It’s that time of year again—MBA application time. While fall 2025 may feel like a lifetime away, deadlines are fast approaching for applicants hoping to matriculate for the 2025–26 academic year, especially at the top-ranked MBA programs.
Most business schools offer applicants multiple opportunities to submit applications—consisting of essays, test scores, and recommendation letters—throughout the year for the chance to earn a spot in its incoming class. But be warned—the rounds after the first one typically get more competitive as fewer seats in the upcoming class are available. So, the most important advice you should take is: apply early.
Luckily, year after year, deadlines tend to follow the same pattern, but below you’ll find the application deadlines for the top 15 MBA programs, according to Fortune’s ranking:
One caveat: if you’re planning to apply through The Consortium—a network of top business schools and companies aiming toward increasing diversity in the MBA and corporate world—the deadlines may slightly differ. They are as follows:
- Application portal opens: August 15, 2024
- Round 1 deadline: Oct. 15, 2024
- Round 2 deadline: Jan. 5, 2024
- Application portal closes: Jan. 31, 2025
Harvard Business School: MBA application deadlines
Fortune MBA rank: No. 1
Harvard Business School offers two application rounds, as follows:
Stanford Graduate School of Business: MBA application deadlines
Fortune MBA rank: No. 2
Stanford has three deadlines. Below are the dates and times:
Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania: MBA application deadlines
Fortune MBA rank: No. 3
Wharton has three application rounds as well as deferred admission with the following schedule:
Yale School of Management: MBA application deadlines
Fortune MBA rank: No. 4
Yale’s deadlines for the 2024-25 application process for reference:
Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University: MBA application deadlines
Fortune MBA rank: No. 5
Kellogg has three application deadlines for the upcoming year, as follows:
Columbia Business School: MBA application deadlines
Fortune MBA rank: No. 6
Columbia says about 70% of its full-time MBA students begin their studies in the fall term. The school announced the following dates for its MBA programs beginning in August 2025:
University of Chicago Booth School of Business: MBA application deadlines
Fortune MBA rank: No. 7
The University of Chicago has announced the following dates for its three application rounds:
MIT Sloan School of Management: MBA application deadlines
Fortune MBA rank: No. 8
MIT Sloan has three application rounds. The dates are as follows:
New York University Stern School of Business: MBA application deadlines
Fortune MBA rank: No. 9
NYU Stern has four different application rounds. The school says students will receive an initial notification, which will either invite applicants to an interview, offer them to the waitlist, or admission denial.
University of Michigan–Ann Arbor Ross School of Business: MBA application deadlines
Fortune MBA rank: No. 10
At the University of Michigan Ross, there are three application rounds for its MBA program. The due dates include:
Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business: MBA application deadlines
Fortune MBA rank: No. 11
Duke offers four application rounds in addition to an early action, with the following deadlines:
Cornell University’s SC Johnson College of Business: MBA application deadlines
Fortune MBA rank: No. 12
Cornell has three application rounds. Cornell’s initial notification consists of an invitation to interview, waitlist without interview, or denial of admission. Below are the deadlines for 2024-25:
University of Virginia’s Darden School of Business: MBA application deadlines
Fortune MBA rank: No. 13
In addition to early action, UVA offers three application rounds, as follows:
University of California, Berkeley’s Haas School of Business: MBA application deadlines
Fortune MBA rank: No. 14
UC Berkeley has three application rounds for its MBA program. The dates are as follows:
Dartmouth College’s Tuck School of Business: MBA application deadlines
Fortune MBA rank: No. 15
Dartmouth has three application rounds. One week before decisions are released, applications will receive instructions on how to access the decision portal. The deadlines are:
Frequently asked questions
How hard is it to apply for an MBA?
Applying for an MBA can be intense, especially for the top ranked programs. You must dedicate hours to studying for and taking standardized tests like the GMAT or GRE, answering tailored application essay questions, and finding appropriate recommendations for letters. Plus, business schools charge non refundable application fees, that can be sometimes $250.
When should I apply for an MBA?
As early as possible. MBA programs only have a select number of seats to provide to applicants, and the earlier you apply, the better chance you’ll have at being accepted or waitlisted. Plus, more scholarship money is available for earlier applicants.
What are the MBA application deadlines?
Generally, MBA programs have deadlines in early September, January, and April, but each school differs.
What is the best round to apply for an MBA?
There is no harm in applying as early as you possibly can. However, if you miss a deadline, do not worry. Most schools have three application rounds. It is important to do your research early, and keep track of every deadline—as well as the time and timezone of those deadlines.
Check out all of Fortune’s rankings of degree programs, and learn more about specific career paths.
Sydney Lake contributed to this piece.
