Meet Northwestern Kellogg’s MBA Class Of 2026

THE CITY OF BROAD SHOULDERS MEETS HEAVEN-STON

And the Class of 2026 can do this from the comfort of the Global Hub, a 415,000 square foot game-changer along the banks of Lake Michigan (including one side featuring a glorious view of the Chicago Skyline). Picture extensive open space, including a three-story atrium plaza and a fourth-story piazza to bring together faculty. There is a 300-person auditorium, flexible classrooms, outdoor terraces, student lounges with fireplaces, design and maker spaces, and even a fully-stocked fitness center. In other words, Kellogg students rarely need to go outside for anything.

That all comes in handy during Chicago winters. Beyond that, the Windy City is the place to be nine months of the year. Alum Dorian Allen raves about Kellogg being walking distance from beaches – and the swimming, volleyball, and sailing that come with them. In fact, the class has made good use of Chicago’s amenities earlier in the year. Yumi Daniela Rivas Quintero notes that she joined her classmates for a Cubs game, a musical festival, and even a day of boating. In fact, the city is just 30 minutes away from Evanston by train – and that makes for easier access to part-time internships and junior board positions, Rivas Quintero adds.

Indeed, Chicago means business. The city ranks just behind New York City and Houston with 15 Fortune 500 companies, including McDonald’s, United Airlines, and Kraft Heinz. That doesn’t count O’Hare International Airport, home to nearly 1,100 flights to 225 global destinations daily, making it easy for MBAs to head anywhere at any time. The city is also an emerging startup hub, with GrubHub and Avant being its most recent success stories.

“When I was applying to MBA programs, I really wanted to live in or near a large city,” says Joseph Rodriguez. “I wanted to be close to employers, diverse communities, and great food. Chicago has all those things and more and Evanston is only a short commute away. At Kellogg you have access to top employers, a lot of them with headquarters or major offices in the city. You can grab coffee or attend club events in Chicago and still have the tight-knit community in Evanston.”

That said, Evanston is a huge selling point for MBAs too. Evanston is home to the usual eclectic shops, pizza joints, and music venues – slower and more serene than most college towns. Even more, the Chicago-Evanston connection offers a ‘best of both worlds’ setting where students can hit Chi-Town for fun and opportunities and return to Heaven-ston to power down and focus.

“I am a huge fan of Evanston,” writes alum Elizabeth Willis. “I have said this several times to friends, but I would come back to Evanston one day to settle down with kids as I believe it is the best of all worlds—close to a big city, safe, sits on Lake Michigan and has several beaches and great schools, etc. As a runner, my favorite thing about Evanston is the amount of waterfront running opportunities there are to explore!”

THE MBAi PROGRAM

Beyond culture and location, the Kellogg School’s programming offers a variety of appeals to MBA candidates. Take MBAi, a five-semester program conducted in tandem with Northwestern’s McCormick School of Engineering. The MBAi curriculum combines engineering and information systems fundamentals with soft skill development to help managers better connect technical and business teams. In particular, it shows MBA candidates how to strategically deploy artificial intelligence and machine learning across all areas of an enterprise. Not only does the MBAi program provide hands-on experience through a capstone project, but also embeds time for students to complete an internship. In the process, students are exposed to design principles, systems architecture, AI applications, business ethics, and product management.

“As I researched schools, I prioritized those that would allow me to take engineering and computer science classes alongside business studies,” explains Candela Kechkian. “I Googled “MBA with integrated AI curriculum” and remember how crazy it felt going through the MBAi website because it was like Kellogg had read my mind. Kellogg demonstrates a clear focus on technology, innovation, and product. I have not seen many business programs integrate subjects like programming into electives as Kellogg does (not just for MBAi), for example. This was my first proof of Kellogg’s commitment to creativity, innovation, and market adaptation.”

