More Women Getting MBAs But….

B-school Demand from Younger Women

48,134 Women Younger than 25

Nearly half (45.5%) of all the GMAT exams taken by women were by females younger than 25 years of age (48,134 of 105,900) in TY 2010. Women ages 25-30 sat for 42,465 (40.1%) GMAT exams and women 31 and older sat for 15,301 exams (14.4%).

Source: GMAT Examinee Data, TY 2010

Female Average Age = 26.2

• • The average age of a female GMAT examinee is 26.2, slightly younger than male examinees with an average age of 27.6.
• • The age difference is more pronounced for non-US citizens. The average age of female non-US citizen test takers is 25.7, compared with 27.6 for males.

Source: GMAT Examinee Data, TY 2010

3.5 Years = Faster Timeline on Route to B-school (about a year shorter than men)

Prospective female B-school students reported a shorter average time at each of the three decision-making stages on the route to B-school than their male counterparts in the calendar year 2010. On average, women spent a combined 42.7 months, or 3.5 years, in the following three stages, compared with the 58.3 months, or more than 4.8 years, for males.

− Stage 1 (pre-contemplation): On average, women took 20.6 months from completion of first degree to first consideration of graduate management education (versus 32.4 months for men);

− Stage 2 (contemplation): 17.1 months on average for women from consideration to registering on mba.com (versus 20.3 months for men);

− Stage 3 (preparation): 4.0 months on average for women from registering on mba.com to sitting for the GMAT exam (versus 4.2 months for men);

− Stage 4 (action): 1.0 months from the GMAT exam to submitting their first application (versus 1.4 months for men).

Source: GMAC mba.com Perspective Students Survey, 2011

Application Behavior

Women (46%) were slightly more likely than men (44%) to have submitted an application within three months of registration on the mba.com website. MORE women than men consider B-school even while they are in undergraduate studies. The majority of women (and men) however consider B-school after they complete their first university degree.

Source: GMAC mba.com Perspective Students Survey Report, 2011

MBA & Other Intended Business Degrees

59,399 Women Intended to Pursue MBA in TY 2010

The number of female examinees intending to pursue an MBA, or Master of Business Administration, in TY 2010 was 59,399 (56% of all female examinees). Note: GMAT examinees responding to this question may select only one degree type.

Source: GMAC Profile of Graduate Management Admission Test Candidates, 2006-2010