Best Executive MBA Programs in 2021-22

Massachusetts Institute of Technology (Sloan) does not have testing requirements for its EMBA application, but the school recommends taking the GMAT “if you feel your school transcripts do not adequately represent your academic abilities.” The average Sloan EMBA student has a 3.48 undergraduate GPA, 730 GMAT score, and 17 years of work experience. The program requires that applicants have at least 10 years of relevant, post-undergraduate work experience to apply. International students are not required to submit TOEFL scores with an application. Deadlines for the class of 2024 have not yet been announced.

University of Pennsylvania (Wharton) requires EMBA applicants to submit either a GMAT or GRE score, but the program will also accept Executive Assessment scores from applicants with at least 8 years of full-time work experience. The average Wharton EMBA student has a 640 to 740 GMAT score and 12 years of work experience. Students enter the program with a median base salary of $221,000 prior to enrolling. There are two admissions rounds each year, with one in December and another in February. There are currently 236 students enrolled between Wharton’s two EMBA programs in Philadelphia and San Francisco. Two letters of recommendation are needed to apply.

Columbia University accepts scores from the Executive Assessment, the GMAT, or the GRE as part of its EMBA program application. EMBA students at Columbia on average have a 3.5 undergraduate GPA, 724 GMAT score, nine years of work experience, and a $130,500 median base salary prior to enrolling. Currently, Columbia has 525 students enrolled in its EMBA programs: the Friday/Saturday and just Saturday options. Applications require one letter of recommendation, and international students do not have to submit a TOEFL score to be considered for admission. Columbia EMBA students need to complete 60 credits to graduate.

New York University (Stern) is test-optional for all EMBA applicants, and does not require international students to submit a TOEFL score. The average incoming Stern EMBA student has a 3.2 undergraduate GPA and 714 GMAT score. Stern EMBA candidates typically have 12 years of work experience, with seven years in management. The program currently enrolls 249 EMBA students. There are two application deadlines each year, and prospective students must submit two letters of recommendation to be considered for admission. Prior to enrolling, the average Stern students is earning a median base salary of $130,000. Students must complete 60 credits to graduate.

University of Michigan–Ann Arbor (Ross) does not require applicants to submit a GMAT score. An average incoming EMBA student at Ross has a 3.3 undergraduate GPA and 653 GMAT score with 15 years of work experience. International students aren’t required to submit a TOEFL score, but they may be asked to demonstrate English fluency by taking the TOEFL or PTE exam. Ross has four application rounds for its EMBA program, which has a current enrollment of 124 students. Prospective students must submit one GMAC Common Recommendation Form to be considered for the program.

University of California–Los Angeles (Anderson) gives EMBA applicants the option of whether or not to submit their GMAT or GRE scores. An average incoming student to Anderson’s EMBA program has a 3.4 undergraduate GPA and 680 GMAT score. Before the program, students have, on average, 14 years of work experience with nine years spent in management. Anderson offers admission during three application rounds each year. Applicants must provide contact information for two recommenders who can complete an online recommendation form. The program takes 22 months to complete.

University of California–Berkeley (Haas) requires applicants to submit an official GMAT, GRE or EA score to be considered for admission. An average Haas EMBA student has a 3.5 undergraduate GPA, a 700 GMAT score and 12 years of work experience. There are three application deadlines each year in December, February, and April, and about 70 students enroll each year. Haas EMBA students on average have a $169,000 starting salary. TOEFL scores aren’t required from international applicants, but they can be used as proof of English proficiency. The program takes 19 months to complete.

Cornell University (Johnson) does not require EMBA applicants to submit a GMAT, GRE, or EA score, but the school will accept the results if you’ve taken any of the exams. Johnson offers three EMBA programs: Executive MBA Americas, Executive MBA Metro NY, and Executive MBA/MS in Healthcare Leadership, which take a range of 17 months to 22 months to complete. An average incoming Johnson EMBA student has a 3.36 undergraduate GPA and 700 GMAT score with 12 years of work experience and seven years in management. The program has four application rounds each year and currently has 170 students enrolled.

University of Virginia (Darden) requires applicants to its EMBA program to take the GMAT, GRE, the MCAT, LSAT or Executive Assessment. Test waivers are available. The average Darden EMBA student has a 3.5 undergraduate GPA and 718 GMAT score. Before enrolling in the program, an EMBA student, on average, has 12 years of work experience and a starting salary of $163,200. For the cohort starting in August 2022, there are application deadlines on the 10th of each month, beginning in August 2021 and ending in April 2022. The EMBA program has a 135-student capacity, and each enrolled class is divided into two sections of approximately 65 students to 70 students.

