Kellogg School of Management – Northwestern University

FAQ

What is the tuition for Kellogg’s MBA program?

The tuition for Kellogg’s Two-year MBA program is $76,638 per year. The total cost of the Kellogg MBA program is $111,658 per year; this includes budgeted living expenses.

How hard is it to get into Kellogg’s MBA program?

The acceptance rate for Kellogg is 20%. It is important to consider the acceptance rate in the context of the student profile of those who are admitted. For example the average GMAT score is 727.

What is the average GMAT score for admission to Kellogg’s MBA program?

The average GMAT score for the incoming class at Kellogg is 727. The GMAT range is 630 to 780.

Does the Kellogg MBA program accept the GRE?

Yes. The Kellogg MBA program absolutely does accept GRE scores from applicants. Kellogg has no preference between a GMAT or GRE score from applicants. Either is perfectly fine.
They do not convert GRE scores to GMAT scores. The school says that they look at performance on each section of the test, and just like the GMAT, they are looking for balanced performance – typically in the 80-90th percentiles or above.

What is the average GRE score for admission to Kellogg’s MBA program?

Kellogg does not report the average GRE scores of the latest MBA class. However, they have reported that the median GRE scores for the Kellogg MBA Class of 2023 were 162 Verbal and 165 Quant.

What is the minimum number of years of work experience required for admission to Kellogg’s MBA program?

Kellogg’s prefers at least 2 years minimum number of years of work experience.

What is the average number of years of work experience for admission to Kellogg’s MBA program?

The average number of years of work experience among students in Kellogg’s MBA program is 5.

What is the median starting salary for graduates of the Kellogg MBA program?

The median starting salary for Kellogg MBA graduates is $150,000. The salary will vary by industry, with consulting and finance jobs generally commanding the higher salaries.

How long is Kellogg’s full-time MBA program?

Kellogg offers a traditional 2 year MBA program, which begins in August, and ends in May, approximately 22 months later. This includes a summer period when students pursue internships. Kellogg also offers a 1 year MBA for those with a business background. This begins in June and ends in June the following year.
Kellogg also offers two full-time dual degree programs: an MMM (MBA from Kellogg and an M.S. in Design Innovation) with Northwestern’s McCormick School of Engineering, and a JD-MBA with Northwestern’s Pritzker School of Law. MMM students begin in June and graduate in the Spring after 2 years of study. The JD-MBA program is three years long, beginning in the Fall.

What are the application deadlines for Kellogg’s MBA program?

The Round 1 MBA application deadline is September 14, 2022. The Round 2 application deadline is January 10, 2023. The Round 3 deadline is April 5, 2023.

What percent of Kellogg MBA students are women?

The percentage of the class at Kellogg that are women is 49%.

What type of interview does Kellogg use for MBA admissions?

Kellogg has an open interview policy, where candidates can select their interview option when they submit their application. Because the interviewer will not have read the application prior to the interview, it is a resume-based interview.

VIDEOS

Admissions

The Kellogg Class Profile

The Two-Year MBA Class of 2023 at Kellogg is comprised of 508 students. Among the first-year entrants in 2021, the average GMAT score was 727. Those who took the GRE earned median scores of 162 Verbal and 165 Quant. The average undergraduate GPA was 3.7, which is based on U.S. schools that graded on a 4.0 scale. Forty-nine percent had studied business/economics during their undergraduate years. Thirty-five percent had pursued STEM majors and 21% majored in humanities.

Students in the incoming class have an average of five years of work experience. Twenty-nine percent came from financial services and another 28% had worked in consulting. Twelve percent had gained pre-MBA work experience in tech and others spread out across healthcare, the military, media & entertainment and more.

Thirty-six percent of the class comprised international students at the time of acceptance. Finally, women make up 49% of the first-year class at Kellogg, and 23% of students identify as members of a U.S. minority group.

Application Procedures

Applicants can elect to apply to Kellogg during one of three admissions rounds that usually occur in September, January and early April. The application solicits data on an applicant’s personal background, academic honors, and work history. It also calls for applicants to submit Kellogg’s essays, a résumé, GRE/GMAT and TOEFL scores, transcripts from all collegiate and post-collegiate institutions attended, and two letters of recommendation from supervisors. Finally, the program requires applicants to submit an application fee of $250. In the application, applicants may either request an on-campus or off-campus interview. The Kellogg Admissions Committee notifies applicants of their interview assignment via email.

