Harvard Business School MBA: 2026-2027 deadlines and requirements
Key facts
| Program | HBS MBA |
|---|---|
| City | Boston, Massachusetts |
| Rank | #4 (tie) in U.S. News 2026 Best Business Schools |
| Class size | 943 students in the Class of 2027. 9,409 applications came in for that class. |
| GMAT score | Median 685 on the GMAT Focus Edition for the Class of 2027. Older GMAT median 730. |
| GRE | Median Verbal 164 and Quant 164 for the Class of 2027. |
| Tests it takes | Takes the GMAT (Focus Edition or the older 10th Edition) or the GRE, with no preference. There is no minimum score. The school gives no test waivers to anyone. |
| Application fee | $250, not refundable, paid by credit card only (the 2+2 round has no fee). The fee is waived for active duty military. A need based waiver is also offered when you ask after you start the application. |
| Tuition | $84,760 for the 2026-2027 nine month year (tuition only). Total cost for a single student is $130,318. |
| English test | TOEFL iBT, IELTS, PTE or Duolingo is required if your college did not teach only in English. If your only English language college work was a graduate degree, a test is recommended but not required. There is no minimum score, but the school discourages TOEFL below 5 (new scale) or 109 (older scale), IELTS below 7.5, PTE below 75 and Duolingo below 145. |
Application rounds
| Round | Apply by | Decision by |
|---|---|---|
| Round 1 | September 9, 2026, 12:00 p.m. Eastern | December 10, 2026 |
| Round 2 | January 5, 2027, 12:00 p.m. Eastern | March 25, 2027 |
| 2+2 Round (college students who start after working) | April 28, 2027, 12:00 p.m. Eastern | June 30, 2027 |
Essays
- 300 words (Business-Minded Essay). Please reflect on how your choices have influenced your career path and aspirations.
- 250 words (Leadership-Focused Essay). What experiences have shaped how you invest in others and how you lead?
- 250 words (Growth-Oriented Essay). Curiosity can be seen in many ways. Please share an example of how you have demonstrated curiosity and how that has influenced your growth.
Recommendations
2 recommendations, sent online by the application deadline. The school suggests one come from a current or recent supervisor if possible. Each recommender fills in a skills grid and answers two questions (300 and 250 words).
Interview
By invitation only, and you must do it if invited. It lasts 30 minutes with an admissions board member who has read your application, on campus, in a big city where HBS holds interviews, or on Zoom. Within 24 hours after, you must send a written reflection.
Other parts of the application
Transcripts, a resume and the application sections on employment, activities, awards and post-MBA goals. Joint degree applicants write one more essay. About 4 to 6 weeks after the deadline the school tells you if you are invited to interview.
Links
Sources
- HBS MBA: Application Dates, read November 1, 2026
- HBS MBA: Application Process, read November 1, 2026
- HBS MBA: Frequently Asked Questions, read November 1, 2026
- HBS MBA: Class Profile, read November 1, 2026
- HBS MBA: Cost of Attendance, read November 1, 2026
- Campus photo: ajay_suresh, CC BY 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