Duke University (Fuqua) requires applicants to submit a GMAT, GRE, or EA score to apply to its EMBA program, although test waivers exist for some circumstances. The average incoming student has a 3.42 undergraduate GPA and 695 GMAT score with 11 years of work experience. Fuqua offers admissions during eight rounds each year and its class of 2023 includes 187 students. International applicants are not required to submit TOEFL scores. All prospective students must submit one letter of recommendation. EMBA students complete the program in 22 months. An average Fuqua student makes $122,000 before the program and $147,000 directly after the program.

University of Washington (Foster) does not require EMBA applicants to submit a GMAT score if they have earned an accredited undergraduate degree, but they may submit scores that are less than five years old. An average incoming EMBA student at Foster has a 3.4 undergraduate GPA and 693 GMAT score. Candidates come to Foster with an average of 16 years of work experience with 11 years of leadership experience. Admissions to the program are made during three application rounds in December, February, and April. Foster currently enrolls 77 EMBA students. EMBA candidates at Foster are required to submit three recommendation letters to be considered for admission.

University of North Carolina–Chapel Hill (Kenan-Flagler) no longer requires applicants to submit either a GMAT or GRE score. Applicants with five or more years of work experience are exempt from the testing requirement. Kenan-Flagler’s average incoming EMBA student has a 3.4 undergraduate GPA, 700 GMAT score, and 13 years of work experience. The school offers admissions to its EMBA program during four application rounds in April, July, October, and December, and the program is offered both in the evenings and on weekends. Applicants must submit two recommendation forms to be considered for admission.

University of Texas—Austin (McCombs) accepts scores from the GMAT, GRE, or Executive Assessment along with a test waiver petition. An average incoming student at McCombs’ EMBA program has a 3.28 undergraduate GPA, a 627 GMAT score, and 15 years of work experience. The school currently enrolls 84 EMBA students, and accepted 54% of applicants in 2020. Prospective students must submit one letter of recommendation to be considered for admission, but TOEFL scores are not required from international applicants. Applications must be submitted by June 15, 2022 and 42 credits are needed to graduate from the program.

University of Minnesota–Twin Cities (Carlson) waives its testing requirement for most candidates. The average incoming EMBA student at Carlson has a 3.28 undergraduate GPA, 690 GMAT score, and more than 14 years of work experience, with more than 10 in management. In 2020, Carlson accepted 76% of applicants to its EMBA program. The program currently has 75 students enrolled. Three references, including one from a current supervisor, are needed to be considered for admission. Before enrollment, the average Carlson EMBA student has a median base salary of $102,000. Applications are due July 15, 2022 and students need 49.5 credits to graduate.

Georgetown University (McDonough) does not require applicants to submit a GMAT, GRE, or Executive Assessment test score, but they can be submitted optionally or upon request. The average incoming EMBA student at McDonough has a 3.3 undergraduate GPA and 690 GMAT score with 14 years of work experience. Application deadlines for the program that starts in fall 2022 fall on the 15th of each month beginning Sept. 15, 2021 and ending on June 15, 2022. McDonough has an average EMBA class size of 57. International students are not required to submit TOEFL scores as part of the application.

University of Southern California (Marshall) does not require prospective students to submit GMAT scores as part of the application to its EMBA program. The average incoming Marshall EMBA student has a 3.23 undergraduate GPA and 629 GMAT score with 14 years of work experience. Its fall 2020 class includes 70 students. Marshall has not announced the application deadlines for its upcoming EMBA class. Prospective students need one letter of recommendation in order to apply to the EMBA program. Most international applicants must submit either a TOEFL or IELTS score unless they meet the English-Language Waiver requirements.

University of Maryland–College Park (Smith) does not require a GMAT score, but applicants “must be able to demonstrate an ability to successfully complete quantitative course work.” The average EMBA incoming student at Smith has a 3.28 undergraduate GPA, a 600 GMAT score, 16 years of work experience, with 12 in management. Before enrolling, Smith EMBA students have a median base salary of $132,000. In 2020, the program accepted 80% of applicants, and currently enrolls 40 students. International students must have a minimum TOEFL score of 88 to be considered for admission. EMBA candidates must complete 54 credits in order to graduate.