DESIGN AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP

Another popular option is the MMM Program, a dual Kellogg MBA with an M.S. in Design Innovation through the Segal Design Institute at the McCormick School. A deep dive into design thinking, the program emphasizes areas like human-centered design, market research, artificial intelligence, and team leadership. In addition, students enjoy studio space to prototype their ideas.

“This program really stood out to me as a unique opportunity to gain a blend of skills and experiences that will prepare me to solve all kinds of problems at the intersection of business, technology, and design,” writes Ross Blackwell. “Additionally, the MMM program is a cohort of 70 students that starts in the summer, which creates a really unique opportunity to create a tight-knit community outside of the rest of the MBA class early on in my time at Kellogg.”

Historically, entrepreneurship has been another popular option at Kellogg, with the school pointing out that alumni have raised over $2 billion dollars over the past decade for their ventures. Notably, the school maintains the Zell Fellows program for select student founders. The program provides faculty and practitioner mentorships and coaching, resources such as space and expertise, and opportunities that range from workshops to treks. Kellogg also devotes an academic pathway to entrepreneurship, including an entrepreneurship through acquisition branch. Students can even build their ventures through the university’s Garage innovation space or spend a quarter in the San Francisco Immersion. As a whole, Kellogg offers over two dozen courses focused on entrepreneurship.

“My family and I immigrated to the United States from Venezuela,” shares Yumi Daniela Rivas Quintero. “Seeing how starting a business enabled us to succeed here inspired me to pursue the same path. Kellogg offers an entrepreneurship pathway with classes designed to prepare you for starting a business from the ground up. For example, the New Venture Series provides the opportunity to identify a problem, develop a solution, and launch a business. This program will equip me with the skills necessary to become an entrepreneur, even during my time at Kellogg.”

WELCOME TO THE FAMILY

Of course, The Kellogg School is synonymous with marketing. That’s particularly true in February, when the media cites the school’s Super Bowl Ad Review and ADPLAN framework to evaluate the effectiveness of $7 million dollar, 30-second Super Bowl spots. However, the famed marketing program is far more than conducting consumer research and devising clever campaigns. Instead, it is numbers-driven science, one that borrows heavily from psychology and social science, with the goal of developing strategists.

“I chose Kellogg because it’s always been my dream business school as an aspiring Chief Marketing Officer,” writes ’24 alum Dorian Allen, who ultimately landed a job in strategic insights for JPMorgan Chase. “A common misconception is that marketing means advertising and pretty logos. Kellogg is the renowned business school for marketing because it recognizes that marketing is the cornerstone to a firm’s strategy. Kellogg understands that best-in-class marketers leverage data and cross-functional expertise to deliver value to customers.”

Away from campus, it has been the people who’ve made the early months so special for the Class of 2026. Candela Kechkian looks forward to small group dinners, where classmates open their doors and get to know each other beyond the Global Hub. Ryan Rupel also appreciates how Kellogg welcomes the whole family into the program.

“Kellogg is often lauded as the most family-friendly MBA program, not just for its location in Evanston but for its inclusive community. Significant others, known as Joint Ventures (JVs), are integrated into the school experience by being invited to audit classes, join student clubs, and partake in school trips. Every Friday, students and their JVs mingle at TG (short for TGIF) happy hours at the Kellogg Global Hub, which even offers complimentary childcare. Prioritizing a business school that valued my family was crucial to me, as my family had sacrificed during my military career.”

HIGH ALUMNI SATISFACTION SCORES

In total, the Class of 2026 numbers 524 students, with women making up a 50% share of the class. International students account for a 40% share of the class, alongside U.S. underrepresented minorities (7%), U.S. military veterans (6%), LGBTQ+ students (11%), and first-generation students (10%).

