What’s the best age to do an MBA? 6 questions to ask yourself before you apply

1. How mobile is my career?

The first thing you should consider is that MBA admissions teams aren’t looking for a specific age—they’re often looking for you to prove an MBA is right for you, and you're right for an MBA.

“We prefer to talk about length of work experience and career stage, rather than age,” explains David Simpson (pictured), recruitment and admissions director of MBA and Master’s in Finance at London Business School. 

"In today's dynamic business environment, learning is no longer confined to a particular stage of one's career,” adds Professor Himanshu Rai (pictured), director of Indian Institute of Management Indore. “Professionals are increasingly upskilling and reskilling throughout their working lives, making continuous learning an essential part of long-term career success. Consequently, there is no ideal age to pursue an MBA.”

Due to the time commitments and financial considerations of going to business school, whether it’s the right time to study an MBA depends on your personal situation, career trajectory, and future goals.

“A lot is down to your career objectives,” explains David. “Ask yourself if your plans are realistic for someone at your experience level.”

Traditionally, MBA students are usually in their late twenties, meaning they may be less likely to be tied down by senior management roles or family commitments. This provides a flexibility that is well-suited to studying an MBA. 

However, this doesn’t mean that applicants with other commitments shouldn’t choose to pursue an MBA.

According to Steffi Frommhold (pictured), director of master application and 
admissions management at the University of Cologne, there are other factors more important to admissions teams than age.

“Much more important are the formal admission requirements, as well as factors such as an applicant’s motivation, leadership potential, academic and professional background, international experience, and the ability to contribute to a diverse and collaborative learning environment,” she explains.

2. What are my other options?

Evidently, career mobility is key for students planning on undertaking a full-time MBA course—but for older applicants who might have less of this flexibility, there are still MBA options available.

Online MBA cohorts often consist of slightly older students than in-person programs. At Imperial Business School, ranked the second-best Online MBA in the world by the FT, the average age is 34. At Porto Business School, which is sixth in the FT’s ranking, the average age of Online MBA students is 36.

Online MBA programs also increasingly offer many of the same benefits as full-time MBA courses, such as networking opportunities and events on-campus. The IE Business School Global MBA, for example, is offered through in-person, blended, or fully online study formats, providing a flexible learning environment which you can cater to your own needs and commitments. At the University of North California Kenan-Flagler Business School, the Online MBA can be studied over the course of between 18 and 36 months, with in-person summits on campus and in cities around the world.

This provides MBAs not only with the chance to network, which campus-based programs offer, but with invaluable hands-on experience in leading projects in a globally connected business world.

3. Do I have enough experience?

For younger candidates looking to land a place on an MBA program, it may be a challenge to prove that you are experienced enough to get the most out of the course.

“Deciding when is the right time to study an MBA is an important question,” explains David from London Business School. “Joining an MBA too early means you may not be able to contribute as much, or have career reference points at the same level in order to participate successfully. Join too late and the cohort may not be a good fit for you.”

However, an admissions committee will review your business school application holistically. While you may not have as many years of experience as other applicants, other areas of your application including a particularly high GMAT score, impressive essay, and memorable interview may be enough to secure your spot.

While some schools have a minimum experience level they require for admission, other schools are more flexible. Business schools including NYU Stern, University of Washington Foster School of Business, and Yale School of Management all have no specific experience requirement. 

“What you have achieved throughout your life so far is much more important than your age or number of years of experience,” says David. “Some people do more in three years than others achieve in 10.”

4. What’s my desired destination?

In many cases, age considerations are actually more about how much you as a candidate will be likely to benefit from the degree. 

With this in mind, whether it’s the right time for you to pursue an MBA depends on factors such as your current job, target industry, and post-MBA goals.

For example, those who work in healthcare or law may decide to study an MBA later down the line. For rapidly changing industries such as tech or manufacturing, it could be worth going to business school sooner, to connect with employers and remain adaptable as industries evolve.

This is useful to keep in mind when presenting yourself to MBA programs with certain specialties, or business schools known for placing their grads in certain industries. Make sure to show that you have a destination in mind, and demonstrate how the MBA is going to help you to get there.

5. Is now the right time for a transition?

You may be mobile, experienced, and focused on your target industry—but how else can you tell it’s the right time to do an MBA?

According to Nick Quinn (pictured), MBA director at the University of Glasgow Adam Smith Business School, MBAs are best used when they coincide with a change in your career.

“It’s usually the right time when you have a specific career goal, are looking for a career change or to pivot, or you’ve hit the limits of what you think you can achieve without a broader business education and a stronger network,” he explains.

For older candidates, the biggest barrier to admission to a top full-time MBA program may simply be convincing admissions teams that you will be able to achieve such a transition.

“It is never too late to pursue an MBA, but it is important to choose a format and pace that fits your professional and personal responsibilities. We also have MBA 
students in their fifties,” explains Anto Liivat (pictured), director of degree studies at Estonian Business School.

“Our applicants are usually preparing to move from a senior specialist role into a managerial role, from middle management into an executive role, from corporate leadership into entrepreneurship, or in the opposite direction,” he adds. “They often want to broaden their professional network or gain greater confidence by being challenged and recognized by their peers.”

6. What does my gut tell me?

Ultimately, the right time to apply for an MBA isn’t down to how old you are—it’s down to you as an individual, your goals, and what you can bring to the cohort.
“Being older or younger than the class average can add valuable perspectives to the learning experience,” explains Angélique Garcia (pictured), admissions director at Porto Business School. “MBA cohorts benefit from a diversity of experiences, backgrounds, and career stages.

“A strong MBA candidate is someone who will not only benefit from the program but will also enrich the experience of their classmates,” she adds.

Perhaps the best way to know whether you’re ready for an MBA is simply if you feel determined to do it. To get the most out of your MBA, you need to be willing to push yourself and take advantage of all of the opportunities available to you.

“The true value of an MBA does not lie in the degree itself, but in each individual's ability to reflect on, adapt, and apply the knowledge gained, while also leveraging the strength of the network they build throughout the program,” says Kai Stenzel (pictured), chief market officer at Mannheim Business School.

“Pursuing an MBA means stepping outside your comfort zone, embracing new perspectives, and challenging yourself in ways that foster lasting personal and professional development,” he adds.

If you’re ready to step out of your comfort zone, level up in your career, and have the necessary experience and requirements for admission, then you’re ready for an MBA—regardless of your age.

This article was first published in 2018 and has been subsequently lightly updated to reflect data changes.