MBA programs generally require a minimum score on the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT). But test-optional business schools and part-time programs offer options for individuals who cannot meet this requirement. Whether you’re aiming to work in a specialized industry or are just starting out your MBA journey, there are several MBA programs that don’t require your GRE or GMAT scores.
If you’re looking to get an mba, but do not want to take the gmat then this is the post for you. I have attended several of these schools and would love to share what I’ve learned and give you some advice on which schools are worth your time.
You may find it hard to access the right information on the internet, so we are here to help you in the following article, providing the best and updated information on part time mba programs that don’t require gmat, European mba programs that don’t require gmat. Read on to learn more. We at Collegelearners have all the information that you need about online mba programs that don’t require gmat. Read on to learn more.
MBA Programs That Don’t Require Gmat
Here is a list of US Universities offering MBA in USA without GMAT:
- Kenan-Flagler Business, the University of North Carolina, where GMAT score is waived off given the candidate submits an application requesting for the same, along with the required educational and professional transcripts, one month prior to the admissions process.
- MIT Sloan School of Management, Massachusetts Institute of Technology offers a 20-month long Executive MBA program, making ten years of work experience mandatory for the application.
- Questrom School of Business, Boston University offers a Professional Evening MBA program and waiver of a GMAT score lies at the sole discretion of the admissions committee.
- Whitman, Syracuse University offers an Online MBA Programme that allows candidates to pursue this full-time course without relocating or even appearing for the GMAT for that matter. Completed within a span of 24 months, this is the best management program for qualified career-driven professionals.
MBA in USA without GMAT
| Universities | Course offered |
|---|---|
| Ross School of Business, University of Michigan | Full-time MBA |
| Georgetown University | Full-time MBA |
| Texas A & M University | Full-time MBA |
| Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University | EMBA |
| NYU Stern | MBA |
| Rutgers Business School, Rutgers University | Full-Time MBA, Executive MBA |
| Loyola University Chicago | EMBA |
| Boston University | EMBA |
| Michigan State University | Full-time MBA |
| University of Delaware | Full-Time and part-time MBA |
GMAT Waiver in USA
A few more universities offering a GMAT score waiver are The University of Tampa, Pace University, and New York Institute of Technology (NYIT), with varying admission criteria and requirements. A GMAT score is not mandatory to apply for UTampa’s MBA though it accepts the score. At Pace University, aspirants who hold a Business-related Master’s or Doctoral Degree may request a GMAT Waiver. The NYIT’s MBA requires its applicants to submit GMAT scores only if their GPA is below 3.0. Apart from this, there are MBA colleges in USA that offer MBA programs without GMAT.
Study MBA in Canada without GMAT
Check out the Canadian Universities with no GMAT requirement:
- Ivey Business School, Toronto offers an Executive MBA program where one has to attend classes four consecutive days once every month and complete the course in 15 months, alongside their career. Although GMAT is not required, a well-detailed resume is mandatory for the application.
- Sobey School of Business, Saint Mary’s University offers a GMAT waiver in its Masters in Finance course, where the applicants have to submit the required transcripts after successful completion of their four-year university degree course.
- Lazaridis School of Business and Economics, Wilfrid Laurier University offers a Part-time Alternate Weekend MBA that does not require a GMAT score, except for students who completed their undergraduate degree outside of Canada.
- Schulich School of Business, York University’s Executive MBA Program does not require a GMAT score, apart from valid academic credentials and other compulsory transcripts.
MBA in Canada without GMAT
There are various business schools in Canada that offer MBA programs without GMAT. Apart from universities, there are various MBA colleges in Canada without GMAT. Other than MBA, Canadian universities also offer GMAT waivers for different business programs.
| Universities | Course offered |
|---|---|
| New York Institute of Technology, Vancouver (NYIT) | MBA |
| Thompson Rivers University | MBA |
| University De Montreal (Udem) | MSc in Business Administration |
| University of Northern British California (UNBC) | MSc in Business Administration |
| Sobey School of Business | Master in Finance |
| Schulich School of Business | MBA |
Study MBA in Australia without GMAT
Given below is the list of Australian Universities that offer MBA or business courses without GMAT:
- Australian National University, Canberra offers Master of Management (Advanced) and gives candidates a fabulous opportunity to hone their skills in the field of management, without a GMAT score.
- Melbourne Business School, the University of Melbourne requires a minimum of 2 years of credible work experience.
- Monash University, which offers Management Courses with a low score of 550 or even no GMAT. Although a work experience of three years is mandatory, with one year of experience in the management field.
- Macquarie Graduate School of Management, Macquarie University states that all you need is a Bachelor’s degree with the required proficiency in English language and a GPA of 5.00 (out of 7.00).
