Top U.S. Business Schools Facing Crisis in Minority MBA Enrollment

The crisis in minority MBA enrollment in the top U.S. programs has taken a drastic turn in the past two years, with declines seen across the board. According to the most recent data from B-schools and U.S. News & World Report, 19 out of the top 30 MBA programs reported year-over-year declines in minority enrollment, with 23 showing declines over two application cycles.

Some schools have seen historically bad declines in just two years, such as Florida’s Warrington College of Business, which saw a 13.4-percentage-point drop to just 14% minority representation, the lowest of any school analyzed. Other schools like Indiana’s Kelley School of Business, Georgetown’s McDonough School of Business, and Washington Olin Business School also saw significant drops in minority enrollment.

The data from the 2022-2023 application cycle predates the Supreme Court’s decision to strike down affirmative action in college admissions, raising concerns about what the next data cycle will reveal. With only a few schools showing growth in minority enrollment, the trend is worrying for the future of diversity in MBA programs.

The report also highlights the racial breakdowns at the leading MBA programs, showing that most schools follow federal reporting guidelines for race and ethnicity. While some schools have seen growth in minority enrollment, others like Georgetown McDonough have experienced significant declines.

Overall, the data paints a concerning picture of the state of minority MBA enrollment in the U.S., with Florida schools like Warrington College of Business at the forefront of the crisis. As the debate around diversity and inclusion in higher education continues, the future of minority representation in top MBA programs remains uncertain.