The Rochester Simon MBA is the two-year, full-time MBA at the University of Rochester’s Simon Business School in Rochester, New York. It is ranked No. 34 by U.S. News (2026 edition), is test-optional, and offers a STEM-designated MBA option with any of its specializations. It is also selective: Poets&Quants reports a 13.3% acceptance rate from 2,256 applicants for the fall 2025 intake. Tuition is a flat $60,000 a year for 2026-27, and Simon says more than 90% of students receive merit scholarships.
Round 1 closed on 15 October 2026, so your Deadline is Round 2 on 5 January 2027 at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time. Rounds 3 and 4 follow on 1 March and 1 May 2027. This guide covers the Simon MBA requirements for international students, the essay, the video question, English rules, costs, scholarships and outcomes.
Rochester Simon MBA at a glance
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Programme | Full-Time MBA, two years, Rochester, New York |
| U.S. News rank | No. 34, 2026 Best Business Schools (released April 2026), tied with Notre Dame Mendoza |
| Acceptance rate (fall 2025 intake) | 13.3% of 2,256 applicants (Poets&Quants, from U.S. News data) |
| Class of 2027 (entered fall 2025) | 92 students, including combined-degree students, from 25 countries |
| Average GMAT / GMAT Focus | 675 / 625 |
| Average GPA | 3.3 |
| Average work experience | 5.2 years |
| Test policy | GMAT, GRE or EA optional |
| Application fee | $90 |
| Tuition, 2026-27 | $60,000 a year |
| STEM | STEM-designated MBA option with any specialization |
| Accepted jobs at 3 months (Class of 2025) | 88% |
Rochester Simon MBA ranking
U.S. News ranked Simon No. 34 among full-time MBA programmes in its 2026 Best Business Schools list, released on 7 April 2026, tied with Notre Dame’s Mendoza College. Poets&Quants places Simon at No. 30 in its own 2026 composite ranking. Simon is best known for a quantitative, economics-based curriculum, which is one reason it has offered STEM options for years.
Rochester Simon MBA acceptance rate and class profile
Simon does not publish an acceptance rate on its pages. Poets&Quants, analysing data reported to U.S. News, gives these figures:
| Intake | Applications | Acceptance rate | Yield | Enrolled |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall 2025 | 2,256 | 13.3% | 23.8% | 71 |
| Fall 2024 | 2,009 | 14.9% | 29.8% | 89 |
| Fall 2023 | 1,692 | 14.2% | 34.0% | 82 |
Applications have risen by a third in two years while the class stayed under 100, which pushed the admit rate down to about one in eight. Simon’s own count for the Class of 2027 is 92, higher than the 71 reported to U.S. News, because Simon includes students in combined programmes such as the MD/MBA and MS to MBA.
| Simon Class of 2027 (entered fall 2025) | Figure |
|---|---|
| Enrolled, including combined programmes | 92 |
| Average GMAT (10th edition) | 675 |
| Average GMAT Focus | 625 |
| Average GPA | 3.3 |
| Average work experience (middle 80%) | 5.2 years (1.6 to 8.7) |
| Average age | 29 |
| Women | 47% |
| Countries of origin | 25 |
| Average TOEFL / IELTS / Duolingo | 107 / 7.8 / 131 |
Simon’s profile page does not give the share of international students or GRE averages. The English test averages are useful, though: they show the level admitted international students actually reached, which is well above most schools’ stated minimums.
Rochester Simon MBA requirements for international students
- The online application form.
- A business-format resume, not an academic CV, ideally no more than two pages.
- One required essay of 400 to 700 words, and an optional essay if you need to explain part of your academic record.
- School-issued transcripts from every undergraduate and graduate institution, scanned and uploaded.
- The $90 application fee, waived for U.S. active-duty military and veterans and some other eligible applicants.
- Optional: GMAT, GRE or Executive Assessment scores.
- Optional: a short video essay.
- English test scores, unless you qualify for the waiver.
- An interview, which Simon treats as an important two-way conversation.
Test-optional, with one catch
You can apply without a GMAT, GRE or EA score by choosing that option on the application’s test score page. Simon says scholarship review is holistic and considers applicants with or without a score. The catch: if you apply without a score, you can only add one later if you are invited to interview or put on the wait list. If your quantitative background is thin, a good score is still the clearest way to prove readiness.
English requirements
Simon accepts the TOEFL, IELTS and Duolingo English Test, and says proof of English proficiency is needed for the visa. It refers to a preferred minimum score but does not print the number on its admissions pages, so email admissions@simon.rochester.edu to ask. The Class of 2027 averaged 107 on the TOEFL, 7.8 on IELTS and 131 on Duolingo, so aim close to those.
The test can be waived if, before you start, you completed at least three academic years of post-secondary education taught entirely in English and earned a bachelor’s or master’s degree where English was the language of instruction. Upload proof such as an English-medium letter from your university. Most Nigerian, Ghanaian, Kenyan and Indian university graduates can document this.
