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WashU Olin MBA - Class Profile, Salary & Curriculum

WashU Olin Full-time MBA is a unique mix of entrepreneurial, military, and industry candidates with close to 50% representation of Women and International applicants. The smaller class size makes such a carefully structured composition a melting point for peer-to-peer and experiential learning.

In this in-depth analysis of Washington University Olin Full-time MBA, we cover:

WashU MBA Class Profile  

The Full-Time MBA program at WashU (Washington University) enrolled a total of 89 students, with an average age of 28 years. The students had an average of 4.2 years of work experience – close to a year higher than a typical top US MBA program.

The student’s academic aptitude is tested with a combination of GMAT/GPA scores. For the latest class, the average GMAT score was 670, and the average GPA was 3.4.  Women candidates were closer to the halfway mark while the international students touched 49% - one of the highest for a US-based MBA program, although it is typical for European MBA programs to build a class with 70% and above internationals.

WashU Full-Time MBAClass Profile
Total Students89
Average Age28
Average Work Experience4.2 years
Average GMAT670
Average GPA3.4
Women47%
International Students49%
Countries Represented18

 

WashU MBA – Total Cost  

The tuition fee for the MBA program at WashU (Washington University) is  $132,400. This is a significant expense and a major component of the total cost of pursuing an MBA at WashU.

WashU MBA Cost
Tuition$132,400
Fall 2023 Program Fee$3,750
Students government Fee$650
Global Immersion Expenses$1,250
Rent, utilities & food$23,976
Personal & miscellaneous$3,344
Transportation$692

In addition to tuition, the expenses also include the Fall 2023 program fee, student government fee, and global immersion expenses. The Fall 2023 program fee is $3,750 and is likely to cover additional costs associated with the MBA program, such as administrative fees, technology fees, and access to resources on campus.

The student government fee, which is $650, is typically collected by the student government to support various student activities and initiatives on campus, such as events, clubs, and networking opportunities. The global immersion expenses, amounting to $1,250, cover costs related to international travel, accommodation, and other expenses associated with global immersion experiences offered as part of the MBA program.

The table below also includes expenses related to daily living, such as rent, utilities, food, personal and miscellaneous expenses, and transportation. These expenses are likely to vary depending on individual choices and lifestyle preferences, but they are important considerations when budgeting for the overall cost of pursuing an MBA at WashU.

WashU MBA Curriculum

The WashU Full-Time MBA program offers a core curriculum and electives, as well as a global immersion experience that includes travel to three other continents. These international experiences are intended to provide students with a greater knowledge of global businesses and to reiterate the impact of culture in an organization.

The Master of Business Administration requires 67 credit hours, 27 of which are electives.

Summer 1 SemesterFall 1 SemesterSpring 1 SemesterFall 2 SemesterSpring 2 Semester
Values-Based/Data-Driven Decision-MakingManagerial EconomicsStrategic Cost AnalysisLeadership DevelopmentThe Global Business Environment in the 21st Century
Global Institutions and ValuesFinancial AccountingBusiness AnalyticsElective CoursesElective Courses
Foundations of Impactful TeamworkIntroduction to Management & StrategyElective Courses  
General Management Practice for International BusinessMarketing Management   
Business Models in a Global ContextFinancial Management   
Implementing Strategy through Global OperationsOperations Management   
Effective Communication for Business LeadersPlatform Industry Seminars   

Concentrations: The WashU Full-time MBA offers concentrations in five niches - Consulting, Corporate Finance & Investments, Marketing, Operations & Supply Chain Management, and Entrepreneurship.

