Meet MIT Sloan’s MBA Class Of 2026

BUSINESS SCHOOL CLOSELY TIED TO THE LARGER UNIVERSITY

That energy carries over MIT itself, a brand that conjures up images of marathon study sessions, technological breakthroughs, and excellence in Engineering, Computer Science, Biological Sciences, and Economics. Historically, MIT faculty, researchers, and alumni have been the driving forces behind game-changers like penicillin, radar, prosthetics, robotics, and spreadsheets. As a whole, MIT Sloan can tap into a university-wide network of 147,000 alumni, including 31,000 Sloan graduates. Make no mistake: the business school is closely intertwined with the larger university. Jane MacGillivray points out that Sloan MBAs can take coursea outside the business school at MIT (or Harvard). Better still, non-business students also flock to Sloan for coursework, enabling MBAs to deepen their network beyond classmates.

Overall, Sloan’s cross-disciplinary approach gives students an advantage, whether they want to build a venture or tackle the most complex challenges facing leading companies. For ’24 alum Stefan Sayre, it was MIT’s tech- and science-infused curriculum – and the students it attracted – that made all the difference.

“One of my favorite classes has been the Global Business of Quantum Computing taught by William Oliver, a world-leading expert in quantum computing. We even toured his lab and saw a working quantum computer. Other classmates have taken advantage of MIT’s scientific prowess by using MIT’s entrepreneurial ecosystem to meet graduate scientists and co-found technical startups (e.g., Active Surfaces). I knew my classmates would be intelligent, but they’ve helped stretch me in ways I couldn’t have imagined when applying to Sloan.”

A CLASS PROFILE

MBA applicants bought into this premise during the 2023-2024 application cycle. Sloan enjoyed a 16% surge in applications during this period, ultimately booking a 433-member class, up 24 students from the previous year. Along the way, Sloan maintained a daunting 14% acceptance rate, making it one of the most selective graduate business programs in the world.

As a whole, the Class of 2026 hails from 53 countries, with international students accounting for a 40% share of the class. Sloan also achieved near gender parity, as women make up 49% of the class. That said, the percentage of underrepresented minorities was nearly sliced in half from 28% to 15% over the previous year.

This year, the median GMAT came in at 730, up a point from the Class of 2025. Scores also ranged from 690-760 in the mid-80% range. 39% of the class also submitted GRE scores, which ran from 159-170 (Quant) and 157-168 (Verbal), again in the mid-80% range. As undergraduates, the class averaged a 3.7 GPA, up nearly a tenth of a point from the previous year.

Academically, 29% of the class majored in Engineering fields – the highest percentage in the class. However, the percentage of Business majors also climbed from 16% to 22% over the past year. Economics and Computer Science majors hold 15% and 9% shares of the class respectively, followed by Math & Sciences (8%), Social Sciences (6%), and Humanities (4%). Professionally, the percentage of Consultants and Financial Services professionals each increased by four points over the previous class, hitting 30% and 21% respectively. Another 20% of the class last worked in Technology, followed by Government and Education (10%), Healthcare (6%), and Consumer Products (5%).

A STARTUP HUB

In terms of rankings, MIT Sloan produced one of its best years ever. The school ranked 6th globally with The Financial Times, including a 9.4 (on a 10-point scale) Satisfaction Rating (and the 12th-highest Alumni Quality score in a survey of students and alumni). In the America-centric U.S. News and Bloomberg Businessweek rankings, Sloan placed 5th and 10th respectively. Globally, Sloan finished 4th and 5th with QS and LinkedIn respectively. When top executives were surveyed about the world’s best graduate business programs by CEOWorld, Sloan ranked 4th. In terms of faculty research breadth and quality, Sloan posted the 7th-highest index score according to the University of Texas at Dallas’ annual ranking.

One reason for MIT Sloan’s high placement in this year’s rankings: All-around excellence in programming. In a 2024 U.S. News survey of business school deans and MBA directors, Sloan ranked as the top MBA program for Business Analytics, Project Management, Information Systems, and Production. It also finished 2nd for Supply Chain, 4th for Non-Profit, 4th for Real Estate, and 6th for Finance. Most telling, education leaders pegged Sloan at 3rd for Entrepreneurship. In this area, the Martin Trust Center for MIT Entrepreneurship serves as the cornerstone. Picture over 60 courses devoted to entrepreneurship and innovation. It also boasts spaces for prototyping and scaling; support and expertise in areas ranging from financing to patenting; leadership and industry experience through student clubs, funds, labs, and competitions; and access to distinguished alumni, entrepreneurs-in-residence, advisors, and investors. The Center is also home to the MIT delta v accelerator, which Eliza Weaver says stood out for its “extensive programming, support and connections.”

“I spoke with a Sloan delta v alumnus who founded Livvi, a company that matches women with female friend groups,” Weaver continues. During delta v, Livvi was matched with a mock board that included a former member of Bumble’s board—a connection that would have been nearly impossible without MIT’s network. Additionally, attending a school with a strong entrepreneurship community is crucial to me, as entrepreneurship can often be a solitary journey. The statistic that “55% of CEOs in the 2022 delta v cohort were female” speaks volumes about the support MIT offers to female entrepreneurs.”

Jarrett Heflin has described Sloan as the “laboratory for the next generation of ideas.” That didn’t happen by accident, as the school has invested heavily in building its entrepreneurial infrastructure to build off MIT’s talent and resources, says Natalie Madden.

“Sloan’s top-tier entrepreneurship resources – including the Martin Trust Center, the entrepreneurial curriculum, the E&I Certificate, and access to funding through the MIT Sandbox Innovation Fund and MIT $100K Entrepreneurship Competition – make it the ideal place for launching a venture, which I aspire to do. Additionally, MIT’s unmatched alumni network, contributing $2 trillion in annual revenue, exemplifies the strong entrepreneurial support system at MIT.”

