Admission requirements
You apply to the MBA program at Montclair State University through the Graduate School. The MBA office receives your file once it is complete and forwarded by the Graduate School.
There is no deadline for applications - all applications are processed on a rolling admissions basis - but we encourage you to apply well in advance of the term in which you plan to begin your studies, to ensure there is time for a comprehensive review of all your credentials. For more information, please click here.
An application portfolio for the MBA degree includes the following:
Prerequisites for the MBA program
Official scores from the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT).
A personal statement of professional objectives.
Two (2) letters of recommendation.
International applicants - additional requirements:
One official copy of the academic transcript from each college and/or university you have attended
You must have at least an earned bachelor's degree (in any major) from a regionally-accredited college or university (or the foreign equivalent), and document that with a transcript.
If any of the credit hours that counted toward that bachelor's degree were earned at another institution, such as a community college, we must receive that original transcript, too.
Transcripts from post-graduate work are valuable additions to your application. (Note: See information below about GMAT waivers for candidates with certain graduate degrees).
Official scores from the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT)
The GMAT is an MBA requirement (the GRE cannot be substituted).
The GMAT may be waived for applicants who submit proof of the following to the Graduate School:
- An earned Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration (less than 5 years old) from Montclair State University with a 3.5 cumulative GPA or higher;
or - An earned terminal degree (Ph.D., M.D., or J.D.) in any discipline;
or - An earned MS degree with a significant quantitative component (in a discipline such as math, engineering, computer science, statistics), from an accredited US college or university.
To request a waiver, please complete the Standardized Test Waiver Form.
We look for GMAT scores of 500 or better, but if your other credentials meet our standards, there is no fixed score that will prevent a review of your application. We also look for a balance between the Quantitative and Verbal scores on the GMAT (the Writing score is reviewed, but because we ask for a personal statement as part of your application, we will have an independent sample of your strengths in this area).
The Montclair State MBA program uses a weighted scoring system for academic performance. To calculate this, multiply your undergraduate GPA by 200, then add your GMAT score:
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The weighted score (GPA x 200 + GMAT) is 1100 or above : your GMAT score should be acceptable, if your other credentials also are strong.
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The weighted score (GPA x 200 + GMAT) is below 1100: your other credentials, such as work experience, may be particularly important in the admissions decision.
Please click here for more information about the GMAT. GMAT is administered worldwide by Educational Testing Service (ETS). Contact ETS to request their latest bulletin. Montclair State University's institutional code for test reporting is 1T2-NK-80 for the part-time MBA and 1T2-NK-86 for the full-time MBA.
A personal statement of your professional objectives
This statement, 1-2 pages in length, is your opportunity to explain your reasons for seeking the MBA degree. You may discuss any of the following topics:
- Your ultimate career goals, and the ways in which you expect the MBA to advance them.
- Personal and/or professional accomplishments that demonstrate your ability to master new challenges.
- Gaps in your existing knowledge or experience that affects your job satisfaction or productivity, and that you believe will be addressed by the MBA.
Please note that this statement is your opportunity to demonstrate your written communication skills as well as your interest in the MBA.
A resume (if applicable).
You should submit a current resume, including information about any professional training, licenses, and/or certifications that may be relevant to assessing your professional experience.
Work experience is not a requirement for admission, but most Montclair MBA students have worked full-time for 2-6 years before applying, and professional experience is a significant positive factor in the admissions decision. Applicants who do not yet have professional experience should present strong academic credentials, personal statements, and recommendations.
Two letters of recommendation.
The letters of recommendation should be from people who know your work and can comment thoughtfully on your abilities and accomplishments. This may include current and/or former employers, colleagues, business associates, and/or clients; current and/or former professors; etc.
We suggest that you ask your references to consider the following before drafting a 1-2 page recommendation:
- Accomplishments that demonstrate your motivation to acquire new knowledge and skills, and your ability to master new experiences.
- Achievements that reflect your analytical, organizational, and/or communication skills, and your readiness for higher levels of performance.
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International applicants - additional requirements.
International applicants and students who have studied in other countries should carefully review the information on relevant policies and procedures here.
Degree evaluation - National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES)
Montclair State University does not evaluate transcripts of non-U.S. degrees or coursework. You must document your university-level studies at any foreign university by submitting a course-by-course evaluation from a member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES).
Please note the guidelines for submitting your foreign degree credentials, and related information, on the Graduate School website: http://www.montclair.edu/graduate/prospective/intlapps.php
The Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or English for International Opportunity (IELTS) is required of all students whose native language is not English and whose degree was obtained in a country where English is not the official language. TOEFL is administered worldwide by Educational Testing Service (ETS) . Contact ETS to request their latest bulletin. Montclair State University's institutional code for test reporting is 2520.
English as a Second Language proficiency test
In addition to the TOEFL, Montclair State University requires such international students to complete an English language proficiency test, upon arrival in the U.S., before registering for any MBA courses. Upon review of the English language proficiency test score, students may be required to enroll in English as a Second Language (ESL) courses at Montclair State University. Please click here to see the test schedule - no appointments are necessary.
Please click here for information about international student services available at Montclair State University.
Prerequisites for the MBA Program
A college-level (undergraduate) calculus course is an MBA Program prerequisite. If your prior studies did not include this prerequisite, you may be accepted to the MBA program on a deferred matriculation basis.
Such a special matriculation status, may require you to take the calculus course prior to starting your MBA Program - or, in certain cases, to take certain MBA courses while you are completing the prerequisite.
You must complete the calculus course (with a minimum grade of B, or 3.0) before you enroll in INFO 501 or ECON 501 , or in any Advanced MBA courses (Categories III-V) , and within 3 semesters of admission (excluding Summer session, which is voluntary for students and faculty).
If taken at another institution (see a list of authorized equivalents to MATH 114 - Calculus for Business), this must be in the form of an official transcript sent to the MBA Office.
Advanced Academic Standing
It is not necessary to have completed any prior coursework in business to apply for the MBA program; however, applicants with undergraduate degrees in business may be eligible for advanced standing. Please click here for a detailed explanation of our advanced standing policies.
Through such prior academic experience, graduate transfer credits, and/or challenge examinations, the MBA degree requirements may be reduced by up to 15 credits (SH) of Core courses (categories I & II).
Waiver assessments are made after candidates are accepted to the MBA Program.
In general, for the waiver of an MBA core course, the following is required:
- Completion of at least 3 credit hours of graduate coursework in the same topic area (e.g., financial accounting) at an AACSB accredited college or university, with a grade of B or better; or
- Completion of at least 6 credit hours, or two (2) undergraduate courses in the same topic area, at a regionally accredited college or university, with a grade of B or better in each course.
Please note that coursework more than 10 years old cannot be counted for waiver purposes, except in satisfying the calculus pre-requisite.
We cannot give life experience credit, although work experience is a significant factor in assessing an applicant's portfolio for admission.
The remaining 33 semester hours, and all advanced courses (categories III – V) must be completed at Montclair State University.
In some cases, students with undergraduate degrees that included significant advanced coursework in the relevant topics may be eligible to substitute electives for one or more of the courses in category III, Managing the Business Environment.
These substitutions do not further lower the credit hour requirements for the MBA, but offer students an opportunity for greater flexibility in their advanced MBA coursework.
Challenge Examinations
Under certain circumstances, a student may have the opportunity to satisfy an academic requirement by sitting for a challenge examination. The program faculty set the conditions under which a student may sit for a challenge exam, which can only be used towards MBA basic courses.
The MBA basic courses for which challenge exams are available are:
For more information about Challenge Exams, refer to the Student Handbook.
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