Application Launch! Join the Executive MBA Class of 2029

The application for Darden's Executive MBA program is live! Here is what you need to know as you work on an application to join our next cohort beginning school in August 2027.

The Executive MBA program is designed for busy working professionals from all over the country. Taught by our world renowned faculty, you will establish a solid foundation in the fundamentals of business with ample opportunity for exploration. Plus, all students participate in at least one global experience.

Application Process 

The Darden application is all about crafting your narrative. There are three key dimensions to any strong MBA application – personal, academic and professional. Our Admissions team wants to get to know you, and we encourage you to connect with us as you consider your options and learn more about Darden. 

Attend an upcoming event. 

Choose Your Deadline

Our Executive MBA program offers monthly deadlines beginning in September and stretching into July, or until our class fills. These deadlines are the 10th of every month and we encourage you to choose the deadline that allows you to present your best application. Applicants should expect to receive a decision within three weeks of their application deadline. 

Explore our Deadlines page.

Standardized Tests 

A standardized test score is NOT required to apply. 

However, applicants can choose to provide a test score to strengthen their application if they wish. We accept several standardized tests – Executive Assessment, GMAT, GRE, MCAT and LSAT – and we view these tests equivalently. We will even accept older or expired scores for any of these tests, but candidates who wish to submit an expired score will need to have access to their full score breakdown. 

Learn more on our Application Process page. 

Recommendation 

Applicants are only required to submit one recommendation with their application. Candidates may submit a second recommendation if they feel like this could offer a different perspective.

Our recommendation process is entirely electronic, and it does not require your recommender to submit a letter of recommendation. Instead, your recommender will complete a ratings grid where they will assess you across several dimensions, and then they will be asked to respond to three basic questions:

1. How do you know the applicant?
2. How does the applicant compare to their peers?
3. What’s one piece of constructive feedback you’ve shared with the applicant?  

Watch: Recommendation Advice

Interview 

In our Executive MBA application process, interviews are by invitation only. Candidates are invited to interview after submitting their application, and an interview is necessary to receive an offer of admission.   

At Darden, our interviews are conversational and they are also anonymous. Your interviewer will not have read your application in preparation for the interview, and they will also not have a copy of your resume in front of them. We feel this approach allows the interviewer to come to the interaction without formed ideas about who the applicant is or their strength as a candidate.  

It also allows the interviewer to assess aspects of an applicant’s candidacy that can be harder to glean from the application alone but are nevertheless important in a discussion-based learning environment – how they communicate, how they relate to others, how they respond to follow up questions and more.   

Learn more about the interview. 

Watch our recent Application Launch Webinar!