Dartmouth Tuck — MBA Program and Application Overview

Dartmouth College’s Tuck School of Business is located in Hanover, the quintessential New England college town. Its modern learning environment serves as a base camp for any venture.

Tuck grounds its education on a foundational first-year core curriculum supplemented with a second-year of electives and other opportunities. All courses are taught by an accessible and skilled faculty whose ideas have shaped business theory and practice. Their personalized support and emphasis on both individual and experiential, team-based learning allow students to develop specialized skills, knowledge, emotional intelligence, and self-awareness to achieve meaningful growth as a leader.

Class Profile (2025)

• Location: Hanover, NH
• Class Size: 297
• Average Work Experience: 5.7 years
• Average GMAT Score: 726
• Average GRE Score: 161 (Quant); 161 (Verbal)
• Average GPA: 3.49
• Women: 44%
• International: 33%
• First Generation: 19%
• Minority: 32%
• LGBTQ+: 10%
• Students with Children: 5%
• Acceptance Rate: 23%

2024-2025 Application Overview

Tuck Deadlines

Round 1 Guaranteed Interview: September 3, 2024

• Decisions released Early December of 2024

Round 1: September 26, 2024

• Decisions released December 12, 2024

Round 2 Guaranteed Interview: December 2, 2024

• Decisions released Mid-March of 2025

Round 2: January 6, 2025

• Decisions released March 13, 2025

Round 3: March 26, 2025

• Decisions released May 1, 2025

GMAT/GRE

Tuck accepts both the GMAT and the GRE and has no preference for either. Applicants should report all valid scores taken within the last five years, including both the online and at-home versions. Your application should include self-reported GMAT or GRE scores in order to be considered complete; there are no waivers available. There is no minimum score to apply or to receive admission.

To read more, click here: GMAT vs. GRE for Business School—Which to Take and How to Ace Both

Dartmouth Tuck Essays

The essays are an opportunity for applicants to explain more about their MBA candidacy. The best responses are clear, concise, straightforward, thoughtful, genuine, and personal. After you’ve read through your essay, ask yourself if someone else could have written it. If so, then you probably have some more introspection and editing to do.

Optional Information #1

Please provide any additional insight or information that you have not addressed elsewhere (e.g., atypical choice of evaluators, factors affecting academic performance, unexplained job gaps, or changes). Complete this question only if you feel your candidacy is not fully represented by this application. (300 words)

Essay for Reapplicants

How have you strengthened your candidacy since you last applied? Please reflect on how you have grown personally and professionally. (300 words)

Learn more here: How to Write a Powerful MBA Essay—With Examples

Letters of Recommendation

Make sure that you request two Letters of Reference (LORs) from people who know your qualifications based on Tuck’s admissions criteria. For them, the best letters come from references who can illustrate that you are smart, accomplished, aware, and encouraging. If possible, secure your LOR from a current direct supervisor. If you cannot procure one, you will be asked to provide a brief explanation. LORs from family members, personal acquaintances, or professors who did not supervise professional work do not enhance your candidacy. Reapplicants who applied during the previous year need to submit only one new LOR from a reference you were not able to use the previous year.

Letter of Reference Questions:

1. Please provide a brief description of your interaction with the applicant and, if applicable, the applicant’s role in your organization. (50 words)
2. How does the performance of the applicant compare to that of other well-qualified individuals in similar roles? (E.g. What are the applicant’s principal strengths?) (500 words)
3. Describe the most important piece of constructive feedback you have given the applicant. Please detail the circumstances and the applicant’s response. (500 words)
4. Optional: Is there anything else we should know?

Learn more here: How to Get the Perfect MBA Recommendation Letter—With Examples. Also, click here for our free Leland Recommender Prep Template.

Tuck Interviews

There are two distinct opportunities to interview with Tuck. Applicants who submit their completed application, including all LORs, before the Round 1 or Round 2 deadlines are guaranteed an interview. For all the other applicants, interviews are offered by invitation only. Once they have done an initial review of your application, they will invite you to a virtual interview. Interview invitations are done on a rolling basis.

