New Mexico State University Online Master of Business Administration (MBA)

New Mexico State University (NMSU) is New Mexico’s land-grant institution as well as a Carnegie R1 institution committed to teaching, research, and public service. A Carnegie R1 institution is a university designated by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education as having “very high research activity.” NMSU is also a NASA Space Grant College, a Hispanic-serving institution (HSI), and a minority-serving institution (MSI). NMSU offers an accessible education designed to bring promising futures within reach of its graduates.

NMSU offers an online master of business administration (MBA) degree featuring a generalist curriculum. The MBA program is a cohort-based distance program designed specifically to accommodate the needs of working professionals seeking to balance their careers with the pursuit of continuing education.

NMSU, located in Las Cruces, New Mexico, is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC). The NMSU College of Business MBA program is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB International).

What to Expect from the NMSU Online MBA Program

Admission Requirements: To be offered admission to the MBA program, applicants must first meet NMSU graduate school admission requirements and receive an admission offer from the NMSU graduate school.

To be considered for admission, an applicant must meet one of the following criteria: 1) have an undergraduate degree with a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 from a regionally accredited U.S. college or university, 2) have achieved a minimum GMAT or equivalent GRE score of at least 400 as well as a competitive combined GMAT or GRE score and undergraduate GPA, 3) have a graduate degree from a regionally accredited U.S. college or university, 4) have a professional certification as a Certified Public Accountant (CPA), Project Management Professional (PMP), Certified Management Accountant (CMA), Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA), or Certified Financial Planner (CFP) or 5) have completed at least five years of relevant, full-time, post-degree, professional work experience as well as an undergraduate GPA of at least 2.5 from a regionally accredited U.S. college or university.

Regardless of how applicants qualify for admission, they must have an undergraduate degree and satisfactorily complete the required background knowledge coursework. Exact details regarding score and grade requirements can be found on the MBA program webpage.

State Restrictions: NMSU welcomes students from a variety of backgrounds, such as international applicants and military personnel.

International applicants must first apply to the NMSU Graduate School via International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS). The ISSS website provides information about admission requirements as well as related topics such as the English language proficiency examination. International students are typically required to demonstrate English language proficiency by submitting an official report from a National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) member provider. NACES member providers, as well as options to waive proof of language proficiency, are listed on the NMSU website. Only when applicants have been granted admission to the NMSU Graduate School are they then permitted to apply to the MBA program.

International applicants should be aware that the NMSU Graduate School generally offers admission to international students in the autumn and spring semesters only. International applicants should also be aware that application deadlines are earlier than those for domestic students. These earlier deadlines are set to afford more time for review of international applicants’ materials as they tend to be more complex than those of domestic applicants.

Military and related individuals are also welcome to complete the NMSU MBA program. NMSU is a military and veteran-friendly university that seeks to provide quality supportive services to its military, veteran, and dependent students. The NMSU Military and Veterans Programs (MVP) supports lifelong learning and professional development by offering a number of resources to students with a military background. For example, eligible students may receive education benefits from the U.S. Department of Defense or the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. The NMSU MVP webpage provides a wealth of information on a number of topics, including educational costs, responsibilities of VA education benefit recipients, tuition assistance programs, regulations, and policies related to veterans’ attendance and academic performance. Details regarding the admissions process for military, veteran, and dependent students for the MBA program can also be found online.

Study Plan: Students can complete these MBA degrees in as little as 24 months. Students interested in completing their program of study part-time or over an extended time period should contact NMSU to verify current policy regarding degree study planning. The MBA cohort starts in the fall semester each year. Students are expected to take two courses each semester, including during the summer term.

MBA Curriculum: The online MBA program requires completion of 36 credits of coursework. Students are required to have background knowledge in the topics of managerial accounting, financial accounting, macroeconomics, financial analysis, calculus and statistics. Such knowledge is often acquired through the completion of prerequisite courses. Students must sufficiently develop background knowledge within the first year after admission if they did not already have such a background. In addition, students may take no more than nine MBA course credits prior to completing background knowledge courses.

