MBA Admissions
MBA - Admissions - Apply - Deadlines
Deadlines
Application deadlines and key dates to join the Full-Time MBA Class of 2028.
View details about the MBA 2025–26 application and deposit deadlines. Each round admits students to the class matriculating in August 2026.
All applications for the Full-Time MBA are due by 11:59 p.m. ET on the deadline day.
Application Deadlines
| Early Action | Round 1 | Round 2 | Round 3 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Application Deadline | 4 September 2025 | 1 October 2025 | 7 January 2026 | 1 April 2026 |
| Interviews | Limited Open Interviews | By Invitation | By Invitation | By Invitation |
| Decision Release | 22 October 2025 | 10 December 2025 | 18 March 2026 | 6 May 2026 |
Early Action
Darden offers the Early Action round to enable candidates that know Darden is their top choice to showcase their interest and intent to enroll. The Early Action round is unique among our deadlines in that we offer a limited number of open interview slots, allowing applicants to schedule their own interview prior to submitting an application. For all other rounds, interviews are by invitation only. Learn more the benefits of applying in Darden's Early Action round.
Future Year Scholars Program
The deferred MBA pathway to the Darden MBA is the Future Year Scholars Program primarily for college seniors in their final year of study.
The 2025 application cycle for the Future Year Scholars Program is closed. The 2026 application cycle is expected to launch early fall 2025.
- Round 1 Application Deadline: 7 April 2025
- Round 2 Application Deadline: 4 August 2025
Admissions Deposits
Depending on application round, admitted candidates will be asked to pay one or two admissions deposits to reserve their place in the class. Please note that scholarship recipients may be given an earlier deadline. Deposits are non-refundable, but will be applied to your tuition account as credit when you enroll.
|
Early Action: Binding |
Early Action: Non-Binding |
Round 1 | Round 2 | Round 3 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DEPOSIT 1 |
1 Dec. 2025: $6,000 |
1 Dec. 2025: $4,000 | 16 Feb. 2026: $2,000 | 27 Apr. 2026: $2,000 | 18 May 2026: $4,000 |
| DEPOSIT 2 | N/A | 16 Feb. 2026: $2,000 | 20 Apr. 2026: $2,000 | 18 May 2026: $2,000 | N/A |
Combined Degrees
If you are interested in a combined degree, there may be special instructions for how to submit your application to each school. For more details, please view our combined degrees page.