Online No GMAT MBA Programs - No Entrance Exam Required
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For aspiring entrepreneurs, executives, or others working in private business, earning a master of business administration (MBA) is an important step in their careers. MBA programs, which often last two years, can have a beneficial long-term impact on one’s salary prospects. In fact, Brandman University (now UMass Global) noted that graduates of top MBA programs could earn approximately $2.4 million in base pay and bonuses over a 20-year career, and up to $8 million for those retiring after 40 years.
Of course, pursuing an MBA can be grueling; the coursework is difficult, and students may need to travel to a campus for classes multiple times each week, forcing them to make personal and professional sacrifices while they study. To accommodate workers who wish to keep their jobs while they study, a growing number of business students are choosing to complete an online MBA program. Flexible, distance-based MBA options can accommodate people living in rural regions or people with unbreakable familial or professional commitments. Not surprisingly, students in online programs must be highly self-motivated and able to keep to a tight schedule without much direct oversight. Furthermore, without a classroom atmosphere, online MBA programs require students to work with the virtual support of peers and professors.
One of the common impediments to enrolling in an MBA program is the test score requirement. The GMAT is widely considered one of the most difficult standardized entrance exams, and many students, especially those who don’t excel at the test-taking process, may rather avoid taking it altogether.
This is not to say that all applicants will be exempt from taking the GMAT for certain programs. While the programs in this guide do not require GMAT scores, there are some programs which offer GMAT waivers for students who meet specific criteria; for example, students who apply to the MBA program at Missouri State University do not need to submit GMAT scores if they meet all of the following criteria:
- Earned a 3.25 cumulative GPA
- Admitted to or have graduated from a Missouri State COB in the past five years or graduated with a business degree from an AACSB-accredited school in the past five years
- Completed a minimum of 80 hours at the time of application
- Meet all English proficiency requirements
Similar criteria exist for the MBA program at East Carolina University; specifically, applicants are exempt from submitting GMAT scores by meeting one or more of the following requirements:
- If they have completed an advanced degree, which required an entrance exam (GRE, LSAT, etc.)
- If they have completed seven years of full-time professional experience and earned an overall GPA of 2.7 or greater
- If they have been inducted into Beta Gamma Sigma
- If they are a graduate of ECU’s Honors College.
Overall, anyone who aspires to complete an MBA but is wary of taking the GMAT (or submitting their current scores) is encouraged to consider one of the programs below that does not require GMAT scores. The following outlines several online MBA programs that accept applicants without GMAT scores, as well as a handful of professors who are renowned in their field.
Featured Online MBA Programs with No GMAT Required
Here are 20 online MBA programs which accept students without GMAT scores. Please note that some programs have minimum GPA or other requirements for candidates without GMAT scores.
The Maryville University MBA is an accelerated one-year program designed for new graduates as students are not required to have any previous work experience. The curriculum can be completed entirely online in 36 to 39 credits depending on whether students enroll in the general MBA track one of the concentration tracks. Concentrations include accounting, cybersecurity, financial services, health administration, information technology, management, marketing, and project management.
The curriculum covers eight core courses, nine to 12 credits of electives, and a three-credit capstone. All electives are concentration-specific unless students are in the general track, where they may choose three courses from any concentration curriculum. Core courses include business ethics, accounting for managers, strategic marketing, and organizational behavior, among others. Students can apply without submitting GMAT scores but must have at least a 3.0 GPA for all previous coursework.
| Location: St. Louis, MO |
| Tuition: $700 per credit-hour |
| Time to Completion: As little as one year |
| Accreditation: Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP) |
The Ohio University College of Business, located in Athens, offers an online MBA, which was recognized by U.S. News & World Report among its 2017 rankings of “Best Business Schools” and “Best Education Schools.” This 35-credit-hour program is offered 100 percent online, and allows students to choose among four concentrations: finance, healthcare, executive management, and business analytics. All students in this program are required to attend one on-campus, weekend-long Professional Development Workshop; other workshops are open to students, although they are not required. Additionally, during the program, each student is assigned a personal Student Support Advisor, who is with them until graduation.
| Location: Athens, OH |
| Tuition: $35,805 (non-resident) |
| Time to Completion: 84 weeks (six 14-week semesters) |
| Accreditation: Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) |
SNHU’s online MBA program is one of the most affordable and customizable MBAs in the country. Students can specialize in one of 27 concentrations, including finance, entrepreneurship, economics, healthcare management, human resources, the music business, internet marketing, and forensic science, among a dozen others.
