
Entering Year: 2025
Post MBA Career: Consumer Goods
GMAT: 690
GPA: 3.9
Location: US Midwest
Notes:

Should get the average for need-based aid at HBS. Hoping to choose an option with a good culture but where I can still learn and grow. Kellogg should be the natural fit with my post-MBA goals, but it is tough to go that route when I have scholarship everywhere else.

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