Getting an MBA without showing GMAT scores is easier than ever before. Top schools used to consider test results for the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) as one of the most important admission factors. But that’s increasingly becoming a thing of the past, as schools now consider more relevant criteria. Today, candidates who can show relevant work experience, great recommendations, and good undergraduate grades can often dispose of the GMAT altogether. 

Some MBA programs don’t require the GMAT at all, while others will offer waivers to applicants who can show other signs of excellence. In this article, we’re looking at 12 online MBA programs—no GMAT required!

Why Online MBA programs that don’t require GMAT Are On The Rise 

 America’s obsession with standardized, multiple-choice tests is slowly declining. Tests like the GMAT evaluate candidates’ reasoning abilities, problem-solving skills, verbal skills, and more. Although it’s a well-designed test, the GMAT also has its shortcomings. For one thing, standardized tests reward students who are good at studying for tests, not those who have the best real-world skills. The GMAT doesn’t evaluate candidates’ interpersonal skills or leadership skills—both of which are essential in business. 

There’s also the fact that MBA programs are open to professionals with a lot of hands-on experience in the business world. Choosing MBA applicants based on the skills they’ve already shown in business is a lot more relevant than a standardized test. Besides, professionals who work long hours and may have families can’t take the time to prepare for the GMAT—which is a long and strenuous process. 

With that in mind, there are now a lot of excellent online MBA programs that don’t require GMAT. 

Online MBA no GMAT: What do programs look at instead?

 Each MBA program has its own list of requirements for applicants. Here are some of the most relevant factors that degree programs consider instead of the GMAT:

Work Experience 

Online MBA programs are typically open to professionals with two to eight years of professional experience, sometimes more. Admissions teams consider the type of professional experience that the candidate gained, their work performance, and their career progression over the years. 

Advanced Degrees

Many MBA programs don’t require the GMAT if you already have a master’s degree or Ph.D. The reasoning behind this is that candidates who have experience studying at the postgraduate level are much more likely to do well in an MBA program. 

College GPA

 No GMAT online MBA programs typically consider candidates’ undergraduate GPA. Many schools that do require the GMAT will even waive that requirement for those with a GPA above 3.0-3.5. 

Letters of Recommendation

Many MBA programs require a letter of recommendation from a business contact, for example, a manager, an associate, or an investor. The letter of recommendation is one of the best tests of a candidates’ skills in the business world. 

 Personal Essays

Personal essays let applicants showcase their writing skills, drive, and ambition. They allow admissions teams to get a better sense of a candidate’s personality and what they can bring to the MBA cohort. 

 Interview Performance

 Most MBA programs that don’t require the GMAT organize an interview for applicants instead. The in-person interview is one of the best ways to evaluate leadership skills, interpersonal skills, and verbal ability. 

How Online MBA Programs Work

Compared to in-person MBAs, online MBA programs tend to be more flexible. They allow students to complete coursework in their own time, choosing the number of credits they take each term based on their availability. Students typically take between 12 to 24 months to complete their degree, with some taking as much as 5 or 6 years. 

Although online MBA programs are demanding, they can be managed while maintaining a full-time job and family commitments. The thought behind making programs fully digital is that working professionals don’t have to relocate to further their studies. Since online MBA students keep working throughout their degree, they also get unique opportunities to put their learning into practice at work.

 Like the more “classic” MBAs, online MBA programs are a mix of lectures, reading, and coursework. Instead of seminars, students engage with their professors and fellow students on conference calls and online discussion boards. 

MBA programs usually have a core curriculum, as well as options to specialize in certain areas such as:

• Accounting
• Computer Information Systems
• Entrepreneurship
• Finance
• International Business
• Management
• Marketing
• Supply Chain Management
• Sustainability

Careers Paths And Salaries for No GMAT Online MBA Graduates

Although more and more people hold graduate degrees, MBAs are still highly valued. In 2020, the median starting salary for MBA graduates was $105,000, according to the Graduate Management Council’s 2020 Corporate Recruiters Survey. 

 Prospective students who want to complete an online MBA program shouldn’t be worried about career prospects. In recent years, studying online has become the new normal. Recruiters now consider online degrees with the same respect as on-campus degrees. Besides, there is no requirement to mention that your degree was completed online when applying for jobs. 

Many online MBA graduates will keep working for the same company after they complete their degree, but they can hope for a better position and salary. Those who want to choose a new career path have a lot of options. Some common career prospects for MBA graduates include:

• Financial Analyst
• Financial Consultant
• Business Operations Manager
• Health Services Manager
• Human Resources Specialist
• IT Manager
• Management Consultant
• Marketing Manager
• Operations Research Analyst

Top 12 Online MBA Programs That Don’t Require GMAT

Here are 12 highly-rated online MBA programs that either don’t require GMAT scores or waive the requirement for qualified applicants:

Florida International University

Florida International University in Miami is the 4th largest public research university in the United States. With over two decades of experience in online teaching, the school offers an online MBA program that is ranked 9th worldwide. Florida International University’s business school, FIU Chapman Graduate School of Business, is AACSB accredited and teaches students with an average of 7.2 years of work experience.