The 36-credit program consists of foundational courses on the government impact on business, leading an organization, and innovation and entrepreneurship, as well as three concentration courses. Students can graduate in as little as 15 months by taking two courses per term. A GMAT is not required with an application, nor is previous work experience. However, students must have at least a 2.75 GPA in their undergraduate studies.
| Location: Manchester, NH |
| Tuition: $627 per credit-hour |
| Time to Completion: 15 months |
| Accreditation: Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP) |
The D’Amore-McKim School of Business at Northeastern University in Boston offers a 100 percent online MBA that was ranked the 8th best in the nation in 2020 by Financial Times. Students have the option to focus on one of eight different specializations: innovation entrepreneurship, healthcare management, finance, marketing, international management, sustainability, supply chain management, and high technology management. Students can complete this 50-credit-hour program in two years or more while they continue to work, although it is also possible to complete a dual degree option which leads to the attainment of a master of science in finance and an MBA simultaneously.
| Location: Boston, MA |
| Tuition: $78,000 |
| Time to Completion: Two years or more |
| Accreditation: Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) |
The Kogod School of Business at American University offers an online MBA program titled MBA@American and provides six concentration options for students in business analytics, consulting, cybersecurity, finance, international business, and marketing. The program’s aim is to foster a student-centered experience focused on collaborative learning and relationship-building. Classes are offered in real-time online and in-person immersions giving students options for schedule flexibility and networking.
A unique feature of this program is the “Bridge to Business” program offered for applicants with liberal arts degrees or who are returning to an academic environment after a number of years of working experience. No GMAT is required for admission to the MBA@American program and students can opt to pursue an Analytics Certificate at no additional time or financial cost which gives graduates a credential in making data-driven business decisions.
| Location: Washington DC |
| Tuition: $1,812 per credit |
| Time to Completion: 12 to 24 months |
| Accreditation: Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) |
The Kania School of Management at the University of Scranton offers fully online 36-credit MBA degrees. Students can choose a general track or up to two of the eight concentrations in accounting, enterprise resource planning, healthcare management, human resources, international business, finance, operations management, and business analytics.
With only two required courses—a cornerstone and capstone—the program features a flexible curriculum in which students can choose courses that align with their specialization and career goals. Notably, a dual degree program is available as an MBA-MHA (master’s of health administration), which is designed for those wanting intensive studies in the fields of business and healthcare and want to save time and money to the tune of 13 to 18 credits (six months). Applicants are expected to have at least three years of work experience but do not need to take the GMAT or GRE.
| Location: Scranton, PA |
| Tuition: $965 per credit |
| Time to Completion: Two to six years |
| Accreditation: Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) |
Saint Mary’s offers an accelerated MBA that can be completed in one year entirely online. The 30-credit program is one of the most affordable MBA programs in the country and can be customized through various specializations. Students can choose between 26 lecture series offering many customization options to fit each student’s individual needs and career goals.
Students take classes in quantitative decision making, international operations management, corporate finance, and more. They also complete a capstone project course in which they apply the knowledge learned throughout the program in a domestic or international business setting. Previous work experience and GMAT scores are not necessary for admission; however, a minimum GPA of 2.5 is required.
| Location: Minneapolis, MN |
| Tuition: $650 per credit |
| Time to Completion: 12 to 18 months |
| Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission (HLC) |
The MBA at the University of Saint Mary is designed to be completed entirely online in one year and it is one of the most affordable programs of its kind in the country. The U.S. News & World Report also ranked it among the country’s top online MBA programs.
The accelerated program can be customized through one of six concentrations in finance, general management, healthcare management, human resources management, leadership and organizational health, or marketing and advertising. Students take nine core courses in managerial economics, human resource management, business, policy, and ethics. They also take three concentration courses according to their track of choice, for a total of 36 credits.
Applicants do not need to submit a GMAT score, nor do they need previous work experience to gain admission. However, they must have at least a 2.75 GPA in undergraduate studies.
| Location: Leavenworth, KS |
| Tuition: $615 per credit |
| Time to Completion: One year |
| Accreditation: International Accreditation Council for Business Education (IACBE) |
Utica College offers a customizable MBA program where students can specialize in cybersecurity, cyber policy, data analytics, finance and accounting, healthcare management, insurance risk management, entrepreneurship, or economic crime and fraud management. Students can also enroll in the general MBA track.