Read more here: How to Ace Your MBA Interview: With Prep Questions & Answers and How to Nail Your Virtual MBA Interview

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Other Application Items

Application Fee

To confirm the application, you submit a non-refundable fee of $250. This is automatically waived for Tuck Business Bridge graduates and U.S. military personnel. If you completed the Forté MBA Launch program, you can request the fee to be waived.

Academic Transcripts

You will need to submit a copy of every undergraduate or graduate academic transcript you attended. It is not necessary to provide transcripts from study abroad programs or postgraduate, non-degree classes. Make sure you submit all available pages of each transcript, including those detailing the school’s grading scales. If your transcripts are not in English, upload both the original copy and a certified translation.

Resume

You are required to submit a resume outlining your professional and academic history. The institute encourages you to limit your resume to one page, including all activities and experiences occurring during and after your undergraduate studies.

Learn more here: How to Craft the Ultimate MBA Resume—With Examples

English Language Proficiency

Applicants who did not attend an undergraduate institution in which the language of instruction was English will need to demonstrate proficiency in the English language. To fulfill this requirement, Tuck accepts scores from the TOEFL, iBT, OTE Academic, and IELTS. Applicants should self-report both the scores and the percentiles from all valid tests taken within the last two years. They will accept waivers from students who lived in an English-speaking country for at least three years.

Tuck Tuition and Costs (2024-2025)

On-Campus

• Tuition: $80,620
• Program Fee: $5,420
• Educational Supplies: $1,500
• Health Insurance: $4,371
• Food and Living Expenses: $17,253
• Housing: $15,350
• Estimated Total Cost of Attendance: $124,514

Off-Campus

• Tuition: $80,620
• Program Fee: $5,420
• Educational Supplies: $1,500
• Health Insurance: $4,371
• Food and Living Expenses: $18,326
• Housing Allowance: $20,000
• Estimated Total Cost of Attendance: $130,237

Tuck Program Overview

Each element in the academic experience at Tuck is designed to push students further than they thought possible with the goal of developing curious, creative leaders. The curriculum utilizes team-based project work, experiential learning, case-based courses, independent study, research-to-practice seminar, and global opportunities to give its students insights that the traditional case teaching method can’t provide. The heart of leadership development at Tuck is meticulous self-analysis coupled with peer coaching from fellow students.

Required Curriculum

The foundation of the Tuck MBA program is the core curriculum. It was intentionally designed to develop the functional skills that leaders need to make decisions, gather and analyze data, communicate, and execute a vision for change. It provides rigorous coverage of key functional areas with classes that build on and complement each other.

Topics include analytics, corporate finance, capital markets, managerial and global economics, marketing, organizational behavior, strategy, communications, and operations. Students that have extensive experience with a subject matter may be able to waive the requirement and take an elective in its place.

First-Year Course Breakdown

Summer (Aug-Oct)

• Analytics
• Financial Accounting
• Management Communication
• Managerial Economics
• Managing People

Fall (Oct-Dec)

• Analytics II
• Capital Markets
• Crafting Strategy
• Marketing

Winter (Jan-Mar)

• Corporate Finance
• Global Economics for Managers
• Electives

Spring (Mar-May)

• First-Year Project
• Managing Organizations
• Operations Management
• Electives

Elective Curriculum

After finishing the foundational courses in the core curriculum, students will then have the ability to create their own schedule from more than 100 electives. Tuck hopes to give its students the flexibility to design their own degrees customized to their unique interests and career goals.

First-Year Project

The Tuck First-Year Project (FYP) is a required course in which teams of Tuck students apply what they are learning to complex, real-world issues of strategic importance for a variety of clients. This is part of the TuckGo suite of experiential and global courses.

