Olin Business School – Washington University in St. Louis
The St. Louis Olin Business School is located on Washington University’s 169-acre Danforth Campus in St. Louis, Missouri. Olin offers a Full-Time, a part-time Flex, and an Executive MBA option. The Olin MBA is characterized by its focus on experiential learning, a collaborative relationship with the local business environment, and the many business offerings in and around St. Louis — a city home to 10 Fortune 500 companies.
FAQ
What is the tuition for Olin's MBA program?
The tuition for Olin's MBA program is $68,200 for the 2024-2025 academic year.
What is the average GMAT score for admission to Olin's MBA program?
The median GMAT score for the incoming class at Olin is 740. GMAT scores ranged from 550 to 780.
Does the Olin MBA program accept the GRE?
Yes. The Olin MBA program has accepted the GRE for a few years now.
What is the median GRE score for admission to Olin's MBA program?
The incoming Olin MBA class reported median scores of 163 in the Verbal section and 166 in the Quant section.
What is the minimum number of years of work experience required for admission to Olin's MBA program?
Olin 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 4.4 years of experience.
What is the average number of years of work experience for admission to Olin's MBA program? (or, What is the average age of a Olin MBA student?)
The average number of years of work experience among students in Olin's MBA program is 4.4. On average, Olin students are 29 years old.
What is the average starting salary for graduates of the Olin MBA program?
The average starting salary for Olin MBA graduates is $132,700.
How long is Olin's full-time MBA program?
Olin offers a traditional 2 year MBA program.
What are the application deadlines for Olin's full-time MBA program?
The Round 1 MBA application deadline is October 5, 2024. The Round 2 deadline is November 1, 2024. The Round 3 deadline is January 5, 2025. The Round 4 deadline is March 1, 2025. The final domestic-only deadline is April 15, 2025. Then, rolling admissions begin.
Admissions
The Class Profile
Out of 1,603 applicants, 103 candidates ultimately matriculated in the Fall of 2024 to comprise the full-time MBA Class of 2026. Olin MBA students had an average age of 29 and 4.4 years of work experience. Women make up 53% of the class, while 34% are underrepresented minorities. In addition, 44% of students are international. The class earned a median GMAT score of 740 while the average landed at 706; scores overall ranged from 550 to 780. Those who opted to take the GRE landed a median Verbal score of 163 and median Quant score of 166; average scores landed at 163 Verbal and 164 Quant. During their undergraduate years, Olin MBAs earned a median GPA of 3.64 while the average came in at 3.53.
Application Procedures
Unlike many schools, Olin’s application does not require an application fee. Instead, applicants must submit an online application, a current one-page résumé, one required essay, academic transcripts, and a career plan. Submitting GMAT or GRE is optional but recommended, and international students must submit TOEFL or IELTS scores if applicable. Applicants must also have the equivalent of a U.S. bachelor’s degree. In addition, applicant interviews are conducted by invitation only. Applicants are typically notified of their application’s status within one to two weeks of submission.
Application Checklist
- Online Application
- One-Page Résumé
- Required Essay
- GMAT or GRE test scores (optional)
- Academic Transcripts (unofficial)
- Official TOEFL/IELTS scores (international applicants)
- Career Plan
Essay Topic Analysis
Recommendation Questions
Washington U. / Olin Q&A's
Washington U. / Olin LiveWire and DecisionWire
Academics
Faculty
Olin’s faculty consists of 92 tenured or tenure track members, 27 full-time lecturers, 25 professors of practice, 46 adjunct lecturers and other visiting and emeriti faculty. Their areas of expertise include accounting, business communications, data analytics, economics, finance, management, marketing, strategy and entrepreneurship, organizational behavior, as well as supply chain, operations & technology. In addition, the faculty contribute to Olin’s six business research centers, which cover topics such as consumer analytics, economics and finance.