Rochester Simon MBA deadlines 2026-2027
| Round | Application window | Deadline (11:59 p.m. ET) | Decision by |
|---|---|---|---|
| Round 1 (closed) | 1 September to 15 October 2026 | 15 October 2026 | 15 December 2026 |
| Round 2 | 16 October 2026 to 5 January 2027 | 5 January 2027 | 15 March 2027 |
| Round 3 | 6 January to 1 March 2027 | 1 March 2027 | 15 April 2027 |
| Round 4 | 2 March to 1 May 2027 | 1 May 2027 | 1 June 2027 |
After 1 May 2027, Simon reviews applications on a rolling basis and issues decisions within two to three weeks. It also reviews files as they arrive, so submitting early in a window can bring an earlier answer. Simon’s page lists the dates without years under a banner for 2027 entry.
International applicants
Simon does not set a separate international cut-off, but a Round 4 decision on 1 June 2027 leaves very little time for an I-20 and U.S. visa interview. Aim for Round 2 (5 January 2027) or Round 3 (1 March 2027) at the latest.
How to apply, step by step
- Decide on testing: Apply test-optional only if your transcript already shows strong quantitative work.
- Sort out English: Get an English-medium letter for the waiver, or book TOEFL, IELTS or Duolingo.
- Scan school-issued transcripts from every university you attended.
- Rewrite your resume in business format, two pages at most.
- Write the 400 to 700-word essay, answering all four parts.
- Pay the $90 fee and submit by 5 January 2027.
- Record the optional video within five days of the link appearing in your portal.
- Interview when invited, then indicate STEM interest and plan courses after admission.
Rochester Simon MBA essays 2026-2027
For 2026-27, Simon combined its earlier essays into one four-part prompt, as analysed by Clear Admit:
| Part | What to cover |
|---|---|
| 1 | Your short-term and long-term goals after graduation |
| 2 | A back-up plan if your short-term goal is not immediately attainable, given hiring trends |
| 3 | How your education and experience support your goals, and how you will use the Simon experience |
| 4 | How your experiences taught you to value perspectives different from your own, and how you will help build a community where every voice is heard at Simon |
The total limit is 400 to 700 words. The optional video essay is one unseen question with 30 seconds to prepare and up to 90 seconds to answer; the link appears in your portal after you submit and you have five days to complete it.
How to answer each part
Give parts 1 and 3 about 350 words between them: a precise first role, the evidence that you can do it, and named Simon resources such as a specialization or the STEM option. Part 2 is where many applicants stumble. A back-up plan should be a near neighbour of your main goal that uses the same skills. Use the last 150 words for part 4, with one real situation.
For illustration (part 2): “If product management roles in fintech are scarce in 2029, I will target product analytics at a large bank, where the same payments skills apply and the move into product is a short one.”
For illustration (part 4): “My first team in Abuja had engineers from five states and three languages, and our best design came from the technician I almost did not invite to the meeting.”
The Simon interview
Simon describes the interview as an important two-way conversation and advises you to dress professionally, arrive a little early, be ready to discuss your background, and bring your own questions about Simon. Its admissions pages do not say whether international interviews are virtual, so confirm the format when invited. If you applied test-optional, the interview invitation is also your one chance to add a test score if you wish.
What the admissions committee looks for
- Clear goals and a sensible back-up plan, both asked for directly.
- Quantitative ability, from a test score or your transcripts.
- Strong English, shown by test averages far above typical minimums.
- Openness to different perspectives in a mixed international class.
- Professional presence in the interview.
Rochester Simon MBA tuition and cost of attendance
| Item, 2026-27 | Amount |
|---|---|
| Tuition | $60,000 |
| Activity fee | $800 |
| Mandatory health fee (estimate) | $1,107 |
| Health insurance (estimate) | $4,216 |
| International Services Office fee | $140 |
| International student programming fee (one time) | $900 |
| Housing and utilities | $11,340 |
| Food | $6,970 |
| Travel | $2,500 |
| Personal expenses | $2,716 |
| Books | $1,310 |
| Estimated first-year total, international (my sum) | About $91,999 |
Rates were set on 14 November 2025, and the health figures are estimates until New York State approves them each June. Add $7,000 a year for a spouse and $7,000 for each child. Simon does not publish a total, so the figure above is my addition of its listed items; it is low for a private school at this rank, largely because Simon’s housing estimate is modest.
Costs not covered
- Winter clothing; Rochester has long, snowy winters.
- A car or ride costs if you live away from the main bus routes.
- Flights home and to recruiting events in New York City or elsewhere.
- The SEVIS fee and U.S. visa fee.
- Optional club, conference and trek travel.
Rochester Simon MBA scholarships for international students
Simon says more than 90% of its students receive merit-based scholarships and that it awards nearly $5 million in scholarships and fellowships a year. Amounts are set by the admissions committee and included in your admission letter; there is no separate application, and test-optional applicants are considered too. University of Rochester and Simon alumni qualify for a 50% tuition scholarship. Simon’s tuition page does not name individual awards, give ranges, or limit any award by citizenship.
