The story of Texas McCombs continues to evolve, and our MBA Class of 2027 writes an exciting new chapter. This year brought record applications and 556 exceptional students who will join the Hildebrand MBA program across Austin, Dallas, and Houston. From military veterans to first-generation college students, from tech professionals to community leaders, this class embodies the variety of experiences that makes Texas McCombs special.
Their arrival marks another milestone in our journey toward becoming the world’s highest-impact public business school. Three things make this class particularly remarkable: the growing interest in our programs, the incredible range of backgrounds represented, and our expanding impact in opening doors for talented individuals from all walks of life.
Record Interest Across All Programs
Applications jumped 8% this year to 2,883 across our MBA portfolio, which is a clear sign that our reputation continues to grow. This momentum reflects the strength of the McCombs brand and recognition of our program’s quality in the marketplace. Our large class size of 556 incoming students: 235 in our Full-Time MBA, 255 in our Professional MBA, and 66 in our Executive MBA, means we can welcome more of the talented individuals who want to be part of our community.
A Truly Global Community
This year’s class represents over 30+ countries, from Australia and Brazil to Nigeria and Vietnam. Students speak dozens of languages—Mandarin, Hindi, Arabic, Portuguese, Korean, and many others. They’ve studied at more than 200 different universities and come from fields ranging from engineering to humanities to business.
The variety of experiences goes well beyond geography and academics. Over 15% of incoming students already have advanced degrees. Military veterans make up 15% of our Full-Time and Working Professional classes, and an impressive 35% of our Executive MBA class. These different perspectives and varied backgrounds make our classrooms richer and our discussions more meaningful.
Opening Doors for First-Generation Students
Here’s something we’re particularly proud of: 17% of our incoming class are first-generation college students, with our Executive MBA program leading the way at an impressive 26%. That matters because it shows we’re serious about making a McCombs MBA accessible to talented people regardless of their family background. It’s part of our larger mission to help UT Austin become the world’s highest-impact public university.
Program Highlights
Full-Time MBA
Demand for our Full-Time MBA reached new heights this year, with applications surging 16% to over 2,200 applicants competing for 235 spots—clear evidence that talented professionals worldwide recognize the value of a McCombs education. These students average 29 years old with a stellar 3.5 median GPA, complemented by strong test performance with a median GMAT Focus of 655 and median GRE of 319. About one-third come from international backgrounds, and 15% have military service experience.
The class brings professional experience from a well-balanced mix of industries, with no single sector dominating more than 20% of the cohort. The top three industries represented are finance (17%), technology (16%), and consulting (15%), reflecting the breadth of career paths that lead to McCombs and the unique perspectives these students bring to our classrooms.
Working Professional MBA
Our working professionals bring serious experience—an average of 7 years in the workforce. These students average 31 years old, with most between 26-38, and 17% have military backgrounds. Academically, they’re strong performers with a 3.49 median GPA. Average test scores were 615 for the new GMAT Focus and 315 GRE.
Executive MBA
Our executives are seasoned leaders with 16 years of work experience on average and 10 years in management roles. A remarkable 35% have military backgrounds, and 26% are first-generation students. They come from tech (15%), consulting (12%), and finance (11%), among other industries.
Looking Ahead
The Class of 2027 represents what we’re all about at Texas McCombs: academic excellence, unique perspectives, and real-world impact. These students will help us continue building toward our goal of becoming the world’s highest-impact public business school.
Ready to join them? Visit our website for application details and follow us on Instagram for a behind-the-scenes look at life at McCombs.