MIT Sloan Exterior. (Photo courtesy of MIT Sloan)

LEARNING BY DOING

Entrepreneurship is also a popular subject in MIT Sloan’s Action Learning Labs. Grounded in Sloan’s hands-on learning approach, the labs provide student teams with an outlet to apply the models and methodologies they’ve learned to client projects in a range of disciplines and regions. This year, Sloan boasts 17 Action Learning Labs, covering areas as different as Analytics, Finance, Generative AI, Healthcare, Product Management, Real Estate, and Sustainable Business (while also providing Labs geared towards doing business in Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and the United States).

In the past, for example, Sloan MBAs have helped Mitsubishi develop a marketing plan for an AI-powered medical device and helped Bain & Company clients to find ways to apply AI in various areas to generate a ROI. Lili Wondwossen, a 2024 alum, completed the Global Entrepreneurship Lab, known as G-Lab. She describes the required course as way for students to make “a tangible impact” while gaining real world experience.

“Our team had the privilege of collaborating with Hijos de Rivera Brewery in A Coruna, Spain, for an entire month. During this time, we conducted a comprehensive consumer behavior analysis by leveraging five distinct data sources, including customer surveys, website analytics, social media data, and e-commerce purchase histories. By synthesizing these insights, we were able to deliver eight actionable recommendations for the company’s three- and five-year planning. Our team also developed innovative strategies to help the company BIGCRAFTERS increase market share, retain customers, optimize pricing, and enhance brand visibility.”

Among the Class of 2026, Eliza Weaver is looking forward to the Action Learning Labs, particularly G-Lab. “G-Lab offers a unique experience to solve real-world problems for companies across the globe in emerging and frontier markets. I’m fascinated and impressed by the problems Sloan students have solved for businesses in Indonesia, Kenya, and beyond. As a future business leader, the opportunity to connect and experiment with experienced business leaders is invaluable. The chance to work directly with companies in different countries is a rare opportunity that I am unlikely to encounter outside of Sloan.”

SETTING ASIDE TIME FOR WHAT MATTERS

Another Sloan difference is the structure of its program. That starts with Sloan Intensive Periods – or SIPS. Every semester, at mid-term, MBAs take a week-long breather. Here, students complete workshops on issues ranging from developing soft skills to mastering R and Sequel programming. In January, Sloan MBAs also take part in an Independent Activities Program (IAP). Call it a month that students can devote to their passions. Some spend their time building their startups, while others take part in micro-internships. Of course, you’ll find students conducting research in their areas of interest or even taking treks to learn about regional or industry best practices. This flexibility extends to the core curriculum, which students finish in the first semester – giving them three semesters to pursue electives.

Looking to hone your leadership skills? Sloan offers the MIT Leadership Center, replete with coursework and coaching for students gain greater confidence and self-awareness. Hoping to get an edge in analytics? The school hosts the MIT Sloan Sports Analytics Conference, an event that drew over 100 speakers in 2024, including the CEO of FanDuel and the General Manager of the NFL’s Houston Texans. Indeed, there is star power aplenty in the Sloan classrooms, say alumni. Stefan Sayre recalls his Corporation at the Crossroads course, which attracted guests like Jeff Zucker (former President of CNN) and Sue Desmond-Hellman (former CEO of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation). Such speakers weren’t anomalies, Sayre continues.

“Among numerous unforgettable experiences, my key highlights were insightful discussions with top venture capitalists Julie Yoo from a16z and Bilal Zuberi from Lux Capital during the MIT Sloan VC Trek in Silicon Valley; a conversation with Jeff Wilke, an LGO alum and former CEO of Amazon’s Worldwide Consumer Business); and special access to iconic sporting venues, including Real Madrid’s Santiago Bernabeu Stadium, during a study tour on sports and entertainment in the UK and Spain.”

AN INTERVIEW WITH SLOAN LEADERSHIP

Earlier this fall, P&Q reached out to MIT Sloan administrators to learn about upcoming developments at the school, along with learning more about learning about new faculty and courses. As part of these discussions, P&Q heard from the following members of the Sloan leadership team:

Kelly Nixon, Senior Associate Director of the MBA and MSMS Programs at MIT Sloan

Michelle Hanlon, Deputy Dean of Faculty at MIT Sloan

Susan Brennan, Assistant Dean of Career Development at MIT Sloan

P&Q: What have been the two most important developments in your MBA program over the past year? What type of impact will they have on current and future MBAs?

Nixon: “MBA Fall Core classes at MIT Sloan will integrate AI into both content and pedagogy. To prepare students for these changes, Professor Eric So has created AI Foundations for MBAs. This workshop will prepare students to take full advantage of using AI tools for productivity, selecting between AI tools for analysis, and gaining a comprehensive understanding of ethical considerations surrounding the use of AI.  Complementary to this is MIT Sloan’s AI Resource Hub, an ever-growing collection of resources to unlock AI’s potential for enhancing teaching and learning.

MIT Sloan now offers a portfolio of seven certificates, which give students a choice to tailor their elective curriculum towards specific academic and career goals. These optional credentials are particularly valuable to career changers, who make up a large percentage of each incoming MBA class. They provide a formal signal to the job market regarding a student’s chosen area of focus and create networking opportunities between students with similar professional interests. Certificates also offer dedicated co-curricular programming, skill building, and other topical events and activities. Students can currently pursue certificates in the following areas:

• Business Analytics 

• Product Management 

• Enterprise Management 

• Entrepreneurship & Innovation 

• Finance

• Healthcare 

• Sustainability

Next Page: Profiles of 10 members of the Class of 2026

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