The university’s online MBA program offers ten concentrations:

• Business Data Analytics
• Business Law
• Entrepreneurship and Innovation
• Finance
• International Business
• Leadership
• Marketing Channel Strategy
• Real Estate
• Sports Management
• Strategic Negotiations

Prerequisites include a résumé, official undergraduate transcripts, a personal essay, two letters of recommendation, and an interview. 

Both in-state and out-of-state students are expected to pay $42,000 in tuition for the whole degree, with an average price of $1,000 per credit hour.

George Washington University

George Washington is a private university located in Washington, D.C. It offers an online MBA program at the George Washington School of Business (GWSB), which is fully accredited by AACSB. 

Students take courses in a wide variety of business specialties, including accounting, operations management, and data analysis. They’re also encouraged to take elective classes, some of which can be taken in other departments of George Washington University. 

To access the online MBA program, applicants are expected to submit an application essay, one letter of recommendation, and evidence of previous work experience. An interview is also required. 

The MBA program accepts around 400 students a year, with an acceptance rate of over 70%.

Each credit costs $2,215, and students complete 46.5 over the course of the degree for a total cost of $102,997. 

North Carolina State University

Located in Raleigh, NC, North Carolina State University offers a fully accredited online MBA program. It was named #12 on the list of the best online MBA programs by The Princeton Review in 2021. The degree program is very flexible, allowing students to complete it in just 21 months, or up to six years. Although the degree can be completed remotely, students must attend two 3-day residencies on campus. 

To apply, prospective students must have prior work experience. They are also required to submit a personal essay, a résumé, two letters of recommendation, and academic transcripts. Qualified applicants are invited to attend an admissions interview. 

This MBA is competitive, with an acceptance rate of just over 50%. Around 150 students take part in the program each year.

The cost of an NCSU online MBA is $52,711 for in-state students and $93,760 for out-of-state students. 

Ohio University

Ohio University is a public research university located in Athens, Ohio. Its MBA program can be completed entirely online, with optional on-campus conferences. The degree program also includes career coaching, leadership development, and brand coaching aimed at helping graduates find better positions in the workplace. 

Students at Ohio University’s online MBA can choose from 9 different concentrations:

• Accounting
• Business Analytics
• Business Venturing and Entrepreneurship
• Executive Management
• Finance
• Healthcare
• Project Management
• Operations and Supply Chain Management
• Strategic Selling and Sales Leadership

Although no GMAT is required to apply, candidates must have over two years of professional experience, a bachelor’s degree, and a GPA over 3.0. They’re also required to submit a résumé, two letters of recommendation, transcripts, and a personal statement. 

Tuition at Ohio University Business School is $36,645 for the online MBA program. 

Pepperdine University

Located in Malibu, CA, Pepperdine University is a Christian university home to the Graziadio Business School. It offers an online MBA with seven possible concentrations:

• Business Analytics
• Digital Innovation and Information Systems
• Entrepreneurship
• Finance
• Global Business
• Leadership and Managing Organizational Change
• Marketing

To apply without submitting GMAT test scores, candidates must have three years of full-time work experience as well as a bachelor’s degree in STEM or a graduate degree. In addition, applicants are expected to submit a résumé, official transcripts, and one essay.  

Although conditions of admission without the GMAT are strict, this degree program has an acceptance rate of 87%. 

Each unit of the MBA program costs $1,920, for a total tuition cost of $99,840. 

Rochester Institute of Technology

Rochester Institute of Technology in Rochester, NY, is a private research university. Its online executive MBA is identical to the in-person MBA, and students get access to all the same materials. For that reason, the program isn’t self-paced and must be completed over the course of 4 semesters. However, students can choose between two start dates: late August or January. 

The curriculum for Rochester Institute of Technology’s online MBA is STEM-oriented, combining business and technology. Students must take core courses and choose a specialty from a long list of disciplines, which include:

• Accounting
• Business Analytics
• Digital Marketing
• Finance
• Health Systems Administration
• Industrial and Systems Engineering Management
• Innovation Management
• Marketing
• Project Management
• Public Policy

Applicants who wish to attend RIT without submitting GMAT scores must hold a graduate degree from an AACSB-accredited university, with a GPA of over 3.25. Alternatively, they should have graduated from RIT with a GPA of over 3.25. Other requirements include an application essay, three letters of recommendation, and a successful interview. 

This relatively small MBA program only has 28 new entrants yearly, with an acceptance rate of 43%.  

Tuition for the online MBA is currently $78,000. 

St. John’s University 

St. John’s University in Queens, NY, is home to the Peter J. Tobin College of Business. Its online MBA program follows the same structure as its on-campus counterpart. Students are encouraged to attend in-person classes whenever they wish to. The part-time MBA program takes three years to complete, while the full-time one only takes three semesters. 

