Wharton has released the application timeline for the 2026-27 MBA admissions cycle, with candidates applying for the MBA Class of 2029, beginning in Fall 2027. The application cycle includes three regular rounds and a deferred admission round for eligible candidates.
The latest available Wharton MBA class profile is that of the Class of 2027, which consists of 888 enrolled students. Wharton received 7,613 applications for this class.
This article covers important details about the Wharton MBA 2027 admissions cycle, including GMAT and GRE scores, admission requirements, class profile, acceptance-rate context, tuition and overall cost, fellowships, deadlines, and post-MBA career outcomes.
What GMAT Score Do You Need for Wharton MBA?
Wharton does not require a minimum GMAT or GRE score for MBA applicants and does not have a preference between the two exams. For the Class of 2027, the average current GMAT score was 676, while the average legacy GMAT score was 735.
Since these scores come from different scoring systems, they should not be directly compared.
Test | Wharton Class of 2027 Average |
Current GMAT / GMAT Focus | 676 |
Legacy / Classic GMAT | 735 |
GRE Quantitative | 163 |
GRE Verbal | 162 |
A score of 676 on the current GMAT is not an admission cutoff. Wharton explicitly states that there is no minimum GMAT or GRE score requirement. Test scores are evaluated along with other parts of the application, including academic background, professional experience, leadership potential and essays.
Applicants can submit either GMAT or GRE scores. Both exams are accepted through test-centre and online/home testing formats.
Therefore, applicants should not rely on an unofficial "safe GMAT score." A score around the class average can provide useful context for academic competitiveness, but Wharton does not publish any score that guarantees admission.
If you are preparing for the GMAT and want to evaluate your current performance level, a Free GMAT Mock Test can help you benchmark your preparation and identify areas that require improvement.
What Are the Wharton MBA Admission Requirements?
Wharton does not evaluate candidates based on a single numerical cutoff. Applications are reviewed holistically, with the admissions committee considering a candidate’s ability to perform and contribute in the classroom, Wharton community and post-MBA career.
Requirement | Wharton MBA Requirement |
Academic qualification | Undergraduate degree from an accredited institution or equivalent |
Work experience | No minimum or maximum requirement |
Average work experience, Class of 2027 | 5 years |
GMAT/GRE | One score required |
Minimum GMAT/GRE | No published minimum |
Resume | Required; one page expected |
Academic transcripts | Required |
Essays | Required |
Recommendations | 1 |
Application fee | $275 |
English-language test | Required where applicable |
Interview | Invitation only |
Interview format | Team-Based Discussion + individual interview |
Academic and Work Experience Requirements
Applicants should have an undergraduate degree from an accredited institution or an equivalent international qualification. Wharton does not require a minimum or maximum amount of work experience, although students in the Class of 2027 had an average of five years of professional experience.
Applicants must submit either GMAT or GRE scores, although Wharton does not specify a minimum score requirement.
The application also requires a resume, academic transcripts, essays and one recommendation.
The first step to increase your chances of getting into Wharton for an MBA is to have a good GMAT score, and the best way to do so is by using courses designed by experts and top scorers.
Check Out: GMAT Courses by 100 Percentiler
Wharton MBA Essays
For the 2026-27 admissions cycle, applicants are required to discuss their career goals and their ability to contribute to the Wharton community.
The application prompts include:
- Immediate post-MBA goal: 50 words
- Medium- and long-term professional goals: 150 words
- Contribution to the Wharton community: 350 words
Reapplicants must also submit a 250-word reapplicant essay. Applicants may additionally submit a 500-word additional information essay if they need/want to provide further context.
Wharton MBA Recommendation
Wharton requires one recommendation letter as part of the MBA application. Ideally, the recommender should be someone who knows the applicant’s professional performance well, such as a current or former supervisor.
Requirements for International Applicants
Applicants may need to submit proof of English proficiency if their previous institution did not use English as the sole language of instruction.
Wharton accepts:
- TOEFL iBT
- IELTS
- PTE
- Duolingo English Test
Applicants who completed their degree at an institution where English was the sole language of instruction may be eligible for an exemption from this requirement.
Wharton MBA Interview
Wharton’s interview process is invitation-only.
The process begins with a 35-minute virtual Team-Based Discussion (TBD) involving approximately five to six MBA applicants, followed by a 10-minute one-on-one interview.
The Team-Based Discussion helps the admissions committee evaluate how candidates communicate, collaborate, make decisions, demonstrate leadership and work in a team environment. The individual interview allows applicants to discuss their experiences, goals and motivations.
Wharton MBA Class Profile and Acceptance Rate
The latest Wharton MBA class profile is that of the Class of 2027, which consists of 888 enrolled students. Wharton received 7,613 applications for this class.
Metric | Wharton Class of 2027 |
Applications | 7,613 |
Students enrolled | 888 |
Women | 44% |
International students | 26% |
Countries represented | 68 |
LGBTQ+ | 12% |
First-generation students | 11% |
Military | 6% |
Average GPA* | 3.7 |
Average work experience | 5 years |
Current GMAT average | 676 |
Legacy GMAT average | 735 |
GRE Quant average | 163 |
GRE Verbal average | 162 |
*Average GPA includes students from universities using a 4.0 GPA system.
Undergraduate Academic Background
Wharton’s Class of 2027 includes students from a diverse range of academic disciplines:
Undergraduate Field | Share |
Humanities | 36% |
STEM | 32% |
Business | 32% |
This distribution shows that an undergraduate business degree is not required for admission to the Wharton MBA program. Candidates from humanities, STEM and other academic backgrounds are represented in the class.
