In this in-depth class profile comparison of MIT, Kellogg, and Chicago Booth Full-time MBA, we cover:
• Class Size
• Work Experience
• GMAT and GPA
• GRE
• Gender Representation
• International Students
• Undergraduate Majors
• Pre-MBA Industry
Class Profile
Class Size: Booth’s Larger Cohort Stands Out
Chicago Booth leads with the largest class size of 632 students, offering a vast network and diverse peer interactions. Kellogg follows with 524 students, balancing a robust cohort size with a more personalized experience. MIT Sloan has the smallest class size at 433, fostering a more intimate learning environment and a close-knit community.
Work Experience: Uniform Across the Board
All three programs maintain a consistent average of 5 years of work experience - a shared focus on attracting mid-career professionals with substantial professional expertise, ensuring classroom discussions are enriched by real-world perspectives.
GMAT and GPA: Competitive Standards
Kellogg edges slightly ahead with a median GMAT score of 733, compared to 730 for both MIT Sloan and Booth. The median GPAs are nearly identical, with MIT and Kellogg at 3.7 and Booth slightly lower at 3.6, indicating equally high academic expectations across these top programs.
GRE Scores: A Minor Distinction
Kellogg shows a marginal edge in GRE verbal scores (162) and matches Booth in quantitative scores (163). MIT, however, outpaces both with a GRE quantitative score of 166, reflecting its strong emphasis on analytical and quantitative skills.
Gender Representation: Kellogg and MIT Lead in Inclusivity
Kellogg leads the pack with 50% female representation, followed closely by MIT Sloan at 49%. Booth, with 42% women, lags behind, highlighting an area for potential improvement – a tricky scenario as schools with strong Finance ‘branding’ have found it hard to attract international women applicants from Finance to balance the ‘women’ and ‘international’ representation.
International Representation: A Global Perspective
MIT Sloan and Kellogg are tied with 40% international students, emphasizing the two brands appeal to global talent.
Booth, with 35% international representation, demonstrates slightly less global diversity, though it still attracts a significant number of international candidates.
Overall, Kellogg excels in gender diversity and slightly higher GMAT scores, making it an excellent choice for those seeking a large, inclusive, and academically competitive environment. MIT Sloan stands out for its intimate class size, strong quantitative emphasis, and nearly equal gender representation. Booth, with its large cohort and strong academic rigor, offers unparalleled networking opportunities but shows room for growth in gender diversity and international representation.
Final Take
MIT and Kellogg are similar in class composition and entry criteria, with Kellogg enforcing a stronger barrier to entry with the GMAT Score and MIT with a higher Quant score in GRE.
On GPA, Booth is the lenient among the three.
Women representation has been consistently strong at Kellogg with MIT catching up and inching closer to the 50% representation, presumably from the higher percentage of women technology professionals and consultants in the workforce.
| Class Profile | MIT MBA Class of 2026 | Kellogg MBA Class of 2026 | Chicago Booth MBA Class of 2026 |
| Enrolled | 433 | 524 | 632 |
| Work Experience (Average) | 5 years | 5 years | 5 years |
| GMAT Score (Median/Average) | 730 | 733 | 730 |
| GPA (Median/Average) | 3.7 | 3.7 | 3.6 |
| GRE (V/Q) | 161/166 | 162/163 | 161/163 |
| % Women | 49% | 50% | 42% |
| % International Students | 40% | 40% | 35% |
Undergraduate Majors
Business/Economics: Kellogg and Booth Lead with Equal Strength
Kellogg and Booth both have 49% of their classes coming from Business and Economics backgrounds, showcasing their strong appeal to candidates with foundational knowledge in Finance, Management, and Economics. MIT Sloan, at 37%, is a leeway to manage a predominantly STEM class.
Humanities/Social Sciences: Kellogg’s Broader Perspective
Kellogg stands out with 24% of its class hailing from Humanities and Social Sciences, nearly double Booth's 15% and significantly higher than MIT's 10%.
STEM: MIT’s Clear Strength
MIT Sloan dominates in STEM representation, with 46% of its class coming from engineering, technology, and science fields, underscoring its strong analytical and quantitative focus.
Kellogg, at 39%, also attracts a substantial percentage of STEM graduates, while Booth trails at 30%, indicating a comparatively more traditional preference for business-oriented backgrounds.
Overall, Kellogg and Booth show a clear preference for candidates with Business and Economics degrees, appealing to those with traditional business acumen.
