The Fordham Gabelli MBA is the two-year, full-time MBA at Fordham University’s Gabelli School of Business in New York City. U.S. News ranks it No. 60 in its 2026 list. It stands out for international students in three ways: about 70% of full-time students come from outside the U.S., the whole programme is STEM-designated, and the GMAT or GRE is optional. Poets&Quants reports a 67.1% acceptance rate for the fall 2025 intake and an 85% job acceptance rate three months after graduation.
Round 1 closed on 9 October 2026, so your Deadline is Round 2 on 15 January 2027. Tuition runs to about $60,000 a year before New York living costs. This guide covers the Fordham MBA requirements for international students, the essays, costs, STEM OPT, graduate outcomes and the things Fordham does not publish openly.
Fordham Gabelli MBA at a glance
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Programme | Full-Time Cohort MBA, two years, 60 credits, New York City, fall start |
| U.S. News rank | No. 60, 2026 Best Business Schools (released April 2026) |
| Acceptance rate (fall 2025 entry) | 67.1% (Poets&Quants, from U.S. News data) |
| Full-time students | 61 (Poets&Quants profile) |
| Median GMAT / average GPA | 640 / 3.19 (Poets&Quants profile) |
| International students | 70% (Poets&Quants profile) |
| Test policy | GMAT or GRE optional |
| Tuition | About $60,392 a year (Poets&Quants); Fortune lists $64,554 |
| STEM | Yes, the whole full-time MBA (CIP 30.7102, business analytics) |
| Accepted a job within three months | 85% (reporting year 2025, Poets&Quants) |
Fordham Gabelli MBA ranking
U.S. News placed Gabelli at No. 60 among full-time MBA programmes in its 2026 Best Business Schools ranking, released on 7 April 2026. Poets&Quants ranks it much higher in its own composite list, at No. 40 for 2026, and Fortune places it No. 51 on its main MBA list.
Fordham Gabelli MBA acceptance rate and class profile
Poets&Quants, using data schools report to U.S. News, gives these figures:
| Intake | Acceptance rate | Yield |
|---|---|---|
| Fall 2025 | 67.1% | 30.7% |
| Fall 2024 | 58.6% | 41.7% |
| Fall 2023 | 58.4% | 37.6% |
About two in three applicants were admitted in 2025, but fewer than a third of them enrolled. Low yield usually means admitted students are weighing other offers, and it can give you leverage when you ask about scholarships.
| Full-time MBA profile (Poets&Quants, October 2026) | Figure |
|---|---|
| Full-time students | 61 |
| Median GMAT | 640 |
| Average undergraduate GPA | 3.19 |
| International students | 70% |
| Average age | 30 |
| Women | 36% |
Fortune’s school page lists an average GPA of 3.2 and an average core class of 33 students. With 70% of the class from abroad, you will study with many people who share the same visa and job-search concerns, which helps when you compare notes on employers who sponsor.
Fordham Gabelli MBA requirements for international students
Gabelli’s admissions pages could not be opened when I checked, so the list below draws on the Poets&Quants profile and the Fordham bulletin. Confirm each item on Gabelli’s graduate admissions requirements page before you apply.
- A bachelor’s degree and transcripts from each university you attended.
- A resume.
- Three required essays and one optional essay.
- One professional letter of recommendation.
- GMAT or GRE scores, optional.
- English test scores if English is not your first language or the language of your degree; minimums to be confirmed with Gabelli.
- An admissions interview.
- The application fee (amount not confirmed).
Should you submit the GMAT or GRE?
The test is optional, but a score still helps when your GPA is modest or when you want merit money. The Poets&Quants median of 640 is the figure to aim for. If your quantitative coursework is strong and your GPA is above 3.2, you can reasonably apply without one.
English requirements
I could not confirm Gabelli’s current minimum TOEFL, IELTS or Duolingo scores. Older third-party listings cite TOEFL 600 (paper) and IELTS 7.0, but treat these as outdated until you see the figures on Fordham’s site. If your degree was taught in English, as at most universities in Nigeria, Ghana and Kenya, ask admissions whether that waives the test.
