The UW Foster MBA is the two-year, full-time MBA of the University of Washington in Seattle, ranked No. 20 in the U.S. News 2026 Best Business Schools list. For international applicants, the UW Foster MBA deadline that matters is Round 2 on 5 January 2027: Foster says it is the final round for international applicants, so Round 3 (23 March 2027) is for domestic candidates only. You will write two required essays, send two recommendations, record a Kira video, pay a $90 fee and meet strict English minimums.
Foster admitted 33.6% of 899 applicants for fall 2025 entry, according to U.S. News data reported by Poets&Quants. Its Class of 2027 is small at 102 students, and 56% are international, one of the highest shares among top-20 US MBA programmes. Nonresident tuition and fees come to $61,389 a year for 2026-27, and international F-1 students can be considered for a waiver that cuts that to the resident rate. I checked every figure in this Foster guide on 29 October 2026.
UW Foster MBA ranking
U.S. News released its 2026 Best Business Schools ranking on 7 April 2026. Foster placed No. 20 for the full-time MBA, according to the ranking tables published by Poets&Quants (6 April 2026) and Clear Admit (9 April 2026). It sits two places below Texas McCombs and UCLA Anderson. Foster’s graduates go mainly into technology and consulting, and Seattle is home to Amazon and Microsoft, two of its regular employers.
UW Foster acceptance rate and class profile
Foster does not publish an acceptance rate on its profile. Poets&Quants’ analysis of U.S. News data put it at 33.6% for fall 2025 entry, from 899 applications, a much smaller pool than at most top-20 schools.
| Full-time MBA Class of 2027 | Figure |
|---|---|
| Class size | 102 |
| Median GMAT | 655 (middle 80%: 615 to 695) |
| Median GRE Verbal / Quant | 160 / 158 |
| Median GPA | 3.4 |
| Average work experience | 6 years (middle 80%: 4 to 9 years) |
| Average age | 29 |
| International students | 56% |
| Women | 51% |
The profile does not say which GMAT edition the 655 median refers to, though the range matches GMAT Focus scoring. Countries represented across the Classes of 2026 and 2027 include Nigeria, India, China, Korea, Indonesia, Mexico, Colombia, Peru, Germany and the United Kingdom. With more than half the class from outside the US, you will not be a rarity as an international student.
UW Foster MBA requirements for international students
The list comes from the official Foster full-time MBA admissions page.
- Application fee: $90, non-refundable, by credit card. Foster cannot waive it, but the UW Graduate School offers a few need-based waivers.
- Transcripts from your degree-granting institutions.
- Resume.
- Essays: two required and two optional (details below).
- Recommendations: two required, up to three allowed. Professional recommenders are preferred.
- Test: GMAT (10th edition or Focus) or GRE, with no preference. The Executive Assessment is not accepted. Foster uses your highest total and does not superscore in this cycle.
- English test: TOEFL, IELTS or Duolingo.
- Kira Talent video: invitation sent one to three business days after the deadline; you have about a week to record.
- Interview: by invitation.
Test-optional route
Foster does not waive requirements, but it does offer a test-optional route. You submit a Test Optional Summary of Qualifications, including a 150-word answer on your quantitative preparation, and you need a GPA of at least 3.0 in your most recent degree. Merit scholarships take your GMAT or GRE score into account, so I would still sit the test if you can score near the median.
English language requirement
| Test | Foster minimum |
|---|---|
| TOEFL iBT (new 1 to 6 scale) | 5 |
| TOEFL iBT (taken before 21 January 2026) | 100 |
| IELTS | 7.0 |
| Duolingo English Test | 130 |
Scores are valid for two years. Foster does not waive the English requirement, but it accepts proof that your degree was taught entirely in English as an alternative. Living or working in the US does not count. If your university taught in English, which covers most universities in Nigeria, Ghana and Kenya, ask the registrar for an official English-medium letter early; it can take weeks to obtain.
UW Foster MBA deadlines 2026-2027
Round 1 closed on 1 October 2026.
| Round | Application deadline | Decision | Enrolment deadline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Round 2 (final round for international applicants) | 5 January 2027 | 26 March 2027 | 29 April 2027 |
| Round 3 (domestic only) | 23 March 2027 | 14 May 2027 | 2 June 2027 |
Last chance for international applicants
Foster takes international applications only up to Round 2. If you need a student visa, 5 January 2027 is your final deadline for fall 2027 entry. Foster also gives scholarship priority to the first two rounds.
