Chicago Booth MBA Review: Cost, Admission, Rankings & Placements

To submit the online application, you’ll need to register and create a username and password. The online system includes step-by-step instructions for completing the application and submitting all required materials. You don’t have to complete the application in one sitting, and you may edit your application as often as necessary prior to submission.

Your application must be submitted prior to 11:59 p.m. CST on the day of the deadline in order to be considered for a particular application round. Applications must include all required online and mailed-in materials.

All candidates are required to submit responses to the following two questions:

1. How will a Booth MBA help you achieve your immediate and long-term post-MBA career goals? (Minimum 250 words, no maximum.)

   
   

2. An MBA is as much about personal growth as it is about professional development. In addition to sharing your experience and goals in terms of career, we’d like to learn more about you outside of the office. Use this opportunity to tell us something about who you are… (Minimum 250 words, no maximum.)

The following question is optional:

Is there any unclear information in your application that needs further explanation? (Maximum 300 words.)

Reapplicants must answer the following question:

Upon reflection, how has your perspective regarding your future, Chicago Booth, and/or getting an MBA changed since the time of your last application? (Maximum 300 words.)

Response Guidelines: We trust that you will use your best judgment in determining how long your submission should be, but we recommend that you think strategically about how to best allocate the space.

Format: Submissions must be entered into the text box provided in the application.

Your resume should highlight the professional and volunteer activities that make you a good candidate for the Full-Time MBA Program.

Who Should Write Your Recommendations?

1. First Letter – A Supervisor (Preferred)

   • Ideally, from your current supervisor.

   • Should provide a balanced view of your strengths and weaknesses.

   • If you can't ask your current boss (e.g., due to job confidentiality), explain why in the optional essay.

   • If you run a family business or your own company, ask a client or external partner who can objectively assess you.

     
     

2. Second Letter – Flexible Choice

   • Can be from a colleague, mentor, club leader, or someone you've worked with on a project.

   • Should offer a new perspective—perhaps about your leadership, collaboration, or values outside of work.

   • Title doesn’t matter—insight matters more than status.

What Should Recommenders Include?

Booth asks each recommender to:

• Fill out a skills assessment.

• Answer two key questions in a letter:

  1. How does the applicant compare to peers in similar roles? (With examples)

  2. What’s the most valuable feedback you’ve given them, and how did they respond?

How to Submit:

• You’ll add your recommenders’ names and emails in the online application.

• Booth sends them a direct link to submit the form.

• Mailed or faxed letters are not accepted.

Your academic history is an important part of your application. Here's what you need to know:

Unofficial Transcripts (For Application)

• Upload scanned copies of your transcripts from all colleges or universities you've attended.

• Be sure to scan both front and back of each page.

• Don’t send official transcripts yet—only do that after you’re admitted.

Official Transcripts (After Admission)

• Once admitted, you must send official transcripts from every institution you've attended.

• Official transcripts must:

  • Be issued directly by the school.

  • Have the original signature of the registrar and the official seal (no photocopies).

  • If the school issues records only once, send a certified copy (from your school, embassy, or notary).

What Transcripts Must Show:

• Dates of study

• Courses taken & grades received

• Credits earned

• Class rank (if available)

• Grading system used by the institution

Non-English Transcripts:

• Submit the original transcript and an official English translation.

Extra Notes:

• Only degrees from schools recognized by the country’s Ministry of Education are accepted.

• Booth may review your academic records to verify eligibility if your degree is from a non-U.S. institution.

You can self-report your GMAT or GRE scores at the time you apply. We will allow applicants to submit the GMAT Focus Edition and shortened GRE, as well as the interim at-home or online proctored test scores as made available by GMAC and ETS. We trust the integrity of these testing organizations and should you opt to participate in the at-home testing option, your scores will be reviewed in the same manner as those taken in a traditional testing center, and will continue to be valid for five years.

We will not need your official test scores until you have been admitted and have accepted our offer of admission. To make your official test scores available to us, please send your GMAT scores using code H9X-9F-34 or your GRE scores using code 0685. Scores are valid for five years.

If you are a University of Chicago current student or graduate you may be eligible for a GMAT/GRE test waiver. Please visit our FAQs for more information.

