MBA Apps Down for Fourth Straight Year

Roger_Dooley · 09-18-2012, 07:56 AM

The Wall Street Journal reports that applications to MBA programs were down again, the fourth year in a row.

Quote:

The median number of applications world-wide fell 22% in 2012 for the two-year degrees, after a nearly 10% decline last year. For many programs, the losses are off of multiyear highs that occurred as young professionals sought refuge and new skills in academia amid the financial crisis. But prolonged economic uncertainty is leaving many prospective students wary of the significant investment of both time and money required for a two-year, full-time program.

The GMAC survey included 744 M.B.A. and other business programs at 359 schools world-wide.

M.B.A. Applications Drop for Fourth-Straight Year - WSJ.com

The declines hit even prestigious programs like Columbia, Michigan, Stanford, and NYU. UCLA notched a gain after an aggressive marketing effort.

Good news/bad news. This may be bad news for the programs seeing declines, though none of the elite programs will have difficulty filling their seats with highly qualified students. On the other hand, applicants targeting these programs may find the competition a wee bit less intense.

zenkoan · 09-18-2012, 01:27 PM

The chart accompanying the article reflects an incremental increase in MBA applications at Stanford, not a decline.

SupremeJustice · 09-23-2012, 04:42 PM

If only costs can go down by a correlating amount. one can dream.

Ricky93 · 09-27-2012, 08:32 PM

Expect to see it drop lower. We're moving away from an era of corporate domination to self-employed business owners who don't need an MBA to make their business happen (I am currently a self-employed internet franchise owner, and loving it!).

dadx · 09-28-2012, 09:08 AM

MBA programs (and law schools) have been providing more than an appropriate share of financial support to their universities. But just because their graduates are potentially qualified for higher paying careers doesn't mean that there aren't economic limits to what you can charge for tuition. Especially in a tough economy.

The applications are reflecting that. But the universities probably won't "get it".

Time2 · 10-06-2012, 10:49 AM

The article also states:

Part-time, online and executive M.B.A. programs also reported GAINS globally, benefiting from workers who want to earn advanced degrees without having to leave their jobs

I think you have to look at this overall. If the full-time 2 yr programs show a decline, it simply could be a reflection that more choose to continue working and pursue their MBA in other ways.

Leon1987 · 10-13-2012, 08:40 PM

I think the economic downturn has affected lots of prospect and also it is way too expensive for domestic and international student.

For exemple at Cal state Fullerton accredited AACSB the total cost of the program is 80000 dollars for an international student and around 45000 dollars for domestic it is insane.

It's even more weird that school with the same accreditation offer MBA under 25000 dollars ( Eastern Washington University for example) . What justified such difference?

The location plays a role but I don't understand what justify such price .

There are so many people applying that the schools are taking advantage of it , I hope the applications will keep dropping to push the school to be more comprehensive in matter of tuition.