Application Checklist

• Data Form
• Interview request on/off-campus
• Résumé
• Application Fee
• Recommendations
• Scanned transcripts
• Test score updates
• Essays

Interview Reports

Northwestern Kellogg Interview Questions & Report: Round 1 / Alumnus / Zoom

The interview was with a local alumnus from my same industry and undergraduate university who had just graduated from the program. The overall mood was mostly formal, though it became more relaxed by the end when I started asking questions back. The questions were: 1. Walk me through your resume. 2. Specifics about some projects […]

Northwestern Kellogg Interview Questions & Report: Round 1 / Alumni / Zoom

The interview takes place thru Zoom. The alumni was a graduate who had a similar background and career aspirations as myself. It seems that they will find someone who matches your background or goals. The interview was resume based and on Zoom. 1) Can you please tell me about yourself? 2) What are the day […]

Northwestern Kellogg Interview Questions & Report: Round 1 / Alumnus / Zoom Call

It was an alumnus interview that was resume based. He clearly worked through some of the pre-populated questions that Kellogg provided. Examples include: “Walk me through your resume,” “Why Kellogg,” and “What impact will you have on the Kellogg community.” I was surprised that he took the entire interview from his car on his drive […]

Northwestern Kellogg Interview Questions & Report: Round 1 / Adcom / Zoom

Kellogg / October 14 / Round 1 Interview / Zoom Casual interview done by an Adcom. Resume based. 1. Walk me through your resume. 2. Proudest accomplishment? 3. Time you worked on a diverse team? 4. Stepping up to a leadership role? 5. Weakness? 6. Why MBA? Why Now? Why Kellogg? Interview seemed to follow […]

Northwestern Kellogg Interview Questions & Report: Round 1 / Adcom / Zoom

Interviewed by adcom. Blind interview, resume based. Following questions asked: 1. Share about your educational background. 2. Walk through your resume and explain different parts. 3. Explain your role and responsibilities at the job. 4. How would you describe your leadership style (with example)? 5. How do you work with people from different backgrounds (with […]

Northwestern / Kellogg Interview Questions & Report: Round 1 / Alumnus / Video

The interview was casual and friendly. It took about 35 min and the alumnus spent another 10 min to answer my questions. Good luck to everyone! Questions: • Tell me about yourself. • What’s your short-term & long-term goal? • Why MBA and Why Kellogg? • How would you describe your leadership style and what […]

Northwestern Kellogg Interview Questions & Report: Round 3 / Adcom / Zoom

Tell me about yourself. Where on your resume have you made the most impact? What’s your most interesting work experience? Tell me about a time you worked in a diverse team. What are the 3 attributes a good team needs? What are your 2-5 year professional goals? Why is an MBA necessary to take you […]

Northwestern Kellogg Interview Questions & Report: Round 2 / Adcom / Zoom

It was a very conversational interview with the Adcom. Below are the questions that I was asked. Walk me through resume. Short-term career goals? Biggest professional accomplishment? Why MBA? Why Kellogg? Working with a diverse team? Challenges? Rewards? Strengths and weaknesses from teammates? Where something went wrong on your team. Strongest and weakest part of […]

Northwestern Kellogg Interview Questions & Report: Round 2 / Adcom / Skype

My interview was taken by an Adcom member who was quite aged. The conversation was friendly, totally stress-free. I had to repeat a few of my answers because she wasn’t able to hear me properly. The interview spanned for around 50 mins. She aimed to keep it short as she had several other interviews to […]

Northwestern Kellogg Interview Questions & Report: Round 2 / Adcom / Virtual

Interview started with a overview of the resume, which was followed by the below questions: 1. Tell me a bit more about your current role. 2. Most significant leadership experience? 3. Why MBA? 4. Why Kellogg? 5. Which pathway would you be interested in if and when you join Kellogg? 6. Which clubs would you […]

Kellogg Q&As

Admissions Director Q&A: Steve Thompson of Northwestern Kellogg

In this edition of our Admissions Director Q&A series, Steve Thompson, Senior Director of Admissions at Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management, digs into the many offerings at the school as well as insights and tips about the Kellogg application. As the leader of Full-Time admissions, Steve is focused on attracting the best and brightest […]

Admissions Director Q&A: Emily Haydon of Northwestern Kellogg

We roll right along with our Admissions Director Q&A series by welcoming Emily Haydon, Interim Assistant Dean of Admissions and Financial Aid for the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University, to chat about the leading b-school. She leads the Admissions and Financial Aid teams for the Full-Time, Executive and Evening & Weekend MBA programs. […]