The 30-credit online curriculum can be completed in two years part-time, allowing students to continue working while studying. They first take core classes, then move onto the concentration elective courses. GMAT test scores are not required; however, a minimum 2.75 GPA and at least two years of work experience are required for admission.
| Location: Utica, NY |
| Tuition: $650 per credit-hour |
| Time to Completion: Two years |
| Accreditation: Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP) Candidate |
The F.W. Olin Graduate School of Business at Babson College offers a blended MBA program with online classes and face-to-face on-campus immersions. This 46-credit program combines schedule flexibility for working students and valuable networking opportunities for students, faculty, and staff who meet three times per semester. The Babson blended MBA can be completed in 21 months, even for full-time workers. Students have access to academic and technical support, as well as a full online library, academic advising, and career counseling.
Students move through the program in a cohort which begins each fall semester and can choose from special topics courses in entrepreneurship in the digital world, signature learning experiences, and complete a capstone in international macroeconomics and business environment analysis. GMAT scores are not required to apply to this program.
| Location: Miami, FL |
| Tuition: $1,962 per credit |
| Time to Completion: 21 months |
| Accreditation: Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) |
Located 30 minutes outside of Chicago, Benedictine University offers a one-year accelerated fully online MBA, as well as a two-year online MBA and three MBA dual degree programs. The accelerated MBA can be completed in a year by taking two classes per semester and offers six concentrations: accounting; entrepreneurship and managing innovation; financial management; health administration; international business; and marketing management.
Students in this 64-credit program can choose to study up to two concentrations and take 52 credits of management and 12 elective credits in their chosen concentration area. This program is ideal for ambitious students who want to complete an MBA on a faster timeline. Applicants are not required to provide GMAT or GRE scores, nor have previous work experience.
| Location: Lisle, IL |
| Tuition: $625 per quarter-credit |
| Time to Completion: One year or more |
| Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission (HLC) |
The School of Business and Leadership at Our Lady of the Lake University offers three online MBAs: one with a general track and two with specializations in management and healthcare. While the GMAT and GRE scores are not required, applicants should have a minimum of three years of professional or management work experience. Those who don’t meet the minimum requirements are asked to take non-credit courses to prepare them for graduate-level coursework.
All three programs feature an emphasis on international business and communication and require 15 to 20 hours of study time for each three-credit course. The management specialization focuses on interpersonal and team management while the healthcare specialization prepares graduates for leadership positions in healthcare facilities.
| Location:San Antonio, TX |
| Tuition: $925 per credit |
| Time to Completion: Two years |
| Accreditation: Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP) |
The College of Business and Technology at Concordia University in St. Paul, Minnesota offers a fully online MBA program. Students take classes in seven-week terms and progress through the program in a cohort. Students can choose between a general or healthcare management track.
To bridge the gap between online learning and in-person connection, this online MBA program offers students the chance to enroll in an MBA mentorship and managerial application portfolio (MAP) program, providing academic and professional skills support, career coaching, and portfolio creation services. GMAT/GRE scores and work experience are not required for admission and students can begin their studies in the fall, spring, or summer semesters.
| Location: St. Paul, MN |
| Tuition: $625 per credit |
| Time to Completion: Two years or more |
| Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission (HLC) |
Norwich University in Northfield, Vermont offers an online MBA program with a general track or concentrated track options in project management; construction management; energy management; finance; organizational leadership; and supply chain management and logistics.
While most of the courses are online, there’s a one-week residence required in June after or during the final semester which gives students valuable opportunities to connect with peers and faculty as well as a commencement ceremony. Students can decide on their concentration track once they complete their core courses in areas such as strategic management of organizations; managerial finance; and strategic marketing and operations management. Admission requirements for this program require applicants to have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution and no GMAT or GRE scores or previous work experience are required.
| Location: Northfield, VT |
| Tuition: $808 per credit |
| Time to Completion: 18 to 24 months |
| Accreditation: Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP) |
The Carson College of Business at Washington State University in Pullman offers an online MBA, which was ranked by U.S. News & World Report as 12th among its “Best Online MBAs.” This MBA takes between 22 and 29 months and includes between 36 and 52 credit-hours of study, depending on the amount of foundational coursework needed for individual students. To be sure, students who completed an undergraduate degree in business or who took equivalent courses (and achieved a B or higher) are not required to take foundational coursework. In addition, students can complete a general MBA, or focus on certain tracks such as marketing, finance, hospitality business management, or international business. This program offers three start-dates each term (spring, summer, and fall), which means that students can begin studying at nine different times throughout the year. Notably, the program is offered 100 percent online.
