Often found near the top of the MBA rankings, the Stanford GSB currently holds top position on the FT Global MBA rankings - a title that every business school dreams of. Competition for a seat at the table is high, but those that make it into the Stanford MBA programme can expect a superior education and an unparalleled California experience.
Located just outside of San Francisco, there’s always something to grab your enthusiasm - whether you head into the big city or stick around campus.
Where is Stanford University?
City: Stanford, California (CA)
City population: 13,809, with a metropolitan population of 4,727,357
Region: West
Climate: warm-summer Mediterranean climate type: winters are cool but not usually cold (Jan avg: 10°C/50°F); summers are warm and dry (Jul avg: 19.4°C/67°F)
Nearest airport:
San Francisco International Airport (SFO)
San Jose Airport (SJC)
Time zone: PST from November-March (GMT-8); PDT from March to November (GMT-7)
Stanford University fast facts
Private university
University enrollment: 16,424
Living alumni: 220,000+
Graduate students: 7965
A quick look at the latest MBA class
MBA students: 419
International MBA students: 42%
MBA countries represented: 63
Average work experience: 4 years
Average GMAT score: 732
Female MBAs: 41%
What can you study at Stanford University Graduate School of Business?
Currently sitting in MBA’s top spot according to the Financial Times Global MBA ranking, Stanford’s Graduate School of Business clearly shines among its competition. Though there aren’t a range of MS degree options found within the GSB, you can bet the programmes they have offer everything you could want from an MBA.
| Degree | FT Rank | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Degree Stanford MBA Program | FT Rank 1 | Duration 2 years, full-time |
| Degree Stanford MSx Program | FT Rank n/a | Duration 1 year, full-time |
Stanford GSB MBA job placement
The Career Management Center works one-on-one with each of their students to develop a pathway to success. And, it’s a journey that doesn’t end when you graduate; you can access these services as long as you wish.
At the same time, the school also works closely with MBA recruiters (internships through permanent offers) to develop recruitment strategies and to ensure the best placements for students and employers.
Top GSB-facilitated sources of accepted offers include:
- On-campus interviewing
- Alumni referrals
- GSB job board
- Student club and club events
- GSB-facilitated summer employment
With typically high employment salaries and a large number of entrepreneurs graduating annually, it’s safe to say the support is there, whichever path you choose to follow.
$300,000 : highest reported base salary for a 2018 MBA grad
42% accepted offers came through GSB activities
$145,559 : median base salary for 2018 Stanford MBA grads
95% MBAs receiving offers in 3 months of grad
What's it like to live at Stanford University?
There are a few housing options open to Stanford GSB students, including on-campus apartments available only to GSB students. Securing accommodation in one of these suites does depend somewhat on the timing of your application and you’ll want to get your’s in as soon as possible if you’re hoping to make use of this full-service, easily accessible accommodation. (They really do offer everything from coin-free washers and dryers to a business center and free coffee.)
On the other hand, there are also Stanford on-campus accommodation options which are open to students across their graduate schools - and you can always choose to look for your own off-campus accommodation, though more than half of all graduate students prefer to stay on campus.
GSB housing includes kitchen facilities, though meal plans are also available and there is a full-service dining hall located just across the street from GSB housing at the Knight Management Center.
Stanford is a bicycle-friendly campus and many students opt for this route as the weather is nearly always perfect for it. There are also campus bus services and plenty of shared driving experiences, whether you hail a ride or opt for car-sharing when you need it.
Just about everything you could want is available in and around Stanford campus - and you’ll definitely find yourself heading out to San Francisco for bigger nights on the
How to get into Stanford University Graduate School of Business
There is no shortage of information available from the school or admissions advisers about crafting the best possible MBA application to Stanford GSB.
And, as it’s currently ranked as the top global MBA programme by the Financial Times, you’ll want to pay close attention to all of the advice on the table. That includes the stipulation from Stanford that you craft your own application, rather than paying someone else to do it (though you can certainly get feedback from any number of sources).
