USA · Master's
Stanford University (Graduate School of Business)
Stanford MBA
Stanford University (Graduate School of Business)
Course Overview
The Stanford GSB MBA is a two-year, full-time program in Palo Alto, California, designed for high-potential professionals with an average of 4-5 years of work experience. Class size is intentionally small (~420 students), giving Sri Lankan applicants meaningful access to faculty, alumni, and the wider Stanford ecosystem — engineering, medicine, law — all on one campus.
The curriculum mixes a personalised core (you take a placement to decide whether you sit the base or accelerated version of each course), a Global Experience Requirement, and electives across the GSB and the rest of the university. The school is best known for its venture-capital ties — many graduates go straight into early-stage tech or start their own companies in Silicon Valley.
Entry Requirements
Academic
- check_circle Bachelor's degree from an accredited university with strong academic record.
- check_circle GMAT, GMAT Focus, GRE, or Executive Assessment — no minimum, but the median GMAT is around 740.
- check_circle Average 4-5 years of full-time post-undergraduate work experience at admission.
- check_circle Two letters of recommendation plus three essays (including the GSB signature 'What matters most to you, and why?' essay).
English Proficiency
- check_circle TOEFL iBT: 100+ recommended (no formal minimum for the MBA).
- check_circle IELTS Academic: 7.5+ recommended (Stanford accepts IELTS for graduate programs from Autumn 2026-27).
- check_circle Waiver available if your undergraduate degree was taught fully in English.
Estimated Cost of Study
| Expense Category | Amount ($) | Approx. LKR |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition Fee (Year 1) | $85,755 | Rs. 27,441,600 |
| Living & Housing (9 months) | $40,000 | Rs. 12,800,000 |
| Health Insurance & Fees | $8,500 | Rs. 2,720,000 |
| F-1 Visa, SEVIS & Travel | $1,500 | Rs. 480,000 |
| Year 1 Investment | $135,755 | Rs. 43,441,600 |
*LKR conversion based on current bank rates. Subject to change.
Career Outcomes & PR
GSB graduates are eligible for 12 months of F-1 OPT post-graduation; business degrees do not qualify for the 24-month STEM OPT extension, so visa sponsorship pathway matters from day one. Median total compensation in the most recent class was around $230,000, with the largest hiring sectors being consulting (McKinsey, Bain, BCG), tech (Google, Amazon, Meta), and finance/PE. Stanford also leads US schools on the share of graduates founding companies within three years (~16%).
Related Programs
Ready to Start Your Journey?
Our counsellors have helped hundreds of Sri Lankan students secure placements in the US. We handle everything from applications to visa processing.