Leadership Development

The leadership development initiative at Tuck takes place on three different levels: among students, faculty, and corporate. For students, Tuck offers leadership development activities. For faculty, it supports and advances research on topics that deepen the current understanding of leadership. For corporate, Tuck assists in facilitating the exchange of best practices and research findings to create new approaches to leadership development.

Leadership Fellows

Tuck’s Leadership Fellows are second-year students who facilitate the Leadership Development assessment programs. They are given a unique opportunity to learn how to develop others through coaching and mentoring. They work closely with first-year students in a small team and one-on-one settings. Fellows can develop their own skills and competencies through Leadership Labs that they design and implement.

TuckGo

It is important that today’s global business leaders should be able to successfully navigate different cultures, economies, and industries. To assist students in developing these crucial capabilities, Tuck offers immersive, experiential experiences around the world. During the course of their MBA program, students are required to take at least one TuckGo course in a new country. In past years, students have studied in many different places; from Ghana to Vietnam, Australia, Germany, and Chile.

MBA Programs

Executive MBA Program

The Tuck Advanced Management Program (AMP) at Dartmouth is designed to give senior executives the advanced skills needed to succeed in today’s difficult business landscape. This two-week program focuses on the key tools that enable senior leaders to drive strategy, innovation, and change across complex global organizations-whether private, public, or nonprofit. This program is led by Tuck’s famed faculty who have successfully blended the best academic thinking with practical insights to help senior executives in leading organizations around the world.

Dual Degree Programs

MD/MBA — Geisel School of Medicine

The joint MD/MBA at Tuck can be completed in five or six years. It is designed to open opportunities in both medicine and management such as careers in pharmaceuticals, biotech, healthcare entrepreneurial ventures, government health programs, health-related nonprofits, hospital management, HMO management, healthcare policy formation, and medical school administration, among others.

MPH/MBA — Dartmouth Institute for Health Policy and Clinical Practice (TDI)

This program’s curriculum is designed to provide students with fundamental skills, a knowledge base, and a philosophical foundation in health policy and clinical practice, with specific attention paid to public health, clinical/health services research, and healthcare leadership. It ensures graduates are ready to take on leadership positions in both the public and private sectors of the healthcare industry.

Ph.D./MBA — Dartmouth College

This joint degree program gives Ph.D. students at Dartmouth the unique opportunity to complete their education with management training. It aims to produce graduates who have fundamental business and entrepreneurial skills, and who have also been thoroughly trained in a scientific discipline. Only current Ph.D. students at Dartmouth are eligible to apply. After admission, students must complete the core curriculum and do an internship after their first year at Tuck.

MEM/MBA — Thayer School of Engineering

This dual degree program combines the management skills taught at the Tuck School of Business and the technical skills taught at the Thayer School of Engineering. It is designed to develop leaders for careers at the crossroads of engineering/technology and business management.

MBA/MAIR — School of Advanced International Studies at Johns Hopkins University

Offered by both John Hopkins University and Dartmouth College, this three-year MBA/MA in International Relations dual degree program is designed for students who want to advance a career in international relations and business management. It prepares graduates for advancement in international corporations, financial institutions, economic and development institutions, and government agencies.

MBA/MALD — Fletcher School at Tufts University

Similar to the MBA/MAIR program, this joint degree is offered by the Fletcher School at Tufts University and the Tuck School of Business. The program is designed for students seeking management positions in international corporations, financial institutions, economic and development institutions, and government agencies.

MBA/MELP — Vermont Law School

The Master of Environment Law and Policy Program at Vermont Law School provides students with comprehensive knowledge of the policies and laws related to climate change, wildlife protection, alternative energy, and other important contemporary issues. In conjunction with Tuck, this joint degree program offers experiential learning opportunities and partnerships with state and federal agencies, advocacy groups, and international organizations.

