2012 mba.com Prospective Students Survey Report

Overview

This report explores the motivations, behaviors, program choices, and intended career outcomes of individuals who expressed a desire to further their education in a graduate business program. More than 16,000 prospective business school students who registered on mba.com shared their opinions, preferences, and experiences as they navigated through that process over the course of 2011. This report provides a portrait of these individuals in their endeavors to assess, prepare, and apply to graduate business school.

Data for 2011 is compared to earlier data from more than 40,000 prospective business school students. As the largest source of information of its kind, this data can help schools and students track changes in the marketplace, develop knowledge of their intended applicants, and position the school’s brand in alignment with prospective student interests and concerns.

Quick Facts

• Interest in MBA is strong and steady; master’s (non-MBA) is on the rise.
• Preferred study destination linked to four aspects: reputation of a country’s education system, attractiveness of the location, better preparation for a career, and improved chances at an international career.
• Financial mix changes appear to influence school selection process: The financial mix of prospective students indicates a greater financial reliance on personal savings or earnings and support from parents. At the same time, cost of attendance increased as a factor in the school selection process.