Admissions Director Q&A: Renee Cherubin of Northwestern Kellogg School of Management

A little north of downtown Chicago in Evanston, Illinois, MBA students enjoy a team-oriented culture and education at Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management. Renee Cherubin, who earned her MBA from Kellogg in 2006, is the Senior Director of Full-Time MBA Admissions for the school. She is an active member of the Admissions leadership team […]

Northwestern / Kellogg LiveWire and DecisionWire

Academics

Faculty

Kellogg employs over 200 tenure-track and clinical faculty members across seven academic departments and two professional programs. This group of scholars and practitioners directs Kellogg’s 20 research centers, which cover a spectrum of topics from family enterprise and nonprofit management to healthcare and real estate, and support the four other research centers at Northwestern University. 

Curriculum

Like most MBA programs, Kellogg employs a variety of teaching methods. The school reports that professors rely on team projects, case studies and lectures as well as experiential or simulation-based instruction. First-years at Kellogg are divided into eight sections of roughly 75 students and then into small study groups for their courses.

MBA classes typically begin in mid-September and end in early June, with convocation taking place in mid-June. Kellogg works on a quarter system; full-time students take classes during the fall, winter and spring terms with most pursuing an internship during the summer term. Those enrolled in the One-Year program take courses during all four quarters. Within the academic year, Kellogg students have short breaks between quarters and for holidays such as Thanksgiving.

During the first year of study, Kellogg students take nine core courses out of the minimum 20.5 courses required for graduation. The core covers foundational business principles in accounting, strategy, finance, marketing, economics, operations, statistics and management. Students are allowed to waive classes that overlap heavily with previous coursework or relevant work experience; a waived course is exchanged for an elective. During the second-year pre-term orientation period before classes start in the fall, all students are also required to take Leadership and Crisis Management, a half-credit course based on case studies and exercises in crisis simulation.

Kellogg students meet the remaining credit requirements with elective courses, including a one-credit global management option fulfilled in any quarter by taking one of several courses or par­ticipating in a study abroad program. Moreover, all students may complete at least one major; historically, more than 80% of students double major and more than 50% meet the requirements for three majors.  There are eight major areas of study from which students can choose, including Accounting, Economics, Finance, Managing Organizations, Operations, Strategy, Management Science, and Marketing.  Specific requirements vary for each major; if a major is not selected, then General Management is noted on the transcript.

Other MBA Degree Options

In addition to its 22-month full-time MBA program, Kellogg offers a one-year accelerated MBA degree, a three-year JD/ MBA program with Northwestern Law, and a dual-degree Master’s in Engineering Management (MMM) program with the McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Science. In 2020, they announced a new joint degree in science and business, the MBAi. This new degree is also in partnership with the McCormick School.

Part-time options include Evening MBA and Saturday MBA programs in Chicago and Evanston and Executive MBA offerings in Evanston and Miami, with opportunities to study abroad in Israel, Germany, China and Toronto.

Finally, the Kellogg Future Leaders program allows current undergraduate seniors and graduate school students without work experience to apply for a future spot in the Kellogg MBA class. Deferment, during which candidates earn relevant work experience, lasts two to five years.

Majors at Kellogg

• Accounting
• Economics
• Finance
• Managing Organizations
• Marketing
• Operations
• Strategy

Degree Offerings at Kellogg

Full-time MBA Programs
Two-Year (2Y), One-Year (1Y), MMM and JD-MBA
www.kellogg.northwestern.edu/Programs/FullTimeMBA.aspx

Part-Time MBA Programs
Evening and Saturday options
www.kellogg.northwestern.edu/Programs/PartTimeMBA.aspx

Executive MBA Programs
Miami, Evanston
www.kellogg.northwestern.edu/programs/executive-mba.aspx

Dual Degrees
JD/MBA
https://www.kellogg.northwestern.edu/programs/full-time-mba/jd-mba-program.aspx

MBA from Kellogg and an M.S. in Design Innovation from the Segal Design Institute at the McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Science (MMM)  https://www.kellogg.northwestern.edu/programs/full-time-mba/mmm-program.aspx

Joint Degree
MBAi – a joint degree between Kellogg and the McCormick School of Engineering in business and science
https://www.kellogg.northwestern.edu/programs/full-time-mba/mbai-program.aspx

