The Columbia deferred MBA program is open to those in their senior year of college or a subsequent graduate program. Here, applicants can begin the MBA program after two to five years of work experience.

After finishing their undergraduate studies and before beginning their MBA at Columbia Business School, accepted deferred MBA students can use this time to discover what interests and motivates them.

Accepted students can choose between Columbia Business School’s J-Term option (the school’s 16-month program) or August entry (the school’s traditional 20-month program, which includes a summer internship). Once students send a letter of intent to begin the MBA program, they will be eligible for fellowships and scholarships.

Columbia’s latest Deferred Enrollment MBA Program class profile reports 232 admits with a GMAT range from 570 to 780 and a GPA range from 3.3 to 4.0. Overall, 28 countries are represented in the most recent cohort.

Columbia Business School Deferred MBA Application Process

The Columbia Business School Deferred MBA application includes two short essay questions:

  • Applying to a deferred enrollment program suggests that your aspirations in the next 2-5 years will include an MBA. Why do you feel you need an MBA to achieve your long-term career goals and why would you like to pursue your MBA at Columbia Business School?
  • Contributing to the community is an important part of the CBS experience. Discuss one experience or situation in your undergraduate or graduate career where you feel you contributed to your community and what you learned from the experience.

If you think Columbia Business School might be a strong fit for you, visit Personal MBA Coach’s CBS Deferred Enrollment MBA Program Essay Tips blog to learn more.

As with the full-time MBA application, an interview will also be required for admission to the Columbia Business School Deferred MBA program. Interviews are granted on an invite-only basis following application submission.

If you are looking for Columbia University deferred MBA guidance, Personal MBA Coach is here to help via our Deferred MBA Packages.

Columbia Business School ’26 Admit
Scott, Avi, and the whole Personal MBA Coach team were instrumental in the Business School Application process – undoubtedly helping me earn admission to my dream school. They helped me gain insight into my background and experiences and translate them into business skillsets. Their feedback on essays was timely and thoughtful, and they always pushed... Read More
Columbia Business School Deferred Enrollment ’29 Admit
Scott and all his team were really helpful throughout the whole process of applying to my deferred MBA- from school selection to interviewing. I felt supported throughout all my applications and felt like what I sent out was truly the best I could do. His team helped me prep for all my interviews, and made... Read More
Columbia Business School & Kellogg ’25 Admit
Scott was tremendous. He was highly professional, responsive, and a pleasure to work with. He is not going to write your essays for you make no mistake. Instead, he will help you best tell the story that is true to you, making sure that the writing is consistent and concise. I found the process the... Read More
Columbia Business School, NYU Stern, Cornell Johnson, CMU Tepper, Michigan Ross, UVA Darden, & Duke Fuqua ’25 Admit
Scott Edinburgh, MJ Shores, and the rest of the Personal MBA Coach Team were my lifesavers during both the MBA prep and application process. They were candid, supportive, and provided timely feedback. Their industry knowledge and the personalized coaching they provide truly do extend past that of other consulting companies. I enthusiastically recommend the Personal... Read More
Columbia Business School ’27 Deferred Enrollment Program
I got accepted into the Deferred Enrollment Program at CBS, and I have The Personal MBA Coach Team and Scott to thank for this. They helped connect my experiences and accomplishments to my future goals and portray it in an apt manner to the Adcoms. They are upfront about their feedback and only had my... Read More