| Location: Pullman, WA |
| Tuition: $27,891 to $40,287 |
| Time to Completion: 22 to 29 months |
| Accreditation: Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) |
Students at the Hankamer School of Business at Baylor University can complete an online MBA in 12 months or more. This program is highly regarded throughout the nation, and the Hankamer School of Business boasts a countrywide alumni network of more than 25,000 members. Students without certain prerequisites will be required to take foundational coursework on economics, business law, finance, accounting, and mathematics, while those with an undergraduate business degree from an accredited program will be exempt. As such, the program entails either 48 or 60 credit-hours, depending on the individual student.
| Location: Waco, TX |
| Tuition: $49,296 to $58,296 |
| Time to Completion: 12 to 16 months |
| Accreditation: Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) |
The online MBA program at the Colorado State University College of Business in Fort Collins was ranked as the 12th best in the United States and 8th among public universities by Financial Times in 2017, making it a top consideration for business students looking to study online. The degree can be completed in as few as 21 months, although it does allow for part-times study, as well, and includes 42 credit-hours. A number of elective classes are available, including those in professional enrichment, marketing, finance, and computer information systems. The school also offers certificate programs in applied finance, marketing management, accounting ethics and auditing, business intelligence, project management, and business information systems.
| Location: Fort Collins, CO |
| Tuition: $39,732 (not including fees) |
| Time to Completion: 21 months (full-time study) |
| Accreditation: AACSB |
At the College of Business at Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton, students can complete an online MBA program that was ranked among the “Best Online MBA Programs” and “Best Online GRAD Business Programs” in 2017 by U.S. News & World Report. This 40- to 46-credit-hour program can be completed in as few as 23 months, and allows students to focus on a core MBA curriculum or pursue a specialization in international business. Additionally, the College of Business also offers a online MBA programs specifically tailored to Caribbean students or those from from South American countries.
| Location: Boca Raton, FL |
| Tuition: $32,000 to $36,800 |
| Time to Completion: 23 months |
| Accreditation: Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) |
At the Howard University School of Business in Washington, DC, students can complete an online executive MBA in 18 months, which is offered 100 percent online. Graduates from this program also have access to the Howard Alumni Network, which can help them succeed as they start or continue their career in business. Students in this 42-credit-hour program complete courses on financial accounting, financial management, marketing strategy, managerial accounting, and many other related subjects during the course of their studies, as well as a capstone course. Students also have the option of pursuing an executive certificate in topics such as global executive leadership or executive coaching.
| Location: Washington, DC |
| Tuition: $65,900 |
| Time to Completion: 18 months |
| Accreditation: Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) |
At the School of Business at Louisiana State University–Shreveport, students can complete an online MBA, which doesn’t require GMAT scores to qualify. This 30-credit hour program can be completed in as little as ten months, although students without certain prerequisites will be required to complete other foundational courses to graduate. This program includes a general focus on business, although students can choose among a number of specializations, including entrepreneurship and family enterprise, data analytics, finance, human resource management, project management, hotel and casino management, international business, and marketing.
| Location: Shreveport, LA |
| Tuition: $12,473.90 |
| Time to Completion: Ten months or more |
| Accreditation: Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) |
Professors to Know in Online MBA Programs
A great number of dedicated educators teach at schools that offer online MBA programs, including the following renowned business school professors known for their talent and skill:
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Julia Higgs, PhD Florida Atlantic University
Dr. Julia Higgs is a professor within the School of Accounting at Florida Atlantic University’s School of Business, where she teaches courses on auditing and financial accounting. Her research interests include audit fees, sampling, work/life issues for auditors, audit quality, and government auditing and compliance. She has presented at both the 2014 and 2015 AAA Audit Midyear Meetings, and her work has been featured in a number of publications, including Behavioral Research in Accounting, Review of Accounting, and the Journal of Information Systems.
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Frank Smith, PhD Colorado State University
Dr. Frank Smith is a clinical professor and a director of the graduate programs within the School of Business at Colorado State University in Fort Collins, CO. Dr. Smith’s research includes work on exchange traded funds, market valuation, market efficiency, and options financial modeling. He has published sixteen articles in seven years as a professor, including topics ranging from the efficiency of exchange traded funds versus mutual funds, as well as financial distress and bankruptcy. He has won several prestigious awards for research and teaching, and he also has experience consulting for both regional banks and nationally recognized nonprofit organizations.