The program covers classes in business analytics, leadership, finance, and information systems. Additionally, students must choose from 17 concentrations, which include:

• Finance
• Healthcare Systems
• International Business
• Marketing Management
• Real Estate
• Risk Management and Insurance
• Sustainability
• Taxation

Although this institution doesn’t require GMAT or GRE tests, applicants must request a waiver directly from the director of admissions. Materials to include in the application include a résumé, a statement of professional goals, official transcripts, and two letters of recommendation. 

The acceptance rate for this online MBA is currently 60%, with just 29 new students joining the school each year. With a credit cost of $1,289, both full-time and part-time students will spend $46,080 for the degree tuition. 

University of Florida

The University of Florida in Gainesville is a public research university founded in 1853. Its business department is Warrington Business School, which organizes a one or two years online MBA program. The vast majority of students at Warrington attend classes while pursuing part-time or full-time employment. 

Throughout the curriculum, students take classes in a wide variety of disciplines, including:

• Entrepreneurship and Venture Finance
• Financial Management
• Financial and Managerial Accounting
• Operations Management
• Organizational Behavior 

Many no GMAT MBA programs put the accent on applicants’ professional experience, and UF is no exception. Candidates are expected to have a minimum of two years of full-time professional work experience. In addition, they must submit an application essay, résumé, transcripts, and two letters of recommendation. The final stage of the application process is an interview.  

University of Florida’s small MBA program accepts a maximum of 65 students per class, with an acceptance rate of 59%.  

Tuition for the one-year online MBA comes to $49,205, while the two-year online MBA costs $59,807. 

University of Southern California

 Located in Los Angeles, the University of Southern California offers an AACSB-accredited online MBA program housed within the Marshall School of Business. Although the program isn’t self-paced (it has a fixed length of 21 months), students get to do a lot of the learning asynchronously. 

Students of the USC online MBA don’t choose a concentration. However, they gain knowledge in five core areas:

• Accounting
• Entrepreneurship
• Finance
• Management
• Marketing

The Marshall School of Business is highly competitive, with an acceptance rate of just over 25% for the online MBA. 

To get in, applicants must submit an application essay, three letters of recommendation, transcripts, and a professional résumé. There is also a mandatory interview, in which they’ll have to discuss at least two years of professional work experience. Those who do not want to submit GMAT or GRE tests must ask for a waiver. 

Tuition for the USC Marshall online MBA is $112,072. 

Washington University in St. Louis

 Washington University in St. Louis (WashU) is a private research university based in St. Louis, Missouri. It recently started offering a no GMAT online MBA program that puts the focus on digital business. Students may complete the degree in as little as 30 months or as long as five years. Over the course of the program, MBA students get to focus on technologies such as AI, big data, and IoT. However, these technologies are always put in a business context, and students learn all the core disciplines of an MBA program:

• Accounting
• Business Analytics
• Data-driven Decision Making
• Finance
• Marketing
• Microeconomics
• Strategy and Operations

To apply, prospective students must submit a professional résumé, two essays, a professional recommendation, and an application video. 

Total tuition for the online degree comes to $75,000. 

West Virginia University

 Based in Morgantown, West Virginia, WVU is home to the John Chambers College of Business and Economics. The school offers an online MBA which is AACSB-accredited. Although most of the coursework is completed online, students must attend at least 12 days of campus residency over the course of the two-year program. 

Over the course of the degree, students can choose to focus on one of three concentrations:

• Energy Finance
• Forensic Accounting and Fraud Examination 
• Integrated Marketing Communications

The John Chambers College of Business admits students who have at least five years of professional work experience (or only two if submitting GMAT or GRE tests). In addition, applicants must have an undergraduate degree that targets accounting, economics, or statistics with a GPA of over 2.75. To apply, prospective students submit a résumé, one letter of recommendation, and a statement of purpose. 

Tuition for West Virginia University’s online MBA program is $30,340. 

William & Mary University

 The College of William & Mary, located in Williamsburg, Virginia, was founded in 1693—making it the second oldest higher education institution in the States. The university’s Raymond A. Mason School of Business currently offers an online MBA which can be completed in 24 months.  

Following a refresher course, students take classes in disciplines such as management, accounting, organizational behavior, finance, marketing, business analytics, and leadership.  

In addition, MBA students can opt to take a Foundations in Business Analytics Certificate course, which teaches R Programming or Python programming applied to business.  

Applications are open to students with at least two years of professional work experience and a bachelor’s degree. Application documents include two letters of reference, two personal essays, a résumé, and official transcripts. In addition, qualified applicants will be invited to a personal admissions interview which can be completed online. The admission rate for the online MBA program is currently 90%. 

Tuition for a Mason online MBA degree is $63,700—which doesn’t include the graduation fee and mandatory residence course fee. 

Sources:

Florida International University
George Washington University
Graduate Management Council’s 2020 Corporate Recruiters Survey
NC State University
Ohio University
Pepperdine University
Raymond A. Mason School of Business
Rochester Institute of Technology
St. John’s University
University of Florida
University of Southern California
U.S. News
Washington University in St. Louis
West Virginia University