ConsultingCorporate Finance & InvestmentsMarketingOperations & Supply Chain ManagementEntrepreneurship
General Management and Internal ConsultingFinancial ManagementBrand ManagementOperations/Supply Chain ManagementCommercial Entrepreneurship
Business of HealthcareInvestment Banking - Corporate FinanceProduct ManagementSupply Chain ConsultingSocial Entrepreneurship
International ManagementPrivate Equity and Venture Capital   
Strategy ConsultingInvestment Banking - Capital Markets and Trading   
Human Capital ConsultingAsset Management   

Global

Global Immersion: The six-week global immersive experience takes students from the halls of the US government in Washington DC to Barcelona, Spain, Paris, and finally to Santiago, Chile, a country with an economy as diverse as its topography. During this one-of-a-kind semester, students complete 16 credit hours of the 67 required for the MBA—roughly 40% of the required core hours. WashU's global electives include:

1.  Africa Business Landscape
2.  Asian Business Networks
3.  Madagascar Sustainability Initiative
4.  Venture Advising in Israel and Germany
5.  CELect Global

Exchange Program: WashU offers exchange programs ranging from two weeks to a semester in Argentina, China, England, France, Germany, and India. All courses are taught in English unless otherwise specified. Students can select a location that corresponds to their interests and linguistic abilities. The following schools are Exchange program partners:

CountryPartner School
ChinaHong Kong University of Science and Technology
 Chinese University of Hong Kong
South KoreaYonsei University School of Business
GermanyWHU-Otto Beisheim School of Management
FranceUniversité Paris-Dauphine
IndiaIndian Institute of Management Ahmedabad
 Indian Institute of Management Calcutta
 S.P. Jain Institute of Management and Research

Experiential Learning
The Centre for Experiential Learning (CEL) and Skandalaris Centre for Interdisciplinary Innovation and Entrepreneurial Studies support more than half of WashU's MBA graduates doing a practicum.

Students work on a project with their team peers to apply what they've learned in an area that suits them, their functional interests, and their aspirations. Each team has gone to work assisting for-profits, NGOs, and startups by developing innovative management solutions.

1.  Corporate Consulting: Students may apply to one of the WashU CEL Practicum student teams, which are supervised by an Olin faculty mentor and provide management consulting to local, national, or international firms. They can also take part in industry-supported joint projects funded by Olin research centers. Students can network with prominent consulting firms and develop their case analysis abilities by working with the in-house consulting platform.
2.  Nonprofit Consulting and Governance: Through short-term consulting assignments and expertise sharing, students can assist charitable organizations in running more efficiently. They can serve as full-fledged voting members on the board of a local nonprofit.
3.  Global Business: The WashU global immersion experience exposes students to businesses and cultures from three continents. These experiences expose kids to perspectives, practices, and collaborative approaches from people all across the world. This worldwide finance network connects students with professionals from North America, Europe, and Asia's financial centers.
4.  Entrepreneurship and Innovation: Students are frequently given hands-on experience with established company founders, venture capitalists, investors, and CEOs. The WashU entrepreneurship platform educates students on all stages of the startup process and connects them with St. Louis' nationally recognized startup environment.

Entrepreneurial
WashU features more than a dozen classes dedicated to innovation and entrepreneurship, including the Hatchery course, which has launched startups with a combined $87 million in funding since 2008. The instructors at Olin include serial entrepreneurs who have guided and launched their own enterprises multiple times.

Courses included in Innovation and entrepreneurship are:
•  Introduction to Social Entrepreneurship
•  Social Innovation
•  Introduction to Entrepreneurship
•  Innovating for Healthcare
•  The Basics of Bio-Entrepreneurship
•  Venture Advising
•  Managing the Innovation Process
•  Acquisition Entrepreneurship
•  Business Planning for New Enterprises (The Hatchery)
•  Business Fundamentals for Nonbusiness Students
•  Sustainable Development and Conservation through Entrepreneurial Collaboration: Madagascar
•  Venture Capital Methods

The Skandalaris Centre for Interdisciplinary Innovation and Entrepreneurship at Washington University is the hub for all students at Olin. Students interested in influencing business and society in areas such as sustainability/environmentalism, social responsibility, global impact, and equity, diversity, and inclusion are encouraged to apply for the Entrepreneurship Fellowship. Student and alumni-founded firms have garnered $735 million in capital from various sources since WashU Olin established its entrepreneurship program.

