University of Chicago’s Booth School of Business

MBA Program Stats

Academics And Programs

The full-time 21-month MBA program welcomed 620 students selected from a total of 5,037 applications this year. Although the curriculum is rigorous and can be overwhelming at first, Booth deploys peers to first-year students to guide and assist them. Their renowned ‘Paying-It-Forward’ tradition is handed down between classes as an act of gratitude that extends far beyond graduation.

The flagship of the program is its flexible curriculum. Unlike many other top schools with lockstep first-year MBA programs, Booth does not require its MBAs to go through every class together with the one key exception being the Leadership Effectiveness and Development (LEAD) course which examines the fundamentals of communication and teamwork, which all MBAs must take. The curriculum consists of 20 classes plus LEAD.

“Our multidisciplinary curriculum provides students with analytical frameworks needed to succeed. It evolves and grows to meet the rapidly changing business climate with agility yet maintains the core values that distinguish it from any other MBA program. Whether in Chicago, Hong Kong, or London, our accomplished faculty create knowledge among current and future leaders,” says Starr Marcello, Deputy Dean for MBA programs.

By and large, students design a program tailored to fit their own career goals.

“The Booth MBA empowers students to select courses that fit their experience, interests, and career goals. The flexible curriculum, rooted in the fundamentals of business—accounting, economics, psychology, sociology, and statistics—is delivered by the world’s best faculty members, pillars of the Chicago Booth community,” says Marcello.

Rankings Data For Chicago Booth

Booth MBA Rankings

MBA Program Consideration Set

If you believe you’re a close match to this school–based on your scores, age and work experience, you could look at these other competitive full-time MBA programs as well. We list them by stretch, match, and more to consider. These options are presented on the basis of brand image and ranking status as a general guideline. These are meant to be a starting point for further exploration.

Why Students Chose

“I’ve been greatly surprised by how welcoming and collaborative the Booth community is. My wife and I are humbled by the kindness and support we have received from the current students and alumni during a challenging (and slightly scary) time of moving to a different country and setting up a completely new life far away from home. We were not expecting such warm and friendly hospitality. We spent hours on Zoom calls to help us understand financial aid, visa bureaucracies and the course bidding system. They also helped us with storing and assembling furniture and letting us crash at their place while waiting for our lease to start.” Andre Beda (‘24)

“Aside from the people, there are two main reasons why I chose Booth. The first was Booth’s ETA (Entrepreneurship Through Acquisition) program offered through the Polsky Center. My goal after business school is to acquire and grow a company. Booth offers an amazing program with resources that can directly help me to achieve that goal. The second was the flexible curriculum. I have a specific goal and come from a non-traditional background, so I am very excited to be able to tailor my courses to build a strong business foundation and simultaneously focus on cultivating the skills and knowledge to be successful buying and growing a company.” Zach Bidner (‘24)

“For me, the flexible curriculum was an incredibly important feature of the Booth MBA. Having already completed an undergraduate degree in Business, I wanted a program that trusted me enough to know what I needed to learn. Booth is unique in allowing me to entirely dedicate my coursework to filling the knowledge gaps I have personally identified for myself and taking classes that build on the academic and professional foundations I have already developed to set me up for success in the next phase of my career.” Bianca DiSanto (‘24)

Career Stats

Career Statistics of Booth MBAs

Industry Choices Of Booth MBAs

Industry Choices Of Booth MBAs

Top Hirers of Booth MBAs

Essay Questions For Chicago Booth

All Booth MBA candidates are required to submit responses to the following two questions:

1. How will a Booth MBA help you achieve your immediate and long-term post-MBA career goals? (Minimum 250 words, no maximum.)

2. An MBA is as much about personal growth as it is about professional development. In addition to sharing your experience and goals in terms of career, we’d like to learn more about you outside of the office. Use this opportunity to tell us something about who you are. (Minimum 250 words, no maximum.)

The third question is optional:

3. Is there any unclear information in your application that needs further explanation? (Maximum 300 words.)