Online MBA Requirements & Deadlines
Online MBA program candidates must hold a bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited institution in the U.S. or a comparable degree from an officially recognized college or university outside of the U.S.
Online MBA program candidates must have completed 2 years of work experience, including internships, co-ops, graduate assistantships, and other work experiences. Discretion on work experience eligibility will be evaluated by the admission committee. If you have questions about your personal profile and eligibility, please reach out to omba@umn.edu
Online MBA Application Checklist
Please note all materials will be required in some form for an Online MBA application. If materials are missing, an application will be marked incomplete and will delay an admission decision. Please check your applicant checklist in the application portal to ensure all materials are received.
You must complete the application online.
Under Program Selection tab, please select 'University of Minnesota - Twin Cities Campus'
Filter by college/school to 'Carlson School of Management'
Under Carlson School of Management Programs field select 'Business Administration - Online MBA'
Unofficial transcripts can be submitted through the online application or emailed to mbamsapp@umn.edu for attachment to your application file. Paper transcripts may be submitted to: 321 19th Ave S, Room 1-110, Minneapolis, MN 55455
You will need to submit a transcript from each college or university where
you have completed coursework before your application will be considered
complete and reviewed by the admissions committee. Unofficial transcripts must
include your name and the name of the institution. Third Party credential evaluation
reports and degree planning documents are not accepted.
Official transcripts will be required if you are admitted to the program.
The Carlson School of Management's Part Time and Online MBA programs’ applications are now GRE/GMAT test score optional, for candidates applying for consideration for Spring 2024 or later entry.
However, depending on personal qualifications, the submission of test scores may still be strongly recommended for certain candidates to demonstrate their abilities to successfully complete the academic requirements of the degree.
While the submission of test scores is optional for all candidates applying for entry Spring 2024 and later, completing an exam with strong test scores can still boost an applicant’s chances of admission.
Test scores are strongly recommended in particular for applicants with academic weaknesses (Cumulative GPA is below “B” average) or deficits (e.g., below “B” grades in quantitative or relevant business coursework).
Applicants can take one of the following tests: GMAT, GRE, Executive Assessment, or MBA Math. The admissions committee does not prefer one test over the other and we do not have minimum required scores.
Note: Applicants interested in pursuing a career in consulting or investment banking may consider taking the GMAT specifically, as a strong score could be an asset when applying to internships or full time roles.
The unofficial test scores may be entered directly into the online application. Official test scores should be received before the application deadline for which you would like to be considered. MBA Math transcripts can be uploaded directly within the online application if complete at the time of submission.
If a candidate indicates at the time of application they are not intending to submit scores with their application, they will be unable to submit test scores later, neither before or after an admission decision. If they are denied admission to a term, they will need to re-apply with the addition of optional test scores for a future term.
For the GMAT & EA, arrange for the testing service to send an official score report to code D2N-VJ-05, Carlson Master of Science in Business Analytics. Results arrive 2-3 weeks after the test.
For the GRE, arrange for the testing service to send an official score report using institution code 6874, U of MN graduate school. Results may take up to 8 weeks to arrive.
For MBA Math, please download and submit the MBA Math test transcripts via email to mbamsapp@umn.edu if you plan on completing the exam following your application submission.
Use the online application to provide the names and contact information of two professional references. We partner with GMAC for the common letter of recommendation.
Your recommendation providers will receive an email from "gradappinfo@umn.edu." The subject line will include your name and the words "Recommendation for the University of Minnesota". Please ask your providers to include this email address in their contact lists and to double check spam/junk mail folders if they don't receive the message. NOTE: It is not required to use a company email address. Some companies have firewalls that prevent receipt of the recommendation request email. Recommenders should receive the recommendation request email within 12 hours of saving their contact information in the application. If recommenders do not receive the email within 12 hours, please try again with another email address. Best practice is to use a Gmail, Yahoo, or Hotmail email address for recommendations.
Recommendation providers can submit their recommendations anytime, both before AND after you submit your application.
We require two complete recommendations to consider this section complete, but you can list up to six professional recommendations. All completed professional recommendations will be reviewed by the admission committee.
Your personal statement should be no more than 1200 words (3 pages), that address the following questions:
- Why are you choosing to pursue an MBA at this time in your career? What are you hoping to accomplish by doing so? Briefly describe your short-term (upon graduation from the program) and long-term (5-10 years after the program) career goals. Please be as specific as possible with roles, companies and/or industries.
- What excites you about being part of the Carlson School MBA program? Do you have a specialization that you are currently interested in and why?
