International Applicants Decline in the U.S, Women Candidates Rise: GMAC Survey

While the applications volume for graduate business programs has gone up across the world, the United States is witnessing a fall in international applicants that is offset by a rise in domestic aspirants.

According to the Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC) 18th annual Application Trends Survey, recent political events in the U.S. appear to have impacted application volumes from international candidates in 2017.

The survey found that across all program types, just 32 %  of the U.S. programs report growing international application volumes in 2017 compared to 49% in 2016.

At the same time, 77% of Canadian programs report increases in international applications (46%  in 2016), as well as 67 % of European programs (65% in 2016).

Despite the Brexit vote, about two-thirds of programs in the United Kingdom have seen international demand grow, GMAC said.

Overall, the 2017 report findings show that international applicants represent 57% of U.S. application volumes, 70% of Canadian volume, 89* of European volume, 20%  of East and Southeast Asian volume, and less than one percent of Indian volume.

In the case the for the larger, well-known U.S. programs, Domestic candidates saved the day. A robust 69% of programs with class sizes of more than 200 report growth in domestic applications, offsetting the fact that only 38%  of programs similar in size report growth in international applications.

Women have also been making impressive gains by increasing their representation in the graduate business school pipeline.

GMAC found that women represent 42% of the total applications received by participating survey programs, up from 37% in 2013.

“While non-U.S. programs are thriving, a strong economy and a disruptive political climate are likely contributing to the downward trend in application volumes among smaller U.S. programs this year,” 

Most program types have experienced an increase in the representation of women in the application pipeline. Specifically, among MBA programs women represent 39% of applications, up from 33% in 2013.

More MBA programs report growth in female applicants (44%) compared with business master’s (39%). The growth rate is similar for men at 40% for MBA and 39%  for business masters.

Nearly 3 in 4 (73%) graduate business programs with 201 or more seats report increased application volumes this year compared to 39% of the smallest programs (50 or fewer class seats), the survey said.

Regardless of class size, a majority of programs in Europe, Canada, East and Southeast Asia, and India report growing volumes in 2017, while fewer than half the programs in the United States are growing, with the exception of part-time lockstep MBA and Master in Data Analytics programs.

“Demand for graduate business education remains strong, especially among the largest programs, which tend also to be the most well-known programs with brand recognition,” said Sangeet Chowfla, GMAC president and CEO.

“While non-U.S. programs are thriving, a strong economy and a disruptive political climate are likely contributing to the downward trend in application volumes among smaller U.S. programs this year,” he added.

GMAC conducted the Survey from early June to mid-July 2017. The survey findings are based on a record number of responses from 351 business schools and faculties located in 40 countries representing 965 graduate management programs, including MBA, non-MBA business master’s, and doctoral-level programs.

The participating programs received a combined total of 466,176 applications during the 2017 application cycle. Almost 92% of all participating programs report that the applicants this year are similarly or more academically qualified than the previous year’s candidates.

In additional key findings, the survey reported that overall volume to the general part-time MBA program category has been stagnant or on the decline since the Great Recession.

Part-time lockstep programs, in which students proceed through a classroom-based program as a group, have seen stronger application volumes than part-time self-paced programs, in which students set their own schedule in a flexible format.

Among U.S. part-time MBA programs, 54% of lockstep programs report increased volume this year, compared with just 34% of self-paced programs.

Most graduate business programs expect to see employer sponsorship remain stable. About half (52%) of the part-time, self-paced students are expected to receive employer support, as are 40 % of executive MBA and 39% of part-time lock-step MBA students.

The level of experience that the applicant brings to the graduate business program has remained relatively consistent in 2017 compared with five years ago, the survey said.

For example, the majority of full-time MBA applicants have between three and 10 years of experience; the majority of executive MBA applicants have 10 or more years of experience. Most online MBA applicants have six or more years of experience.

Among business master’s programs, applicants tend to have less than one year of work experience, the only exception being the Master in Data Analytics candidate who tends to have more experience.

The Rexton, Virginia-based Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC) is a global, non-profit association of 220 leading graduate business schools. Founded in 1953, it is committed to advancing the art and science of admissions by convening and representing the industry and offering best-in-class products and services for schools and students.(Image Source: Pixabay.com)