The William & Mary Mason MBA is the two-year, full-time MBA at the Raymond A. Mason School of Business in Williamsburg, Virginia. U.S. News ranks it No. 53 in its 2026 list. It has one of the most international classes in this ranking band: 35% of a typical class comes from outside the U.S., alongside a large group of military officers. Out-of-state and international students pay $51,796 a year in tuition and fees, and Poets&Quants reports a 38% acceptance rate for the fall 2025 intake.
Round 1 closed on 13 October 2026, so your Deadline is Round 2 on 5 January 2027. Mason asks for the GMAT or GRE, and three of its specializations carry a STEM designation. It is also one of the few schools in this group that names Prodigy Finance and MPOWER for international students. This guide covers the William & Mary MBA requirements for international students, the essay, costs, scholarships and graduate pay.
William & Mary Mason MBA at a glance
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Programme | Full-time MBA, two years (22 months), 59 credits, starts in August |
| U.S. News rank | No. 53, 2026 Best Business Schools (released April 2026), tied with Alabama, Chapman, Kentucky, South Carolina and Tulane |
| Acceptance rate (fall 2025 entry) | 38.0% (Poets&Quants, from U.S. News data) |
| Class size | 110 |
| Average GMAT / GPA | 620 / 3.3 (typical class) |
| International students | 35% |
| Average age / work experience | 27 / about four to five years |
| Tuition and fees, out-of-state and international | $51,796 a year |
| STEM | Business analytics, finance and supply chain management specializations |
| Loans without a U.S. co-signer | Prodigy Finance and MPOWER named by Mason |
William & Mary Mason MBA ranking
U.S. News placed Mason at No. 53 among full-time MBA programmes in its 2026 Best Business Schools ranking, released on 7 April 2026, in a six-way tie that includes Alabama, Kentucky and South Carolina. Poets&Quants ranks the school much higher in its own 2026 composite list, at No. 36, which reflects strong reviews from students and graduates.
William & Mary Mason MBA acceptance rate and class profile
Mason does not publish an acceptance rate. Poets&Quants, using data schools report to U.S. News, gives these figures:
| Intake | Acceptance rate | Yield |
|---|---|---|
| Fall 2025 | 38.0% | 29.2% |
| Fall 2024 | 56.0% | 22.2% |
| Fall 2023 | 59.2% | 35.0% |
Admission got much harder in 2025, with the rate dropping from 56% to 38%. Yield is low, at under a third, which suggests many admitted applicants also hold offers from other schools. That gives you a little room to discuss scholarships once you are in.
| Typical full-time class | Figure |
|---|---|
| Class size | 110 |
| Average GMAT | 620 |
| Average GPA | 3.3 |
| International students | 35% |
| Women | 30% |
| Military | 30% |
| Average age | 27 |
| Average work experience | 60 months |
Mason’s admissions page gives 60 months (five years) of average work experience, while its MBA overview page says four years; either way, this is an experienced class. The three-in-ten military share comes partly from the Major General James Wright programme, a partnership with the U.S. Army.
William & Mary Mason MBA requirements for international students
- A bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution, conferred before you enrol.
- Transcripts from all colleges and universities. Unofficial copies are enough for review; official transcripts come later.
- A GMAT or GRE score.
- Essays (see below).
- A resume.
- Letters of recommendation.
- An English test: TOEFL, IELTS or PTE.
- An interview, by invitation.
- The online application and fee, using a personal email address.
Mason prefers at least two years of work experience but says it will consider academically strong, motivated candidates with less.
GMAT and GRE
Mason asks for the GMAT or GRE and does not publish a minimum. The typical class averages 620 on the GMAT, so a score at or above that keeps you competitive for merit scholarships.
English requirements
International applicants submit TOEFL, IELTS or PTE scores. Mason’s public pages do not state minimum scores. The university catalogue cites a sample class average of 100 on the TOEFL iBT, which is a sensible target. Ask admissions whether a degree taught in English, as at most universities in Nigeria, Ghana and Kenya, can replace the test.
William & Mary Mason MBA deadlines 2026-2027
Mason’s admissions page still shows last year’s dates. Using the same dates one year on, the rounds for the class starting in August 2027 are:
| Round | Deadline | Decision | Deposit due |
|---|---|---|---|
| Round 1 (closed) | 13 October 2026 | 9 January 2027 | 20 February 2027 |
| Round 2 | 5 January 2027 | 6 March 2027 | 17 April 2027 |
| Round 3 | 16 March 2027 | 24 April 2027 | 15 May 2027 |
| Round 4 | 11 May 2027 | 29 May 2027 | 19 June 2027 |
| Round 5 | 15 July 2027 | Rolling, as space allows | Not listed |
(based on this year’s date; confirm on the official page when the call opens)
For international applicants
A Round 3 decision arrives in late April and leaves about three months for the I-20 and visa before an August start. Round 2, on 5 January 2027, is the safer choice and gives you a better shot at scholarships.