Essentially, however, the Stanford MBA programme is looking for individuals that have: intellectual vitality (quick, creative thinkers that can implement new ideas), demonstrated leadership potential, and “personal qualities” and contributions (you’re your own person and you give back what you can).
Admissions advisers have stated in the past that the absence of one of these (rather indefinable) qualities can’t be compensated for by high test scores, work experience or other quantitative criteria. So, you’ll really want to concentrate on your essays and work with your recommenders to craft a picture of yourself that addresses each area.
That said, Stanford MBAs typically have impressive test scores and other numerical metrics and you’ll want to keep these in mind while putting your application together.
- Average undergrad GPA: 3.72
- Average GMAT score: 732
- Average GRE score: 165
- Average TOEFL score : 113
- Average years of work experience: 4
Application deadlines for 18/19 MBA class
| Round 1 | Round 2 | Round 3 | |
|---|---|---|---|
Application deadline | Round 1 18 September '18 | Round 2 10 January 2019 | Round 3 3 April 2019 |
Placement Notification | Round 1 13 December '18 | Round 2 28 March 2019 | Round 3 16 May 2019 |
Acceptance and deposit due | Round 1 6 February 2019 | Round 2 1 May 2019 | Round 3 5 June 2019 |
Stanford MBA admissions details
Application fee: $275
Resume: required, though you may apply without work experience
Required essays: 2 with specific guidelines
Recommendations: 2, from work supervisors
GMAT or GRE: required, no min score
GPA: no min specified
Language test: required for those whose undergrad was not completed in English; TOEFL, IELTS and PTE score are accepted
- Min TOEFL score: 100 iBT
- Min IELTS score: 7.0
- Min PTE score: 68
MBA CoA (for 2018/19 academic year)
Tuition: $73,062
Living allowance: $32,712
Books and supplies: $1671
Materials and program fee: $1191
Transportation: $1017
Medical insurance: $5511
Health fee: $672
Total CoA for 1 year: $115,836
The cost of attendance doesn’t include the funds you’ll need to complete the Global Experience Requirement (GER) and the cost can range from $2000 to $4000. Your best bet is to budget on the high end so there aren’t any surprises when the GER comes around.
Does Stanford GSB offer scholarships to international students?
Yes! There are need-based fellowships on offer for MBA students for up to $35,000 annually - and international students definitely qualify as long as they meet the criteria. Indeed, around half of all MBAs receive fellowship funding.
Keep in mind that you must demonstrate financial need - and there are some limitations (though hardly grave) regarding the simultaneous use of external scholarships. That said, you can certainly accept any money that comes your way and still qualify for one of these need-based fellowships, you just need to make sure you’re up to date with the GSB policies.
There are also a few full-tuition fellowships available to outstanding students from selected backgrounds and the Graduate School of Business’ website provides a strong listing of sources to check for external scholarships.
The key, as it usually is, is to start early with your application and to explore your financial aid options from the very beginning.
Prodigy Finance international student loans for Stanford University
Prodigy Finance offers loans for international masters students at the Graduate School of Business at Stanford University.
Students from supported countries pursuing MBA programmes that can be completed in less than 2 years are eligible to apply.
- MBA maximum loan amount: up to 90% of the school-provided cost of attendance (tuition plus living expenses)
- MSx maximum loan amount: up to 100% of the school-provided tuition
- Minimum loan amount: $15,000
- All loans disbursed directly to the university according to due dates
GET A LOAN FOR STANFORD GSB NOW
Prodigy Finance also supports loans for Stanford University students pursuing masters degrees in these schools:
- Center for Professional Development
- Freeman Spogli Institute
- School of Humanities and Sciences
- Stanford Law School
- Stanford School of Engineering
Ready to transform your future with a MBA from Stanford GSB?
Prodigy Finance provides loans to international masters students pursuing their masters at the Stanford Graduate School of Business.
If you want to go ahead and know the difference between master of science and master of engineering, or if you want to know what and where to study, i-20 form and the loan letters, you can try our Study Centre which is filled with expert opinions on a range of topics.
For any other information about Prodigy Finance, or our student loan process, feel free to browse through our site, or register for a webinar to have your questions answered by one of our team.