For loans, Simon refers students to the university’s graduate financial aid office and does not mention Prodigy Finance, MPOWER or a no-co-signer option on its MBA tuition page. Ask admissions which lenders recent international students used. For outside funding, see our list of American scholarships for international students.
STEM designation and OPT
Simon offers a STEM-designated MBA option with any of its 10 specializations. It is not automatic: you must take at least 50% of your coursework in STEM-designated credits. Half of the core already counts, and your adviser helps you choose electives for the rest. There is no separate application; you indicate interest on the application and formalise it after admission. The option does not change tuition or length, and it lets international graduates work up to 36 months on OPT in a STEM-eligible role, compared with 12 months otherwise.
Rochester Simon MBA salary and employment
Simon’s careers page reports these results for the full-time MBA Class of 2025:
- 88% of job-seeking graduates had accepted employment three months after graduation.
- Average total compensation: $162,175. Simon does not publish a median or mean base salary on that page.
- Highest base salaries by function: consulting $190,000, marketing $180,000, finance $175,000.
- 98.5% of hired graduates work in the U.S., and 1.5% in Asia.
| Industry | Share of Class of 2025 hires |
|---|---|
| Financial services | 29.4% |
| Technology | 22.1% |
| Healthcare | 16.2% |
| Consumer packaged goods | 11.8% |
| Consulting | 8.8% |
| Manufacturing | 4.4% |
Top hiring organisations included Amazon, M&T Bank, JPMorgan Chase, Bank of America, Citi, PepsiCo, Merck, ServiceNow, Capital Group and Eli Lilly. Simon does not report outcomes separately for international students.
Common mistakes international applicants make
- Applying test-optional with a weak quantitative record, then having no way to add a score unless invited to interview.
- Skipping part 2 or part 4 of the four-part essay.
- Writing a back-up plan in a completely different field.
- Sending an academic CV instead of a business resume.
- Assuming the STEM designation is automatic and not planning 50% STEM credits.
- Not uploading proof of English-medium education when claiming the waiver.
- Waiting for Round 4 and running out of time for the visa.
Who should apply to Rochester Simon, and who shouldn’t
Apply if you want a quantitative MBA with a flexible STEM option, a mid-sized class, scholarships for nearly everyone, and costs well below most top-35 schools. Simon suits candidates aiming at finance, technology, healthcare and consumer goods roles.
Think twice if you want a big-city location, a published median base salary, or an admit rate above 20%. With 13.3% admitted in 2025, include a few less selective schools in your list.
Rochester Simon vs peer MBA programmes
| School | U.S. News 2026 | Avg GMAT | Tuition or cost | International | Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rochester Simon | No. 34 | 675; Focus 625 (Class of 2027) | $60,000 a year tuition, 2026-27 | Not published | 5 January 2027 |
| Notre Dame Mendoza | No. 34 | 680 (Class of 2026) | $75,460 a year tuition, 2026-27 | 25% | 7 January 2027 |
| Ohio State Fisher | No. 32 | 690 typical (2024 entrants) | About $62,538 a year non-resident tuition and fees, 2026-27 | 45% | 18 January 2027 |
| Minnesota Carlson | No. 32 | 664.4 | $64,460 a year non-resident tuition, 2026-27 | About 20% | 1 December 2026 |
| WashU Olin | No. 27 | 702 (Classes 2025 to 2027) | $72,700 a year tuition | 47% (median) | 7 January 2027 |
For undergraduate study at the same university, see our University of Rochester admission requirements for international students.
FAQ
Can I apply to the Simon MBA without the GMAT or GRE?
Yes. Simon is test-optional and considers applicants without scores for scholarships, but you can add a score later only if invited to interview or wait-listed.
What is the Rochester Simon MBA acceptance rate?
Poets&Quants, using U.S. News data, reports 13.3% of 2,256 applicants admitted for the fall 2025 intake.
Is the Simon MBA STEM designated?
Simon offers a STEM-designated MBA option with any specialization. You must take at least half your coursework in STEM credits, which allows up to 36 months of OPT.
What is the Simon MBA deadline for international students?
The Deadline is Round 2 on 5 January 2027 at 11:59 p.m. ET. Later rounds close on 1 March and 1 May 2027, but they leave less time for the visa.
Sources and updates
Deadlines, required and optional components, the fee and interview advice are from Simon’s Full-Time MBA admissions page. Test-optional and English waiver rules are from its standardized tests FAQ. The Class of 2027 profile is from Simon’s class profile page (as of 8 September 2025). Tuition, fees, living costs and scholarship totals are from its tuition and financial aid page. The STEM option is from Simon’s STEM MBA page, and Class of 2025 outcomes from its careers and outcomes page. The essay prompt and video format are from Clear Admit’s 2026-2027 Simon essay analysis. Acceptance rates and yield are from Poets&Quants’ August 2026 article on acceptance rates at the top 100 U.S. MBA programmes. The ranking is from U.S. News 2026 Best Business Schools (released 7 April 2026), as reported 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.
