Online MBA Admissions Requirements

To be eligible to for acceptance into the KU School of Business online MBA program, prospective students must provide:

• Completed online application
• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution or equivalent (with a GPA of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale preferred)
• GMAT score or waiver*
• Resume or CV (two years or more work experience preferred)
• Three letters of recommendation
• Personal Statement
• Application fee: $65 ($85 for international students)

* Under special circumstances, candidates may request a GRE/GMAT waiver. Requested waivers will be reviewed for those candidates whose academic records and professional work experience demonstrate a high level of quantitative and analytical skill. GMAT waiver requests must be in writing and include supporting evidence for the request, such as:

• J.D., M.D. or Ph.D. degree
• Significant professional leadership experience. At least seven (7) years in a professional, managerial role
• Evidence of quantitative and analytical reasoning

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To be considered for the Foundations of Business certificate program, prospective students must provide:

• Completed online application
• Bachelor’s degree from accredited institution or equivalent (GPA of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale required)
• Official transcripts
• Resume or CV
• Application fee: $30

Incoming students will be required to successfully complete a short MBA skills review course prior to registration. For more information on how you can get a fee waiver, contact an Admissions Advisor.

If the student completes the Foundation of Business certificate with the required 3.5 or higher GPA, the student will receive a GMAT waiver and be eligible for accelerated admission into the MBA program (after submitting an MBA application and completing the MBA admission process).

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You may be wondering about the advantages of earning an online MBA versus getting your Foundations of Business certificate. When considering your options, keep these factors in mind:

• Time requirement: The online MBA from the KU School of Business consists of 14 courses and takes approximately two years to complete. The Foundations of Business certificate is six courses and can be completed in about a year
• Value: An MBA degree is valued by a wide variety of employers. According to employment projections by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, median earnings per week are $1,401 for those with master's degrees, compared to $1,173 per week for those with only bachelor's degrees.¹ A business certificate does not project any specific higher earnings, but it does provide the benefit of showing employers that you are passionate about continued education, and you can use the new skills you acquire through the certificate program to obtain more responsibility at work or apply for a different position
• Decisiveness: If you know you want to gain new business skills, develop managerial expertise, meet respected business professionals and build relationships with experienced faculty, then both the Foundations of Business certificate and online MBA can get you where you want to go. But if you aren't quite sure you want to devote two whole years to getting your online MBA, you can sign up for a Foundations of Business certificate and use the credits you earn toward a KU School of Business MBA when you decide you are ready

No matter your choice, both programs offer students the flexibility that comes with 100 percent online study, allowing each program to work for any schedule. Talk with an Admissions Advisor to get personalized advice about which program is right for you based on your unique situation.