The Leading Independent
Resource for Top-tier MBA
Candidates

Fisher College of Business – The Ohio State University

Image for Fisher College of Business – The Ohio State University
Class Size 49
Women 43%
Mean GMAT 698
Mean GPA 3.55

The Ohio State University Max M. Fisher College of Business’s MBA program is located on the main campus in Columbus, OH. Fisher offers a Full-Time MBA (on-campus), a Working Professional MBA (on-campus, online or both), and an Executive MBA program. Hallmarks of their MBA programs include:

  • Personalized, hands-on curriculum
  • Premier faculty and industry experts
  • Wide-ranging electives, optional pathways
  • One-on-one career coaching, mentorship and development
  • Unforgettable experiential learning
  • Intentionally small class sizes
  • One of the largest alumni networks
  • Career placement success


FAQ

What is the tuition for Fisher's full-time MBA program?

The tuition for Fisher's MBA program is $31,256 for Ohio residents and $58,986 for non-Ohio residents and international students per year.

What is the average GMAT score for admission to Fisher's full-time MBA program?

The average GMAT score for the incoming class at Fisher is 698. The GMAT middle 80% range is 640 to 740.

Does the Fisher full-time MBA program accept the GRE?

Yes. The Fisher MBA program has accepted the GRE for a few years now.

What is the average GRE score for admission to the Fisher full-time MBA program?

The average composite GRE score for the incoming class at Fisher is 317. The GRE middle 80% range is 301 to 327.

What is the minimum number of years of work experience required for admission the Fisher full-time MBA program?

Fisher does not state a minimum requirement for years of work experience. However, it is important for candidates to be aware that they are being considered against other candidates with an average of 4.6 years of experience.

What is the average number of years of work experience for admission to the Fisher full-time MBA program? (or, What is the average age of a Fisher full-time MBA student?)

The average number of years of work experience among students in Fisher's MBA program is 4.6.

What is the average starting salary for graduates of the Fisher full-time MBA program?

The average starting salary for Fisher MBA graduates is $129,409.

How long is Fisher's full-time MBA program?

Fisher offers a traditional 2 year MBA program.

What are the application deadlines for the Fisher full-time MBA program?

The Early MBA application deadline is October 13, 2024. The Round 1 deadline is December 1, 2024. The Round 2 deadline is January 5, 2025. The Round 3 deadline is February 23, 2025. The final deadline is April 25, 2025. Rolling admissions begin after the last deadline.

Admissions

Class Profile

Forty-nine new MBA students joined Fisher in the Fall of 2023. Forty-five percent of them pursued undergraduate degrees in business. Another 22% had studied social sciences and 18% arts & sciences. Fifteen percent had majored in engineering. Their average GPA was 3.55. 

Upon matriculation at Ohio State Fisher, students averaged 4.6 years of full-time work experience. The average GMAT score of incoming students clocked in at 698 while the average GRE composite score was 317. In total, 43% of students in the Class of 2025 are international, 43% are women and 25% identify as a member of a domestic minority group.

Application Procedures

Ohio State Fisher has five admissions rounds, including an Early round in October that come with the perk of the option of participating in a Fall Preview Day. International candidates and those interested in funding/scholarship consideration should apply by Round 3. Admissions change to rolling after the final deadline. Given the availability of merit-based scholarships, applicants are encouraged to apply early.

The application requirements for Ohio State Fisher include: all academic transcripts, essays, a video interview, GMAT or GRE score, résumé (and/or LinkedIn url), application fee, TOEFL or IELTS for international applicants (exemptions available). Letters of recommendation are optional. Interviews are required and offered by invitation only. In-person interviews are available on campus. Candidates who cannot make it to campus have the option of scheduling a live, web-based interview.

Application Checklist

  • Academic transcripts
  • Essays
  • Video interview
  • GMAT or GRE score
  • Two letters of recommendation (optional)
  • Résumé (and/or LinkedIn url)
  • Application fee
  • TOEFL or IELTS for international applicants (exemptions available)
  • Interview (invitation only)

Full-Time MBA Deadlines

  • Early Round: October 13, 2024, Decision Date: November 15th
  • Round One: December 1, 2024, Decision Date: January 17 – Fellowship Consideration Deadline
  • Round Two: January 5, 2025, Decision Date: March 7 – Red Carpet Weekend Deadline
  • Round Three: February 23, 2025, Decision Date: April 11 – Priority funding/scholarship consideration & international deadline
  • Final Round: April 25, 2025, Decision Date: May 30 – Final domestic application deadline
  • Rolling after May 12th

Essay Topic Analysis

Need help with your essays? Get our experts' advice.