If English is not your native language, you will need to submit proof of English proficiency by taking and submitting results from one of the following tests:

• Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) internet-based test (iBT), including tests taken online at-home, or in a testing center

• International English Language Testing System (IELTS) Academic

• Pearson Test of English (PTE)

• Duolingo English Test

  
  

Exam score reports are valid for two years and scores will be considered expired if the test was taken more than two years prior to the time of application submission. If you have taken an English language test more than once, report only the scores from one examination testing session that you wish us to consider while reviewing your application. We do not average test scores and we do not accept TOEFL iBT My Best Scores. For additional details, see International Applicants.

The $250 application fee is due when you submit your application.

Campus Recruiting Activities

Each year, Booth Career Services hosts over 400 networking events, from company presentations to intimate meet-and-greets, where you can make valuable connections and learn about specific companies, industries, and job functions.

Campus Interviewing

Last year, Career Services hosted interviews for internships and full-time opportunities with approximately 100 organizations.

Online Job Postings

In addition to the companies that visit campus, many others post job openings through our online service. Last year, students and alumni had access to more than 2,900 positions from over 1,700 unique companies.

Resume Referral Service

Through our resume referral service, we connect companies with qualified candidates for specific job openings. Our Employer Relations team conducts resume referrals for a variety of industries including private equity, luxury retail, consulting, investment management, investment banking, and technology.

Career Treks

Every year, Booth offers career treks to engage with companies worldwide. Participants meet with alumni and professionals across a wide range of industries and geographies to learn about fields of interest. Past treks have included domestic visits for banking, marketing, health care, technology, private equity, real estate, start-ups, venture capital, and investment management firms across the country as well as international visits to private equity firms in China, financial services firms in London, and consulting firms and corporates in the Middle East.

Career Services team, one of the largest of any business school, will help you refine your career goals and navigate the recruiting process through a variety of services, including:

• Web-based self-assessment and resume tools

• Individual and small-group career coaching

• Career workshops on topics such as investigating industries and job functions, learning how to network, positioning your experiences, and developing your marketing message and interview best practices

• Workshops on resume and cover-letter writing, interviewing, researching companies, and more

• Online resources such as proprietary career research databases and sample cover letters

• Student career advisors who conduct mock interviews and offer feedback on your resume and cover letters

• Customized programming and support for international students

Research is essential to a successful job search. We have the tools you need to learn more about salary ranges, specific jobs for MBAs, company news, and more.

Employment Reports

These annual reports include class profiles; past Chicago Booth hires by function, industry, and location; and major employers and job sources of Booth students from the past five years.

Resume Databases

Search their archive of past Chicago Booth student resumes to find sample resumes for all types of jobs and experiences.

Print and Online Databases

Career Services offers print and online tools to help you research industries, companies, contacts, and news, as well as staff who can answer questions about your research. We have tools for every step of your career search, from self-reflection, target-list creation, and job search through offer negotiation and acceptance.

Full-Time MBA students who are US citizens or US permanent residents have access to federal student loans and/or private student loans.

• Direct Unsubsidized Loan: The Direct Unsubsidized Loan is a federal student loan available to US citizens and US permanent residents who enroll in at least 200 units each quarter. The annual maximum loan amount is $20,500.

  
  

• Direct Grad PLUS Loan: A credit-based federal student loan, the Direct Grad PLUS Loan is an option for students who need to borrow more than the Direct Unsubsidized Loan in a given year. The annual maximum is the cost of attendance minus any other aid.

  
  

• Private, credit-based alternative loans: All students can apply for a private, credit-based alternative loan. Students can borrow up to the cost of attendance (which is set by the Financial Aid office) minus any other financial assistance.

Chicago Booth is committed to providing financing opportunities for all students regardless of citizenship status. International students without US cosigners have multiple private-loan options as well. More detailed information regarding these programs is available on the Admitted Student website upon admission to the program.

The total cost includes tuition, fees, health insurance, and living expenses. Tuition is billed in six quarterly installments over nine months, and the overall cost depends on individual choices like housing and insurance. Up to 2200 units of coursework are included, though only 2000 are required to graduate.

Yes. Booth offers merit-based scholarships and fellowships to select students. All applicants are automatically considered—no separate application is needed. Student loans are also widely used, and external funding sources like foundations or employer sponsorships can help too.

Booth has a strong global recruiting network. Companies like McKinsey, Bain Capital, Nike, Uber, and many others actively hire Booth students. Graduates land roles across industries such as consulting, finance, tech, healthcare, and more. The Employment Report provides data on roles, industries, locations, and employers from recent years.

Yes. Booth is part of the Yellow Ribbon Program, which helps cover tuition beyond VA benefits under the Post-9/11 GI Bill. Veterans who meet VA criteria can receive additional funding to reduce their education costs.