Meet The Michigan Ross MBA Class Of 2027

THE U-M ADVANTAGE

Along with Ross’s experiential learning bent, the school leans heavily on the larger university. In this spring’s U.S. News Best National University Ranking, the University of Michigan placed 3rd nationally among public research schools and Top 20 overall. Notably, the university ranked in the Top 10 across 10 different undergraduate engineering majors. Aside from quality, the university offers scale, boasting 53,000 students across its undergraduate and graduate programs. That doesn’t count the 700,000 alumni sprawled across the world (including nearly 60,000 Ross alumni). In other words, MBAs can tap into a wide range of industry, organizational, and regional expertise – both on- and off-campus.

According to the Class of 2027, it isn’t the scale and renown of the University of Michigan that makes an impact. The university is also regaled for something far harder to measure – Goodwill. That is encapsulated in two words: Go Blue. For Vibhor Gupta, the phrase symbolizes “community, pride, and lifelong network.” Wonji Seo takes it a step further.

“At Michigan, I feel a genuine spirit of “Go Blue” — people are not only proud of being part of the community but are also always willing to help each other. Whether it’s alumni offering career advice or peers supporting one another through challenges, the culture is built on generosity and teamwork. That collaborative energy is what excites me most about joining Ross.”

Michael Clark experienced the Go Blue phenomenon quite personally last summer. “Michigan isn’t just a large school, it’s a global network with a shared sense of pride and connection. Over the summer, I ran into someone wearing a Michigan shirt in a small Italian town and stopped to say hello. What started as a quick comment turned into a 30-minute conversation about life, leadership, and my career goals. We exchanged information, and he’s now part of my personal network. That interaction captures what Michigan means to me: no matter where you are in the world, you’re never far from a member of the Wolverine family.”

It is impossible to share the Michigan Mystique without bring football into the equation. The 2023 National Champions, the Wolverines are college football’s all-time winningest college football program with 1,022 wins. For Ross MBAs, Saturdays at the ‘Big House’ are a rite of passage – a chance to connect with peers, faculty, and alumni over dazzling plays and unforgettable comebacks. At Ross, these connections are deepened over its own tradition: The Bus. On game days, MBAs tailgate around a vintage bus, swapping stories and making plans before heading off to the stadium. Such memories made the MBA experience all the more special for alumni like Mark O’Connell, a 2025 Poets&Quants Best & Brightest MBA.

“You would be hard-pressed to find a tradition where 1,000+ MBA students are welcome, regardless of their scholastic standing or social connections, and can instantly find a friend to sing Mr. Brightside with before a Michigan football game. We would like to say Michigan is the #1 MBA program in the country since no other MBA program has a recent national football championship to its name (aside from that school down south), and The Bus really solidifies its reputation.”

A CLASS PROFILE

The Class of 2027’s profile remains remarkably similar to previous incarnations. It features 379 members, roughly equivalent to previous years after a spike to 396 members a year ago. Women and underrepresented minorities account for 39% and 25% of the class respectively. The percentage of international students dipped 4 points to 40%, with students hailing from 32 countries. Another 22% of the class consists of first-generation college graduates. 15% of the class possess military experience.

Like the previous class, Undergraduate Business & Economics majors make up the largest share of the class. 37% of the class hold degrees in these fields, down from 39% the previous year. STEM majors lost the most ground, going from 38% to 27% of the class (though science-related majors may be included in the 14% share categorized as “Other”). The Social Sciences & Humanities constitute the remaining 22%. In terms of career experience, Finance professionals hold 17% of the class seats, down from its 21% high with the 2024 intake. The remainder of the class includes students with backgrounds in Consulting (16%), Education, Nonprofits, and Government (9%), Technology (8%), Health (7%), Military (7%), Engineering and Manufacturing (6%), Energy and Sustainability (6%), and Media, Hospitality, and Sports (4%).

On average, the Class of 2027 boasts a 731 GMAT. Among GRE submissions, the averages came in at 163 (Quant) and 160 (Verbal). Together, the class brought a 3.43 undergraduate GPA to Ann Arbor.