Kellogg further distinguishes itself with strong representation from Humanities and Social Sciences, catering to students with diverse intellectual approaches. MIT Sloan leads in STEM representation, reflecting its analytical and technical focus.
Final Take
Overall Kellogg has the most balanced class on undergraduate majors.
| Undergraduate Degree | MIT MBA Class of 2026 | Kellogg MBA Class of 2026 | Chicago Booth MBA Class of 2026 |
| Business/ Economics | 37% | 49% | 49% |
| Humanities/Social Science | 10% | 24% | 15% |
| STEM | 46% | 39% | 30% |
Pre-MBA Industry
Consulting: Dominating Across the Board
Consulting emerges as the top pre-MBA industry for all three programs, but Kellogg leads with 32% of its class, slightly ahead of MIT Sloan’s 30% and Booth’s 27%. This dominance reflects the alignment of Consulting experience with strong consulting placements in all three schools, though Kellogg's slightly higher representation might indicate a stronger draw for professionals in this field.
Note: For the latest class – Kellogg had the most consulting placements, followed by Booth and MIT. Since Consulting candidates don’t switch industries, the school’s strategy to attract candidates from the industry adds up. The strategy is also a reflection of the upward trajectory in consulting placements in recent years – crossing 40% that tempered down this year to 35%.
Technology: MIT’s Clear Strength
MIT Sloan shines in Technology, with 20% of its class coming from tech roles, reinforcing its strong association with innovation and a tech-forward mindset. Kellogg, at 18%, also appeals to tech professionals but slightly less so. Booth, at 13%, has comparatively fewer tech candidates, signaling a focus on more traditional business industries.
Note: The strong technology placements at Kellogg could be from the school’s pivot to attract engineers and technologists to the class. MIT has a legacy of attracting engineers. Booth has fallen from the 20% and above placements to the 14-15% range.
Financial Services: Booth’s Traditional Core
Booth stands out in financial services, with 26% of its class coming from this sector, reflecting its historical strength in finance and investment roles. MIT Sloan follows closely with 21%, emphasizing its balance between finance and other industries. The increased push at MIT to attract Finance majors is a reflection of a reversal of a 3-year trend of falling Finance recruitment to a comeback year where 25% of the accepted offers were in Finance.
Kellogg, with 18%, attracts a smaller share, indicating its broader appeal to non-finance sectors.
Related:
• Find the Consulting, Technology and Financial Services placement trends (Chicago Booth)(3 Years)
• Find the Consulting, Technology and Financial Services placement trends (MIT) )(3 Years)
• Find the Consulting, Technology and Financial Services placement trends (Kellogg) )(3 Years)
Healthcare: Small but Steady Representation
Healthcare professionals comprise a modest portion of each class, with Kellogg leading at 7%, followed by MIT Sloan at 6%, and Booth at 5%. These numbers suggest steady but niche representation for candidates seeking to blend business acumen with healthcare expertise.
Government/Non-Profit: Diverse Appeal
MIT Sloan and Booth attract significantly more candidates from government and non-profit sectors, with 10% and 11%, respectively. In contrast, Kellogg’s 2% representation in this category suggests a lower focus on candidates from public service backgrounds.
Smaller Industries: Unique Trends
Media/Entertainment has a higher presence at Kellogg (5%) compared to MIT Sloan (2%), while Booth does not report representation from this sector. Similarly, military professionals make up 3% of Kellogg’s class but are not explicitly represented in the data for MIT Sloan or Booth. Energy and Manufacturing remain minor contributors across all three programs, with no school exceeding 2%.
Final Take
Overall, Kellogg's strength lies in its high consulting representation and diverse intake from sectors like media/entertainment and military, reflecting its focus on well-rounded leadership. MIT Sloan balances consulting and financial services with a strong tech orientation and notable representation from government and non-profits. Booth stands out for its financial services focus and steady intake from traditional business sectors.
| Pre-MBA Industry | MIT MBA Class of 2026 | Kellogg MBA Class of 2026 | Chicago Booth MBA Class of 2026 |
| Consulting | 30% | 32% | 27% |
| Technology | 20% | 18% | 13% |
| Financial Services | 21% | 18% | 26% |
| Healthcare | 6% | 7% | 5% |
| Government/Non-Profit | 10% | 2% | 11% |
| CPG/Retail/E-commerce | 5% | 5% | 4% |
| Energy | 1% | 1% | 2% |
| Manufacturing | 1% | 2% | 1% |
| Media/Entertainment | 2% | 5% | NA |
| Military | NA | 3% | NA |
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