Interview Reports

Ohio State / Fisher Q&A's

Ohio State / Fisher LiveWire and DecisionWire

MBA LiveWire

March 4, 2024 7:19am ET
Interview Invite to Ohio State / Fisher
Round: Round 2
Received via email on February 13, 2024
GMAT: 635
Program Type: Traditional Two-Year
February 21, 2024 1:53pm ET
Interview Invite to Ohio State / Fisher
Round: Round 3
Received via email February 21, 2024
GPA: 3.86
Program Type: Traditional Two-Year
Post MBA Career Name: Technology
February 6, 2024 6:54am ET
Interview Invite to Ohio State / Fisher
Round: Round 3
Received via email
GPA: 3.49
Program Type: Traditional Two-Year
Post MBA Career Name: Consulting
Application Location: USA
Note:

I received the invite for the interview 1 week after I applied. Got my PhD in engineering field.

January 25, 2024 8:11am ET
Interview Invite to Ohio State / Fisher
Round: Round 2
Received via email
GMAT: 680
Program Type: Traditional Two-Year
January 18, 2024 9:02am ET
Waitlisted at Ohio State / Fisher
Round: Round 1
Received via email January 18, 2024
GPA: 3.36
GRE: 326
Program Type: Traditional Two-Year
Post MBA Career Name: Technology
Application Location: Africa
January 10, 2024 9:29pm ET
Waitlisted at Ohio State / Fisher
Round: Early Decision
Received via email
GPA: 3.2
GRE: 324
Program Type: Traditional Two-Year
November 16, 2023 11:51am ET
Accepted to Ohio State / Fisher
Round: Early Decision
Received via email November 16, 2023
GPA: 3.6/4.0
GRE: 322
Program Type: Traditional Two-Year
Post MBA Career Name: Consulting
Application Location: Africa
November 8, 2023 6:33am ET
Applied to Ohio State / Fisher
Round: Early Decision
Received via portal
GPA: 3.83
Program Type: Traditional Two-Year
Post MBA Career Name: Finance
Application Location: Ghana

MBA DecisionWire

Cor
August 20, 2024 9:28am ET
Enrolled: Cornell / Johnson
Admitted: Cornell / Johnson $
$40000
,
Washington U. / Olin $
$100000
Applied: Cornell / Johnson, Michigan / Ross, UVA / Darden, Vanderbilt / Owen, Washington U. / Olin
Entering Year: 2024
Post MBA Career: Undecided
GPA: 3.85
Location: Miami, FL
Notes:

This is for applicants who are applying directly from undergrad to an MBA program without "post-bachelor" work experience. It is tough but possible with perseverance.

Sta
July 31, 2024 12:10pm ET
Enrolled: Stanford GSB
Admitted: U. Chicago Booth , Columbia $
$180000
,
Harvard Business School $
$130000
,
Michigan / Ross , Stanford GSB $
$130000
Applied: U. Chicago Booth, UPenn / Wharton, Stanford GSB, Michigan / Ross, Harvard Business School, Columbia
Entering Year: 2024
Post MBA Career: Undecided
GMAT: 750
Notes:

Selecting Stanford GSB for smaller class size and focus on innovation and entrepreneurship.

IES
July 23, 2024 3:58pm ET
Enrolled: IESE
Admitted: Cornell / Johnson , Duke / Fuqua , IESE , UPenn / Wharton , Yale SOM
Applied: Cornell / Johnson, Duke / Fuqua, Harvard Business School, IESE, Michigan / Ross, Northwestern / Kellogg, UPenn / Wharton, Yale SOM
Entering Year: 2024
Post MBA Career: Entrepreneurship
GMAT: 710
GPA: 3.6
HBS
July 23, 2024 9:21am ET
Enrolled: Harvard Business School
Admitted: Harvard Business School , Stanford GSB
Applied: Stanford GSB, Harvard Business School
Entering Year: 2024
GMAT: 760
Notes:

Opt'ed for HBS given stronger alumni network, larger class/network size, and better placement outside of Tech industry

Academics

Faculty

Ohio State Fisher employs over 150 faculty members, who teach across ten academic areas and contribute to Fisher’s eight research centers. The professors bring both academic research and real-world business knowledge to the classroom, as many also serve as high-level professionals in addition to their teaching roles.

