Chicago Booth’s MBA

Chicago Booth’s MBA is built on “The Chicago Approach”—a rigorous, analytical philosophy that teaches you to break complex problems into first-principles, apply data, and debate ideas openly. You can earn the same Booth MBA in four formats: the Full-Time MBA, Evening MBA, Weekend MBA, and the Sokolov Executive MBA offered across Chicago, London, and Hong Kong. All emphasize evidence-based decision-making and flexibility so you can tailor the experience to your goals.

The curriculum is famously flexible. Aside from the leadership gateway course LEAD, you choose your path across foundations and electives to build depth in areas like Finance, Business Analytics, Entrepreneurship, Marketing, and more (most students stack multiple concentrations). Learning is hands-on and discussion-driven—case work, experiential “lab” courses with real organizations, and team projects—designed to strengthen judgment as much as technical skill.

Booth meets different career stages and lifestyles. Full-Time MBA students study primarily at the Charles M. Harper Center in Hyde Park. Working professionals opt for the Evening or Weekend MBA at Booth’s downtown Gleacher Center on the Chicago River. Experienced leaders choose the Executive MBA, a 21-month, lockstep program delivered across three global campuses with one integrated cohort. Whichever format you choose, the degree, faculty, and standards are the same.

Entrepreneurship is a signature strength. Through the Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation, Booth runs the Edward L. Kaplan, ’71, New Venture Challenge (NVC)—a top university accelerator that has helped launch companies such as Grubhub and Braintree/Venmo. You’ll also find social-impact venture tracks and the Private Equity/Venture Capital Lab, which pairs an internship at a PE/VC firm with an academic course.

Career outcomes are consistently strong. Booth publishes detailed employment reports for Full-Time and Part-Time MBAs, and employers across consulting, tech, finance, health care, and beyond recruit heavily on campus. Part of the draw is Booth’s faculty: the school regularly highlights a record number of Nobel laureates in economic sciences, underscoring its research depth and analytical culture.

Financing and support are robust. Booth offers merit-based scholarships and fellowships across formats (no separate application is typically required), alongside federal and private loan options. The school also provides extensive career services, leadership programming, and a global alumni network to support your goals during and after the MBA.