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Last Updated on September 25, 2023
If you’re thinking of applying to the MBA program at Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management, then you’re probably also thinking about whether to take the GMAT and what kind of GMAT score you’ll need to be a competitive applicant.
In this article, we’ll take a look at MBA admission statistics that can help you determine what kind of GMAT score will get you noticed when applying to Kellogg’s full-time MBA program, including Kellogg’s MBA class profile, the Kellogg MBA average GMAT score, and Kellogg’s GMAT score range. We’ll also discuss how to use class profile information to set your GMAT score goal.
Here are all the topics we’ll cover in this article:
- Is Kellogg’s MBA Program Considered Prestigious?
- Is Kellogg’s MBA Program Hard to Get Into?
- The Kellogg Class Profile
- Kellogg GMAT Scores
- What Is a Good GMAT Score for Kellogg?
- Does Kellogg Business School Require GMAT Scores?
- In Conclusion
- What’s Next?
First, let’s review some basics about Kellogg.
Is Kellogg’s MBA Program Considered Prestigious?
The Kellogg School of Management has one of the most prestigious full-time MBA programs in the world. An M7 school, Kellogg’s MBA program was ranked #4 among full-time programs on U.S. News’ 2022 list of the Best Business Schools. (Note that Kellogg took the #3 slot among part-time MBA programs).
Is Kellogg’s MBA Program Hard to Get Into?
Like other M7 schools, Kellogg has a highly competitive admissions process.
That said, the question of whether Kellogg is “hard to get into” will have a different answer for each applicant. For someone with a high GPA, great test scores, and glowing recommendations, Kellogg might not be as “hard to get into” as it will be for someone whose profile is lacking in those areas.
Nevertheless, in comparison to, say, top 25 MBA programs, a top 5 school such as Kellogg would generally be considered “hard to get into.”
KEY FACT:
Like other M7 schools, Kellogg has a highly competitive admissions process.
To get a better sense of how competitive Kellogg’s admissions process is, let’s take a look at the MBA program’s acceptance rate.
The Kellogg MBA Program Acceptance Rate
Currently, Kellogg does not publicly disclose its acceptance rate. However, reputable sources such as Forbes and Poets & Quants put the Kellogg MBA acceptance rate at about 20%, at least for the past few years.
So, although we can’t say for sure, it appears that about one out of every five students applying to Kellogg’s full-time MBA program is accepted.
KEY FACT:
The acceptance rate of Kellogg’s full-time MBA program is about 20%.
Given that Kellogg is so selective, it’s no surprise that its class of 2023 boasts some pretty impressive stats. Let’s take a look at the full-time MBA program’s class profile.
The Kellogg Class Profile
As you might expect, the Kellogg class profile is consistently impressive, and the class of 2023 is no exception. Let’s take a look at some key demographic information for the MBA class for the past few years.
As we can see in the table above, the average number of years of work experience of Kellogg full-time MBA students has held steady at 5 years. This number is right in line with the averages at other top MBA programs.
Notably, the class of 2023 boasts a record-high average GPA of 3.7. (In the five classes prior, the average GPA held steady at 3.6.) The class of 2023 also brought in a record number of female students, the highest percentage in Kellogg’s history. Additionally, the class of 2023 saw a 10% boost in international students compared to the class of 2022.
KEY FACT:
The class of 2023 has the highest percentage of female students of any full-time MBA class in Kellogg’s history.
Now, let’s have a closer look at the academic and professional backgrounds of students admitted to Kellogg’s MBA program.
Kellogg MBA Program: Undergraduate Degrees
As we can see above, for the past three years, roughly half of the members of Kellogg’s MBA class have had an undergraduate degree in business or economics. STEM degrees have been the second most popular among Kellogg’s MBA class, and Humanities degrees the third.
KEY FACT:
For the past three years, roughly half of the members of Kellogg’s MBA class have had an undergraduate degree in business or economics.
Kellogg MBA Program: Top 3 Industries
As we can see above, 2023 marked a shift in the most common industry among Kellogg’s MBA students, from consulting to financial services. Note that from 2021 to 2023, the number of students hailing from the financial services industry increased by 10%, a pretty significant jump. Furthermore, the gap between the percentage of students with backgrounds in consulting or financial services and the percentage with a background in tech has continued to widen since 2021.
KEY FACT:
In 2023, financial services supplanted consulting as the most common industry among Kellogg’s incoming class.
This class profile data is going to come in handy when we discuss how to set your GMAT score goal for Kellogg, later in this article. For now, let’s take a look at the GMAT scores of Kellogg students.
Kellogg GMAT Scores
Kellogg School of Management GMAT scores are — no surprise — impressively high. That said, they are right in line with the average GMAT scores and GMAT ranges of other M7 schools. Let’s have a look at Kellogg GMAT scores for the three most recent incoming classes.
Upon first glance, we might interpret the data above as indicating that 730 is “the magic number” when submitting a GMAT score to Kellogg. After all, for the past three years, both the mean and median GMAT scores have roughly hit that target.
However, we should note the GMAT ranges associated with each MBA class. For example, the class of 2023 was admitted with GMAT scores ranging from a low of 630 to a high of 780 — that’s a 150-point swing. What could explain such a wide range of scores among accepted students? And what do those GMAT ranges mean for your score goal? Can you be competitive at Kellogg with a score in the mid-600s? Do you need to aim for a score in the high 700s? Let’s investigate.
What Is a Good GMAT Score for Kellogg?
Generally speaking, a good GMAT score for any MBA program will be equal to the average GMAT scores of admitted students. In reality, however, the average GMAT scores of an MBA class are merely a starting point when setting your score goal. The fact is, a “good” GMAT score for one person may not be so good for another. After all, admissions weighs a whole host of factors when considering each applicant. Your GPA, work experience, academic and personal background, recommendations, application essays, etc., will all come into play. Furthermore, no two applicants, regardless of test scores and GPA, will ever be exactly alike.
