Vanderbilt B-school reports continued rise in GMAT score, increased diversity and robust demand for specialized programs
NASHVILLE, August 24, 2007 – As students from around the world begin their studies this week at the Vanderbilt Owen Graduate School of Management, the incoming class they comprise ranks among one of the largest and most qualified in recent years. In fact, the 214 new students pursuing Owen’s traditional full-time MBA represent a nearly 33 percent increase in class size from the previous year.
The incoming Vanderbilt MBA class has an average GMAT score of 644 – up twenty points from 2005; a 3.27 GPA, up from 3.23 a year ago; and an average of 4.6 years of work experience. Owen also reports increased percentages of women (28 percent) and minorities (10 percent) in the class, and the 26 percent international students represent more than 20 different nations. Taken together, these developments further strengthen the diverse and global experience available at Vanderbilt’s B-school.
“This year’s incoming class is exceptionally strong, demonstrating the significant market demand that we continue to see for the Vanderbilt brand of management education,” said Jim Bradford, dean of the Owen School. “Students want a cutting-edge, relevant experience that provides them with the tools they’ll need to succeed in an increasingly complex business environment, and that’s the experience they’ll have at Owen in the year ahead.”
Strong Interest in Health Care, Finance, Accountancy and Executive Programs
Interest in Owen’s diverse range of market-driven academic programs also continues to grow. Among the incoming MBA class, nearly 13 percent of students have declared their intention to pursue Owen’s Health Care MBA. Launched in 2005, this specialized management education program, designed in collaboration with leading industry executives and the Vanderbilt University Medical Center, provides students with the most robust and innovative health care management curriculum of its kind and features a unique “immersion” component that puts MBA students on the front lines of the nation’s complex health care system.
Now in its third year, Owen’s master’s degree in finance continues to be in high demand among students, with a nearly 70 percent jump in total applications. 31 new students will begin the MS-Finance program with an average GMAT score of 700, up 30 points from last year. This flexible and modular nine-month program draws upon Owen’s leading finance faculty, complements the finance concentration in the MBA program, and is designed to equip students with finely tuned skills in areas such as financial analysis, investment strategies, portfolio management, financial modeling, firm valuation, econometric forecasting, risk management, asset allocation, fixed income markets and derivatives.
The new master of accountancy program will welcome its inaugural class of 15 students with an average GMAT score of 661 and 3.4 GPA. Announced in November 2006, this one-year program is designed for students from diverse disciplines who aspire to launch their careers with one of the top global accounting firms.
Finally, Owen's Executive MBA (EMBA) program saw a 25 percent increase in enrollment, with average GMAT scores rising 30 points to 600. The Vanderbilt EMBA is one of the premier MBA programs offered on weekends for seasoned executives, and the full 60-credit curriculum is one of the more quantitatively rigorous programs available.
Founded in 1969, the Owen Graduate School of Management at Vanderbilt University is ranked as a top institution by Business Week, The Wall Street Journal, U.S. News & World Report and Forbes. For more news about Owen, visit www.owen.vanderbilt.edu.
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