Live Chat Now
Available
Give us a call

Send us a text

855.890.3001

855.890.3001

What are MBA Admissions Requirements?

By Steve Smith

The information presented here is true and accurate as of the date of publication. DeVry’s programmatic offerings and their accreditations are subject to change. Please refer to the current academic catalog for details.

 

April 26, 2024

6 min read

Exploring MBA Admissions Requirements

If you’ve been thinking about advancing your education and career goals by pursuing a graduate degree, then you’ve probably been wondering about the different admissions requirements involved. Take MBA requirements, for example. Whether your goal is to advance in your current career or embark on a new career journey, earning a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree can have a significant impact on your career, preparing you to pursue management-level opportunities across a variety of industries.

But what is the application and admissions process like for an MBA program? Do MBA requirements vary widely among programs or universities? Do you have to pass entrance exams? To pursue an MBA or other master’s degree, you must have successfully completed your undergraduate education and meet other specific admission requirements. The specific requirements will vary by institution and program type. There are several types of MBA programs, including full-time, part-time, executive and online, with varying program lengths, schedules and experience requirements.

In this article, we’re going to cover several aspects of MBA requirements, answering these questions and others, and taking the mystery out of the process so that you can be better informed as you explore this important personal and professional milestone.

MBA Requirements

Admission requirements for graduate education programs may vary widely from one institution to another, so for the purposes of this discussion we’ll focus on the admissions policies and MBA requirements for DeVry University’s Keller Graduate School of Management.

In the following sections, we’ll discuss the education, work experience, testing and language proficiency requirements for admission to an MBA program at Keller.

Bachelor’s Degree

The most fundamental admission needs among MBA degree requirements is completion of undergraduate education. To qualify for admission to an MBA program or any other graduate degree or certificate program, you must be able to demonstrate that you have successfully completed a bachelor’s degree program (the highest level of undergraduate education) at a higher education recognized institution. This also holds true for international students applying from outside the United States; they must hold an undergraduate degree that is recognized as equivalent to a bachelor’s degree earned in the United States.

Work Experience

You may choose to apply for an MBA program after gaining several years of experience in the workplace, but is work experience a requirement?

Like many universities, Keller allows qualifying students to enroll in the MBA program right after they’ve completed their undergraduate education with no work experience. However, at Keller, many of our students are busy working adults who are well-established in their careers, and while they may have varying levels of experience under their belts, work experience is not one of Keller’s MBA requirements.

Entrance Exam Scores (GMAT or GRE)

Another aspect of graduate school and MBA requirements to consider, is entrance exams. Will you have to take an entrance exam? If so, which one should you take? While graduate schools have varying MBA requirements, at Keller we have minimum GPA requirements which are used to determine whether you’ll have to take an entrance exam.

Here’s an in-depth look at how it works for Keller applicants who’ve met the baccalaureate degree requirement:

  • If your undergraduate cumulative GPA is 2.50 or higher (on a 4.00 scale) you are eligible for admission. Applicants who’ve earned a grade of B or better in both college algebra and English composition need not complete the GMAT, the GRE or Keller-administered placement testing.

  • If your undergraduate cumulative GPA is below 2.50, you must achieve acceptable scores on the GMAT, GRE or Keller-administered admission test to be eligible for admission.

What’s the GMAT? The Graduate Management Admissions Test is a computer-adaptive test required by many business schools, and is considered to be an important benchmark in the application process for many competitive MBA programs. It’s one of the factors admissions officials consider, along with work and work experience. The test comprises four sections: Analytical writing assessment, integrated reasoning, quantitative and verbal.
 

The GRE, or Graduate Record Examination, is an admissions exam used by many graduate or business school programs to provide a common criterion by which to compare all applicants. Although GRE scores are an important part of graduate school applications, other factors that are considered, include undergraduate GPA, work and research experience, letters of recommendation and interviews, if required.
 

If you do take the GMAT or GRE, your test scores for either exam are valid up to five years from the date of the exam.
 

Recommendation Letters

At some graduate schools, the MBA program admissions process requires applicants to submit letters of recommendation. Keller has no such requirement.

English Language Proficiency

Verbal skills proficiency is another basic requirement for MBA program admissions. At Keller, all instruction and services are conducted in English, and all applicants must demonstrate verbal skills proficiency.

Proficiency can be demonstrated by submitting acceptable GMAT, GRE or Keller-administered test scores, or through performance in prior coursework.

You’ll find complete, detailed information about skills proficiency and other MBA requirements for admission in the Keller Graduate School of Management Academic Catalog.

Your Keller MBA: Driven, Flexible, Adaptable

Designed for motivated working professionals who want to advance their careers or explore new ones, the Master of Business Administration program at DeVry University’s Keller Graduate School of Management is driven by digital innovation to help you stand out and explore management-level opportunities in today’s evolving business and technological landscape. The flexibility of learning with Keller enables you to study when and how you need to – 100% online or in a hybrid format1 with select in-person classes at one of our locations.

Adaptability is another reason to choose a Keller MBA. Ten industry-focused specializations, including accounting, finance, global supply chain management, entrepreneurship, marketing and information systems management, empower you to align your MBA with your professional goals.

And if you’re looking for a faster path to graduation, you can complete your program on an accelerated timeline. With at least 9 credit hours of qualifying prior learning credit, you can earn your Keller Master’s Degree in as few as 12 months2 or, following a normal schedule, complete your program in 2 years and 2 months.3

Let’s talk about your professional goals and the MBA or master’s degree program that’s right for you. Classes start soon.

1Program, course, and extended classroom availability vary by location. In site-based programs, students will be required to take a substantial amount of coursework online to complete their program.

2Accelerated time to complete requires at least 9 credit hours of Prior Learning Credit, assumes completion of 3 semesters, enrollment in an average of 10 credit hours per semester and continuous, full-time year-round enrollment with no breaks per 12-month period. Does not apply to MBA with Specialization. Time to complete and details vary by specialization. See the Keller Academic Catalog for complete program details.

3Normal schedule does not include breaks and assumes 3 semesters of enrollment in 6 credit hours per semester per 12-month period. Time to complete varies by specialization.

8-Week Class Sessions

Classes Start January 6, 2025

Filter Blog Post Category

Related Posts