As mentioned earlier, the academic credentials and transcripts are a must, even though GMAT is not. Hence, it is vital for candidates to have immense work experience, even more than 8-12 years in case of a few Executive MBA programmes. An informative yet concise resume is also essential detailing an individual’s academic and professional experience till then. One more important part of this package is a minimum of 2-3 recommendation or reference letters from previous employers that are a must, in order to judge your credibility, character, potential, and work ethics.
MBA in Australia and New Zealand without GMAT
| Universities | Course offered |
|---|---|
| LaTrobe Business School | MBA |
| Deakin Business School | MBA |
| Monash Business School | MBA/EMBA |
| University of Canterbury | MBA |
| Auckland University of Technology | MBA |
| Maastricht School of Management | MBA |
| Massey University | MBA |
Top MBA schools without GMAT
GMAT is an essential tool for giving admission to business and MBA programs by business schools across the world. However, there are certain top business schools that do not include GMAT in their application process for MBA and other business programs. Below mentioned are some of the top schools that offer MBA without GMAT.
| Universities | Course offered |
|---|---|
| Imperial College London | MBA |
| Ivey Business School | MBA |
| Rotman School of Management, U of T | MBA |
| IE Business School | MBA |
| ANU (Australian National University) | Master of Management (MOM) |
| NUS-National University of Singapore | MBA |
| Singapore Management University | MSc in Management |
However, having well-proven facts, one can not deny the fact that preparing for and taking the GMAT helps one achieve great heights of success. Irrespective of whether a university requires a GMAT score or not, taking the exam alerts people around the globe and hence, increases your chances of getting admission. After all, who can deny that taking the GMAT helps in getting admission in one of the top B-schools in the world, thereby validating your ambition and potential at large, governed by your conscientious nature? Be it the complex mathematical functions or preparing for the verbal section, the GMAT surely grooms an individual’s personality at large.
Part time mBA programs that don’t require gMAT
Part-time MBA programs are more likely to have no GMAT requirement or a flexible policy offering waivers because of the applicant demographics—these candidates have work experience under their belt, says Devi Vallabhaneni, managing director of the consulting firm MBA Mission. She’s also a Harvard Business School interviewer in residence and has almost two decades of experience interviewing and evaluating HBS candidates.
“There are many other ways an admission team can gather the information they need to assess the candidate,” she explains. “When you have more work experience, you have more stories to show your impact. For example, you might be able to show your quantitative ability through showing you’ve managed a budget.”
Here are five of the top-ranked part-time MBA programs that don’t require a GMAT score:
Pepperdine University
Pepperdine University’s Pepperdine Graziadio Business School does not require GMAT or GRE scores to apply to its part-time MBA program, though it does accept them. The part-time program is flexible and “designed for busy working professionals that focuses on transformational learning and people-first leadership,” according to Pepperdine.
The average incoming student has a GPA of 3.1, and for those students who do submit GMAT scores, the average is 510. The school, which currently enrolls 439 online MBA students, had a 70.48% acceptance rate in 2020. Starting in spring 2022, applicants must submit one letter of recommendation to be considered for admission. Graduation requires students to complete 52 credits. Graziadio’s one-year retention rate in 2020 was 97.25%.
University of Southern California
The University of Southern California (Marshall) typically requires official GMAT or GRE scores to apply for its part-time MBA program but is providing candidates the option of submitting a standardized test (GMAT or GRE) waiver request.
The average undergraduate GPA for incoming students is 3.2, and the average GMAT score is 624. For its EMBA program—a part-time, weekend class format—GRE or GMAT standardized test scores are entirely optional.
George Washington University
George Washington University does not require GMAT or GRE scores to apply to its online MBA program, though it will accept and consider them as a part of a student’s application. The university has three part-time programs: the professional MBA, the part-time online MBA, and the part-time online healthcare MBA.
Incoming online MBA students’ average undergraduate GPA is 3.17 and GMAT score is 587, and one letter of recommendation is required with an application. In 2020, the school accepted 74.5% of online MBA applicants, and the program enrolls more than 350 students.
American University
American University (Kogod) is a test-optional school and doesn’t require a GMAT score for admission to its MBA program. Most part-time students complete the program on a 24-month course sequence, but it can also be completed on a 12-month, 15-month, or 18-month track.
The average incoming student has a 550 GMAT score and a 3.14 undergraduate GPA. Kogod offers two application rounds each year for its online MBA program. In 2020, the program had an acceptance rate of 78%, and enrolled more than 350 students. Its current one-year retention rate is 87%. In order to graduate, a student must complete 48 credits.