- Describe your current thinking about diversity, equity, and inclusion. How has your thinking changed over time?
All applicants are invited to submit an essay to be considered for one of the 50% or 15% merit-based scholarships offered to admitted candidates entering the Online MBA program. Scholarships will be awarded on a merit basis to a limited number of admitted candidates who demonstrate the potential to be exemplary contributors to the Carlson School community and possess outstanding academic and professional achievements. Selected students will be notified of their award at the time of admission.
This scholarship essay is not required for admission to the program, but is required to be considered for the scholarship. The essay also must be submitted within the application itself, as no late or alternative submission methods will be accepted.
The scholarship is non transferable to other Carlson School degrees, is not "stackable" with other scholarships or discounts, and may only be applied toward the Part-Time or Online MBA programs.
The Scholarship Essay prompt should address the following in no less than 300 words (1 page):
- Can you tell us about a time you advocated for a more inclusive or more welcoming community, either professionally or personally? How do you plan to carry what you have learned from this experience forward and positively impact the Carlson School?
Carlson Corporate Discount applicants may also submit an essay for the consideration of the available scholarships, but no "stacking" of scholarship awards and corporate discounts are allowed.
Additionally, Corporate Discount candidates must also submit 2 letters of recommendation, along with the scholarship essay, in order to fulfill requirements for scholarship consideration.
Use this essay to share information that is not presented elsewhere in the application, for example:
- Explanation of employment gaps or academic weaknesses
- Quantitative abilities
- Choice of recommenders
- For re-applicants, improvements to your candidacy
Your statement should be limited to no more than 500 words (1 page).
Proof of English Language Proficiency is required of all applicants and must be demonstrated in one of the following ways.
- Completed at least the last 2 years of a bachelor's degree or 1 year of graduate school (full-time) in the U.S., U.K., Ireland, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Anglophone Africa, or the English-speaking Caribbean and will provide official transcripts.
- Completed my education solely in English in a country where English is not an official language and will provide documented proof (Ex: India)
- Will provide the official results of an English language test taken within the last two years
The following tests are all accepted:
- Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)
- International Language Testing System (IELTS)
- Pearson Test of English Academic (PTE)
- Duolingo
For further details, visit the International Applicants page.
The application fee is $75 (non-refundable) for U.S. citizens, international applications, and U.S. residents with foreign credentials. Your application fee will be waived if you have been on active duty in the U.S. military within three years of submitting your MBA application.
Submit a current resume that includes job responsibilities and accomplishments. Resume can include part-time work, internships, graduate assistants, or co-ops as necessary.
- The video essay is a required component of the application that provides candidates with an opportunity to show the admissions committee the authentic you. Think of this video essay as if you were answering an interview question with a member of our admissions committee.
- You will need to use a computer with camera and microphone capabilities. You will also need a strong internet connection for uploading the video. You will have the ability to test your technology before starting the video essay and submit a practice video essay.
- You can test your technology and run the practice simulation as many times as you wish to be comfortable with the format and technology. You will be able to review your practice video essay(s) and your recording(s) will not be saved beyond the testing phase and will never be reviewed.
- You can also practice responding to impromptu questions offline with a friend or colleague before completing the video essay portion of your application.
- You will be prompted to click "Ready" once you are prepared to submit an official video essay. You will be asked one impromptu question from a bank of imaginative or behavioral questions selected by our admissions team.
- Two minutes (120 seconds) will be provided to prepare an answer and two minutes (120 seconds) to record an answer. The recording will automatically stop after two minutes. You are not required to use the full two minutes. If you have time remaining once complete with your response, click the "Stop Recording" button to end the recording.
- You will only be provided one attempt to record your official video essay.
