Case Interview Pass Rates
Overall acceptance rates at MBB firms range from 0.5% to 1.5%, with case interview pass rates of 10-25% for candidates who reach that stage. These figures combine firm disclosures, recruiter interviews, and alumni surveys from 2024-2025.
Pass Rates by Firm
| Firm | Overall Rate | Case Stage | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| McKinsey | ~1% | 15-20% | Firm website, 2024 |
| BCG | ~1% | 10-15% | Recruiter reports |
| Bain | ~1.5% | 15-20% | Recruiter reports |
| Deloitte S&O | ~3-5% | 20-30% | Alumni surveys |
| Strategy& | ~3-5% | 20-30% | Alumni surveys |
Overall Rate = Offers / Total Applicants. Case Stage = Offers / Candidates who reached case interviews.
The Selection Funnel
Where candidates drop out (McKinsey example, based on ~1M annual applicants):
| Stage | Pass Rate | Survivors |
|---|---|---|
| Application | 100% | ~1,000,000 |
| Resume Screen | 5-10% | ~75,000 |
| Solve Assessment | 30-40% | ~25,000 |
| First Round Cases | 25-35% | ~7,500 |
| Final Round Cases | 40-50% | ~3,500 |
| Offers Extended | ~75% | ~10,000 |
Note: Numbers are estimates based on McKinsey's stated ~1M annual applicants and ~10,000 hires.
Key Insight
Once you reach case interviews, you have a real shot. The 15-20% case-stage pass rate is far better than the 1% overall rate suggests. Most filtering happens before you even get to practice your frameworks.
Pass Rates by Background
| Background | Overall Rate | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Target MBA (M7) | 8-15% | Highest hit rate due to OCR access |
| Target Undergrad | 5-10% | OCR + referral advantage |
| Non-target MBA | 1-3% | Referrals critical |
| Experienced Hire | 2-5% | Depends heavily on industry fit |
| Online Application | <0.5% | Cold applications rarely succeed |
Data Sources & Methodology
- Firm Disclosures: McKinsey publishes ~1M annual applicants and ~10,000 hires on their website.
- Recruiter Interviews: Conversations with campus recruiters at target schools (2024).
- Alumni Surveys: CaseStar user surveys (n=847) tracking interview outcomes.
- Limitations: Firms don't publish stage-by-stage data. Pass rates vary by office, role, and season.
Last updated: January 2025. Data reflects 2024 recruiting cycle.
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