Global MBA
Global MBA
Lead business on a global stage
In one of the world’s most influential cities, GW Business sits at the intersection of business, policy and innovation, offering an unparalleled Global MBA experience designed for impact. Join a cohort of driven professionals with diverse cultural and career backgrounds, and learn from faculty experienced in shaping business and economic strategy. Benefit from Washington, D.C. as your classroom while expanding your world-view with a consulting abroad experience, applying what you learn in actual international business settings. Whether you’re looking to advance your career or pivot to what’s next, GW’s Global MBA prepares you to lead with confidence and make your mark anywhere in the world.
What to Expect from the Global MBA
All new GMBA students start with the C-Suite Runway, a multi-week orientation experience that connects you with peers and faculty while building foundational skills through career planning, team-building workshops and a case competition.
Shift into full-time coursework and deepen your understanding of business management through lectures, case studies, team projects and experiential learning.
Travel abroad in your second semester for on-site international consulting opportunities.
Customize your MBA with electives aligned to your career goals, with the option to pursue a STEM-designated MBA to further build technical expertise.
Program at a Glance
Total Credits: 53
Location: In-Person
Start Term: Fall Semester Only
Commitment: Full-Time
Length of Program: 21 months
STEM-Designated: Up to 36 months OPT after graduation
Curriculum
The Global MBA curriculum goes beyond a traditional business management education, equipping you with a broader perspective on how organizations operate and compete in a complex global economy. Coursework emphasizes ethical leadership and the practical application of technology and advanced analytics in real-world decision-making.
- Global MBA students are required to complete 32 core credits, 3 Consulting Abroad Project credits, and 18 elective credits.
- Tailor your studies to your interest and broaden your sphere of knowledge by choosing from more than 250 elective options, ranging from artificial intelligence to marketing.
- Students are strongly encouraged to complete an internship in the summer between the two years of study.
- The Global MBA program advisor can help craft the right curriculum for your goals.
Sample Courses Below (* indicates a core/required credit)
Advanced Business Principles
- Financial Accounting*
- Marketing*
- Decision Making and Data Analysis*
- Accounting for Internal Decision Making*
- Operations Management*
- Microeconomics for the World Economy*
- Strategic Management*
Leadership & Global Context
- Professionalism as a Performative Art
- Leadership Lab
- Competition in the Global Economy
- Organizations and Human Capital*
- Business Ethics and Public Policy*
Technology & Applied Learning
- Consulting Abroad Project*
- Forecasting for Analytics
- Social Network Analytics
- Visualization for Analytics
- Sports Analytics
- Technology for Business in D.C.*
A STEM-Designated MBA Built for the Future of Business
Interested in using technology to deepen your business expertise? The STEM-designated MBA offers a powerful path forward, blending business strategy with data, analytics and emerging technologies. To earn the designation, at least 50% of your program plan requires STEM-designated classes, such as Big Data Analytics, Supply Chain Analytics or Business Application of Artificial Intelligence.
For international students, the STEM designation also provides a valuable advantage: eligibility for a 24-month extension of the Optional Practical Training (OPT), allowing you to work in the U.S. for up to three years.
Maximize Your ROI: Customize Your Degree Path
- Dual Degree Opportunity: MBA + Specialized Master's
Students looking to customize an MBA program on a larger scale can pursue multiple joint or dual degree options within not only the School of Business but also the GW Law School and Elliott School of International Affairs. Complement your MBA with a specialized masters.
By sharing some credits, students spend less time and less money than they would if the degrees were earned individually. Students are required to apply to both programs separately.
- Graduate Certificates: Deepen Your Knowledge at No Additional Cost
Tailor your MBA to your professional goals by adding a graduate certificate that builds specialized expertise alongside your core business education. These stackable certificates allow you to deepen your knowledge in a focused area while completing your MBA coursework—at no additional credit cost.
Choose from the following 12-credit graduate certificates or explore all certificate options:
Financial Management
Build a strong foundation in corporate finance, including capital acquisition, investment strategy, value creation for stakeholders and responsible profit distribution.
Human Capital
Develop strategic HR and talent management expertise. Learn how to align people strategies with organizational goals, from workforce development to organizational behavior.
Management of Technology & Innovation
Focuses on developing and commercializing innovations through technology, equipping students with strategies to drive business growth and launch new ventures.