The class averaged a 3.7 undergraduate GPA, with numbers ranging from 2.9 to 4.0. The median GMAT came in at 733, while the median Quant and Verbal GREs hit 163 and 162 respectively. As undergrads, 49% of the class hold degrees in disciplines related to Business and Economics. Another 39% majored in STEM-related fields, followed by the Humanities at 24%. Professionally, nearly a third of the class – 32% – last worked in Consulting. The Finance and Technology sectors each represent an 18% share of the class, followed by Healthcare (7%), Media & Entertainment (5%), and Consumer Products (5%).

Earlier this year, Kellogg averaged a 9.32 satisfaction score on a 10-point scale with alumni surveyed by The Financial Times – a sign that Kellogg delivered on its promises. In the same survey, alumni earned the 7th-best score, with career services coming in 12th. Those high marks are validated on similar surveys covering Kellogg’s quality of programming and students. When U.S. News surveyed business school deans and MBA directors last winter, Kellogg generated the highest score for its Marketing programming, along with finishing 5th for Management and 8th for Non-Profit. When The Princeton Review surveyed MBA students and alumni about their alma maters, Kellogg posted the 2nd-highest scores for being Family Friendly and 3rd-best for Classroom Experience, while ranking Top 10 for the quality of its Professors, Administration, and Campus Environment. These same survey respondents gave Kellogg the highest score for its Management curriculum (and 4th-best scores for Marketing).

Indeed, the Kellogg School ranked highly across the board, including U.S. News (3rd), Bloomberg Businessweek (3rd), Fortune (3rd), Financial Times (6th), LinkedIn (7th), and CEOWorld (10th). Earlier this month, the school finished 2nd in P&Q’s Executive MBA Ranking.

While Kellogg has been dubbed a “marketing school”, it is really a leadership accelerator. Look no further than the Fortune 1000, where you’ll find 73 alumni in the c-suite – second only to Harvard Business School according to Fortune.

AN INTERVIW WITH THE ASSISTANT DEAN

What is Kellogg doing for an encore. This fall, P&Q reached out to Emily Haydon, Assistant Dean for Admissions and Financial Aid. Here are her thoughts on the Kellogg difference, along with new information on upcoming developments and new courses and faculty at the school.

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?

Haydon: “This year, two significant developments have taken center stage at Kellogg: the announcement of the Advanced Private Equity Experience (APEX) program and the launch of the Certificate in the Business of Healthcare. Both these initiatives reflect Kellogg’s commitment to delivering innovative, industry-relevant education that empowers students to excel in their careers.

Advanced Private Equity Experience (APEX): The APEX program is a groundbreaking addition tailored for select One-Year and Two-Year full-time MBA students aspiring to lead in the private equity (PE) sector. The program features one-on-one mentorship from seasoned private equity alumni, an accelerated curriculum and academic guidance from Kellogg faculty. APEX not only bridges the gap between theory and practice, but also equips students with the knowledge, networks, and skills essential for thriving in a highly competitive field. By fostering close connections with industry leaders, APEX positions Kellogg students to become the next generation of PE trailblazers.

Certificate in the Business of Healthcare: The new Certificate in the Business of Healthcare offers a comprehensive credential for full-time and part-time MBA students seeking leadership roles in the healthcare sector. Building on Kellogg’s longstanding expertise in healthcare education, the certificate provides students with a foundational understanding of the entire healthcare ecosystem, along with the flexibility to tailor their coursework to align with specific career goals. The program includes a core course in Healthcare Strategy, which can be taken in a traditional format or through an immersive “Deep Dive” experience, as well as elective courses covering topics such as healthcare economics, digital innovation, and biopharmaceuticals. Students also participate in experiential learning opportunities, gaining real-world insights into the complexities of the healthcare industry. The certificate not only prepares students for the fast-evolving healthcare landscape, but also enhances their marketability by equipping them with in-demand skills and a distinct point of view.

These developments are more than just new offerings; they represent a strategic evolution in how Kellogg prepares its students for the challenges and opportunities of today’s business world.”

Next Page: Interview Continued and Profiles of 11 Kellogg MBA Candidates.