The Wharton School
Philadelphia, United States - Founded 1881
The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania was founded in 1881 by Joseph Wharton and is based in Philadelphia. The full-time MBA runs 20 months, starting in early August, and includes a summer internship. The Class of 2027 enrolled 888 students from 7,613 applications; 44% are women and 26% are international. The class averaged 735 on the classic GMAT (200-800) and 676 on the GMAT Focus Edition (205-805). For the Class of 2025, the median base salary was $185,000 and financial services took 38.2% of accepted jobs, consulting 28.2% and technology 15.3%. Wharton ranks #3 in the FT Global MBA 2026 ranking and #2 in US News Best Business Schools 2026.
Class size
888
Avg GMAT
735
Median salary
$185,000
- #3 Financial Times Global MBA 2026
- #2 Bloomberg Businessweek Best B-Schools 2026-27 (US)
- #2 US News Best Business Schools 2026
Class profile
Applications
7,613
Avg GPA
3.7
GMAT range
-
Intl students
26%
Women
44%
Avg work exp
5.0 yrs
Avg age
-
GRE accepted
Yes
Undergraduate majors
Pre-MBA industries
Employment
Median base salary
$185,000
Signing bonus
$30,000
Placement (3 mo)
-
Offers at grad
-
Changed industry
-
Changed function
-
Top employers
| Industry | % of class |
|---|---|
| Financial services (total) | 38.2% |
| Consulting | 28.2% |
| Technology | 15.3% |
| Health care | 3.8% |
Programs
| Type | Program | Duration | Format | Tuition | Class size |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full-time MBA | Wharton MBA | 20 months | Full-time, on-campus (Philadelphia) | $93,008/year (tuition and fees, 2026-27) | 888 |
| Executive MBA | Wharton MBA for Executives | 24 months | Classes every other weekend; Philadelphia, San Francisco and Global cohorts | See program page | 256 |
| Joint degree | Lauder MBA/MA Joint Degree in International Studies | 24 months | Full-time, on-campus with international immersion | MBA tuition plus Lauder fees; total budget $179,317 in year one (2026-27) | - |
| Early-career | Moelis Advance Access Program | 20 months, after 2 to 4 years of work | Two to four years of work, then the full-time MBA in Philadelphia | Full-time MBA tuition on enrollment | - |
All full-time MBA programs comparedAll early-career MBA programs compared
Admissions
| Round | Deadline | Decision by |
|---|---|---|
| Round 1 | September 8, 2026 | December 17, 2026 |
| Round 2 | January 5, 2027 | March 31, 2027 |
| Round 3 | March 31, 2027 | May 11, 2027 |
| Deferred Admissions Round (Moelis Advance Access) | April 21, 2027 | July 1, 2027 |
Application fee
$275
Tuition
$93,008/year (tuition and fees, 2026-27)
Total cost
$135,441/year (2026-27 budget)
Interview
By invitation only. A 35-minute virtual Team Based Discussion with 5 to 6 other applicants, followed by a 10-minute one-on-one interview with a member of the admissions team. No candidate is admitted without an interview.
English test
Required
Deferral
Wharton's general policy is not to grant deferrals; requests are handled case by case. The Moelis Advance Access Program is a separate deferred admission route for students in their final year of study.
FAQ
What GMAT score do I need for Wharton?
Wharton has no minimum score. The Class of 2027 averaged 735 on the classic GMAT (200-800) and 676 on the GMAT Focus Edition (205-805). Wharton accepts the GMAT or the GRE with no preference.
What is the Wharton acceptance rate?
Wharton does not publish an acceptance rate. It received 7,613 applications for the Class of 2027, which enrolled 888 students.
How many rounds does Wharton have?
Three rounds plus a Deferred Admissions Round. For 2026-27: Round 1 closes September 8, 2026, Round 2 January 5, 2027, Round 3 March 31, 2027, and the Deferred Admissions Round April 21, 2027.
What is the median salary for Wharton graduates?
The Class of 2025 median base salary was $185,000. Students who reported a sign-on bonus had a median of $30,000.
Sources
- 1The Wharton School, Class profile
- 2The Wharton School, Admissions
- 3The Wharton School, Employment report (checked October 15, 2026)