Chicago Booth MBA: 2026-2027 deadlines and requirements
Key facts
| Program | Full-Time MBA |
|---|---|
| City | Chicago, Illinois |
| Rank | #3 in U.S. News 2026 Best Business Schools |
| Class size | 635 new students in the Class of 2027. 5,876 applications. |
| GMAT score | Average 670, median 675 on the GMAT Focus Edition for the Class of 2027. Older GMAT average 736. |
| GRE | Average Verbal 161 and Quant 163 for the Class of 2027. |
| Tests it takes | Takes the GMAT or the GRE. There is no minimum score. The school does not mix scores from different test days. The test is optional only for current University of Chicago undergraduates and graduates of a University of Chicago program. For everyone else the school does not waive the test. |
| Application fee | $250, due when you submit. You can ask for a waiver if you are active duty military, a reservist or a veteran, a full-time undergraduate student (not at the University of Chicago), or a full-time government or nonprofit worker. University of Chicago staff and students, people who applied last year, and people who attended some Booth online events before applying can also ask. The school does not give waivers for money reasons alone. |
| Tuition | $89,976 for the 2026-2027 year (tuition only, billed over nine months). Estimated total cost is $132,449. |
| English test | You may need TOEFL iBT, IELTS Academic, PTE Academic or Duolingo. Minimums: TOEFL 5.0 (tests taken on or after January 21, 2026) or iBT 104 (before that), IELTS 7, PTE 70, Duolingo 135. You may still apply with a lower score, but then you must show your English in the interview. Scores last two years. |
Application rounds
| Round | Apply by | Decision by |
|---|---|---|
| Round 1 | September 15, 2026, 11:59 p.m. Central | December 3, 2026 |
| Round 2 | January 7, 2027, 11:59 p.m. Central | March 25, 2027 |
| Round 3 | April 1, 2027, 11:59 p.m. Central | May 20, 2027 |
| Chicago Booth Scholars (college students who start after working) | April 1, 2027, 11:59 p.m. Central | June 24, 2027 |
Essays
- 300 characters. What is your immediate post-MBA career goal?
- 300 characters. What is your long-term post-MBA career goal?
- 300 characters. Upload an image and explain its significance to you.
- 300 characters. Share a fun fact or something unique about yourself.
- Optional, 300 words. Is there any unclear information in your application that needs further explanation or additional details you would like to share with the Admissions Committee?
Recommendations
1 letter from a supervisor, preferably your current one. The recommender answers two questions: how you compare with others in similar roles, and the most important piece of constructive feedback they have given you.
Interview
Required for admission, and by invitation only. It is one online interview with a current student or another member of the Booth community.
Other parts of the application
After you are invited to interview you also do a short recorded video exercise online. You also send a resume and unofficial transcripts (official ones only if you are admitted). You can report your test scores yourself at first, and the school asks for the official scores only if you are admitted.
Links
Sources
- Chicago Booth: Full-Time MBA How to Apply, read November 1, 2026
- Chicago Booth: Full-Time MBA Admission Requirements, read November 1, 2026
- Chicago Booth: Full-Time MBA Class Profile, read November 1, 2026
- Chicago Booth: Full-Time MBA International Applicants, read November 1, 2026
- Chicago Booth: Full-Time MBA Cost, read November 1, 2026
- Chicago Booth: Full-Time MBA Frequently Asked Questions, read November 1, 2026