UW Foster essays and how to answer them
Foster gives recommended ranges rather than hard caps, and asks for your name and essay title on each page, a 10 or 12-point font and double spacing.
| Essay | What it asks | Recommended length |
|---|---|---|
| Essay 1 (required) | Your post-MBA plans | 550 to 750 words |
| Essay 2 (required) | Choose one part of the Foster mission statement and describe a specific experience of putting it into practice | 350 to 550 words |
| Essay 3 (optional) | Open-ended, for anything else the committee should know | 500 words maximum |
| Essay 4 (optional) | Community inclusion and belonging | 350 to 550 words |
Essay 1: post-MBA plans
This is the longest goals essay among the schools in this range, so use the space for evidence. Open with the role you want after graduation and the company type. Explain what in your career so far led you there, what skills you still lack, and which Foster courses, centres or Seattle employers will fill the gap. Finish with the long-term goal. Because Foster’s graduates go mostly into technology and consulting, a goal in either field is easy for the committee to believe; a goal in New York investment banking will need a stronger case.
Sample opening, for illustration: “Two years after Foster, I want to be a product manager for a payments platform at a company such as Amazon or Microsoft, working on cross-border transfers for African small businesses.”
Essay 2: the Foster mission
Read the mission statement on Foster’s site and pick the single phrase that matches a real experience. Give the situation in two or three sentences, spend most of the essay on what you did and how others responded, and close with what you will repeat at Foster. One detailed story is better than three short ones.
Optional essays
Use Essay 3 for a gap, a weak grade or an unusual choice of recommender. Write Essay 4 only if you have something specific to say about building an inclusive community, such as a group you started or a colleague you supported.
Kira video and interview
The Kira Talent video is a recorded assessment you complete online. You receive the link one to three business days after the deadline and have about a week to finish. Test your camera and internet connection first; if anything fails, contact Foster admissions before the deadline.
Interviews are by invitation, sent three to five weeks after the deadline. Foster’s admissions staff conduct them on Zoom. You must accept and complete the interview to stay in consideration. Prepare a short walk through your resume, your goals and why Foster, and a few teamwork and leadership stories.
What the Foster admissions committee looks for
- A post-MBA plan that fits what Foster graduates do, mainly technology and consulting.
- About four years or more of solid work experience; the middle 80% of the class had four to nine years.
- Readiness for the quantitative core, from a test score or the test-optional summary.
- A clear connection to the Foster mission statement, shown in Essay 2.
- Clear spoken English, tested through the Kira video and the interview.
UW Foster tuition and cost of attendance
UW charges Washington residents less than nonresidents, and international students pay the nonresident rate. The figures below are from Foster’s tuition and fees page for the 2026-27 starting cohort. Tuition is billed each quarter, three quarters a year.
| Item | Washington resident | Nonresident and international |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition per quarter | $14,166 | $20,060 |
| Fees per quarter | $403 | $403 |
| Tuition and fees per year | $43,707 | $61,389 |
| Tuition and fees, two years | $87,414 | $122,778 |
| Estimated yearly living costs (12 months) | Amount |
|---|---|
| Room and board | $30,932 |
| Health | $3,600 |
| Personal expenses | $3,344 |
| Local transportation | $2,108 |
| Books | $1,100 |
| Total living costs | $41,084 |
Add nonresident tuition and fees to living costs and the first year comes to about $102,473, the same figure Poets&Quants published in September 2026. Foster says your cohort keeps the same rate for both years. One-time costs include MBA Association dues of $450 and club dues of about $200, plus an orientation fee.
UW Foster scholarships for international students
Foster says its merit scholarships are open to domestic and international candidates, with no separate application. Awards weigh your GMAT or GRE score, GPA, work experience and interview, and they run for two years. Priority goes to applicants in the first two rounds.
The bigger opportunity for international students is the Nonresident Tuition Differential Waiver. Foster’s financing page says it covers the gap between nonresident and resident tuition, estimated at about $17,169 a year at 2025-26 rates, and that international students must be on an F-1 visa to be eligible. Part of it is paid as a $4,500 taxable fellowship. The page does not say how many students receive it, so ask admissions after you are admitted. The Consortium Fellowship, which pays full tuition and fees for two years, requires a separate application through the Consortium. For outside funding, see our list of scholarships for African students.
Loans without a US cosigner
Foster’s financing page says international students may qualify for private loans with a creditworthy US citizen or permanent resident cosigner. It does not name Prodigy Finance, MPOWER or any lender that lends without a cosigner; it tells students to choose any lender and to check their local EducationUSA advising centre. Federal loans require FAFSA eligibility, which international students do not have.
Is the UW Foster MBA STEM designated?
Foster offers a STEM-designated MBA in Management Science as an option alongside the MBA. Full-time students complete 16 credits from an approved list of management science electives, which Foster says fits inside the two years without extra tuition. You can apply for the designation after your first year. Graduates who complete it receive an MBA, Management Science on their transcript and can apply for the 24-month STEM OPT extension on an F-1 visa.
