Harvard Business School (HBS) expects women to make up a record 41 percent of its incoming MBA class, according to preliminary data released earlier this week. Up from 40 percent last year and 35 percent ten years ago, it reflects continuing efforts the school has been making to bolster female enrollment. The University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School has been a leader among top business schools with regard to female enrollment, with women making up 42 percent of its incoming class last year. The Philadelphia school has not yet released its enrollment figures for the upcoming fall. Stanford Graduate School of Business, which enrolled 35 percent women last year, also has not yet released fall enrollment figures. The strides in female enrollment come amid HBS’s celebration of the 50th anniversary of admitting women MBA students, which it commemorated in 2012-13. Even so, according to a report HBS published to mark the occasion, its women graduates are less satisfied with their careers than their male counterparts, and many believe the decision to prioritize family over work stands as the greatest barrier to career advancement for women. In releasing its preliminary class profile, HBS also revealed that applications rose 9.3 percent (to 9,315) last year and that it admitted 12 percent of those who applied, down from 13 percent last year. HBS expects its class size to increase to 941 students this fall, up from 913 last year. Class Profile
A truly diverse student body — in background, nationality, interests and ambitions — is the foundation of the HBS experience. Indeed, these differences are critical to the HBS learning model, which thrives on the many perspectives and life experiences our students from all over the world bring to their classes. From academic assignments to casual conversations, the unique qualities of individual lives enrich the education of the entire community. For historical information on the MBA class visit these additional statistics. MBA Class of 2015 Profile*| Admissions | | | Total MBA Enrollment | 941 | | Applications | 9,315 | | % Admitted | 12% | | Yield | 90% |
Class Composition| Women | 386 | 41% | | US Ethnic Minorities | 234 | 25% | | International | 325 | 35% | | Average Age | 27 | | | Countries represented | 60 | | | Domestic undergraduate institutions represented | 126 | | | International undergraduate institutions represented | 137 | | | GMAT Score Range | 550-780 | | | Median GMAT | 730 | |
Citizenship| North America | 655 | 69% | | United States | 616 | 65% | | Asia | 147 | 16% | | Europe | 80 | 9% | | Central/South America | 35 | 4% | | Africa | 13 | 1% | | Oceania | 11 | 1% |
Educational Background| STEM | 366 | 39% | | Economics/Business | 407 | 43% | | Humanities/Social Sciences | 168 | 18% |
Pre-MBA Industry| Consulting | 175 | 19% | | Consumer Products | 62 | 7% | | Energy/Extractive Minerals | 39 | 4% | | Financial Services | 131 | 14% | | Gov't, Education, & Non-Profit | 66 | 7% | | Healthcare/Biotech | 56 | 6% | | High Tech/Communications | 101 | 11% | | Industrial/Heavy Manufacturing | 68 | 7% | | Military | 48 | 5% | | Other Services | 40 | 4% | | Venture Capital/Private Equity | 155 | 16% |
*As of June 3, 2013 - data subject to change | 