Learn More: Management of Technology & Innovation Certificate
Marketing & Brand Management
Learn to design a cohesive brand identity, manage the customer experience, analyze brand performance, and differentiate communication strategies local and global markets.
What Makes GW's
Global MBA Different?
What distinguishes GW’s Global MBA is a powerful combination of location, experience and community. In Washington, D.C., you’re surrounded by global institutions, policymakers and industry leaders—bringing real-world context into everything you learn. Through hands-on experiences like international consulting projects, you’ll apply your skills to complex business challenges across borders. And within a close-knit, diverse cohort, you’ll build meaningful connections that support your growth long after graduation.
The D.C. Advantage: Where You Learn Matters
Home to more than 1,000 international companies, 400 associations and nearly 180 diplomatic entities, Washington, D.C. puts you at the center of global business. Just blocks from campus are the World Bank, International Monetary Fund, Treasury Department and Federal Reserve—where classmates, faculty and alumni are already making an impact and opening doors to your next opportunity.
Beyond the classroom, the city becomes the backdrop to your GW experience. Ride the Metro to an economic forum or pedal over to the National Gallery of Art. Spend an afternoon exploring one of D.C.’s vibrant neighborhoods, sharing a meal with people from around the world. On and off-campus, opportunities to connect, explore and learn are always within reach.
The convenience of being next to the White House, next to the World Bank and being able to attend their spring meetings just by walking out of your classroom and being at the front door in five minutes is an unparalleled experience.
Sonia Porej (GMBA ’26)
One reason I chose GW’s Global MBA was the Consulting Abroad Project, which is taking me to Cape Town, South Africa. Another is the strategic D.C. location for new opportunities. When deciding where to go, I felt like GW was going to bring me closer to a whole new world.
Patricio Andres Huerta Alcantara (GMBA ’27)
Global Perspective, Professional Expertise
A cornerstone of the Global MBA experience, the Consulting Abroad Program (CAP) is a faculty-led, immersive learning experience that places you in the middle of today’s complex global marketplace. During the spring semester of your first year, you’ll work in teams to tackle real-world business challenges for international industry partners—applying your acquired skills in real time.
Collaborating closely with classmates, you’ll draw on each other’s strengths while building expertise in project management, communication, delivering presentations and creative problem-solving. During your time abroad, you’ll gain firsthand experience navigating new cultural environments, understanding local business customs and building professional relationships across borders.
Projects vary by topic, company and location, with past students traveling to destinations like the UAE, Germany and Vietnam to address challenges such as AI adoption, international expansion and organizational transformation.
CAP was a transformative journey that broadened my worldview, sharpened my professional toolkit and inspired me through Sweden’s innovative yet human-centric approach to work and life. I returned home with deliverables, project takeaways, and a renewed perspective on how we can build better, more inclusive and forward-thinking workplaces.
Shreyas Kuradagi (GMBA '26)
Participating in the Global Climate Finance Centre CAP project has been one of the most eye-opening and rewarding experiences of my MBA journey. CAP gave me a glimpse of what purpose-driven, strategic work looks like, and I’m motivated to keep building on it.
Ankita Rudra (GMBA '26)
A Professionally and Culturally Diverse Community
At GW Business, the smaller cohort size is intentional. It's designed to foster deeper connections among classmates from diverse professional and cultural backgrounds. It also facilitates more meaningful relationships with faculty, who are experts in their fields yet know every student by name. With a variety of centers and institutes, you’ll also have opportunities to dive deeper, working alongside faculty and industry partners to address today’s business challenges. In this collaborative environment, you’ll engage in thoughtful discussions, build lasting relationships and broaden your perspective.
Outside of the classroom, extend your network by joining one of the more than 15 graduate student organizations, such as Forté Fellows for women, the Black MBA Association for underrepresented students or Net Impact for corporate social responsibility. Attend events like George Talks Business or Business and Policy Forum to hear directly from policymakers and industry leaders. Or take the stage at Pitch George, where you can test your entrepreneurial ideas, gain feedback and potentially secure seed funding.
Opportunities to become immersed in a global environment have had a huge impact. My classmates come from around the world, and I get to learn from them every day. Through GW’s study abroad programs, I applied what I learned in real settings, traveling to Panama to work with clients, which truly brought the classroom to life.
