A new era in global business education is dawning: women are now applying to full-time MBA programs at a higher rate than men. This remarkable shift, detailed in the Graduate Management Admission Council’s (GMAC) 2025 Application Trends Survey, shows a growing female presence across various MBA formats.
Specifically, applications from women for full-time, two-year MBA programs surged by six percent in 2025, significantly outpacing the one-percent rise from male applicants. This momentum is particularly strong in both traditional in-person and online MBA programs, indicating evolving preferences and opportunities within business schools.
### Strong Growth in Full-Time and Online MBAs
For full-time, two-year MBA programs, a striking 63% of institutions reported an increase in applications from women. Online MBA programs also saw a healthy seven percent rise in female applicants, and more than half of flexible MBA programs reported similar increases.
While Executive MBA, flexible, and part-time MBA programs saw an overall dip in applications from both genders, the decline was less significant among women, suggesting a sustained and robust interest in adaptable study options.
### Representation Across Business Master’s Programs
Women consistently represent over 40% of applicants to business master’s programs globally, a figure that has held steady for over a decade. In 2025, we observed a slight one-percentage-point increase in the average share of women applying.
Master of Accounting programs saw the most significant growth in female applications, with 53% of programs reporting an increase. Women also constituted about half of all applicants for Master of Accounting and Master in Management programs. For Master of Marketing programs, female applicants were even more dominant, making up approximately two-thirds of the total.
However, women remain notably underrepresented in Master of Finance programs, accounting for just one-third of applicants in 2025, a continuing downward trend since 2016.
### MBA vs. Business Master’s: A Closer Look
Generally, women tend to be better represented in more flexible program formats compared to their full-time or executive counterparts. While the median share of women in full-time, two-year MBA applications is still below 50% (at 41%), this proportion has been consistent for the last ten years.
**Key Application Trends (GMAC 2025 Application Trends Survey):**
* **Full-time, two-year MBA:** 41% women applicants, +6% growth in applications from women.
* **Online MBA:** +7% growth in applications from women.
* **Flex MBA:** Over 50% of programs reported growth in applications from women.
* **Executive MBA:** Approximately 33% women applicants, overall decline.
* **Master of Accounting:** Approximately 50% women applicants, over 53% of programs reported growth in applications from women.
* **Master in Management:** Approximately 50% women applicants.
* **Master of Marketing:** Approximately 66% women applicants.
* **Master of Finance:** Approximately 33% women applicants, overall decline.
### Evolving Program Preferences
Women show stronger representation in MBA programs that offer non-full-time or online structures. Although full-time, in-person programs did see more female applicants in 2025, their growth rate lagged behind that of male applicants. Conversely, online and flexible programs experienced smaller drops in female applications compared to men, with some even reporting modest increases.
In conclusion, the GMAC 2025 Application Trends Survey underscores a continuous rise in women’s engagement in MBA and business master’s programs. Full-time, two-year, and online MBA formats are particularly effective in drawing female candidates. However, executive MBA and finance-centric master’s programs still struggle with female representation. This overarching trend reveals that flexible and online learning models consistently appeal more to women, mirroring broader shifts in how individuals pursue graduate management education.