Olin's BIG IdeaBounce is an elevator pitch competition with $30,000 in cash awards. Any WashU student with an idea and a desire to see it through to completion is eligible to apply. The Skandalaris Venture Competition provides up to $40,000 in funding to startups for commercializing their ideas, launching their businesses, and presenting to investors.

Another ecosystem fostering Entrepreneurship at WashU is The WashU Venture Network which was established in collaboration with Olin and the Skandalaris Centre to attract angel financing to WashU-related enterprises. The Centre for Experiential Learning at Olin University provides two consulting courses that provide students with hands-on experience with an entrepreneurial business.

CEL Entrepreneurial Consulting Team (CELect): Students in CELect work on a consulting project for early-stage firms in St. Louis, New York City, San Francisco, and throughout the world. WashU offers two CEL Metrics Clinic options: Finance and Marketing. These courses match students with a St. Louis company seeking data-driven consulting on a business challenge in one of those two fields. These six- to eight-week consulting assignments are led by students and supervised by faculty.

Combined Degrees

Students in this option will spend the first summer semester with their MBA classmates before completing a combination of electives and mandatory courses in both programs. Some courses will apply to both degrees and will be taken concurrently by students.

The STEM-designated specialized master's programs may be paired with the MBA program:

•  MS in Analytics (tracks in accounting, customer, fintech, healthcare, and supply chain analytics)
•  MS in Finance quantitative track
•  MS in Supply Chain Management

Students can also combine their MBA with one of the following non-STEM-designated master's degrees: Master of Accounting (usually pursued by students pursuing CPA certification), MS in Corporate Finance, and MS in Wealth and Asset Management.

Students pursuing a dual degree at WashU can spend some semesters at Olin and others at another WashU school. Students can combine their MBA with one or more of the following programs:

•  Master of Architecture (MArch) or Master of Urban Design (MUD)
•  Master of Science in Biomedical Engineering (MS-BME)
•  Master of Arts in East Asian Studies (MA)
•  Juris Doctor (JD)
•  Master of Social Work (MSW)
•  Master of Public Health (MPH)
•  Master of Engineering in Energy, Environmental and Chemical Engineering (MEng-EECE)

WashU MBA Application Process

To apply for the WashU Full-Time MBA, complete the online application form and submit all essential documents and information.  The application form requires the following items to be submitted (by upload):

•  One-page résumé
•  Two required essays (one optional)
•  Standardized test scores
•  Academic transcripts (unofficial)
•  Application video
•  One professional recommendation
•  WashU application form submission does not require any application fee.

Additional Information on Required Documents:
•  Transcripts for a degree that is equivalent of a U.S. bachelor's degree from an accredited institution at the time of enrollment.
•  GMAT/GRE
•  TOEFL/IELTS: non-US citizens or permanent residents whose first language is not English
•  Application Interview Video: Applicants must submit a video interview. 
•  Essays: Two required essays (one optional):
o  Share with us one of your strongest values. Help us understand how that value connects to your career aspirations. Please include the following in your response: Target function and/or industry; Desired company or organization; Skills you will need to develop; Necessary connections and/or experiences (350-500 word maximum)
o  The confidence to operate beyond one’s comfort zone is grounded in understanding who you are, what you value, and how you uniquely contribute. Share your story. Describe who you are and the impact you wish to have. (350-500 word maximum)
o  Optional: Is there anything else you would like to share? If so, please provide any additional information not previously addressed in the application that would help the admissions committee assess your candidacy. (250-word maximum)

WashU MBA Scholarships and Financial Aid

Students are urged to be proactive in their financial preparation while earning their degrees. Opportunities included in the Funding are the following:

•  Institutional Scholarships
•  Outside Scholarships
•  Federal Student Aid
•  Private Student Loans

All candidates admitted to Olin are immediately considered for the restricted merit-based scholarship opportunities, which do not require a separate application. The Admissions Committee will analyze the application to assess eligibility and notify students of their acceptance status.