Curriculum
The Olin school utilizes a concentrations through which students may tailor their class choices, internships, and even extracurricular activities to a specific area of study. The five concentrations are the following: consulting, corporate finance & investments, entrepreneurship, marketing, and operations & supply chain management. Olin also offers an optional STEM MBA that can be completed by taking additional STEM credit hours.
During their first semester of study in the fall, Olin MBA students take core courses in various types of management, managerial economics, and financial accounting. In addition, students also partake in industry seminars for their chosen platform of study. In the spring semester, students finish their core course requirements by taking courses in strategic cost analysis, implementing strategies through global operations, diversity, equity, and inclusion, as well as data analytics for business leaders. Following a summer internship, students then fulfill the rest of their course hour requirements by taking various electives throughout the year. The electives can be chosen based on a student’s concentration or other areas of interest. Lastly, class sizes are kept purposefully small. The most recent full-time MBA class at Olin enrolled 103 students.
To graduate, students are required to complete 67 credit hours, 28.5 of which are electives. The required courses include studies in financial accounting, management, managerial economics, operations management, communications, and data analytics for business leaders. In addition, electives cover everything from valuing strategic corporate investments to creating and marketing innovative products and services.
Most courses at Olin are available for the standard three credit hours. To supplement student’s traditional classroom experiences, however, the Olin MBA also offers half- to two-credit-hour courses called “minis.” These mini courses can supplement a student’s concentration or other areas of learning, and the two most popular focus on values-based leadership.
In addition to classwork, the Olin MBA is characterized by its emphasis on experiential learning. Internships and working with partner organizations round out the program’s classroom work. For example, students are encouraged to work with St. Louis nonprofits and startup organizations to address real-life organizational concerns.
Other MBA Degree Options
In addition to the full-time MBA, the Olin School also offers a Part-time Flex MBA for working professionals, as well as an Executive MBA option. The part-time professional option offers flexible scheduling with both online and in-person formats. Students are able to finish the program in as little as two years, with the option to extend the program length if needed. Live classes, whether in-person or online, are offered on Tuesday evenings. Meanwhile, the Executive MBA offers coursework tailored to students who are more advanced in their careers and takes 20 months to complete. Those interested in the EMBA may study in St. Louis, Shanghai, or Mumbai.
Concentrations at Olin
- Consulting
- Corporate Finance and Investments
- Entrepreneurship
- Marketing
- Operations and Supply Chain Management
Degree Offerings at Olin
Full-Time MBA Program
https://olin.wustl.edu/programs/mbas/full-time-mba/index.php
Part-Time MBA Program
https://olin.wustl.edu/programs/mbas/flex-mba/index.php
Executive MBA Programs
U.S.
https://olin.wustl.edu/programs/mbas/executive-mba/index.php
Mumbai
https://olin.wustl.edu/EN-US/executive-programs/executive-mba-mumbai/Pages/default.aspx
Shanghai
https://olin.wustl.edu/EN-US/executive-programs/executive-mba-shanghai/Pages/default.aspx
Campus Life
Clubs, Conferences, & Competitions
The Olin school has over 30 graduate student clubs and organizations. These include groups related to particular areas of study, such as the Entrepreneurship and Venture Capital Association, as well as affinity organizations, such as the Olin Veteran Association or the Olin Women in Business.
In addition, many conferences are hosted at Olin. For instance, the Wells Fargo Advisors Center for Finance and Accounting Research (WFA-CFAR) hosts four yearly conferences. The autumnal Corporate Finance Conference covers topics such as corporate control and capital structures, whereas the two-day Nick Dopuch Accounting Conference focuses on accounting research. Next, the Wealth & Asset Management Research Conference promotes a deeper understanding of capital markets. Lastly, the Organizational Higher Purpose Conference delved into the ways that organization purpose impacts outcomes for individuals and organizations.
Competitions are also a part of the Olin experience. For example, the Skandalaris Venture Competition helps promote innovation and the launch of new business ideas. Lastly, as a part of the focus on experiential learning at Olin, students participate in case competitions to develop cross-functional learning experiences such as the Ivy MBA Mind-to-Market Case Challenge, the KeyBank Case Competition, and the Venture Capital Investment Competition.