STRONG ACROSS THE BOARD

The Ross School itself houses 4,200 graduate and undergraduate students. True to form, the school is considered excellent across the board. Poets&Quants ranks the Online MBA program as the 3rd-best in the world – and the Undergraduate Business program at 4th. By the same token, the school finished 6th in the latest U.S. News Executive MBA program. In addition, the Ross School’s programming is highly respected by business school leaders surveyed by U.S. News earlier this year. The school notched Top 10 scores across five disciplines: Accounting, Entrepreneurship, Business Analytics, Supply Chain, and Production & Operations. In addition, Ross finished either 11th or 12th in Marketing, Management, and International Business.

Poets&Quants also ranked Ross as the world’s 6th-best Entrepreneurship program in its 2025-2026 Ranking. Notably, between 2020-2024, 22.4% of its graduates started a business. At Ross, startup programming revolves around the Zell Lurie Institute of Entrepreneurial Studies (ZLI). Here, you’ll find a wide-range of offerings for any career objective: accelerators, funds, competitions, prototyping studio, career fairs, workshops, alumni hub, and even an all-expenses-paid Silicon Valley Trek. That doesn’t count separate year-long development programs – Zell Entrepreneurs – for students interested in either starting or acquiring a startup.

“I’ve spent the last few years building my own brand and carving out unique opportunities for myself, says Braylen Stevens. “The institute is robust, founder-focused, and provides an immense bowl of tangible resources. This is exactly what I need to accelerate my entrepreneurial journey, and it is crucial for me. I see my MBA as the next step that I take in leaning into the ideas that keep me up at night. ZLI provides a unique ecosystem to take the relationships and opportunities that I’ve already created and scale them into something truly impactful.”

The real secret behind Ross’s programming, however, is an All-Star faculty lineup. In 2025, Poets&Quants named Andrew Hoffman, a Professor of Sustainable Enterprise, as its 2025 Professor of the Year. He is best known for his legendary Management as a Calling course – a course that left a life-long impression on alum Francesca Colombo.

“[It] is unlike any other MBA course. It provides an opportunity that is too rare during these pivotal years to disconnect from technology and distractions and take time for introspection. Two weekend-long, tech-free retreats in nature bookend the year and guide students through thoughtful, intensive exercises to deepen awareness of each student’s values and priorities. Lectures throughout the year bring in compelling guest speakers and remind students of the insights they unlocked during the first retreat, while allowing for continued refinement and development of their purposes.”

COLD … FOR MAYBE TWO WEEKS

Ann Arbor may be the Ross School’s most underrated asset. The quintessential Midwest college town, a place to savor life without all the distractions and annoyances of the big city. At the same time, it is just a half hour from a major airport, not to mention 45 minutes to Detroit (and 4 hours from either Chicago or Toronto).

“What I love most about Ann Arbor is how it feels both expansive and intimate at the same time,” says ’25 alum Brysan Porterfield. “It’s a small town, but there’s always something new to explore, whether it’s a hidden café, a scenic walking path, or a new event happening on campus. You can get almost anywhere with just a 15- to 20-minute walk, and those walks often remind me to slow down and appreciate the little moments. In the fall, the trees turn this deep auburn color that makes the whole town feel golden. In the winter, there’s something peaceful about watching the snow gently settle onto The Diag while students carefully make their way to class. Ann Arbor has a way of making even the most routine moments feel special. But what makes this town truly unique is the people. You’d think a Midwestern college town would mostly be filled with students from the region, but Ann Arbor is an unexpected melting pot. I’ve met people from all over the world here.”

And don’t fret too much over the cold weather, adds ’25 alum Mark O’Connell. “I lived in California before I started business school, and I was terrified that I would get hypothermia on my way to class. But you bundle up well, you get used to it quickly, and everybody understands the main mission when you’re this far north – function over form in -20-degree weather. Ross has lockers in the basement where I stash a business casual outfit if I need one, but beyond that, everybody is on the same page that you just wear whatever keeps you warm. I will confess that there are consistently one or two weeks every year (usually in January) when it gets COLD, but beyond that, the weather is practically perfect.”

