Overview
This Deans Summary highlights the key themes and insights of the GMAC Prospective Students Survey – 2022 Summary Report.
It explores how prospective students’ preferences have shifted during the COVID-19 pandemic based on responses from more than 6,500 individuals worldwide who expressed interest in graduate business education in 2021.
Quick Facts
Candidates regard the professional value of a graduate business degree as highly as they did prior to the pandemic.
- Globally, more than 4 in 5 candidates agree that a graduate business degree helps you stand out at work – consistent with pre-pandemic levels.
The full-time MBA still reigns supreme as the most preferred program type.
- More than 40 percent of prospective students in the business school pipeline want to earn an MBA in a full-time format as a part of either a two-year (22% of candidates in 2021) or one-year (21%) program.
Candidates see higher value in the in-person business school experience compared with online – but interest in hybrid formats is on the rise.
- Among global prospective students surveyed in 2021, most disagree that online degree programs offer the same value as on-campus programs (73%).
- Nearly 4 in 5 disagree that the networking opportunities are equivalent, and 2 in 3 disagree that the career opportunities are the same, however these negative views softened slightly between 2020 and 2021.
- Globally, 20 percent of candidates surveyed in 2021 prefer hybrid program delivery, up from 14 percent pre-pandemic. Increases are seen across candidate segments, including among candidates who want to study full-time.