MBA/MPA and MBA/MPA/ID — John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University

This joint degree program is offered by both the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University and the Tuck School of Business. It enhances the knowledge and skills of established professionals seeking leadership positions in the public, nonprofit, and private sectors and prepares the next generation of leaders in international development.

MBA/MPP — John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University

This MBA/MPP dual degree program offered by the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University and the Tuck School of Business prepares students to understand complex policy problems and craft concrete solutions. Graduates of this program can apply their core training, policy interests, and functional skills to roles and organizations across the public and nonprofit sectors.

The Tuck Difference

Tuck Campus Tour

Tuck FAQs

Can I transfer to Tuck after completing a year at another school?

• No. An essential part of the MBA program is the two-year experience. It is the shared experience that makes it unique, not only in the curricular aspects, but also in relationships with peers, faculty, and administrators. Only a full two years will allow students to fully experience and appreciate the immersive learning environment.

I have a three-year bachelor's degree. Is that acceptable for admission to Tuck?

• Yes, you will be given equal consideration for admission.

Do I need to have a bachelor’s degree to be considered for admission?

• No, you do not need to hold a bachelor’s degree in order to be considered for admission. However, the admissions committee gives a very, very strong preference to applicants who have earned a bachelor’s degree or its equivalent, and an offer of admission to an applicant without a bachelor’s degree is extraordinarily rare. A lack of a bachelor’s degree does not automatically disqualify applicants who can otherwise demonstrate extraordinary proficiency across all four criteria.

Can I apply to Tuck if I already hold an MBA from another school or country?

• Typically, Tuck does not admit applicants who have already earned an MBA. If you hold a similar graduate degree that is not an MBA, use the optional essay portion to explain why you need an MBA in addition to your prior degree. Post Graduate Diploma in Management (PGDM) from Indian universities is considered equivalent to an MBA and applicants who have already earned this degree are typically not admitted.

Does my age or X number of years of experience preclude me from being considered for admission?

• The review process is age-blind, and your age or years of experience will not affect your application in any way, as long as you have at least two years of professional work experience.

Do I need to have full-time work experience to apply?

• Applicants with less than two years of professional work experience are not extended offers of admission at Tuck. On average, Tuck students have five years of full-time work experience. Given the broad range of experience in each class, they prefer quality over quantity of an applicant’s experience.

Is it better to apply in an early round or a later round?

• Apply whenever you are ready. The admissions committee will admit as many qualified applicants as possible during the early rounds. However, do not rush your application. Take the time necessary to submit a thoughtful, well-prepared application. It does not matter what round you apply, you will be given full and fair consideration for your candidacy.

Does Tuck offer a pre-qualification process?

• No.

Do you offer a spring entry?

• No, students only start during the summer term as part of the full-time, two-year program.

Does Tuck offer application fee waivers?

• Since applying to business school can be a financial challenge, applicants may apply for a fee waiver. If you would like to request a waiver of the application fee, submit a copy of your resume, salary information, and a brief explanation of why you are making this request to Tuck.Admissions@tuck.dartmouth.edu.

I submitted my application earlier than the deadline. Will I receive a decision sooner?

• Regardless of your date of submission, all decisions for the round in which you applied will be released on the same day, and not on a rolling basis. Once the submission deadline has passed and application reading has begun, no updates will be given regarding the status of your application or where it is in the process.

Does Tuck prefer the GMAT or the GRE?

• Tuck accepts both and does not prefer one test over the other. If you are considering which test to take, try practice exams of each and take whichever test you think best reflects your abilities.

Does Tuck waive the GMAT/GRE test requirement?

• No, all applicants must submit valid test scores, regardless of professional and educational experience.

I have taken the GMAT and/or GRE several times. Which score does the admissions committee consider?

• If you have taken either or both tests multiple times, you should report all valid scores from the past five years. Tuck considers the highest total score and highest subscores. However, they will not combine scores from different tests to create a new total score.

When do I need to take the GMAT or GRE?

