Meet MIT Sloan’s MBA Class Of 2027

ACTION LEARNING LABS: BRINGING MENS ET MANUS TO LIFE

Through Action Learning Labs, Sloan students gain precious experience in problem-solving and teamwork, while also building networks within top companies. Among the MBA Class of 2027, the Sustainability Business Lab (S-Lab) ranks among the most popular Action Learning Labs.

“It bridges academic rigor with real-world impact, turning sustainability challenges into viable business opportunities,” writes Isabelle Callaghan. “This aligns with my belief that enterprises can be powerful engines for climate action. I’m particularly drawn to its interdisciplinary, action-learning model, where MBAs collaborate with peers from engineering, policy, and science backgrounds.”

Claudia Mezey is equally smitten with the Operations Lab (Ops-Lab) led by Thomas Roemer. “I had the pleasure of attending a few of his case-based lectures this summer, focused on technology players in China. In his lab, students are paired with client companies facing operational challenges. I’m interested in decarbonizing materials in manufacturing businesses, a transformation with numerous operational implications (e.g., plant retrofits, supplier network redesigns.) Dr. Roemer’s lab presents an excellent opportunity to develop strong observational skills and practice crafting operational initiatives—all while being accountable to a client.”

True to the spirit of Sloan, the Entrepreneurship Lab (E-Lab) will attract many members of the first-year too. “It offers a unique, hands-on opportunity to work directly with early-stage ventures,” writes Connor Grigg. “With a background in and inclination towards small businesses, I’m eager to hone my understanding of how real-world challenges are navigated in small, fast-moving business environments. Entrepreneurship Lab will give me the chance to deepen that understanding by contributing meaningfully to a startup team while learning from their day-to-day realities.”

AN ENTREPRENEURIAL HUB

Central to MIT Sloan’s entrepreneurial programming is the Martin Trust Center for MIT Entrepreneurship. Led by the legendary Bill Aulet, the center offers more than mentorship and financing. It includes over 60 entrepreneurship and innovation courses, along with over 80,000 square feet devoted to conference rooms, makerspaces, co-working tables, and private “phone booth” offices. It also houses the MIT delta v, a three-month accelerator also with sponsoring events like the MIT 100K Entrepreneurship Competition and various hackathons. At the same time, the center holds industry-specific events in areas ranging from healthcare to EdTech to help students build expertise and networks. You’ll even find a law clinic at Martin Trust, to help student founders navigate the intricacies of intellectual property and investor contracts.

More than that, the Martin Trust Center is the central hub of entrepreneurship at MIT, bringing together “engineers, scientists, designers,” and thinkers” from across campus – and even the world, says Sreelakshmi Sandeep. It also accentuates the purpose of the Sloan School: providing a path for the best minds to commercialize the ideas that matter – a helping hand that turns ideas into testable prototypes and theories into scalable ventures. It is an atmosphere that brings out the best in prospective founders says Henk van Biljon, a ’24 alum whose Fount startup generated over $1.1-million in investment during business school.

“The network, entrepreneurial resources, and support that we gained through MIT while earning a Sloan MBA has been nothing short of incredible. At MIT, you’re surrounded by the most talented builders, investors, and innovators helping others to build and grow businesses every day. Faculty members who are successful former founders regularly engage you on all aspects of launching a startup. There are many startup competitions, labs and venture studio offerings, and events led by top VCs. All of these opportunities, along with working alongside friends building their own businesses at night and over weekends, has created a startup experience that has been transformative.”

…and fun too, adds, ’25 alum Blake Blaze. “Every year about a week into the fall semester, the Martin Trust Center for MIT Entrepreneurship puts on Demo Day, the showcase for the student accelerator program delta-V (as in, escape velocity), and it is just so comically over-the-top and perfectly MIT. What other school would have a drumline, cheerleaders, and an appearance from the university president for an entrepreneurship showcase? It highlights how seriously the school takes entrepreneurship and how un-seriously it takes itself. Plus, it’s inspiring to see your classmates get on stage and pitch some truly awesome companies.”