Campus Life

Clubs, Conferences & Competitions

Students at Kellogg enjoy many opportunities for extracurricular involvement. Full-time MBA candidates have 104 full-time club offerings in total to choose from across a fairly balanced range of affinity, athletic, cultural and professional organizations. Kellogg Worldwide Experiences and Service Trips, commonly referred to as KWEST, have remained one of the most popular activities year after year. KWEST takes place the week before pre-term orientation and connects incoming students with second-year student trip leaders for a week of international exploration. Past destinations have included Malaysia, Japan, Chile, Turkey, Iceland, Peru, Alaska, and Hawaii. Second-year students may study at one of Kellogg’s 24 international partner schools in their fall or winter semester. Kellogg also offers more traditional clubs such as the Investment Management Club, Kellogg Marketing Club and Net Impact. In conjunction with the schools’ clubs, several conferences are regularly hosted by Kellogg faculty and students. These cover numerous topics, including healthcare, tech, private equity and more.

Kellogg also sponsors a variety of competitions for its students. A particular hallmark of the program, the Annual Kellogg Marketing Competition, takes place over the course of three elimination rounds spanning two months, during which entrants compete in pitching a product to the Kellogg community. Meanwhile, the annual Biotech & Healthcare Case Competition is open to teams of students from MBA programs across the globe. In this contest, students present innovative solutions for a case created by a Kellogg professor that examines a problem in the medical industry.

Campus Space

In March of 2017, Kellogg opened its Global Hub, a 415,000-square-foot home for the business school perched alongside Lake Michigan just north of Chicago. The new building took over classroom and collaboration space for the MBA students from the Donald Jacobs Center. The Global Hub is comprised of a 6,000-square-foot central atrium, a two-story faculty area with seminar rooms, and a 300-person capacity auditorium.  The new classrooms are designed to be flexible, with the ability to change seating arrangements from tiered to flat, as well as to expand. Finally, the 7,800-square-foot Galvin Family Design Wing and Conference Center, is dedicated to hands-on experiential learning across four design studios.

The majority of students choosing to live on campus take up residence in the McManus Living-Learning Center just three blocks away. The James L. Allen Center, which sits on the edge of Lake Michigan, is the heart of activity for the Evanston Executive MBA and Executive Education programs.

MBA Careers

Career Services

The Kellogg Career Management Center (CMC) offers a wide range of career counseling services, including one-on-one strategy sessions, self-assessment workshops, videotaped mock interviews, résumé reviews, networking events and an online job posting system. In addition, the CMC organizes a busy schedule of internship and full-time recruiting events on campus, with five weeks dedicated to second-year recruiting in the fall and five weeks for first-year students beginning in January. Kellogg students have the opportunity to meet company representatives year-round through corporate presentations, networking nights, and club-sponsored guest speakers and career treks.

Career Statistics

Ninety-seven percent of Kellogg’s Class of 2021 had secured job offers three months after graduation. The median starting salary for Kellogg MBAs after graduation is $50,000.

The most common industry choice for Class of 2021 graduates was consulting at 37%. Twenty-six percent of students joined the technology industry. Financial services firms employed 15% of Kellogg 2021 graduates, while 8% of students took jobs in the consumer products industry and 6% going into health care.

While it is common that business schools place graduates in the region where the school is located, Kellogg bucked this trend. More graduates, 30%, headed West compared to 28% who stayed in the Midwest. Fifteen percent headed East and 9% settled in the Southwestern U.S. Nearly 10% headed abroad.

Financing

The tuition for the Two-Year MBA for the 2021-2022 academic year is $76,368.  However, Kellogg estimates that with additional expenses such as rent and textbooks, students will pay $111,658 total per year.  Both merit- and need-based scholarships are offered by the school to finance the MBA. In order to be considered for most of these awards, applicants should fill out the Kellogg Financial Aid application, made available upon admission, as well as other necessary forms such as the FAFSA; awards are given on a first-come, first-served basis. Admits are automatically considered for certain merit-based awards for which they are eligible, including several corporate-sponsored diversity scholarships. There are also a variety of loan options available to Kellogg students, including federal loan programs for U.S. citizens and private loans for international students such as the NU Loan, which one can apply to with an international co-signer.

Cost of Attendance 2021-2022

• Tuition $76,638
• Room & Board $17,100
• Books & Supplies $1,647
• Travel $1,329
• Personal $3,150
• Health Insurance $4,386
• Computer Equipment $1,200
• Student Activity and Experience Fee $1,400
• Student Association Fee $330
• First Year Fee $2,000
• Total $111,658

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