Fordham Gabelli MBA deadlines 2026-2027
Poets&Quants, in its profile updated in October 2026, lists these rounds for the class starting in fall 2027:
| Round | Deadline | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Round 1 (closed) | 9 October 2026 | Closed |
| Round 2 | 15 January 2027 | Your Deadline |
| Round 3 | 19 March 2027 | Tight for a visa |
For international applicants
A March application leaves very little time for an I-20 and a U.S. visa interview before a fall start, especially in countries with long appointment waits. Apply by 15 January 2027, and check Gabelli’s own deadlines page in case it lists additional rounds.
How to apply, step by step
- Decide on the test: Take the GMAT or GRE if your GPA is below about 3.2 or you want a stronger scholarship case.
- Check English rules on Gabelli’s international page and book a test if needed.
- Request transcripts from every university.
- Choose one professional recommender, ideally your current supervisor.
- Draft the three required essays and decide whether you need the optional one.
- Submit the online application by 15 January 2027.
- Interview with admissions.
- After admission: Pay the deposit and prepare funding proof for the I-20.
Fordham Gabelli MBA essays
Gabelli asks for three required essays and one optional essay, according to Poets&Quants. The prompts and word limits appear in the application; I could not confirm them. Older listings describe essays about professional goals and aspirations, which most MBA applications include in some form.
How to approach them
- Career goals essay: Name the role you want after the MBA, the industry and the city. Since this is a New York MBA, say why New York matters for that goal, for example finance, media or fintech employers nearby.
- Why Gabelli: Point to the concentration you will take, such as FinTech, finance or information systems, and the capstone consulting project. Mention the STEM designation only if you can explain how it fits your plan.
- Personal essay: If one prompt asks about you as a person, choose a story that shows values or resilience with a concrete outcome. Fordham is a Jesuit university, and many applicants find that a story about service or ethics fits naturally.
- Optional essay: Use it only to explain a weak grade, a gap or a missing test score.
For illustration: “I joined a payments start-up in Lagos as its fourth employee and spent two years learning why merchants did not trust us. I want to spend the next two in New York learning how the firms that do earn that trust are run.”
The Fordham Gabelli interview
Poets&Quants lists an admissions interview as part of the process. Fordham’s format was not available to me, so ask whether international applicants interview by video. Prepare a two-minute summary of your goals, a clear reason for choosing Gabelli, and a plan for your job search as an international student.
What the admissions committee looks for
- Professional experience; the class averages 30 years of age, which points to several years of work.
- Academic readiness, shown through your GPA, quantitative courses or an optional test score.
- Clear career goals tied to New York.
- Strong communication in English for case work and recruiting.
- A sense of ethics and responsibility, which Gabelli stresses in its teaching.
Fordham Gabelli MBA tuition and cost
Fordham’s tuition pages could not be opened when I checked. Published third-party figures are:
| Source | Tuition per year | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Poets&Quants profile (October 2026) | $60,392 | Same for all students |
| Fortune school page (2026) | $64,554 | Out-of-state rate |
Over two years, tuition alone comes to roughly $120,000 to $130,000. Fordham posts official rates and a cost of attendance for Gabelli graduate students on its student financial services pages; use those figures for your I-20 budget.
Costs not covered
- University fees, which Fordham charges on top of tuition.
- Health insurance, which international students must carry.
- New York housing, the largest cost after tuition; rents are among the highest in the U.S.
- Food, transport and books.
- Flights, the SEVIS fee and the U.S. visa fee.
Fordham Gabelli MBA scholarships for international students
Gabelli runs an admissions scholarship programme for graduate applicants, described on its Admissions Scholarships page. I could not open that page to confirm award names, amounts or whether international students are eligible, so ask admissions directly and ask whether a test score affects your chances. The low yield suggests many admitted students compare offers, so it is reasonable to ask whether an award can be reviewed.
For loans, I could not confirm whether Fordham names Prodigy Finance, MPOWER or other lenders that do not require a U.S. co-signer. For outside funding, see our list of American scholarships for international students, and if you are also weighing Fordham for other degrees, read our Fordham University guide for international students.
STEM designation and OPT
Fordham’s bulletin describes the Full-Time Cohort MBA as a STEM-designated programme under CIP code 30.7102, business analytics. The designation applies to students who entered in fall 2022 or later. International graduates who work in a STEM-related role can apply for a 24-month extension of OPT, for up to 36 months of work authorisation in total. For many international students this is the strongest reason to choose Gabelli.
