One MBA, Two Paths
Columbia Business School students may enroll in either August or January. The two paths, each comprising four terms, merge in the fall of the second year to complete electives as a single class.
The paths are identical in terms of competitiveness of admissions, academic rigor, and student resources; but only students who enter in August will be able to complete a summer internship. January-entry (J-Term) students, having completed their first-term courses in the spring, will instead complete their second-term course work over the summer.
January 2025 Entry Application Deadlines
January 2025 applications are no longer being accepted.
| Round | Application Deadline | Interview Decisions Released | Final Decisions Released |
|---|---|---|---|
| Round 1 | June 18, 2024 at 12:00pm (ET) | Rolling | Ongoing, and no later than August 15 |
| Round 2 | September 5, 2024 at 12:00pm (ET) | Rolling | Ongoing, and no later than October 15 |
January-entry applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis within each round. Therefore, candidates who apply earlier within each round put themselves in the best possible position to receive a decision ahead of, and no later than, the deadlines listed above.
We recommend applying as soon as you can to ensure you have ample time to arrange logistics such as housing, travel, and visas (if applicable). Those who submit and complete their applications earlier in the process may also be at a competitive advantage due to the rolling nature of the review process.
August 2025 Entry Application Deadlines
The August 2025 application is open.
| Round | Application Deadline | Interview Decisions Released | Final Decisions Released |
|---|---|---|---|
| Round 1 | September 10, 2024 at 12:00pm (ET) | By November 15 | By December 20 |
| Round 2 | January 7, 2025 at 12:00pm (ET) | By February 20 | By March 26 |
| Round 3 | April 1, 2025 at 12:00pm (ET) | By May 1 | By May 15 |
To be considered for a particular August round, your application must be completed by 12:00pm Eastern Time (ET) on the deadline date for the round in which you apply. Your letter of recommendation and application fee must be submitted by the deadline for your application to be considered complete.
If your application is not completed by the deadline for the current round, it will be rolled into the next available application round in the current cycle for consideration.
Please note that if you would like to be included in priority consideration for institutional funding your application must be completed by the Round 1 or Round 2 deadline.
August-Entry
About 70 percent of our full-time MBA students begin their studies in the fall term. After mandatory orientation in the second half of August, regular classes begin in September. Most August-entry students complete a summer internship between their second and third terms.
The August-entry applications are reviewed in three rounds. While applications will not be reviewed until after each deadline, it is always helpful to apply well before the deadline to ensure all components are received on time. Deposit amounts vary by round. Please review the Deposits page for more information.
If you and your partner are both applying in the same year, we strongly encourage you to apply in the same round so that you will know if your partner has been admitted by the time you have to accept or decline your offer of admission.
January-Entry
Students who do not want or need a summer internship may consider beginning their MBA studies in January and completing their second semester of classes during the summer. A January start may be ideal for students who wish to remain in the same industry after graduation or pursue entrepreneurial interests. About 30 percent of our students enter in January.