The 36-credit-hour curriculum consists of 12 three-credit-hour courses in the following topics: accounting for managers; business information systems; legal environment of business; managerial economics; financial management; operations management; organizational behavior and management processes; quantitative analysis for business decisions; strategic management; marketing management; professional paper; and an elective course.

The professional paper course is completed in coordination with a sponsoring professor. The student makes a presentation of the paper near the end of the final semester of the MBA program. The elective course must be selected from the MBA-approved course list. Finally, students should be mindful that some coursework must be taken in a certain order. Details on course sequencing and other important topics can all be found on the NMSU MBA program webpage.

Online Experience: The NMSU online MBA degree program is offered fully online. There are no on-campus coursework or other participation requirements to complete this program. NMSU’s use of an online learning delivery model for its MBA program enhances accessibility, thereby increasing the pool of qualified applicants who can enroll, study, and graduate.

On-Site Requirements: As noted above, the NMSU MBA program is a fully online program. Though students are required to complete an orientation at the beginning of their studies and attend a two-day meeting at the end of their degree program, they may fulfill these requirements via Zoom instead of attending in person in New Mexico.

Paying for the NMSU Online MBA Degree Program

The tuition figures for the online MBA degree program are listed in the tables below. Prospective students should carefully review the tuition information and contact NMSU for additional support with applications and any questions they may have.

The NMSU Financial Aid and Scholarship Services office serves as a centralized resource to assist students with the many aspects of financing their education. The office provides guidance on financial resources such as scholarships, grants, work-study, and loans. The office’s related webpage provides extensive information on topics such as necessary financial aid forms, the financial aid application process, federal student loan requirements, and a net price calculator to help students determine their eligibility for federal, state, and institutional aid, among others.

Many students will ultimately use a variety of resources to finance their education. Federal financial aid is a common resource for many students. The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is a ubiquitous form that often serves as the primary application used to determine eligibility not just for federal aid but also state and institutional aid. The FAFSA is issued annually, and universities generally provide robust support to help students understand and complete it. Financial aid eligibility determinations, generated by processing financial aid applications like the FAFSA, are often based on several factors such as academic achievement, talent, financial need, and family background. Students in need of assistance with the FAFSA may find help by contacting NMSU Financial Aid and Scholarship Services.

Students from certain backgrounds may be eligible for additional financial assistance. Examples of such backgrounds include military personnel, first-generation students, and those with significant obstacles in their family and personal backgrounds. Such assistance may originate from a variety of sources. All prospective graduate students are advised to thoroughly research the NMSU website.

New Mexico State University Online MBA - General Business

  • NMSU’s Cohort-based Distance MBA Program is designed for the working professional wanting to continue their education without compromising their current career
  • The program allows individuals to obtain their MBA in 24 months through a hybrid course delivery method
  • Courses are delivered online and include a synchronous component in which students are able to engage at a distance on one evening each week
Program Essentials
Degree Level Master's Degree
Program Start Dates 6 - 2 Fall, 2 Spring, 2 Summer (The MBA cohorts start in the fall semester annually)
Credits Needed to Graduate 36
Time to Complete? Graduate in as little as two years.
100% Online? Yes
Program Accreditation AACSB
Program Admissions
Level of Education Required? Bachelor's Degree
GPA Required? 3.0 or Higher
GRE or GMAT Required? GMAT waiver available.
Work Experience Required? No, but program requires 5 years of relevant work experience if GPA is 2.5 or lower
Program Tuition
Credit Hours 36
Average Cost Per Credit $444.40
Estimated Program Tuition * $15,998

* Tuition is calculated based on credits, at the published tuition rate. For programs with variable tuition rates, we use the out- of- state, part-time student rate. Tuition number represents the cost of tuition for the entire program, not per semester or year. Total cost of tuition does not include additional fees, unless otherwise specified. Please see the school website for the most up-to-date tuition costs.

Bernd Geels
Bernd Geels
Writer

Bernd Geels is a Berlin, Germany-based freelance writer and artist. He holds an undergraduate degree in atmospheric science and two graduate degrees. He completed his most recent graduate degree in international environmental studies at the Monterey Institute of International Studies in 2011. He is interested in healthcare, climate change, marine conservation, indigenous science and refugee issues. You can reach him directly at [email protected].