Guide to Columbia Business School

The Columbia Business School at Columbia University offers these departments and concentrations: accounting, consulting, economics, entrepreneurship, finance, general management, health care administration, international business, leadership, marketing, not-for-profit management, production/operations management, portfolio management, real estate, quantitative analysis/statistics and operations research, and technology.

During the course of the MBA, students will gain firsthand insights into their faculty member’s transformative research and a behind-the-scenes perspective from their extensive industry experience. With this knowledge in hand, students and their learning teams will be able to work to develop innovative solutions to real-world business problems.

An MBA from Columbia Business School, will multiply the career prospects of a graduate exponentially. Students can kickstart the transformation of their professional life with a visit to the Career Management Center. The CMC serves to connect students to various opportunities, from internships to full-time employment, and provide guidance throughout the cycles of their careers.

Columbia Business School students may enroll into the MBA in either January or August. The two paths, each comprised of four terms, merge in the fall of the second year to complete electives as a single class.The paths are identical in terms of competitiveness of admissions, academic rigor, and student resources, differing only in terms of timing and the opportunity to complete a summer internship.

Tuition costs are $71,544 per year with the Financial Aid Office providing multiple opportunities to help students finance their MBA. CBS MBA 2019 graduates made history by securing the highest-ever median base salary of US$150,000.

All admitted students are required to submit two nonrefundable tuition deposits to secure their place in the class after admission. The first deposit of US$6,000 must be submitted within two weeks of admission. The submission date of the second deposit of US$1,000 will depend on the intake the student has enrolled into (January or August).

August 2023 Entry Deadline: April 5, 2023
Application Fee: $250

Acceptance rate (full-time): 18.6%
Average age of new entrants: 28
Required standardised test: GMAT/GRE
Average GMAT score: 729 | Average GRE Score (Verbal/Quant/Writing): Undisclosed | Average Undergraduate GPA Score: 3.5
Require work experience: Yes | Average work experience: 5 years

• Season: 2021
• Number of Essays: 3, plus 1 short answer question
• Submission Deadline: Same as application deadline

Essay Topics
Short Answer Question – What is your immediate post-MBA professional goal? (50 characters maximum)
Essay 1 –Through your resume and recommendations, we have a clear sense of your professional path to date. What are your career goals over the next 3-5 years and what, in your imagination, would be your long-term dream job? (500 words)
 Remaining Two Essays: You may choose two from the following three topics,

1. The Phillips Pathway for Inclusive Leadership (PPIL) is a new co-curricular program designed to ensure that every CBS student develops the skills to become an ethical and inclusive leader. Through PPIL, students attend programming focused on five essential diversity, equity, and inclusion skills: Creating an Inclusive Environment, Mitigating Bias, Communicating Across Identities, Addressing Systemic Inequity, and Managing Difficult Conversations. Tell us about a time you were challenged around one of these five skills.  Describe the situation, the actions you took, and the outcome. (250 words)
2. Why do you feel Columbia Business School is a good fit for you? (250 words)
3. Tell us about your favorite book, movie, or song and why it resonates with you. (250 words)

Optional Essay: Is there any further information that you wish to provide the Admissions Committee? If so, use this space to provide an explanation of any areas of concern in your academic record or your personal history. This does not need to be a formal essay. You may submit bullet points. (Maximum 500 words)
Deferred Enrollment Essays
Question 1: Why are you interested in obtaining a Columbia MBA in the future? (300 words maximum)
Question 2: Who is a leader you admire, and why? (300 words maximum)

• Season: 2021
• Number of Recommendations: One for first-timers, two for reapplicants

Recommender Requirement: Recommendation from your direct supervisor is mandatory. If you are unable to procure the same, then you need to mention the reason before submitting a recommendation from your former supervisor, associate, or senior. Reapplicants should consider two recommendations, one from a direct supervisor and another from an associate or a senior.

Recommendation Questions: Limit is 1000 words for each recommendation.
Full-Time Program – How do the candidate’s performance, potential, background, or personal qualities compare to those of other well-qualified individuals in similar roles? Please provide specific examples. Please describe the most important piece of constructive feedback you have given the applicant. Please detail the circumstances and the applicant’s response.
 Deferred Enrollment Program – Please share how you feel the applicant will contribute to the Columbia Business School classroom and community.