How to apply, step by step
- Take the GMAT or GRE, aiming at or above the 620 GMAT average.
- Book TOEFL, IELTS or PTE, or ask admissions about a waiver.
- Request unofficial transcripts from every university.
- Update your resume and choose your recommenders.
- Write the required essay and decide whether you need the optional one.
- Apply online with a personal email address, using Chrome, Firefox or Safari, by 5 January 2027.
- Interview if invited.
- After admission: Pay the deposit, send official transcripts and prepare your funding proof for the I-20.
William & Mary Mason MBA essays
Mason’s own pages do not print the prompt. The Poets&Quants school profile, updated in October 2026, lists one required essay of about 800 words or less, plus an optional essay:
| Essay | Prompt (summary) | Limit |
|---|---|---|
| Required | Why is earning an MBA the next logical step toward your short-term and long-term professional goals, and why is the William & Mary MBA the right fit? | About 800 words |
| Optional | Anything else the committee should know | Not stated |
How to answer the required essay
Treat it as three linked parts. First, where you are now and what you have done. Second, the short-term role you want right after the MBA and the long-term goal it leads to. Third, why Mason specifically: name a specialization, the Career Acceleration Module in the second year, or the small class of 110 where you will be known by name. Each part should lead to the next, so the MBA reads as the obvious step.
For illustration: “For four years I have built Excel models to price mobile data bundles in Nairobi. The models work, but the decisions behind them are made by people who understand strategy, and I want to be one of them.”
The optional essay
Use it for a real gap: a low grade, a break in employment, or a recommender who is not your current boss. Keep it short and factual.
The William & Mary Mason interview
Interviews are by invitation. The university catalogue lists on-campus, Skype and phone options; today that usually means a video call for international applicants. Prepare to explain your goals, your choice of specialization, and how you will contribute to a class where nearly a third of students are military officers.
What the admissions committee looks for
- Several years of solid work experience; the class averages four to five years.
- A GMAT around 620 or higher, or an equivalent GRE.
- A clear reason for an MBA now, with realistic short-term goals.
- Teamwork and leadership, since much of the programme is project-based.
- Fit with a small, close-knit class in a small town.
William & Mary Mason MBA tuition and cost
Mason’s tuition page gives these yearly figures; it does not name the academic year, and new rates are announced each May and take effect in August:
| Item | Out-of-state / international | In-state |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition and fees | $51,796 | $39,394 |
| Room and board | $8,330 | $8,330 |
| Computer and software | $3,500 | $3,500 |
| Miscellaneous (transport, medical and more) | $3,000 | $3,000 |
| Books and supplies | $1,900 | $1,900 |
| Yearly total (my sum of Mason’s figures) | $68,526 | $56,124 |
Costs not covered
- One-time first-year fees: orientation $595, MBA Association dues $300 and the accounting and quantitative bootcamp $450.
- A one-time new international student fee of $165 and an international student service fee of $85 each semester.
- Health insurance beyond the miscellaneous allowance; ask for the student plan premium.
- Flights, the SEVIS fee and the U.S. visa fee.
- Travel for treks or study abroad, if you choose them.
William & Mary Mason MBA scholarships for international students
Every applicant is considered automatically for merit-based scholarships and leadership awards. Mason does not publish names, amounts or the share of students who receive them.
| Award | What it gives | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Merit scholarships and leadership awards | Not published | Automatic consideration for all applicants |
| Alumni Referral Scholarship | $10,000 | For applicants referred by a Mason alumnus who are then admitted; one per student per year |
| Graduate assistantships | Not published | Enrolled students may apply |
If you know a Mason alumnus, ask them to refer you through the alumni form before you apply.
Loans for international students
Federal loans are for U.S. citizens and permanent residents. For international students, Mason points to private loans in your home country or the U.S., with information from the W&M financial aid office on loans that need a U.S. co-signer. It also names Prodigy Finance, MPOWER Financing and FIDERH, which matters because Prodigy and MPOWER lend without a co-signer. Check each lender’s country list. For outside funding, see our list of American scholarships for international students.
STEM designation and OPT
The university catalogue lists six specializations and marks three as STEM-designated: business analytics, finance and supply chain management. The others are consulting, innovation and entrepreneurship, and marketing. The Poets&Quants profile names only finance and business analytics as STEM, so confirm the current list with Mason. If you complete a STEM-designated specialization, you can apply for the 24-month STEM OPT extension on top of the standard 12 months.