Campus Spaces
Interested students are encouraged to visit the Danforth campus to learn more about Olin’s offerings and culture. Simon Hall, as well as the newly constructed Knight and Bauer Halls, comprise the campus buildings. In addition, the Knight Center is home to the school’s executive education program.
Students who do not live in the St. Louis area may contact Quadrangle Housing for information about available apartments. These off-campus apartments are run by an affiliate of Washington University, and some of its spaces are reserved for graduate and professional students. In addition, the Apartment Referral Services can offer help to students seeking housing.
Furthermore, the city of St. Louis itself acts as a draw for many students. The Olin campus is located near St. Louis’s many museums, entertainment venues, and dining establishments. In addition, the experiential learning focus of the degree encourages students to get involved in consulting projects with nonprofits and for-profits in the St. Louis community.
MBA Careers
Career Services
The Washington University’s Center for Career Engagement offers students advising sessions, self-assessment tools, networking opportunities, and resources from its extensive network of alumni. In addition, students can attend company information sessions and job fairs to discover summer internship opportunities at the start of their first semester at Olin. Lastly, the school’s career advisors help students tailor their program coursework, internships, and extracurricular work to support their future careers in the consulting, corporate finance & investments, entrepreneurship, marketing, or operations & supply chain management fields.
In addition, Olin’s alumni base of over 28,000 individuals worldwide can be used for job searching purposes. They are available for networking opportunities and career connections. Furthermore, some alumni participate in the Olin Mentor Program, offering firsthand insight into the real-world workings of many industries.
Career Statistics
Of the 91 graduating members of the Class of 2023, 80% sought employment and 4% started their own businesses. Eighty-six percent reported accepting job offers within 3 months of graduation. Their average base salary landed at $132,700 and the average signing bonus at $26,800. Technology topped the list of industry choice, as 29% chose the field. Consulting followed at 24%. Eleven percent pursued manufacturing and eight percent joined finance/insurance.
Forty-six percent of the Olin MBA Class of 2023 settled in the Midwest, while 14% relocated to the West. Nineteen percent headed to the Southwestern U.S. and 4% to the South. Twelve percent landed in the Northeast region and five percent in the Mid-Atlantic.
Financing
For the full-time MBA, estimated tuition and fees total $145,893, beginning with the 2024-2025 academic year and assuming graduation in May 2026. Tuition costs $34,100 per semester for the 2024-2025 academic year and an estimated $35,464 for the 2025-2026 academic year. Financial aid is available for many students. First, scholarships and fellowships that may cover up to the full cost of tuition are awarded to select candidates. Full tuition may also be provided by the Consortium for Graduate Study Management as well as the McDonnell International Scholars Academy. Additional aid may be provided by the Forte Foundation, Reaching Out Fellowship, and the Milford and Leona Bohm Scholarship. In addition, partial to full tuition waivers are available for persons who served in the U.S. Armed Forces.
Lastly, students may qualify for federal Stafford Loan or a Graduate PLUS Loan. Eligibility is determined by students’ FAFSA information. In addition, private loans may also be available for graduate business students from banks.
Estimated Cost of Attendance (2024–2026)
- Tuition 2024-2026: $139,128
- Program Fee: $4,500
- Health & Wellness Fee: $1,615
- Student Gov’t Fee: $650
- Total for two years: $161,669
Recent News
Contact
Mailing Address:
Washington University in St. Louis
Olin Business School
Graduate Program Admissions Office
Knight Hall
One Brookings Drive
St. Louis, MO 63130-4899
Phone: (314) 935-7301 or US toll-free (888) 622-5115
Fax: (314) 935-4464
Admissions email: [email protected]
Web: https://olin.wustl.edu/
Blog: http://olinblog.wustl.edu/
X (Twitter): @washuolin