A CLASS PROFILE

Getting on stage is also the heart of the school’s most hallowed tradition: MIT Sloan Yarn. “[It’s] a storytelling event where students share the most intimate and defining moments of their lives.” Explains ’25 alum Toritse David Maroh. “Before Sloan, I had heard about its tight-knit and inclusive culture. Still, it was not until I sat in a dimly-lit room listening to classmates lay bare their fears, struggles, and triumphs that I truly understood what makes this community different.​ One-by-one, people stepped forward to speak about loss, cancer, imposter syndrome, religion, and joy—each story a testament to our shared humanity. For a moment, titles and achievements faded away, replaced by a profound sense of connection. We weren’t just future consultants, entrepreneurs, or investors—we were people leaning on one another and finding comfort in knowing we weren’t alone.​”

And if Maroh could do it all over again? He wishes he had devoted more time to learn sailing – and the business lessons you absorb from it. “Sailing at MIT isn’t just about being on the water—it’s about problem-solving under pressure, teamwork, and adaptability, all of which tie into Sloan’s leadership philosophy. It would have been an incredible way to bond with classmates, take on a new challenge, and fully experience the unique MIT culture. While I eventually made it out on the water, earning my {MIT Sailing Certificate] would have been a fun and rewarding balance to the action-based learning that defined my time at Sloan.”

As a whole, the MBA Class of 2027 is composed of 450 students, up 17 students from the year before. Long known as one of the most selective American programs, Sloan admitted just 19% of applicants. Among the class, 42% hail from overseas (up 2% from the 2023-2024 cycle) and another 47% are women (down 2 points). Underrepresented minorities accounted for another 15% share of the class. In total, the class features students from 61 countries, up 8 countries from the previous year.

This year’s class also brought a 720 median GMAT score to Cambridge, down 10 points when measured against the previous class. GMAT scores ranged from 710-760 in the mid-80% range. The average undergraduate GMAT held steady at 3.69. Academically, the largest segment of the class – 27% – hold undergraduate degrees in Engineering. Business and Economics majors hold 23% and 17% shares respectively, followed by Computer Science (10%), Math and Science (10%), and Social Sciences (5%). Consultants make up 35% of the class, double the total of Financial Services (18%) and Technology (17%) professionals.

AN INTERVIEW WITH MAURA HERSON, ASSISTANT DEAN

Looking at the MBA rankings, MIT Sloan continued to hold Top 5 spots with U.S. News & World Report, CEOWorld, and QS, while placing 6th in The Financial Times. In the latter’s survey of alumni, Sloan notched the 9th-highest score for Alumni Effectiveness, while ranking in the Top 10 for Alumni Satisfaction at 9.107 on a 10-point scale. When business school deans and MBA directors were surveyed by U.S. News in 2025, Sloan ranked as the top MBA program for Project Management, Information Systems, and Production, while finishing 3rd in Entrepreneurship and 5th for Finance. Outcomes were equally promising, as the Class of 2025 saw its placement rates jump by nearly 10 points over the previous class.

Last year also saw the passing of the torch, after Richard Locke was named dean of the Sloan School. He replaced David Schmittlein, who’d held the position from 2007-2024. That’s not the only news you’ll find at Sloan. Last fall, Poets&Quants reached out to Maura Herson, Assistant Dean of the MBA Program. In an exclusive Q&A with P&Q, she shares the latest developments at the school, along with how the program supports first-year and international students and integrates AI across its programming.

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?

Herson: “MIT Sloan welcomed our 10th Dean, Richard Locke, MIT PhD ‘89. Dean Locke has rejoined MIT Sloan where he served in multiple roles from 1988-2013 as a faculty member and deputy dean. He went on to serve as provost at Brown University followed by a role as dean of Apple University, an educational unit within Apple Inc. focused on educating the company’s employees on leadership, management, and the company’s culture.

Dean Locke has shared a broad vision for inventing the future of the MBA and reshaping management education. This vision focuses on creating new approaches to teaching and learning with combinations of in-person, asynchronous, and hands-on learning experiences to provide students with the skills that employers value now, and in the future.

A second highlight over this past year are some of our new courses, with many that include a hands-on component and learning about AI. Here are a few examples:

15.776 Intensive Hands-On Deep Learning: A fast-paced introduction to deep learning — a subfield of machine learning and AI that uses multi-layered artificial neural networks to learn and make predictions from large amounts of data — with an emphasis on developing a practical understanding of how to build models to solve complex problems involving unstructured data.

15.S03 AI and Money: Examines the evolving impact of artificial intelligence on finance, money, and risk. The goal is to help students gain critical reasoning skills on how to leverage commercial opportunities — and maintain relevance — at the intersection of these two dynamically changing fields.