Programme structure
The 59 credits are spread over four semesters. The first year covers the core, including financial accounting, data analysis, finance, marketing, operations and strategy, with one specialization elective in spring. Short Sprint weeks run each semester. In the fall of the second year a six-credit Career Acceleration Module focuses on your target field, followed by electives. You can also graduate with a general management MBA and no specialization.
William & Mary Mason MBA salary and employment
Mason’s MBA pages do not post a recent employment report. Poets&Quants lists these figures for its 2025 reporting year:
- Median base salary: $85,000.
- Average base salary: $99,707.
- First offer accepted by graduation: 46%.
- Employers include Amazon, Amgen, Bank of America, Booz Allen Hamilton, Capital One, CoStar Group, EY, HCA Healthcare, IBM, L3Harris Technologies, Navy Federal Credit Union, Sentara, Smithfield Foods and Wells Fargo.
Fortune lists a median base salary of $97,500 without saying which class it covers. The gap between figures is wide, so ask Mason’s career office for its own Class of 2025 report and its record with international graduates.
Common mistakes international applicants make
- Using last year’s dates without checking the 2026-27 calendar.
- Applying in Round 3 or later and leaving too little time for the visa.
- Writing two separate essays inside the one required essay, one on goals and one on William & Mary, with no link between them.
- Ignoring the Alumni Referral Scholarship.
- Assuming the whole MBA is STEM-designated; only certain specializations are.
- Budgeting for tuition only and forgetting the $68,000-a-year full cost.
Who should apply to William & Mary Mason, and who shouldn’t
Apply if you have several years of work experience, want a small and international class, and plan to work in finance, analytics or supply chain where the STEM OPT extension helps. Access to Prodigy and MPOWER also makes funding easier than at many peers.
Think twice if you want a big-city school or top-tier consulting and banking salaries. Williamsburg is a small town, and pay sits below most top-40 MBAs.
William & Mary Mason vs peer MBA programmes
| School | U.S. News 2026 | Avg GMAT | Tuition or cost | International | Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| William & Mary Mason | No. 53 (tie) | 620 (typical class) | $51,796 a year tuition and fees, out-of-state | 35% | 5 January 2027 (Round 2) |
| Fordham Gabelli | No. 60 | Not published (median 640, Poets&Quants) | $60,392 a year (Poets&Quants) | 70% (Poets&Quants) | 15 January 2027 (Round 2) |
| Maryland Smith | No. 43 (tie) | Not published (55th to 72nd percentile) | $42,228 a year tuition, same for all, fall 2026 | Not published | 15 December 2026 (international priority) |
| Pitt Katz | No. 48 | Not published by Katz (median 600, Poets&Quants) | $63,856 a year (out-of-state) | 44% (Poets&Quants) | 15 January 2027 |
| Rochester Simon | No. 34 | 675; Focus 625 (Class of 2027) | $60,000 a year tuition, 2026-27 | Not published | 5 January 2027 |
FAQ
What is the William & Mary MBA acceptance rate?
Poets&Quants, using U.S. News data, reports 38.0% for the fall 2025 intake, down from 56.0% in 2024. Mason does not publish its own figure.
Is the William & Mary MBA STEM-designated?
Three specializations are: business analytics, finance and supply chain management, according to the university catalogue. Completing one can qualify you for the 24-month STEM OPT extension.
Can international students get a loan for the William & Mary MBA without a co-signer?
Mason names Prodigy Finance and MPOWER Financing, which lend to international students without a U.S. co-signer, as well as FIDERH. Eligibility depends on your country and the lender’s rules.
What is the William & Mary MBA deadline for international students?
The Deadline is Round 2 on 5 January 2027. Mason has no separate international date, but later rounds leave little time for a visa before the August start.
Sources and updates
Round dates, the typical class profile and basic requirements are from Mason’s full-time MBA admissions page, which still shows the 2025-26 cycle. Tuition, budget items, scholarships and loans are from the tuition and financial aid page. Programme length, credits and class size are from the Mason MBA overview. Specializations, STEM designations, the curriculum, the English tests and interview formats are from the William & Mary catalogue. The essay prompt, salary figures and employers are from the Poets&Quants school profile (updated October 2026); the $97,500 median is from Fortune’s school page. Acceptance and yield are from Poets&Quants’ August 2026 acceptance rate tables. The ranking is from U.S. News 2026 Best Business Schools (full-time MBA), released on 7 April 2026, as tabulated by Poets&Quants. Checked on 29 October 2026.
I am Jude Chinecherem, a final-year MBBS student at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. I know what it feels like to want an education your family cannot afford. When my parents could not pay for my schooling, I had to learn how to find scholarships and work the system out on my own, with nobody to guide me. I came out the other side, and now I share everything I learned so the next student does not have to figure it out alone. This is the advice I wish someone had given me back then.