Babson College
Babson College (Olin) doesn’t require GMAT or GRE scores to apply for its part-time MBA program for 2022 entry. The college’s part-time program features course options including fully in-person evening classes, fully online evening classes, and hybrid blended learning classes. Its online program, which can be completed as a full-time or part-time program, does not require GMAT or GRE scores, as well.
The average incoming student’s undergraduate GPA is 3.2. Olin offers admission on a rolling basis, and in 2020 had an 89% acceptance rate. The school currently enrolls 282 online MBA students and has a one-year retention rate of 90%. In order to graduate, online MBA students must complete 45 credits.
Top MBA programs that don’t require a GMAT
Professionals who think their experience speaks to their management competency and would like to skip tests altogether and applicants who think they would perform better on the Graduate Record Examinations (GRE) rather than the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) might be happy to hear that most top MBA programs no longer have GMAT-only test score requirements.
In fact, some programs do not require any test scores to be submitted at all. The top 10 schools in Fortune’s ranking of the best MBA programs have a “flexible” GMAT requirement—meaning they accept GMAT or GRE test scores.
While it’s more common that online, part-time, and executive MBA programs don’t require applicants to submit GMAT scores, a substantial number of full-time programs have also dropped this requirement.
The top-ranked schools are an indication of a broader trend in MBA admissions policies, a trend that started before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic but was expedited in the past two years, according to Esther Magna, a principal MBA admissions consultant at Stacy Blackman, an MBA admissions consulting company.
Top schools want to ensure diversity in their incoming cohorts—diversity of both personal and professional backgrounds—and maintaining a GMAT requirement somewhat limits the types of students who apply, Magna adds. But most MBA programs, especially the ones that are top-ranked, require students to be analytical and data-driven, she adds.
“These programs are looking to attract people that can handle the quantitative gymnastics that’s inherent to the MBA program,” Magna says. “So through the admissions process, it is imperative that applicants demonstrate they can handle the quantitative coursework.”
Depending on what school they are applying for, some students may opt for submitting GRE scores or taking the Executive Assessment to prove quantitative aptitude. Meanwhile, other applicants may point to their job experience as evidence of their abilities.
But if you are determined to avoid taking a test altogether, the 10 schools below don’t require MBA applicants to submit GMAT or GRE scores.
1. Massachusetts Institute of Technology (Sloan)
Fortune MBA program rank: No. 8
MIT Sloan allows applicants to request a test waiver, and if approved, then no GMAT or GRE score is required. However, the school notes that standardized tests “play an important role in our holistic evaluation process.” And incoming students in 2020 had an average GMAT score of 720.
2. University of Washington (Foster)
Fortune MBA program rank: No. 18
The University of Washington Foster School of Business does not require standardized test scores for applicants to its full-time MBA program for 2022 and 2023 who are able to demonstrate strong quantitative skills through their prior academic work or recent professional experience. International applicants are still strongly encouraged to submit a valid standardized test score as part of the application process, given the competitiveness of the international applicant pool. The average incoming student last year had a 692 GMAT score.
3. Michigan State University (Broad)
Fortune MBA program rank: No. 31
Michigan State University (Broad) offers GMAT test waivers for applicants to its full-time MBA program who qualify, as the Broad MBA is “looking to build an MBA class with diverse experiences, talents, and perspectives,” according to information from the university. The average GMAT score for the class of 2022 was 674.
4. Fordham University (Gabelli)
Fortune MBA program rank: No. 38
Fordham University (Gabelli) made submitting standardized test scores optional for the 2021–2022 admissions cycle due to the challenges brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic. The policy says applicants still may submit test scores. The average incoming student in 2020 reported a 618 GMAT score.
5. George Washington University
Fortune MBA program rank: No. 40
George Washington University is a test-optional school but will accept scores from applicants who “feel it necessary to strengthen their application,” according to the university. In 2020, incoming students submitted an average GMAT score of 612.
6. Babson College (Olin)
Babson College full-time MBA program is test-optional for those applying for 2022 entry. In 2020, admitted students who chose to take a test had an average GMAT score of 608.
7. University of Denver (Daniels)
The University of Denver (Daniels)’s full-time MBA program is test-optional. The average incoming full-time MBA student had a GMAT score of 612 in 2020.
8. American University (Kogod)
American University (Kogod) is a test-optional school but encourages applicants to submit a score if they have one. In 2020, incoming students who did so had an average GMAT score of 550.
9. Syracuse University (Whitman)
Syracuse University (Whitman) is offering GMAT and GRE waivers to qualifying full-time MBA applicants for the 2022 admission cycle. The average GMAT score for the 2021 entering class was 667.
10. Case Western Reserve University (Weatherhead)
Case Western Reserve University’s full-time MBA program is test-optional for incoming fall 2022 students. In 2020, admitted students that take a test have an average GMAT score of 636.
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