15.679 Work Lab: Building Better Jobs: Teaches the skills to redesign work to improve job quality and competitive advantage. In this hands-on lab, students will partner directly with innovative firms in New England to tackle real workforce challenges — from reducing turnover to optimizing human-AI collaboration.”

P&Q: What do you see as the main differentiator that distinguishes your MBA program from other schools? How does it enhance the student experience and make them more attractive to employers?

Herson: “As MIT’s School of Management, MIT Sloan provides students with skills employers are looking for right now and for the future at the intersection of management and technology. MIT Sloan students gain the tools they need to give them the flexibility to lead and problem solve in an evolving world.

For example, MIT Sloan is a leader in teaching and learning with AI, and MBA students gain a deep understanding of AI from their first day at MIT Sloan. AI is woven into hands-on experiences inside and outside of the classroom. By the time they complete their degree, they possess a familiarity and skill level with the technology that sets them apart. They understand not only how AI works, but also how to apply it.

Additionally, MIT Sloan is a pioneer in Action Learning, and our Action Learning Labs give students the opportunity to apply classroom theory and frameworks to organizations’ real business challenges across the globe. Experiences like our Generative AI Lab pair student teams with cutting-edge projects and an opportunity to work with their host companies’ leadership to solve problems. Our students graduate equipped with this practical experience and are ready to work effectively in organizations.”

P&Q: What types of services do you provide to first-year MBAs to ease their transition into business school? 

Herson: “Summer online MBA onboarding and in-person orientation activities help students meet each other and prepare for the semester. Second-year MBA Core Mentors play a key role in peer coaching, sharing insights into MIT Sloan’s culture and supporting new students as they embark on their MBA journey.

To foster leadership development, the MIT Leadership Center offers newly admitted MBA students access to their Leadership Foundations program, a pre-campus-arrival opportunity that helps them reflect on their leadership capabilities, set development goals, and connect with peers and the MIT Sloan community.

The Student Life Office hosts welcome sessions for all incoming students to learn about opportunities to engage with the community outside the classroom and to help them feel at home at MIT Sloan. They host community events such as campus tours, socials, community lunches and dinners.

Support for students and their job-seeking journey begins right away at MIT Sloan through the Career Development Office (CDO). Students have access to on-demand Career Core content to prepare them for what to expect about the markets and opportunities in different fields and industries; individual Career Navigator appointments in which an advisor guides students through career resources and tools; and frequent updates and resources from the CDO about market changes, recommendations for networking opportunities, and group Q&A sessions with MBA career advisors.

P&Q: What types of support do you provide to international students before and during business school to enable them to better acclimate to your country?

Herson: “The CDO offers a summer session and resources on international student career and job search considerations for international students that includes a workshop regarding the visa landscape. This session includes peer- and alumni-led panels to provide advice on the international student job search. They also provide regular communication highlighting key events and resources for international students.

As part of a vibrant on-campus experience, the Student Life Office advises over 80 student clubs and organizations, and over 15 student-led conferences each year — a number of which focus on a specific region of the world including the Africa Business Club, the Latin American Business Club, and the Southeast Asia Society. These clubs are open to all students and provide an opportunity to learn about business in different parts of the world and to make global connections while also enabling international students to connect with each other and share their knowledge.”

P&Q: How does your program integrate other disciplines, such as the liberal arts and STEM, across your curriculum to provide students with a more interdisciplinary experience in business school?

Herson: “The MIT Sloan student experience is inherently interdisciplinary. Students have access to graduate-level courses across MIT’s five schools and the Schwarzman College of Computing, as well as courses offered by renowned research centers and labs such as the MIT Media Lab, MIT Center for Real Estate (CRE), and MIT Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory (CSAIL). Additionally, students have the opportunity to collaborate with faculty on MIT’s special initiatives, which harness collective power from across the Institute in areas such as health, climate, and advanced manufacturing.

MBA students can enroll in MIT courses in engineering and computer science, urban studies and planning, global languages, and media arts and sciences to blend technical, analytical, and humanistic perspectives to enrich their business education. Beyond MIT, students can cross-register for courses in public policy, law, and education at Harvard’s professional schools.”

Next Page: Profiles of 9 members of the MBA Class of 2027.

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