AN INTERVIEW WITH THE MANAGING DIRECTOR

What’s next on the agenda at the Ross School? In an exclusive interview with P&Q, Matt Ganderson, Managing Director of the Full-Time MBA Program, provides an update on the state of the program.

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?

Ganderson: “Two recent developments are the launch of a new artificial intelligence concentration and the reintroduction of students as admissions interviewers. Both will enhance the student experience in different ways.

First, the AI concentration will allow students to develop breadth and depth in this critical area to meet market and employer demand. Ninety-four percent of our MBA2s used AI during their summer internship, highlighting the growing demand for AI competency.

Second, by bringing student ambassadors back into the admissions interview process, we are engaging our current community to help develop the future one. Students know best what it takes to be successful and a good community member, so we’re excited to give them an additional voice in this process.”

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?

Ganderson: “We consistently receive feedback from students, alumni, employers, and recruiters that Michigan Ross students and graduates are highly collaborative and excel at managing ambiguity. These power skills continue to be some of the most important competencies for success in the business world, backed by research.

First, our admissions team recruits and admits applicants who are a good cultural fit, leveraging hundreds of student and alumni ambassadors to share their genuine experiences with prospects during the admissions process. Once students arrive at Ross, the curriculum stresses group work and encourages them to work with as many different classmates as possible. The ability to showcase these power skills in interviews and internships gives Michigan Ross graduates a leg up, not just in recruiting but also as an alum navigating their career in the future.”

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

Ganderson: “Michigan Ross incoming students have access to abundant resources in the months leading up to orientation. For instance, career preparation begins soon after an admitted student commits to Ross by participating in an interactive online course to fine-tune their interests, values, and focus. This is done through assessments, one-on-one coaching, workshops, and alumni panels. Before students come to campus or start classes, they already have a really good first draft of their resume, which reduces stress at the beginning of the term.

Next, during orientation, students participate in programming designed to prepare them for success in their first year, with a particular focus on helping them navigate the fall term more easily. This programming includes various sessions on academics, wellness, community and belonging, career development, and leadership. It also provides important information, resources, tips, and tools for students to access and integrate into their daily practices immediately.

Academic advisors, career coaches, and the Student Life team also provide additional drop-in office hours for students to ask more targeted questions and to receive guidance on everything from class schedules and recruiting to getting involved in student leadership opportunities and clubs.

Post-orientation and into the school year, multiple teams across Ross provide support and services to first-year students. The Career Development Office and the MBA Program Office offer career, academic, and student experience support, both one-on-one and in group settings. Our many centers and institutes also offer programming designed to enhance the first-year MBA experience. For example, the Sanger Leadership Center’s Collaboration Lab provides action-based workshops focused on equipping students with the skills to run efficient, values-based teams.”

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?

Ganderson: “Once admitted, international students receive a curated international student guide which includes information about housing (an overview of popular properties for past international students, resources to find roommates, etc.), recommended things to bring (or not), how to navigate life and services in the United States (utilities, bank accounts, transportation, etc.), resources for their partner’s life in Ann Arbor (medical insurance details, community activities to get involved, etc.), and even tips for bringing pets (vets in the area, pet shops, services, etc.).

The MBA Program Office and the Career Development Office host an international student orientation a few days before the full MBA orientation. This one-day orientation provides dedicated time for international students to help them better understand the classroom experience and resources CDO has to specifically support their professional goals. It also allows our staff to welcome our international students to campus and provide tours, extra time for questions, etc.

The MBA council vice president of international student experience works with the admissions team to connect with prospective international students to share their experience and connect incoming students to other relevant student groups or departments, especially if they have questions or concerns during the application and pre-orientation onboarding period.

The vice president of international student experience also works with international students once they are on campus. Students know that the person in this role is available to listen to any concerns or challenges they may encounter during the school year. The VP also works with CDO and the MBA Program Office to help provide a pulse check on the international student community and any additional support they may need.”

Next Page: Profiles of 11 Members of the MBA Class of 2027

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