• It is required that you submit your valid self-reported GMAT or GRE scores at the time of your application. You do not need to submit an official GMAT or GRE score with your application, but it will be required upon admission.

May I take and submit a new GMAT/GRE score after the deadline? Will it still be considered?

• They cannot guarantee consideration of scores sent after the application deadline. If the application is still in process, it is possible. Note that they cannot confirm, once review has started, whether or not they have reviewed your application.

Should I take and submit scores for both the GMAT and GRE?

• You are only required to take one exam, either the GMAT or the GRE, and they do not prefer one test over the other. If you have taken both tests and wish to include them in your application, you must self-report both scores on the application.

Am I eligible for your program based on my GMAT score and/or GPA?

• All bachelor’s degree holders from an accredited undergraduate institution are encouraged to apply to Tuck. There are no minimum GMAT, GRE, or GPA scores. Applicants can check previous class profiles to see the statistics of incoming classes. However, make sure you consider the ranges and not just the averages when assessing your candidacy.

Do I have to have a business background to apply to Tuck?

• All backgrounds, including those not in traditional business fields, are eligible to apply. If you do not have previous exposure to quantitative concepts, you can take the following courses to help prepare for the rigors of Tuck’s curriculum: microeconomics, financial accounting, statistics, finance, and Excel.

Do I need to submit transcripts from every college or university I have attended?

• You are required to scan and upload a copy of the academic transcripts issued by the institution where you got your degree, as well as any advanced/graduate degrees, and any transfer institutions. If your transcript is not in English, you must scan and upload a copy of it translated into English. Transcripts from study abroad programs are not required.

Do you convert GPAs?

• No, please report your GPA using the scale used by the institution that granted your degree.

How many references may I submit?

• You are required to submit two Letters of Reference (LORs). Reapplicants from the previous year need to submit only one new LOR from a recommender who did not previously write to Tuck. Do not submit additional letters as they do not add anything to your candidacy.

What should international applicants keep in mind regarding student visas and immigration status?

• All international students will be sponsored for F-1 student visas unless otherwise specified. Some may be sponsored for J-1 student visas if they are sponsored by their employer.

As uncertainty regarding US immigration persists, what should international applicants keep in mind when applying to Tuck?

• Tuck is committed to maintaining a talented, diverse, and globally-engaged student body no matter the current policies on immigration. Because of this, they provide unwavering support to international students. Nearly 40% of Tuck students are international students. They bring a diversity of experiences, ideas, and dreams that enrich learning and the lives of their classmates in countless ways.

Is there an optimal application round for international candidates?

• International students can apply in any round. The U.S. visa eligibility forms will be made available to all accepted international students after they have paid the enrollment deposit. Financial support should be verified for all enrolling international students.

What is a guaranteed interview?

• Applicants are guaranteed an interview if they have submitted their applications before the Round 1 (September 1, 2023) or Round 2 (December 1, 2023) deadlines. Once Tuck receives the completed application, it will send out a sign-up link for virtual interviews. The application will be reviewed only after you have scheduled and completed your interview. Interviews for applicants in other rounds are extended by invitation only.

When will I be invited to interview?

• Interview invitations are sent on a rolling basis. Most invitations go out at least 1-2 weeks before admissions decisions.

Can I update my resume after I register for an interview?

• After registering for an interview time, you will receive a confirmation email. This includes a link to update your registration. You may upload your resume via that link up until one week before the interview date.

Who will my interviewer be?

• Tuck Admissions Associates, second-year students, and occasionally members of the admissions committee are the interviewers. The name and email address of your interviewer will be provided to you 48 hours prior to the interview.

What information will my interviewer have about me?

• You will have a blind interview, meaning your interviewer will not have access to your application. They will only see your resume.

What questions will I be asked during my interview?

• Questions will assess your qualifications in the four Dartmouth values: smart, accomplished, aware, and encouraging.

How long will the interview last?

• 30-45 minutes is the typical length of an interview.

Final Note

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