Entry Criteria
Tuck has the highest GMAT score of 726, followed by Yale at 720 and Darden at 710. In terms of GRE score, Yale had the highest score, 164/166 (V/Q), whereas, Tuck followed with 161/161 (V/Q). Despite having the highest GMAT score, Tuck had the lowest undergrad GPA of 3.49, followed by Darden at 3.51, and the highest was for Yale at 3.64. So, there is no clear winner for the academic criteria. Tuck leads the GMAT score, and Yale leads for the GRE and GPA. Applicants with relatively lower academic scores should target Darden.
Tuck is the best option for students with a Humanities or Social Science undergraduate degree, as 40% of students of the Class of 2025 are from this major, the highest for all the top MBA programs. Similarly, for Business/Economics and STEM, Yale will be a better option.
Acceptance Rate
Darden, with the lowest average GMAT score, has the highest acceptance rate of 26%, whereas both Tuck and Yale, with higher academic scores, have similar acceptance rates between 22%-23%.
International Applicants
For International students, Yale, with 50% international students, is the best option whereas Darden with 41% international students, is the second-best option, and with 33%, Tuck is the relatively tougher MBA program for admissions.
Women Applicants
44% clearly puts Tuck on the top of the list for Women MBA applicants. Darden and Yale are in the 40% and below percentage.
Emotional Intelligence
Tuck MBA desires to know the reasons why the applicants want to join Tuck MBA and how they can, in turn add value to the school. Tuck also asked the students about one of their experiences where they have been encouraging, inclusive, collaborative, and empathetic – traits of a true team player.
Darden examines the applicants based on three essays, each with a unique aspect, i.e., Community Engagement, Inclusiveness, and Career with Purpose. The school focuses on the applicant's path and whether the person balances goal pursuit with community and team growth.
On the one hand, Darden and Tuck ask three essay questions. Yale has only three essay options – one about the biggest commitment, the second about community, and the third about the Significant Challenge faced.
| Class Profile | Tuck Class of 2025 | Darden Class of 2025 | Yale Class of 2025 |
| Class Size | 297 | 352 | 339 |
| Women % | 44% | 37% | 40% |
| International % | 33% | 41% | 50% |
| Median GMAT | 726 | 710 | 720 |
| Median GRE | 161/161 | 322 | 164/166 |
| Median GPA | 3.49 | 3.51 | 3.64 |
| Average Experience | 5.9 years | 5.1 years | |
| Pre-MBA Industry | |||
| Financial Services | 22% | 22% | 24% |
| Government/Non-Profit | 16% | 20% | 20% |
| Consulting | 17% | 13% | 18% |
| Technology | 15% | 12% | 12% |
| Healthcare | 6% | NA | 6% |
| CPG | 7% | 6% | 5% |
| Pre-MBA Undergraduate | |||
| Arts, humanities, social sciences | 40% | NA | 25% |
| STEM | 25% | NA | 35% |
| Business | 28% | NA | 22% |
| Economics | NA | NA | 18% |
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