Furthermore, WashU provides access to the following scholarship and fellowship programs:

 

Name of the Award EligibilityAwardAmount
Consortium for Graduate Study Management (CGSM) MBA FellowshipsOpen to all Full-Time MBA studentsfull-tuition MBA scholarships at one of the 19 participating schools
McDonnell International Scholars AcademyInternational graduates from certain universities outside the United StatesFull-tuition scholarships and a $28,000 annual stipend are available.
Forté FoundationWomen candidates with different backgrounds who demonstrate values-based, data-driven leadership 
Entrepreneurship FellowshipFull-time MBA students seeking to affect business and society on a global scale100% tuition remission, networking opportunities, one-on-one coaching, Lewis Collaborative housing, and more
US Military VeteransStudents who have served in the US Armed ForcesNA
Reaching Out FellowshipStudents belonging to LGBT+ communityminimum scholarship of $10,000 per academic year
Mr. and Mrs. Spencer T. Olin Fellowship for WomenAny woman graduate of a US baccalaureate institutionfull-tuition scholarships
The Milford and Leona Bohm ScholarshipAlumni of Israel's Technion (Israel Institute of Technology) in HaifaNA

 

WashU MBA Salary By Industry

The Technology industry is the most popular choice among MBA graduates from WashU, with 32% of graduates hired in the industry. This is followed by Consulting, with 18% of graduates finding employment in this industry. Financial/Insurance, Manufacturing, and Consumer Packaged Goods also employ a significant percentage of WashU MBA graduates, with 13%, 8%, and 7%, respectively.

The Technology industry offers the highest median base salary at $125,000, which is also the highest among all the industries listed. Healthcare and Energy industries also offer relatively high median base salaries at $125,000 and $118,000, respectively. On the other hand, the Retail industry offers the lowest median base salary at $95,000.

WashU Full-Time MBA Industry% hiredMedian Base Salary
Technology32%$125,000
Consulting18%$122,500
Financial/Insurance13%$120,000
Manufacturing8%$111,800
Consumer Packaged Goods7%$113,000
Healthcare6%$125,000
Energy4%$118,000
Retail4%$95,000

 

WashU MBA Salary By Function

Consulting and General Management are the most popular job functions for WashU MBA graduates, with 26% and 17%, respectively. Finance and Marketing followed the top two, with 15% and 14%.

In terms of median base salaries, Operations offers the highest median base salary at $131,000. This is followed by Consulting and General Management, both with a median base salary of $123,500. Finance and Marketing also offer relatively competitive median base salaries at $120,000 and $113,000, respectively.

WashU Full-Time MBA Functions% HiredMedian Base Salary
Consulting26%$123,500
General Management17%$123,500
Finance15%$120,000
Marketing14%$113,000
Operations11%$131,000
Sales7%$110,000
Human Resources4%$110,000

 

WashU MBA Salary By Region

The Midwest is the most common region of employment for WashU MBA graduates, with 49% of graduates finding employment in this region. The West region comes in second, with 25%. The Southwest and South regions are also relatively common, with 10% and 7% of graduates finding employment in these regions, respectively. The Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions have lower percentages of hires, with 6% and 3%, respectively.

In terms of median base salaries, the West region offers the highest median base salary at $130,000, which is the highest among all the regions. The Midwest and South regions offer median base salaries of $120,000, while the Southwest region offers a slightly lower median base salary at $108,000.

WashU Full Time MBA Employment Regions% HiredMedian Base Salary
Midwest49%$120,000
West25%$130,000
Southwest10%$108,000
South7%$120,000
Northeast6%$107,500
Med-Atlantic3%NA

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