Triada Cross (GMBA '25)
The collaboration aspect within my cohort has been amazing. You’re experiencing different industries, different countries, different cultures, how different people come about business processes, how they think about things. It has expanded my perspective from a day-to-day mindset to this broader, strategic decision-making mindset.
Trey Christensen (GMBA ’27)
Where Connections Turn Into Careers
More than 70% of Global MBA students secure employment by the time they graduate, and 80% are employed within six months. That’s in part due to the 60,000+ alumni across the world opening doors and the in-house F. David Fowler Career Center committed to connecting you to the world’s most desirable employers.
Through the Career Center, your career development begins before classes do, with your first company site visit taking place prior to the start of the MBA. A fall career fair introduces you to top employers for internship and job opportunities, while ongoing site visits to organizations like IBM, World Bank Group and Marriott International create additional chances to make professional connections and explore new career paths. Monthly alumni mixers further expand your network, introducing you to peers who’ve navigated the same journey and can provide mentorship for your next move.
The Fowler Career Center threw us right into the mix with a visit to Amazon HQ during our second week on campus. It was tremendous to see Fowler’s ability to connect with alumni and open doors for our class.
David King (GMBA ’27)
Class Profile
- Average Cohort Size: 41 students
- Average Work Experience: 3-5 years
- Average GPA: 3.50
- Percentage of Women: 64%
- Percentage of International Students: 44%
- Number of Industries Represented: 18
*Averages from 2024-2025
Nationally Ranked. Globally Respected.
- #1 Women in Full-Time MBA, Financial Times Top 100 MBA Worldwide (2024-25)
- #1 in Inclusion by Bloomberg Best B-Schools (2025-2026)
- # 5 Gender Diversity, LinkedIn Top MBA Programs (2025)
- #8 Best MBA for Marketing, The Princeton Review (2025)
- #10 Best MBA for Management, The Princeton Review (2025)
Hear directly from a Global MBA alumna about her experience in the program—and how the hands-on learning opportunities shaped her career growth.
Career Outcomes
An MBA opens the door to a wide range of leadership roles across industries—from consulting to finance to technology—while expanding career opportunities and increasing earning potential. In fact, the median annual starting salary for MBA graduates is $129,900 (Source: Lightcast), with an increase to $165,000 after ten years and an estimated lifetime ROI of $885,000 (Source: FREOPP, a trusted non-profit think tank).
But what specific types of jobs can you get with an MBA?
View median salary ranges for common career paths pursued by MBA graduates, reflecting the versatility and earning potential of the degree:
| Job Title | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Business Intelligence Analyst | $112K |
| Chief Executives | $206K |
| Financial and Investment Analyst | $101K |
| Financial Managers | $161K |
| General and Operations Managers | $103K |
| Human Resources Manager | $140K |
| Information Systems Manager | $173K |
| Management Analyst | $101K |
| Marketing Managers | $161K |
| Medical and Health Services Managers | $118K |
- Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2024) | |
Where GW Alumni Are Leading
GW Business MBA graduates step into advanced positions across a wide range of sectors—from federal agencies and government contractors to consulting firms, major tech companies, global financial institutions, healthcare and life sciences organizations, nonprofits, and the defense and intelligence community.
- Adobe
- Amazon
- American
- Airlines
- Dell
- Deloitte
- Delta
- Dupont
- EY
- Gallup
- IBM
- IFC
- JP Morgan Chase
- Marriott International
- Pepsico
Career Support
Personalized Career Coaching
Experienced career coaches with a proven track record in student placement and career advancement help you build an effective job search strategy while providing resume reviews and mock interviews.
Dedicated Career Center
The GW Business F. David Fowler Career Center provides exclusive access to employer connections, recruiting opportunities and career resources, including professional development workshops on technical skills, presentations and salary negotiation.
Mentorship Opportunities
Participate in the Careers360 program to connect with industry mentors in consulting, finance or marketing.
Global Alumni Network
With more than 60,000 alumni spanning 260+ organizations, Fortune 500 companies, startups, and nonprofits around the world, you’ll gain access to mentorship, connections, and career opportunities that open doors and accelerate your impact.
Admissions
Admission to the GW Business Global MBA is highly competitive, with limited enrollment to support a collaborative, cohort-based learning experience.
Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, and early submission is encouraged. Candidates seeking financial assistance and international students requiring visas are especially encouraged to apply early.
