Program Overview
The Sloan School of Management at MIT aims “to develop principled, innovative leaders who improve the world and to generate ideas that advance management practice.” Administrators strive to achieve this by offering cutting-edge classes and services, recruiting renowned faculty, and fostering collaborative and educational initiatives that engage students, alumni, and business partners.
Drawing from the MIT culture at large, Sloan is a highly academic school that prides itself on parlaying theory into practical application. It is a school for those who enjoy strong academics integrated with hands-on experience. Being among MIT’s world-renowned science and engineering programs helps to bolster the school’s intellectual culture.
The rigorous coursework relies heavily on a case-method approach, complemented by lectures and team projects. Many students find the first year’s “core” semester to be the most challenging. Despite (or perhaps because of) the program’s intensity, students find numerous opportunities to socialize and bond outside of class. The school hosts weekly functions with various themes to encourage mixing and relationship-building.
MIT’s hands-on approach is the perfect environment for creating revolutionary inventions, which is what the Entrepreneurship Center encourages. The Center helps students define and develop their ideas and hosts a $ 100,000 competition each year for the best new business plan.
The MIT Sloan School of Management ranked #5 in US News & World Report‘s 2025-2026 Best Business Schools ranking. MIT Sloan’s acceptance rate is 14%.
We asked the former MIT admissions officer on the Stacy Blackman Consulting team to profile what MIT Sloan seeks:
MIT Sloan seeks applicants who can navigate problems of progressive complexity, ability to adapt to ambiguous situations, independence of thought, humility and consideration for others. MIT Sloan looks for the exceptional in arenas such as academic, professional, civic, good citizens, great attitudes. I always sensed a special something, a spark, in the candidates I recommended for admission that set them apart: it’s a sense of self not everyone has.
Contact us for an assessment of your MIT Sloan MBA candidacy today.
Admissions Stats
Here is a snapshot of how MIT Sloan differs from UC Berkeley’s Haas School of Business.
| Class of 2026 Admission Stats | MIT Sloan | Berkeley |
| Median GMAT/GMAT Focus | 730 | 730/660 |
| GMAT Range* | 690-760 | 690-750 |
| Average GPA | 3.7 | 3.65 |
| Selectivity* | 14% | 25.3% |
| Yield* | 50% | 38% |
| Enrollment Stats | MIT Sloan | Berkeley |
| Class of 2026 MBA Enrollment | 433 | 295 |
| Women | 49% | 42% |
| International | 50% | 38% |
| Underrepresented Minority* | 15% | 29% |
*Estimated, as a percentage of US citizens and permanent residents.
Application Essays, Tips & Candidate Evaluation
MIT Sloan currently requires all applicants to submit a cover letter, organizational chart, and video essay with their application. The MIT Sloan cover letter format has been used for many years to select candidates for admission. In some ways, this structure reflects MIT Sloan’s goal to admit candidates with practical (though innovative) ideas and experience.
Additionally, the cover letter is an opportunity to highlight your key accomplishments and demonstrate how they align with the admission criteria outlined. Those criteria are: independent, authentic, and fearlessly creative — true doers.
For the short video in which the applicant is asked to introduce themselves, the areas evaluated include presence, passions, and interests.
The former Sloan admissions official who now consults with MBA candidates for the Stacy Blackman Consulting team advises, “The video should give MIT Sloan Admissions a clear picture of who they are as a person, their personality, personal presence, and what really makes them tick. MIT Sloan Admissions is asking themselves: Is this person ready to be put in front of recruiters? Will they represent the brand well? Is this someone we want on our teams? Be your best self, bring some energy to it, show your enthusiasm.”
MIT Sloan conducts a traditional interview, but it is primarily behavioral, with questions that may include how to handle conflict, how to challenge management, and how to become a leader in challenging circumstances. All who are invited for an interview by MIT Sloan are required to submit two additional essays 24 hours prior to their scheduled interview.
Get Insider Tips from a Former MIT Sloan AdCom
SBC consultant DeeDee, formerly the assistant director of admissions at MIT Sloan, shares insider intel about the school’s ethos, admissions process, and student life.
Sample MIT Sloan Cover Letters
Winning essays from our successful admits are new on the SBC site and can be found here:
Sample MIT Sloan cover letters
More MIT Sloan Application Tips
MIT Sloan and Berkeley Haas are on opposite sides of the country. Yet, there are similarities between them that we evaluate here, along with admissions insights.
Which MBA: MIT vs. Berkeley Haas
View more advice here.