Acceptance Rate
Wharton does not officially publish the acceptance rate for the Class of 2027.
The school received 7,613 applications and enrolled 888 students, but enrolled students are not the same as admitted students. Since Wharton does not disclose the number of admission offers made, these figures cannot be used to calculate the actual acceptance rate.
Therefore, applicants should evaluate competitiveness using the overall class profile rather than relying on unofficial acceptance-rate estimates.
How Much Does the Wharton MBA Cost?
Wharton’s MBA program has an estimated annual cost of attendance of $135,441, which includes tuition, university fees and living expenses. The total tuition and fees amount to $93,008, while Wharton estimates living expenses at $42,433.
Category | Annual Expense |
Tuition | $87,970 |
University fees | $5,038 |
Total tuition & fees | $93,008 |
Housing | $21,258 |
Food | $9,287 |
Books & supplies | $1,123 |
Transportation | $1,044 |
Personal expenses | $4,703 |
Health insurance | $5,018 |
Total living expenses | $42,433 |
Annual MBA cost | $135,441 |
The costs mentioned above refer to Wharton’s yearly cost of attendance estimate and include more than just tuition. The actual expenses may vary depending on individual lifestyle choices and other personal factors.
Wharton also notes that its cost-of-attendance estimate does not include certain extracurricular expenses, such as club fees, networking events and student travel.
Wharton MBA Fellowships
All admitted MBA students are automatically considered for Wharton Fellowship support, meaning applicants do not need to submit a separate fellowship application.
Wharton’s Fellowship Committee considers factors including:
- Personal background
- Academic achievement
- Professional accomplishments
- Community involvement
Wharton states that its Fellowship Committee does not provide need-based fellowships. Fellowship decisions are communicated along with admission and financial-aid decisions.
Since fellowship support can reduce the overall cost of attendance, applicants should consider both the published cost of attendance and any potential fellowship support while evaluating the total cost of the Wharton MBA.
When Are the Wharton MBA Application Deadlines for 2027?
Wharton has released the application timeline for the 2026-27 MBA admissions cycle, which leads to admission into the MBA Class of 2029 beginning in Fall 2027.
Candidates can apply through three regular rounds or through the Deferred Admission program.
Round | Application Deadline | Interview Invitations | Decision | Deposit Deadline |
Round 1 | September 8, 2026 | October 28, 2026 | December 17, 2026 | February 5, 2027 |
Round 2 | January 5, 2027 | February 19, 2027 | March 31, 2027 | April 29, 2027 |
Round 3 | March 31, 2027 | April 16, 2027 | May 11, 2027 | June 2, 2027 |
Deferred Admissions | April 21, 2027 | May 26, 2027 | July 1, 2027 | July 30, 2027 |
Wharton recommends applying in Round 1 or Round 2, as class availability becomes more limited later in the admission cycle. International applicants who require a US student visa are also encouraged to apply earlier.
The Deferred Admission deadline is separate from the regular MBA deadlines and is designed for candidates who are still in college or have limited full-time work experience.
If you’re confused as to which round to apply for, a good metric that can help decide is your GMAT score. And a way to get an estimate of your current score level, a Free GMAT Mock Test can help!
What Is the Average Salary After a Wharton MBA?
Wharton’s 2025 MBA Career Report shows strong employment outcomes for the Class of 2025. Among the 608 graduates seeking employment, 550 received job offers and 529 accepted jobs.
Wharton reports a median base salary of $185,000 for graduates. This figure represents the median base salary and should not be confused with an average salary or total compensation figure.
Employment Outcomes
Metric | Wharton Class of 2025 |
Total students | 879 |
Students seeking employment | 608 |
Share seeking employment | 69.2% |
Students reporting job offers | 550 |
Job-offer rate among seekers | 90.5% |
Students reporting job acceptances | 529 |
Job-acceptance rate among seekers | 87.0% |
Compensation
Compensation Metric | Class of 2025 |
25th percentile base salary | $165,000 |
Median base salary | $185,000 |
75th percentile base salary | $192,000 |
Median sign-on bonus | $30,000 |
Median guaranteed bonus | $25,357 |
The median sign-on bonus and guaranteed bonus figures apply to the relevant graduates receiving or reporting those forms of compensation. They should not simply be added to the median base salary to calculate a universal total compensation figure.
Employment by Industry
Industry | Share of Accepted Jobs | Median Base Salary |
Financial Services | 38.2% | $175,000 |
Consulting | 28.2% | $190,000 |
Technology | 15.3% | $164,250 |
Health Care | 3.8% | $155,000 |
Legal & Professional Services | 2.5% | $235,000 |
Retail | 2.1% | $162,500 |
Real Estate | 1.9% | $150,000 |
Financial Services, Consulting and Technology were the largest employment destinations for Wharton MBA graduates.
Among accepted jobs:
- United States: 94%
- International: 6%
The median salary for US placements was $185,000, while international placements reported a median salary of $135,000.
The Career Report also shows that the Northeast was the largest US employment destination, accounting for 54.5% of placements, followed by the West at 19.2%.
Conclusion
The Wharton MBA remains one of the most competitive MBA programs globally. Applicants should evaluate their profile against the overall class profile rather than treating the current GMAT average of 676 as an admission cutoff.
With an estimated two-year cost of attendance exceeding $270,000, the Wharton MBA requires significant financial planning. However, strong career outcomes across financial services, consulting and technology continue to make it one of the most sought-after MBA programs.
Wharton has also announced the complete application timeline for candidates targeting the Fall 2027 MBA intake, allowing applicants to plan their preparation and application strategy well in advance.
