NYU Stern

New York, NY · Private · 2-year full-time

Average GMAT Focus: 682 (645–725 (middle 80%))
Average GPA: 3.64
Class size: 336 (Class of 2027)
Median base salary: $175,000 (Class of 2025)
Program tuition: $185,316 (≈ 2 × first-year tuition)

Deadlines

Round 1: Sept. 15, 2026
Round 2: Oct. 15, 2026
Round 3: Jan. 15, 2027
Round 4: April 15, 2027

Essays

Essay 1: Professional Aspirations (500 words, double-spaced, 12-point font)

What are your short-term career goals? Why is the Stern MBA the necessary next chapter in your professional story? Please be specific.

Essay 2: Personal Expression (Pick Six) (Intro of up to 3 sentences, six images, one-sentence caption each; single PDF)

Introduce yourself to the Admissions Committee and to your future classmates using six images and corresponding captions. The Pick Six is a way to share more about the qualities you will bring to the Stern community, beyond your professional and academic achievements. Your uploaded PDF should contain all of the following elements: A brief introduction or overview of your "Pick Six" (no more than 3 sentences). Six images that help illustrate your interests, values, motivations, perspective and/or personality. A one-sentence caption for each of the six images that helps explain why they were selected and are significant to you. Note: Your visuals may include photos, infographics, drawings, or any other images. Your document must be uploaded as a single PDF. The essay cannot be sent in physical form or be linked to a website.

Essay 3: Additional Information (optional) (500 words, double-spaced, 12-point font)

Please provide any additional information that you would like to bring to the attention of the Admissions Committee and/or give context to your application. This may include important aspects of yourself not otherwise apparent in your application, including but not limited to: hardships you have encountered, current or past gaps in employment, further explanation of your undergraduate record or self-reported academic transcript(s), plans to retake the GMAT, GRE, Executive Assessment, IELTS or TOEFL, or any other relevant information.

Editor's notes

Don't read Stern's deadlines as start dates. The school reviews files as they come in and says the deadline is only the latest date you'll hear back. The second deadline, Oct. 15, is close enough that a ready application shouldn't wait for January, but Stern also says every round is judged the same way. Apply when the file is strong, not when the calendar says so.
Your required EQ Endorsement has to come from your current supervisor, and one of its five questions asks for a specific example of your emotional intelligence. That's the question most recommenders answer badly. Give your supervisor two or three real moments to choose from, and if you can't use your current boss, explain why in the application.
Stern's interviewers read your whole application first, so expect questions that start from your essays. Essay 1 is the likely target: if your short-term goal is vague on paper, it'll get vaguer out loud.
The test waiver is a real path here: 16% of the Class of 2027 entered on a general waiver and 7% on the NYU waiver. But the request needs about three weeks and closes April 1, 2027. If you test, remember Stern counts your best single GMAT sitting, not a superscore.