Pepperdine University (Graziadio) does not require applicants to submit a GMAT score to be considered for admission, but the average incoming student has a score of 626. Average Graziadio EMBA students also have a 3.11 undergraduate GPA and 15 years of work experience. In 2020, Graziadio accepted 67.19% of EMBA applicants, and the program currently has 116 students enrolled. Minimum TOEFL scores of 95 are required from international applicants, and all prospective students must submit two letters of recommendation. Applications are due July 15, 2022. Students need 45 credits to graduate.

Vanderbilt University (Owen) accepts GMAT and GRE scores, but prefers the Executive Assessment. An average incoming Owen EMBA student has a 3.27 undergraduate GPA and 619 GMAT score. In 2020, Owen accepted 76% of applicants and currently enrolls 94 students. EMBA students come to Owen with an average of 10.2 years of work experience and nine years of management experience. Their average median base salary prior to enrolling is $98,000. International applicants are not required to submit TOEFL scores, but all prospective students must submit two letters of recommendation to be considered for the program.

Emory University (Goizueta) has a test-optional policy for its EMBA program, so applicants can choose whether or not to submit GMAT, GRE, or Executive Assessment scores. The average incoming Goizueta EMBA student has a 635 GMAT score. EMBA candidates come to the program with an average of 14 years of work experience. The school offers admissions to its EMBA program on a rolling basis from August through March, and has two other admissions rounds in April and June. Goizueta enrolls about 50 students to 65 students per class.

University of Florida (Warrington) does not require EMBA applicants to submit test scores to be considered for admission. The average incoming student has a 3.07 undergraduate GPA, 600 GMAT score, and 15 years of work experience. Prior to enrolling Warrington EMBA students, have a median base salary of $115,000. In 2020, Warrington accepted 88% of applicants and currently enrolls 104 EMBA students. Applications are due July 1, 2022 and 48 credits are needed to graduate. International students must submit TOEFL scores to be considered for admission, and all applicants must send in two recommendation letters.

Santa Clara University (Leavey) requires applicants to submit an official GMAT or GRE score, but the GMAT may be waived on a case-by-case basis. The average incoming EMBA student at Leavey has a 3.35 undergraduate GPA and 625 GMAT score with 17 years of work experience. The fall deadline for scholarship priority is April 1 and the final deadline to apply is June 1. The 20-month program takes five terms to complete. The average cohort size for the program is 30 students to 35 students. International students are not required to submit a TOEFL score to be considered for admission.

Michigan State University (Broad) does not require EMBA applicants to submit a GMAT or GRE score to be considered for admission. Instead, they look at previous coursework, professional work experience, and professional certifications. The average incoming Broad EMBA student has a 3.18 undergraduate GPA and a 668 GMAT score with 12 years of work experience and four in management. The program offers admissions during four application rounds in December, February, April, and May, and currently enrolls 106 students. Two professional recommendations are needed to apply.

Arizona State University (W.P. Carey) does not require EMBA candidates to submit either a GMAT or GRE score to be considered for admission. The average incoming EMBA student at W.P. Carey has a 3.23 undergraduate GPA and 590 GMAT score, or 300 GRE score, with 12.9 years of work experience. Admissions are made during five application rounds in October, December, February, April, and July. In 2020, W.P Carey accepted 72% of applicants to its EMBA program, with an entering class size of 34 students. International students must submit proof of English proficiency.

Saint Joseph’s University (Haub) waives its GMAT and GRE requirement for qualified EMBA applicants who meet specific education and work experience criteria. The average incoming EMBA student at Haub has a 3.3 undergraduate GPA and 560 GMAT score with 16 years of work experience. Admissions are made on a rolling basis, and the program currently has 195 students enrolled. Haub offers two EMBA programs: a one-year program and a 20-month program. International students are not required to submit a TOEFL score to be considered for admission.

Marquette University waives its GMAT and GRE requirement for qualified EMBA applicants who meet specific education and work experience criteria. The average incoming EMBA student at Marquette has a 580 GMAT score and 12 years of work experience. Applications are accepted throughout the year on a rolling basis and are reviewed as received. Two letters of recommendation are needed to apply. The program takes 17 months to complete, and has an August start date. Classes meet twice per month in Milwaukee.

Xavier University does not require EMBA applicants to submit a GMAT, GRE, or Executive Assessment score to be considered for admission. The average incoming EMBA student at Xavier has a 3.24 undergraduate GPA and 510 GMAT score. Applications are considered on a rolling basis until Aug. 15 each year. Approximately 15 students to 20 students are admitted to the program each year. Prospective students must submit two letters of recommendation to be considered for admission. Xavier’s program takes 16 months to complete, and classes meet two times per month on Fridays and Saturdays.