Programme structure and concentrations
The 60 credits begin with a pre-term programme called Gabelli Launch. The first year follows a fixed core: six courses in fall, then three core courses, a consulting project and two electives in spring. The second year opens with an internship, followed by two core courses and electives in fall and four electives in spring. Everyone completes a three-credit MBA capstone consulting project.
| Primary concentrations (five courses) | Secondary concentrations (three courses) |
|---|---|
| Accounting; Accounting Technology Analytics | Blockchain; Compliance and Risk Management |
| Communication and Media Management; FinTech | ESG Finance; Electronic Business |
| Finance; Information Systems | Entrepreneurship; Global Sustainability |
| Management; Marketing; Public Accountancy | Healthcare Management; International Business |
Taking two primary concentrations raises the total to 66 credits.
Fordham Gabelli MBA salary and employment
- Accepted a job within three months: 85% (Poets&Quants, reporting year 2025).
- Median base salary for new graduates: $120,000 (Fortune).
- Employers listed by Poets&Quants include American Express, Bank of America, Citigroup, EY, Fanatics, Infosys, JPMorgan Chase, McKinsey, Mirae Asset Securities, PepsiCo, RBC and SMBC Nikko Securities.
Gabelli’s own employment report was not accessible to me. Ask the career office for it, and ask how many international graduates found U.S. jobs with visa sponsorship.
Common mistakes international applicants make
- Relying on old English minimums from third-party sites.
- Skipping the test with a weak GPA, then receiving little or no scholarship.
- Budgeting for tuition and forgetting New York rent.
- Writing three essays that repeat the same story.
- Applying in March and running out of time for the visa.
- Not asking about scholarships after admission when yield is this low.
Who should apply to Fordham Gabelli, and who shouldn’t
Apply if you want a STEM-designated MBA in New York, plan a career in finance, fintech, media or accounting, and value a class that is mostly international. The test-optional policy helps if your work record is stronger than your test-taking.
Think twice if you need low total costs, since New York living expenses push the two-year budget well above most peers in this ranking band, or if you want a large class with a big alumni network outside the city.
Fordham Gabelli vs peer MBA programmes
| School | U.S. News 2026 | Avg GMAT | Tuition or cost | International | Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fordham Gabelli | No. 60 | Not published (median 640, Poets&Quants) | $60,392 a year (Poets&Quants) | 70% (Poets&Quants) | 15 January 2027 (Round 2) |
| 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) |
| American Kogod | No. 46 | Not published | $97,335 for 45 credits | 37% | 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 |
| Georgetown McDonough | No. 31 | 713; Focus 626 (2026 entrants) | $75,016 first-year tuition, 2026-27 | 44% | 6 January 2027 |
FAQ
What is the Fordham Gabelli MBA acceptance rate?
Poets&Quants, using U.S. News data, reports 67.1% for the fall 2025 intake, up from 58.6% in 2024.
Is the GMAT required for the Fordham MBA?
No. The GMAT or GRE is optional for the full-time MBA. The median submitted GMAT is about 640, and a score can strengthen a scholarship case.
Is the Fordham full-time MBA STEM-designated?
Yes. Fordham’s bulletin lists the Full-Time Cohort MBA under CIP code 30.7102 (business analytics), so eligible graduates can apply for the 24-month STEM OPT extension.
What is the Fordham Gabelli MBA deadline for international students?
The Deadline is Round 2 on 15 January 2027. Round 3 on 19 March 2027 is open but leaves little time for a visa.
Sources and updates
The class profile, deadlines, application components, tuition, employment rate and employers are from the Poets&Quants Fordham Gabelli profile, updated in October 2026. Programme structure, concentrations and the STEM CIP code are from the Fordham bulletin for the Full-Time Cohort MBA (updated July 2025). The fall 2022 start of the STEM designation is from Gabelli’s announcement as reported by ESG News. The median salary, the $64,554 tuition figure and the Fortune rank are from Fortune’s Fordham Gabelli page. Acceptance and yield are from Poets&Quants’ August 2026 acceptance rate tables. Fordham’s own admissions, tuition and scholarship pages could not be opened when I checked; confirm details there. 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.