Our admissions team is here to guide you through the process and answer any questions along the way. Learn more about application requirements and next steps in our MBA Application Guide.
Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, and early submission is encouraged. The admissions committee takes a holistic approach, considering academic performance, professional experience and achievements, and letters of recommendation.
Here’s what you’ll need:
- Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution
- Transcripts from all previously attended colleges or universities
- Current résumé
- Statement of Purpose: In no more than 500 words, describe how this program fits into your professional life and your career objectives.
- One letter of recommendation from a professional and/or academic reference
- Application fee (non-refundable)
- Completed online application form
As part of the application process, some students will be invited to an online interview.
No GRE or GMAT is required. However, applicants who feel their test scores strengthen their candidacy are welcome to submit them.
Applicants who require a visa to study in the United States must also fulfill additional requirements in order to be considered for admission to a graduate program at the School of Business.
Tuition, Fees & Funding
Tuition: The base tuition for this 53-credit master's degree is ~$134,000. Students should also plan for university fees, books, and living expenses. Since rates are reviewed and updated annually, prospective students are encouraged to check the official GW tuition and fees page for the most current cost information.
Financial Aid: GW makes a significant investment in its students. From merit scholarships, tuition reimbursement opportunities and need-based financial aid, an MBA degree is within reach. Additional options to offset tuition cost and expenses include graduate assistantships, employer sponsorship, and federal financial aid.
CONTACT US
Meet Your GW School of Business Team
Behind every step of your MBA journey is a team ready to help. Connect with faculty, admissions and advising to get the answers and guidance you need.
Admissions Team
business
gwu [dot] edu (subject: MS%20in%20Business%20Analytics%20admissions) (Email Admissions Team)
Faculty Director
Academic Advisor
juanita [dot] artisgwu [dot] edu (Juanita Artis)
Frequently Asked Questions
- How long does an MBA take?
The Global MBA at GW Business is a full-time program and takes 21 months to complete. Considering other MBA options? Learn about how MBA programs can vary in time to complete.
- What can you do with an MBA from GW School of Business?
Graduates of the Global MBA at GW Business have taken roles at companies such as Amazon, EY and Gallup, and work in industries such as healthcare, financial services, government and consulting. Students who have completed their MBA program at GW Business report receiving a starting salary of $138,185 and average sign-on bonus of $25,500.
- How is the GW MBA different from other MBA programs?
The Consulting Abroad Program (CAP) is a signature feature of the Global MBA, offering a unique opportunity for hands-on international business consulting to support industry partners. A core requirement for the MBA program, CAP takes place during the spring semester of your first year.
Additionally, your cohort will include students from different cultural backgrounds and professional sectors who are integral to enhancing your perspective, broadening your network and opening doors to new pathways within D.C. and globally.
- Is an MBA worth it?
Absolutely. An MBA equips you with the business knowledge and leadership skills to enhance your career prospects while building a strong professional network. It can expand your job opportunities and increase your earning potential—especially in a transitional job market shaped by a complex global economy. In fact, a 2025 Graduate Management Admission Council survey found that roughly two-thirds of employers believe full business degrees are more effective for employee success than micro-credentials alone, reinforcing the long-term value of an MBA.
- Is the Global MBA the same as an executive MBA?
At this time, GW Business does not offer an executive MBA. However, many students who complete the Global MBA advance into leadership positions.
- MBA vs. Master’s in Management: What’s the Difference?
The MBA at GW Business emphasizes an advanced, real-world business education with a focus on strategy, operations and decision-making. The MS in Management focuses on leadership essentials and core business knowledge.
We've put together a guide to explore the differences and help you decide which might be the best fit.
Read the full article "MBA vs. Master in Management (MiM): What's The Difference?"
Learn More
Attend an Info Session
Info sessions and open houses, offered in-person and online, are your chance to explore what makes our programs stand out. Connect directly with our faculty and staff to learn about the Global MBA program, career outcomes, study abroad options, the admissions process and more.
READY TO TAKE THE NEXT STEP?
Join a top-ranked, STEM-designated MBA program that combines rigorous business training with a focus on global leadership, ethics, sustainability and corporate social responsibility, all in the heart of our nation's capital.
Ready to Take the Next Step?
Join a top-ranked, STEM-designated MBA program that combines rigorous business training with a focus on global leadership, ethics, sustainability and corporate social responsibility, all in the heart of our nation's capital.
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