Applying to B-school in 2026? These are the Application Trends You’ll Need to Know

Business schools experienced soaring application growth last year, with total applications increasing by 7% in 2025, according to our research at GMAC.

At the same time, rapid advances in artificial intelligence, shifting global student mobility, and evolving candidate expectations are reshaping how prospective students evaluate programs, and how employers assess talent.

Based on three key pivotal GMAC surveys, here are my top predictions for business school candidates (and for the institutions that serve them) in the coming months and years. If you’re applying this year—read on!

Prediction 1: Business School Will Continue to Deliver Strong ROI With Skills That Employers Trust

One of the most consistent findings across our research at GMAC is that studying at business school remains a high-return investment, grounded in skills that employers continue to value, even as technology reshapes the workplace.

In the 2025 Corporate Recruiters Survey, 99% of employers say they trust graduate management education (GME) to prepare graduates for success. Problem-solving and strategic thinking remain the most valued skills today, and employers expect those capabilities to remain essential over the next five years.

At the same time, employers anticipate increased importance in:

• Using AI tools effectively
• Technology and IT skills
• Data analysis and interpretation

Crucially, employers are not looking for technical proficiency in isolation. Two-thirds of employers say skills taught at business school are more important in hybrid work environments, and 63% say they are more important as organizations adopt new technologies. The message is that AI and advanced tools amplify—but do not replace—the need for strategic judgment, communication, and adaptability.

If you’re weighing the ROI of business school, the evidence remains strong: GME can equip you with skills that endure through technological change.

Prediction 2: Global Mobility Will Reshape the Study Options on Offer

While the overall number of people applying to business school is up, growth in applications has been uneven across regions.

Our Application Trends Survey reveals that Europe and Asia have seen growth in applications and interest, while traditional English-speaking destination markets such as the United States, the United Kingdom, and Canada are being viewed by some candidates as less appealing due to stricter visa policies, geopolitical uncertainty, and economic conditions.

However, the World Bank and U.S. Census data explored in our Demand for GME white paper earlier this year show that Central and South Asia are expected to represent the largest population pursuing master’s degrees, and students from countries such as India (who have historically studied abroad in large numbers) may increasingly choose to remain closer to home.

This shift has important implications if you’re applying to business school. You might find compelling study opportunities emerging in regions that you may have previously overlooked as b-schools look to adapt and develop their programs to satisfy demand from new groups of international applicants.

Prediction 3: Full-time, In-person Programs Will Become More Competitive

After several years of growing interest in flexible study options (such as online or hybrid programs), 2025 marked a notable shift back toward immersive, in-person learning experiences, such as the traditional full-time MBA.

Our 2025 Application Trends Survey showed that the majority of full-time programs experienced application growth in 2025. In addition, respondents to our Prospective Students Survey—those who are considering applying in the next couple of years—reversed years of declining preference for full-time, in-person formats.

Community, peer learning, networking, and access to on-campus resources and other aspects offered by face-to-face programs seem to be highly valued by business school applicants right now.

If considering a full-time MBA or business master’s, this could mean you see increased competition for entry into high-quality, full-time programs—particularly those in Europe and Asia where international applications are growing, and especially those that clearly articulate their value beyond course delivery alone (for example, schools with a great alumni network or strong career and industry pathways).

However, if you’re unsure about full-time study, remember that many schools still offer strong online and hybrid options that can fit your experience.

Prediction 4: Demand for the MBA Will Remain Strong

Despite periodic speculation about its future, the MBA continues to be a highly coveted degree. According to our Application Trends Survey, full-time, two-year MBA programs reported 4% overall application growth year-over-year in 2025.

Notably, 59% of these programs experienced application growth, and selectivity played a role: 52% of MBA programs with the lowest acceptance rates reported growth, with selectivity positively correlated with demand.

At the same time, nearly all business master’s programs also experienced domestic and international application growth—with the exception of Master of Business Analytics programs. Looking ahead, potential changes to U.S. CPA requirements could lead to more students moving from accounting programs toward analytics, finance, or AI-focused degrees.

Another notable trend is gender representation. Applications from women to MBA programs outpaced those from men in 2025, though for many programs overall, male applicants still outnumbered those from women.

Prediction 5: B-schools Will Focus on AI Integration and Employer Partnerships

If you’re applying to business school in the coming years, it’s likely you’ll be interrogating how AI is taught, not whether it is mentioned.

Across all three GMAC surveys, artificial intelligence emerges as a strategic capability for b-school graduates. Prospective students express growing interest in hands-on AI experiences, especially those tied to decision-making and strategy development. Employers echo this preference, emphasizing AI as a tool to enhance business judgment.

The data also show that business schools are integrating AI through both top-down curriculum design and bottom-up faculty innovation.

Beyond AI, schools are also creating non-degree offerings, such as executive education and professional certificates, often in close partnership with employers. These programs can help you upskill in targeted ways, as b-schools create programs that address recruiter needs. I’m curious to see how institutions will expand on these options over time, as they have the potential to greatly broaden access to professional expertise and refine workforce pipelines.

My Final Thoughts

In sum, GMAC’s 2025 research painted a picture of an industry that is recalibrating. If you’re a prospective student, graduate management education continues to offer strong returns, durable skills, and global opportunity, especially for those who understand where the market is headed. Employers are still confident in GME’s value. And business schools are adapting in response to new patterns around delivery preferences, industry-relevant skills, geographic mobility, and graduates’ personal and professional outcomes.

To explore these trends in greater depth, I encourage readers to engage with the full GMAC research reports and interactive tools. You can use these trends to sharpen where you apply, how you tell your story, and which skills you prioritize developing before and during your program. Good luck!

Andrew Walker is the Director of Industry Communications at GMAC. In this role, he works to disseminate actionable and relevant research findings about the global graduate management education industry. Andrew holds a Master's Degree in Public Policy from Georgetown University.