MBA FAQ — Answers to Common MBA Questions

Yes, we do require an official score report from the GMAT or GRE exam to apply to USD's MBA program. USD's school code for the GMAT is 29B-Q2-68. If you plan to submit a GRE score, leave the GMAT information blank on the application and request that ETS submit your official score report to USD. Our school code for the GRE is 4849.

You can still submit your application if you haven't completed your GMAT yet. Just indicate in the online application the date on which you are scheduled to take the exam. Note that the admissions committee will hold off on a final review of your application until the GMAT or GRE test score has arrived.

Full-Time MBA program applicants: A GMAT or GRE waiver may be requested only if you have completed an MD or a PhD in an approved field of study.

International MBA and Professional MBA program applicants: In addition to the potential waivers indicated above for MD or Ph.D. applicants, waivers will be considered for those who meet the following criteria: 1) A Master's Degree with a 3.0 GPA in an approved field of study or a Bachelor's Degree with a 3.2 GPA in an approved field of study and 2) 5 years of relevant full-time work experience.   

Keep in mind that these averages range from year to year, and that a number of factors are considered when reviewing candidate applications. A competitive GMAT score is generally within 50 points of the average score for the most recent incoming MBA class (2017 Full-Time MBA average GMAT score: 611, Professional MBA average GMAT score: 580).

All applications are reviewed by the admissions committee. However, applicants with a GMAT score below 500 are rarely offered admission. Additionally, a quantitative section score at or above the 35th percentile is highly preferred.

Unfortunately, we do not. To be considered for admission to USD's School of Business MBA program, your application must be complete, which includes all supporting documents and required test scores.

The charges in the MBA program are a per unit fee for tuition. There are no additional charges for international students or non-California residents since we are a private, tuition-based institution. We offer many different opportunities to subsidize or offset these costs. USD provides opportunities for low-interest loans to admitted students, thanks to agreements with our partner Prodigy Finance. You can visit our tuition page for the estimated cost of this school year and to find further financial support information.

Applications are processed on a rolling basis, so the admissions committee will begin the review of an application soon after it is complete and all supporting documentation has been received. Application deadlines are guidelines only, and are used only to help applicants see how far along we are in the application cycle. We encourage you to submit your application when you feel confident that it represents you and your skills best. Submitting your application before the first deadline does not have an impact on the admissions decision, however, the number of seats in the upcoming cohort decreases as the application cycle continues. If it is after the last application deadline you are welcome to contact our office to check that there are remaining seats in the cohort.

View our deadlines page for more information.

We ideally seek candidates who have a minimum of two years, full-time, post-undergraduate work experience. Exceptions are occasionally made for applicants who have exceptional undergraduate performance and high GMAT or GRE scores.

A minimum of two years work experience is preferred for the following reasons:

1. Students learn more effectively in the MBA program if they have prior work experience for a frame of reference and experiences from which to draw examples.
2. Students expect to learn from the prior professional experiences of their classmates.
3. Potential employers of MBA graduates look at pre-MBA work experience as much as they take into consideration the MBA degree accomplishments.

No, the School of Business does not currently offer this type of program.

While we do not have specific quantitative or business related prerequisites, the admissions committee strongly prefers a GMAT quantitative section score at or above the 35th percentile. Admitted students who score below this range may be required to complete additional quantitative prep work prior to beginning the program.

If you are already enrolled in an MBA program in another AACSB accredited business school, you may be able to transfer a maximum of six credits of MBA coursework if admitted to the School of Business MBA program. Each transfer request is handled on a case-by-case basis, and applicants must complete the full School of Business MBA application.

Students currently enrolled in a fellow Jesuit MBA Network program are able to transfer all units as long as they are in good standing within their current MBA program. Please work with your current academic advisor in order to complete the Jesuit MBA transfer paperwork and contact the School of Business MBA Programs office for further guidance.

If you were educated outside of the U.S., you are required to have your degree evaluated by World Education Services or Educational Credential Evaluators to ensure that your undergraduate degree is equivalent to a four-year U.S. bachelor's degree. The degree evaluation must be completed before admission to the MBA program.

Applicants educated in India: Typically three-year bachelor's degrees earned in Division I and II at institutions accredited by the NAAC with a minimum grade of A are viewed by WES as equivalent to a U.S. bachelor's degree. Applicants with a three-year degree from India that does not meet the requirements above can complete a one-year post-graduate certificate program or a master's program in India to meet the MBA academic entrance requirements.

No, if you were educated outside of the United States, you will need to complete the degree evaluation process as part of your admission to the MBA program.

Students cannot switch between programs due to the cohort nature of the School of Business MBA program—meaning that you'll begin the program and take the majority of your core classes with the same cohort of students. However, during elective coursework the program uses a mixed cohort format, meaning that students from different cohorts take classes together, in the evenings.

The professional MBA program schedule is very flexible and students have the option to take nine or more credits per Fall and Spring semester, which would qualify them for "full-time" student status by the university.

We prefer that full-time MBA students do not work off campus during the first year of the program. The first year consists mostly of core classes, which are offered during daytime hours. In addition, the program utilizes learning teams and significant amounts of group work/projects, and full-time students are expected to be available during daytime hours to conduct this group work. You can apply for on-campus jobs or Graduate Assistantships to help fund your graduate studies. These jobs can have flexible schedules and are easily balanced with schoolwork.

As full-time MBA students move into your second year of the program and enroll in electives, primarily offered in the evenings, you have the opportunity to pursue a daytime internship or part-time employment off-campus.

Interviews are only scheduled at the request of the admissions committee after the completed review of an application. We prefer for you to come to campus for an interview. However, we can arrange a video interview using Skype if you live outside of California.

You can request to defer admission to the MBA program for one year (full-time MBA) or one semester (professional MBA). Requests must be made in writing and are granted on a case-by-case basis by the admissions committee. If the deferment request is granted, you will submit the $1,500 non-refundable enrollment in order to secure your place in the next cohort. Scholarship recipients who defer admission will be guaranteed a scholarship for the following academic year, but the actual amount of the scholarship may change depending upon the scholarship allocations for that academic year.

You are welcome to reapply for the next semester (professional MBA) or next academic year (full-time MBA). Being denied for one cohort does not impact potential admissions decisions for the future. Please contact the MBA Admissions Office for a re-application fee waiver. You can request feedback on your application by contacting the admissions office. Due to the volume of applications, please contact the office via email at the end of the application cycle.

The TOEFL or IELTS is required for any applicant whose language of undergraduate instruction was not in English

TOEFL (internet-based test) minimum score = 92 (minimum preferred speaking score = 20)

IELTS minimum score = 7.0 (minimum preferred speaking score = 7)

USD's college code = 4849. For a testing center in your country, visit TOEFL or IELTS.