Curriculum

In addition to a theoretical base in business administration, Fisher prides itself in its action-based learning opportunities, such as field-based courses and business plan competitions, among other offerings. The full-time MBA program begins with a required three-week Take-Off, during which new students are introduced to the college and MBA core and participate in coaching and career development, among other forms of development. Core courses and experiential learning make up the entire first year to establish a foundation for electives and major courses in the second year. Each academic year is broken down into two semesters, and there are two seven-week sessions per semester. Some courses will span the entire semester, while others will be either the first or last seven-week session of the semester. The summer between the first and second years may be spent in an internship or on a Global Applied Project (GAP), a three-credit consulting project for an institution outside of the United States.

Full-time MBA students need 60 credits to graduate; 25.5 of these credits come from core courses, while 7.5 hours come from experiential learning and 27 are dedicated to electives, which allow students to focus their MBA. Instead of majors, Fisher MBA students may pursue optional pathways, such as asset management, brand management, entrepreneurship and others, to support their career interests.

Other MBA Degree Options

In addition to the full-time program, Fisher also offers an MBA for working professionals and an executive MBA. The MBA for working professionals requires 48 credit hours to complete and classes are held in the evenings and weekends to enable students to maintain their jobs during the day. The MBA for working professionals takes two and a half years to complete; however, this is flexible as students may enroll in as few as 1.5 credit hours per semester or as many as 9 credit hours per semester. Working professional MBA students must complete 27 credits of core classes and 21 elective credits. The Executive MBA is geared towards high-potential professionals recommended by their employers. Classes take place three days a month over 17 months. This program also includes domestic and international immersion trips.

Fisher College of Business also partners with other colleges of Ohio State University to offer seven dual degree options. Applicants must be admitted to each program separately and the options include the following: MBA/JD, MBA/MD, MBA/Master of Environment and Natural Resources, MBA/Master of Public Administration, MBA/PharmD, and MBA/Master of Health Administration.

Core Classes at Fisher

  • Accounting
  • Data Analysis
  • Finance
  • Economics
  • Global Business
  • Leadership
  • Marketing
  • Operations
  • Personal & Team Effectiveness
  • Strategy

Sample Optional Pathways at Fisher

  • Asset Management
  • Brand Management
  • Business Analytics
  • Coaching
  • Consulting and Project Management
  • Corporate Finance
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Leadership 
  • Logistics Management
  • Real Estate
  • Risk Management
  • Social Impact
  • STEM MBA
  • Strategy
  • Supply Chain
  • Sustainability

Degree Offerings at Fisher

Full-Time MBA
https://fisher.osu.edu/graduate/ftmba

MBA for Working Professionals (Part-time MBA)
https://fisher.osu.edu/graduate/wpmba

Executive MBA
https://fisher.osu.edu/graduate/executive-mba

Dual Degree Programs
MBA/JD, MBA/MD, MBA/Master of Environment and Natural Resources, MBA/Master of Public Administration, MBA/PharmD, MBA/Master in Health Administration
https://fisher.osu.edu/graduate/ftmba/academics/dual-degree-programs

Campus Life

Clubs, Conferences and Competitions

Fisher students benefit from many organizations within the college itself and across the Ohio State University campus. Fisher offers over 20 student clubs, which span professional, cultural, athletic and social interests. Students are also encouraged to launch clubs based on common interests. Of note, Fisher Board Fellows has, since 2004, linked MBA Fisher students with the broader Columbus community. Selected MBA students are placed on the Boards of area nonprofits as nonvoting fellows. Fisher students may also engage the Columbus community through FisherServes, which promotes awareness of civic and social responsibilities through service-based initiatives. Students may also let loose and showcase their talents in the annual production of Fisher Follies.

The Office of Diversity and Inclusion Student Services and Corporate and Community Outreach sponsors the activities of 13 student organizations, each of which host or attend conventions or conferences. For example, the National Black MBA Association Annual Conference and Exposition boasts attendance of 9,000 and is one of the largest professional development and job recruitment events nationwide. Additionally, students from the Fisher Graduate Women in Business attend The National Association of Women MBAs conference, which seeks to empower female MBA students, female business professionals, and employers.