UW Foster MBA salary and employment
These are Foster’s official Class of 2025 full-time MBA results, from its 2026 employment report.
| Class of 2025 outcome | Figure |
|---|---|
| Graduates seeking jobs | 95 |
| Accepted an offer within 3 months | 77.9% |
| International graduates (no permanent work authorisation) with an accepted offer at 3 months | 72.7% (40 of 55) |
| US graduates with an accepted offer at 3 months | 85.0% |
| Median base salary | $142,800 |
| Mean base salary | $144,411 |
| Technology | 40.5% |
| Consulting | 25.7% |
| Retail | 10.8% |
| Financial services and manufacturing | 5.4% each |
More than half of Foster’s job seekers in the Class of 2025 were international, and nearly three in four of them had accepted an offer within three months. Employers included Amazon, Microsoft, Google, Apple, Adobe, Boeing, Blue Origin, Nike, McKinsey, Boston Consulting Group, Deloitte, Accenture, Kearney and Goldman Sachs. The report does not publish signing bonuses or job locations.
Costs not covered by the budget
- The $90 application fee, test fees and score reports.
- Credential translation and courier fees.
- The SEVIS I-901 fee and US visa fee.
- Flights, a rental deposit and furniture in Seattle.
- Warm, waterproof clothing for Seattle’s wet winters.
- MBA Association and club dues, the orientation fee and recruiting trips.
Common mistakes international applicants make
- Planning to apply in Round 3. International applications close in Round 2.
- Assuming US work experience waives the English test. It does not.
- Applying with a TOEFL taken more than two years earlier.
- Submitting the Executive Assessment, which Foster does not accept.
- Writing a short Essay 1. Foster recommends 550 to 750 words and expects detail.
- Missing the Kira video window that opens just after the deadline.
- Forgetting to apply for the STEM designation after the first year if you want STEM OPT.
Who should apply to UW Foster
Foster suits you if you want technology or consulting jobs in Seattle, you like a small class, and cost matters: with the nonresident waiver, an F-1 student could pay close to resident tuition. It also suits you if your GMAT is in the 600s and the rest of your file is strong. It suits you less if you want finance in New York or a large alumni network spread across many regions.
UW Foster compared with similar MBA programs
| School | U.S. News 2026 rank | Acceptance rate (fall 2025 entry) | Applications |
|---|---|---|---|
| UW Foster | 20 | 33.6% | 899 |
| Texas McCombs | 18 (tie) | 32.7% | 2,274 |
| UCLA Anderson | 18 (tie) | 31.0% | 3,064 |
| UNC Kenan-Flagler | 21 | 37.9% | 2,206 |
| USC Marshall | 25 | 31.4% | 1,914 |
Acceptance rates and application counts are from Poets&Quants’ August 2026 analysis of U.S. News data. For undergraduate study at the same university, read our University of Washington admission guide for international students.
FAQ on the UW Foster MBA for international students
What is the UW Foster MBA acceptance rate?
About 33.6% for fall 2025 entry, from 899 applications, according to U.S. News data reported by Poets&Quants.
Can international students apply to Foster in Round 3?
No. Round 2, closing on 5 January 2027, is the final round for international applicants. Round 3 is for domestic applicants only.
What TOEFL score does Foster require?
At least 5 on the new TOEFL scale, or 100 on tests taken before 21 January 2026. Foster also accepts IELTS 7.0 or Duolingo 130, or proof that your degree was taught entirely in English.
How much is Foster MBA tuition for international students?
For the 2026-27 cohort, nonresident tuition and fees are $61,389 a year, or $122,778 for two years, before any scholarship or nonresident tuition waiver. Living costs add about $41,084 a year.
Sources and updates
Checked on 29 October 2026. Ranking: U.S. News 2026 Best Business Schools (released 7 April 2026), as tabulated by Poets&Quants (6 April 2026) and Clear Admit (9 April 2026). Deadlines, essays, recommendations, tests, English minimums, fee, Kira video, interview and scholarships: Foster full-time MBA admissions page. Class figures: Foster 2026 full-time MBA class profile (Class of 2027). Acceptance rate: Poets&Quants, August 2026. Tuition and living costs: Foster tuition and fees page and Poets&Quants (10 September 2026). Waiver and loans: Foster Financing Your MBA page. STEM: Foster STEM-designated MBA in Management Science page. Employment: Foster 2026 Full-Time MBA Employment Report (Class of 2025). We will update this guide when Foster posts its Class of 2028 profile.
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.
