Successful graduate study in business requires a combination of verbal and conceptual skills, quantitative and analytical skills, conscientiousness, and maturity. Students should have or commit to develop an acceptable level of strength in each of these areas in order to be successful in graduate study. Admission standards are established to accept students who possess these skills and traits and thus have a fair probability of success and to encourage those without appropriate academic preparation to pursue developmental work before undertaking graduate study in business. Any MBA or MAcc student whose cumulative GPA in their MBA or MAcc curriculum falls below a 3.0 will be placed on probation for one semester. Students not satisfying the minimum 3.0 GPA requirement after one semester on probation will be automatically dismissed from the MBA or MAcc program.

All students applying for admission to any MBA program or the MAcc program at UNA must submit an official transcript showing the conferral of a degree at the baccalaureate or higher level.  Grade point averages on these transcripts are used to determine eligibility for admission.  No other transcripts are needed unless subsequent coursework grades are intended to be counted toward the admission decision.  In those cases, official transcripts will be required before consideration of those additional grades. Students may be admitted unconditionally or conditionally for graduate study. Conditionally admitted students must earn unconditional admission status by the time they have completed their fourth graduate course. The student must maintain a 3.0 average or higher in the first four courses (with no more than one grade of C or below) as well as satisfy any other conditions that may have been listed on the official admission letter or summary sheet.

A student can enroll in MBA or MAcc courses as an “unclassified” student. Unclassified students can earn no more than seven graduate credit hours (typically including MBA 600 and MBA 601 in the MBA program). Unclassified students must meet all of the requirements for Unconditional or Conditional Admission except for an acceptable GMAT or GRE score or acceptable professional experience. To continue in the program after the completion of seven graduate credit hours, the student must have an acceptable GMAT score or acceptable professional experience and have at least a 3.0 GPA for the four graduate credit hours completed.

A student can enroll in a Graduate Certificate Program in the College of Business and Technology as an “unclassified” certificate program student but is limited to enrolling only in those courses leading to the certificate. Unclassified certificate students must meet all of the requirements for Unconditional or Conditional Admission except for an acceptable GMAT score or acceptable professional experience. To continue in the MBA program after the partial completion of the certificate program, the student must have an acceptable GMAT score or acceptable professional experience and have at least a 3.0 GPA for the graduate certificate credit hours completed. After the successful completion of all requirements for the certificate program with a 3.0 GPA in the certificate courses, students will, upon application, be accepted into the MBA Program.

Admission to MBA Program or MAcc Program

Unconditional Admission

• Hold a graduate or professional degree from a regionally accredited US based institution or an institution recognized by the government of another country (example—J.D., M.D., etc.) or appropriate professional certification approved by MBA Admissions Committee; or
• All three of the following:
  • Bachelor’s degree or equivalent from a regionally-accredited US based institution or an institution recognized by the government of another country and
  • An overall undergraduate grade point average of at least 2.5 on a 4.0 scale, as reported on the transcript of the qualifying degree granting institution, and
  • At least 4 years of demonstrated responsibility in professional or entrepreneurial positions OR GMAT score of 450 or higher, OR membership in Beta Gamma Sigma honor society.

Acceptable (equivalent) GRE or MAT score may be substituted for GMAT with approval of the MBA Admissions Committee.

Conditional Admission

All three of the following:

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent from a regionally-accredited US based institution or an institution recognized by the government of another country and
• An overall undergraduate grade point average of at least 2.5 on a 4.0 scale or a grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale in the last 30 hours of undergraduate course work.
• At least 3 years of demonstrated responsibility in professional or entrepreneurial positions, OR GMAT score of 400 or higher, OR membership in Beta Gamma Sigma honor society.

Acceptable (equivalent) GRE or MAT score may be substituted for GMAT with approval of the MBA Admissions Committee.

Note: International students must also submit a sufficient TOEFL or IELTS score.

Admission to Executive MBA Program

Unconditional Admission

• Hold a graduate or professional degree from a regionally-accredited US based institution or an institution recognized by the government of another country (example – J.D., M.D., etc.) or appropriate professional certification approved by MBA Admissions Committee; or
• All three of the following:
  • Bachelor’s degree or equivalent* from a regionally-accredited US based institution or an institution recognized by the government of another country and
  • An overall undergraduate grade point average of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale, as reported on the transcript of the qualifying degree granting institution, and
  • At least 5-year work history demonstrating increasing responsibility in professional or entrepreneurial positions.

Conditional Admission

All three of the following:

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent¹ from a regionally-accredited US based institution or an institution recognized by the government of another country and
• An overall grade point average of at least 2.5 on a 4.0 scale (GPA requirement is waived for students admitted to Asia MBA degree programs.) and
• At least 5-year work history demonstrating increasing responsibility in professional or entrepreneurial positions.² 

Candidates with exceptional business experience including position and length of service may be considered for conditional admission if the above GPA requirement is not satisfied. Approval by the Sanders College of Business MBA Admissions Committee is required.

Note: The Executive MBA Admissions Committee or designated faculty representative may request a personal or telephone interview and/or a written statement of professional goals before making a final determination of conditional admission

Note: All grade point average requirements are based on the GPA reported on the official transcript from the qualifying institution as the basis for the awarding of the qualifying degree. Students whose degrees are from non-regionally-accredited US based institutions AND whose grade point average exceeds the requirements listed above may be considered for admission based on exceptional executive level experience or a GMAT score of at least 450.

¹

For students applying to the Asia MBA program, 3 year diploma + 1 year bridge program is equivalent to a bachelor’s degree. Note that applicants to the MBA degree program delivered in Asia who hold a three year diploma and otherwise meet admission standards may (with the approval of the MBA Admissions Committee) be admitted conditionally. These students will be required to complete concurrently a 30 semester hour Pre-MBA Bridge program. Additionally, the GPA requirement is waived for these applicants.

²

Note: Official admission test score should typically be no more than five years old.