Because of Fisher’s partnerships with many organizations, including some of the 20 Fortune 1000 companies located in Columbus, there are various opportunities to compete in case competitions and “mini” case competitions. While Fisher sends teams of students to other schools, including Wake Forest and the University of Wisconsin, for national competitions, they also host several on campus. For example, the KeyBank Foundation Minority MBA Case Competition, hosted in Cleveland at KeyBank headquarters, is considered one of the nation’s premier minority MBA student case competitions. Universities send student representatives, at least two of which must represent an ethnic minority, to compete in analyzing a business case topic selected by the KeyBank Foundation.

Campus Spaces

Most classes are taught in Gerlach Hall, one of five buildings comprising the Fisher College of Business campus at Ohio State University. The Fisher campus features 370,000 square feet of space, a state-of-the-art computer network, satellite up-link capabilities, video-on-demand, and nearly 3,000 computer ports. The campus also includes a full-service hotel and restaurant as well as a café with indoor and outdoor seating. 

Most students live off-campus. There are numerous options within a short walk or drive to campus. Students may also live in on-campus graduate housing as well as Fisher Commons, an apartment property located on the West side of campus. All students also have access to CABS, the Campus Area Bus Service, which offers multiple stops at or near the Fisher campus.

MBA Careers

Career Services

The Fisher Office of Career Management provides many ways for students to develop professionally during their time at the school. Located in Gerlach Hall, one-on-one attention is provided from day 1. The office provides résumé guidance, basic and advanced interviewing techniques, negotiation skills, and more. Career Foundation Seminars, which include high-level executives from major companies, provide students with overviews of industry opportunities. The career-specific workshops, known as the Career Success Series, also support students’ job searches. On-campus recruiting runs from September to December in the fall, and January through April in the spring. The Office of Career Management also hosts an annual career fair in September, as well as an internship and job fair in February. The Spring Connection Career Conference takes place in March. Fisher students also have access to career fairs held across Ohio State University.

Career Statistics

Within three months of graduation, 92% of the Class of 2023 had job offers. Their average starting salary landed at $129,409 and the average signing bonus came in at $34,453. Financial services topped the list of industry choice at 29%. Technology and consulting followed at 23% and 22%, respectively. Healthcare and manufacturing each saw 7% of graduates.

Seventy percent of the Class of 2023 settled in the Midwest, with 45% staying in Columbus, OH. The next most popular destination was the Western U.S., which took in 14% of graduates. The Southwest took in 7% of MBA graduates while the Mid-Atlantic and South each took in two percent. Five percent headed to the Northeast U.S.

Financing

For the 2023-24 school year, tuition and fees for Ohio residents is $31,256 per year. Non-residents and international students can expect to pay $58,986 in tuition and fees. The fees are billed in 50% increments for the fall and spring semesters. Students are encouraged to use loans, a semester payment plan, or military benefits for financing.

All applications are considered for merit-based scholarships, which cover $1,500 to the full cost of tuition. Some rely on past academic performance and work experience; however, most are simply based on a candidate’s potential to contribute to the student community. Ohio State also offers a program called “Forever Buckeye,” which allows for in-state tuition for past residents of Ohio. Applicants to Forever Buckeye must have graduated from a public or private Ohio high school and must reside in Ohio during the MBA program.

Scholarships are also available to cover the cost of living. Graduate assistantships can also be a source of help with tuition and other expenses. The admissions committee selects approximately 20 incoming students per year based on their skills and interests; in exchange for 10 hours of work per week, selected students receive a 50% tuition waiver and an additional stipend. The admissions committee may also nominate selected candidates for Fisher Fellows, University Fellowships, or Graduate Enrichment Fellowships to aid in the cost of attendance. U.S. citizens and permanent residents can also avail themselves of four different loan programs, including the Federal Perkins Loan and Federal Stafford Student Loan programs.

Estimated Cost of Attendance

Tuition

  • Ohio Resident $31,256
  • Non-resident/Int’l $58,986

Room & Board $12,096

Books and Supplies $1,082

Miscellaneous/Personal $5,922

Health Insurance $3,366

Total

  • Resident $53,722
  • Non-resident/Int’l $81,452
Learn More

Contact

Mailing Address:
2100 Neil Avenue, Columbus, OH 43210
Phone: (614) 292-8511
Email:
Website: https://fisher.osu.edu/graduate/ftmba
Blog: https://fisher.osu.edu/blogs/gradlife/category/full-time-mba/
Twitter: @FisherOSU_MBA