According to the Graduate Management Admission Council's (GMAC) 2024 report, the United States continues to be the top choice for overseas students wishing to pursue business courses.

Female applications surge in global MBA programs

Global graduate business school applications jumped by 12 percent between 2023 and 2024, reversing a two-year downward trend, according to the Application Trends Survey 2024.

Especially from the female population, the survey report reveals that applications are now up considerably in the United States. For years women's business school applications constituted about 40%, which this year shot up to 42%. According to GMAC, 55% of the programs report increased demand from women while the highest increase was of MBA applications specifically in "flex" MBA and in full-time MBA programs, at 70% and near two-thirds of programs reporting increased demand.

Growth in full-time & flexible MBA program

According to the report, the primary reason for most students is financial considerations. Cost is still a main barrier to pursuing further business degrees. However, as GMAC points out, most programs are responding by offering more financial aid to incoming students in 2024, which may be one reason for the increase in volume.

Formats-wise, traditional full-time, on-campus MBA programs are once again fashionable, with close to 60% reporting growth in applications. Master's in accounting and management are also back in style. Of greater interest is that flexible learning options also appear to be gaining momentum, with 58% of online programs and 52% of hybrid programs reporting growth in applications.

Across the US, Asia, and Europe, graduate business school applications grew, but in the UK, applications declined by 45% from domestic applicants and 12% among international students.