You’ve reviewed rankings and employment stats. But do you have a good feel for the culture of your top choices? Do they provide the support women need to thrive in their MBA program and careers?

As you’re no doubt discovering, MBA programs vary widely in quality and structure, but priorities and culture can require a deeper look. And it’s worth the effort. A major life investment, your MBA provides a unique opportunity to build the connections, skills, and confidence to overcome barriers women still face in the workplace. Use MBA admissions expert Sara Bretz’s checklist to determine if an MBA program is genuinely supportive of women and offers the deep industry connections and adaptability that today’s women deserve. 

1. Visible female leadership.

Easy to check: do women hold leadership roles for the program and business school?

"When students look at a webpage or attend a recruiting event, do they see any women?" asks Bretz. "Does it look like there are women in the dean’s office, in higher leadership positions, or on the faculty?"

Why it matters: It’s an indicator of the school’s support for women and the likelihood of having women as mentors and people you can turn to for advice about sensitive situations. Bretz said women often approach communication, emotional intelligence, and resilience differently than their male peers. Seeing women in leadership roles at your school can be the inspiration you need to strive for advanced roles in your own field.

2. ROI beyond salaries.

Often revealing, explore the size and strength of a program’s alumni base. Use LinkedIn to see how many alumni work at the companies that interest you. Ask the program if alumni assist with MBA recruiting or engage with students in class. Does the program facilitate connections with industry mentors? And see if career support continues after graduation.  

“Big Ten pride runs deep,” Bretz said. “If I’m wearing an IU sweatshirt in an airport, I will get stopped by someone who wants to talk. When you cold email someone for an informational interview, they are much more likely to respond if you have that commonality.”

Why it matters. These connections can get you over the “broken rung” discussed in Women in the Workplace 2025, a report by LeanIn.org and McKinsey & Company. The report found that women were promoted at a lower rate than men in 2025 in part because fewer had a sponsor for their entry-level position or a more senior level colleague to advocate for them. A large and active alumni network can mean more opportunities to gain invaluable insights about your career path and to develop relationships with potential mentors—all before you graduate. Combined with access to free career services after graduation, you have your own personal board of directors to provide trusted advice at key moments in your career.

3. Opportunities to lead.

See who heads student clubs and organizations, such as MBA associations and function-based groups like investing and marketing clubs. Do MBA programs have affinity groups for students, such as Women in Business?  

“MBA programs can provide a safe, controlled environment to develop invaluable leadership skills,” Bretz said. 

Why it matters: When you lead a student organization, you gain tangible leadership experiences that you can discuss with recruiters. Affinity groups provide an opportunity to build relationships and share experiences with students who have similar identities—and they can be a structural indicator that students are valued for who they are.

4. Flexibility.

Once you begin your MBA, can you change modality or career paths without compromising rigor?   

“We know anecdotally and through research that flexibility and the ability to evolve is important to women,” Bretz said, referencing the Women in the Workplace 2025 report. “For our MBA students, it’s the ability to change their path based on what’s happening in their life.”

Why it matters. It’s about the value of an MBA for women. If “life happens,” and you want to finish your MBA remotely, does the program make that possible by design? Will you learn from the same caliber faculty? Is the curriculum structured so you can change career paths from, say, marketing to supply chain management because you discovered it’s a much better fit? Check to see if an MBA program begins with foundational courses in key business functions, giving you the flexibility to focus the rest of your MBA on what truly interests you instead of remaining in an academic silo.

5. Answers to those nagging unknowns.

Can you talk to current students for unfiltered feedback? Does the MBA program host events that bring you to campus so you can talk with faculty, staff, and students and actually sit in a classroom? 

“As a woman with a graduate degree, my big questions were: ‘What is my life going to look like here? Am I going to have friends? Am I going to have career options?’” Bretz said. “Talking with current students sold me.”

Why it matters. Talking with current students can answer many of your questions. For those who are more value-driven than data-driven, satisfying that “gut feeling” about the environment you’ll be learning in is vital, so in-person events can be worth the travel time (especially if the program provides a stipend).

The flipside of data points

Before you accept an admission offer, ask yourself if the program treats you like a data point or a future leader. By auditing MBA programs for these five indicators, you’ll find a school that doesn’t just teach business—it empowers you to build your life’s work.