MBA Applications Up for 2015: GMAC 2014 Application Trends Survey

According to the GMAC 2014 Application Trends Survey, 61% of global full-time two-year MBA programs participating in the survey reported application growth – up from 50% of programs in 2013 and only 43% in 2012. It is the first time in five years when a majority of schools reported an increase.

Here are the key points:

• 35% of the 314 responding business schools told GMAC their applications were down this past year. As recently as 2011, 67% of the surveyed schools reported declines in two-year MBA applications.
• The last time a majority of schools reported rising applications in two-year, full-time MBA programs was 2009. At that time, 64% of the respondents reported an uptick.
• 60% business schools with one-year MBA programs reported a decline in applications this past year.
• 65% of U.S. full-time two-year MBA programs report receiving more applications from foreign candidates, up from 56% in 2013, and 41% in 2012. U.S. schools report  that India and China are their largest sources of foreign students.
• The percentage of professional MBA programs (part-time, flexible, online, and executive MBA) reporting increased application volume was higher this year than in 2013, however, the majority of programs is not yet experiencing growth.
• Growth in application volume is seen among Master in Marketing and Communications, Master in Information Technology, Master in Management, and Master of Accounting programs. Master of Finance programs are experiencing declining volume for the third year in a row.

In the United States, 65 percent of full-time two-year MBA programs report receiving more applications from foreign candidates, while demand also continues to improve among domestic candidates (up for 48% of programs in 2014 compared with 22% in 2012). The following programs reported a majority of foreign candidates in their applicant pools:

1. Master of Finance (82% of applicants)
2. Master in Management (73%)
3. Master in Marketing and Communications (69%)
4. Full-time one-year MBA (56%)
5. Full-time two-year MBA (52%)
6. Citizens of countries in East and Southeast Asia and Central and South Asia make up the majority of foreign candidates applying to programs in Asia-Pacific, Canada, India, and the United States.
7. Programs located in Europe received their largest share of foreign candidates from East and Southeast Asia and from other European countries.

For more information please see GMAC 2014 Application Trends Survey