So, while standards overall are undoubtedly high at Kellogg, there is no one set of “magic numbers” that every applicant must have in order to gain admittance. With that in mind, when setting your GMAT score goal, you need to think like admissions. In other words, you need to weigh all of your unique strengths and weaknesses, rather than assume that hitting an average will earn you a seat at the table.
TTP PRO TIP:
All else equal, a good GRE score for Kellogg will generally be equal to the incoming class average.
To illustrate this point, let’s consider a few common scenarios, using data from Kellogg’s class of 2023.
Scenario #1: You’re in an Overrepresented Group
People in groups that are overrepresented in MBA admissions typically need to earn higher GMAT scores in order to stand out among a sea of similar applicants. So, let’s say you’re a white male with an undergraduate degree in economics, a GPA of 3.7, and about 5 years of work experience in consulting. In that case, going by Kellogg’s class of 2023 — and prior classes — you would certainly be overrepresented among applicants. (Note that Kellogg’s class of 2023 is 57% white and 51% male.) In fact, you can bet that a high proportion of applicant profiles will look very similar to yours, given the class data we’ve seen related to academics and work experience.
So, a GMAT score of 730 may not do much to make your application stand out. In other words, if your GMAT score meets the average, then every aspect of your profile will, by Kellogg’s standards, essentially be average.
Thus, to make yourself stand out from the pack, a smart play would be to shoot for a GMAT score that beats the average. Particularly if you are overrepresented in several respects, as our imaginary applicant above is, consider aiming for a GMAT score that approaches the top end of Kellogg GMAT range.
TTP PRO TIP:
If you are in an overrepresented group, aim for a GMAT score that beats the Kellogg average, and possibly one that approaches the top end of the Kellogg GMAT ranges.
Scenario #2: You’re in an Underrepresented Group
Let’s say you’re a black woman with an undergraduate degree in engineering, a GPA of 3.9, and 6 years of work experience in the energy sector. In that case, your applicant profile will be fairly uncommon at Kellogg. (Only 7% of the class of 2023 identifies as black and only 3% of the class hails from the energy industry.) Furthermore, your GPA and years of work experience both beat the class averages.
Since your applicant profile already stands out in other respects, you may be quite competitive applying to Kellogg with, say, a GMAT score of 700 or 710. Of course, only you know whether there are weak points in your application that high test scores could help to compensate for.
Furthermore, you should keep in mind that top MBA programs typically prefer to see GMAT Quant scores of 47 or higher. Additionally, business schools generally prefer to see fairly “balanced” GMAT section scores. So, a high Quant score alongside a seriously lacking Verbal score might not look so great.
With all of this in mind, even if you are from an underrepresented group, a safe bet would be to aim to at least meet the Kellogg average GMAT score.
TTP PRO TIP:
Even if you are in an underrepresented group, a safe bet would be to aim to at least meet the Kellogg average GMAT score.
Scenario #3: Your GPA is Below Average
Whether you fall into overrepresented or underrepresented categories, if your GPA is notably lower than the Kellogg average, your best bet is to aim for a GMAT score that approaches the top end of the Kellogg GMAT range. How close to the top you should aim will depend on how far below the average your GPA is and what the other strengths and weaknesses in your profile are. Regardless, the GMAT can be a powerful tool for reassuring admissions that you have what it takes to succeed in the MBA program despite a lackluster GPA.
In fact, if any area of your profile is lacking, the GMAT is a great way to help “balance the scales.” Perhaps your recommendations aren’t quite what you hoped they’d be, or your work experience is limited. The GMAT is a great opportunity — and one of the few — to make up for those weaknesses. Let’s face it, you can’t travel back in time to beef up your resume. Your GMAT score is something you have control over right now. Make it count.
TTP PRO TIP:
If your GPA or work experience is notably below the Kellogg averages, a wise strategy is to aim for a GMAT score that approaches the top end of the Kellogg GMAT range.
Does Kellogg Business School Require GMAT Scores?
To be considered for admittance to Kellogg’s full-time MBA program, you must submit either a GMAT or GRE score. Kellogg states that it does not prefer one test over the other, so the choice is yours about whether to take the GMAT or GRE.
If you’re unsure about which test to take, your best bet is to take an official, full-length practice test of each kind. Based on your performance on those initial practice tests, you should be able to determine which test you have the best chance of scoring highest on.
Keep in mind that regardless of which test you ultimately take, Kellogg sets the bar pretty high: the median GRE scores for Kellogg’s class of 2023 are Q165/V162. Thus, most students need to put some serious time and effort into their test prep in order to reach their score goals. In other words, there is no “easy way out.” So, if you’re wondering whether you can avoid the long, hard road of GMAT prep by simply switching to the GRE, trust me when I say that GRE prep can be just as intense!
KEY FACT:
To be considered for admittance to Kellogg’s full-time MBA program, you must submit either a GMAT or GRE score.
In Conclusion
Remember, whatever your GMAT score goal, with the right attitude and a smart study plan, you CAN earn the score you need to be competitive at Kellogg. Consider the GMAT one more opportunity to show off your skills to admissions, and do everything you can to take advantage of that opportunity!
Consider the GMAT one more opportunity to show off your skills to admissions, and do everything you can to take advantage of that opportunity!
What’s Next?
Thinking of applying to other top business schools like Kellogg? Check out this guide to GMAT scores at top MBA programs.
Already know your score goal? Get help reaching it with these strategies for scoring 700+ and this guide to scoring a perfect 800 on the GMAT.