| Describe an academic or extra curricular activity that helped you shape your personality. What did you learn? |
| Describe a situation where you were a team member. How did you decide when to lead and when to follow, and how did the results impact you? |
| Describe a time when you showed great resilience and tenacity and it paid off. What were the results? |
| Describe your biggest risk you took at work and what was its outcome? |
| Explain a situation when you had to change your communication style. What was the outcome and what did you learn? |
| Give an example of a situation where you had to change your priorities due to an unexpected task and what was the outcome? |
| How would you describe your current thinking about diversity, and how has your thinking changed over time? |
| Talk about an activity or extra curricular experience and how it changed your perspective. |
| Talk about the time when you made a wrong decision, what was the setback and how did you handle it? |
| Tell about a setback you experienced, how you dealt with it, and the results. |
| Tell us about a time when you handled a task on which you had zero information. What were the steps you took to begin with, what were the strategies and what were the end results? |
| Tell us about a time you encountered an individual who was resistant to change, how did you deal with it and what was the outcome? |
| What accomplishment are your really proud of and why? |
| What does it mean for you to have a commitment to diversity? How have you demonstrated that commitment, and how would you see yourself demonstrating it here? |
| What is the key ingredient for building and maintaining professional relationships? Provide examples. |
| What is your definition of diversity and how or why do you think diversity is important? |
| What's the best piece of constructive criticism you've received and how has it influenced your work? |
| What’s the most interesting thing about you that we wouldn’t learn from your resume alone? |
Application Deadlines - Fall & Spring Start
The Online MBA program begins either in the fall (September after Labor Day Holiday) or spring (January after Martin Luther King Holiday) semester. Applications are considered based on round deadlines and decision are sent out within 10 business days of completing your application.
Spring (January start)
- October 15
- November 15
- December 15
Fall (September start)
- May 15
- June 15
- July 15
Deadlines that occur on a holiday or weekend will be extended through the next business day. Please teach out to mba@umn.edu if you have questions/concerns on your timeline.
Admission Decision Release
Online MBA applicants will receive their admission decision within 10 business days of the admission committee receiving a submitted and completed application. Completed and submitted application requires that all materials have been received by the admissions committee; this includes transcripts, resumes, personal statement, and recommendations. You will receive communication from the admission committee when your application has been received and marked as complete. If granted a scholarship, notification will be included in your admission decision.
Interested in applying a Graduate Certificate to an Online MBA?
Learn more about applying credits to your Online MBA degree and how to start a program application.
Certificate Learners that have previously completed a Carlson Business Administration Graduate (Postbaccalaureate) Certificate can transfer the 12-13 credits completed in the certificate into the Part-Time MBA program to continue with the MBA curriculum.
Certificate learners will complete the Carlson Degree Application for Certificate Earners Form which will create a program application.
Candidates must upload the required materials for the program application process, including new essays, transcripts, employment information, and resumes. Please note that Certificate Earners applicants will be waived of recommendations, video essays, and application fees for this application process.
We want to admit a diverse, intellectually curious, and interesting group of students who will contribute to and benefit from the Carlson MBA Program. The personal statement helps the admissions committee get to know you better as an individual, and allows the committee to evaluate the extent to which your skills, interests, values, and career goals are well suited for the program. Your personal statement should be no more than 1200 words (3 pages), that address the following questions:
- Why are you choosing to pursue an MBA at this time in your career? What are you hoping to accomplish by doing so? Briefly describe your short-term (upon graduation from the program) and long-term (5-10 years after the program) career goals. Please be as specific as possible with roles, companies and/or industries.
- What excites you about being part of the Carlson School MBA program? Do you have a specialization that you are currently interested in and why?
- Carlson MBA programs are looking for diverse voices and experiences to add to classroom discussions. Can you tell us about how you have participated in and/or advocated for building more inclusive communities in your career?
- Candidates will verify their academic credentials from their certificate application
- Candidates will be required to upload a transcript of their University of Minnesota certificate coursework
- If a candidate has taken any additional coursework since their certificate application, additional transcripts will be required
- Candidates will be asked to verify their employment information is still valid from their certificate application or update as needed
- Candidates will also need to provide an updated resume
All applicants are invited to submit an essay to be considered for one of the 50% or 15% merit-based scholarships offered to admitted candidates entering the Online MBA program. Scholarships will be awarded on a merit basis to a limited number of admitted candidates who demonstrate the potential to be exemplary contributors to the Carlson School community and possess outstanding academic and professional achievements. Selected students will be notified of their award at the time of admission.
This scholarship essay is not required for admission to the program, but is required to be considered for the scholarship. The essay also must be submitted within the application itself, as no late or alternative submission methods will be accepted.
The scholarship is non transferable to other Carlson School degrees, is not "stackable" with other scholarships or discounts, and may only be applied toward the Part-Time or Online MBA programs.
The Scholarship Essay prompt should address the following in no less than 300 words (1 page):
- Can you tell us about a time you advocated for a more inclusive or more welcoming community, either professionally or personally? How do you plan to carry what you have learned from this experience forward and positively impact the Carlson School?
Carlson Corporate Discount applicants may also submit an essay for the consideration of the available scholarships, but no "stacking" of scholarship awards and corporate discounts are allowed.
Additionally, Corporate Discount candidates must also submit 2 letters of recommendation, along with the scholarship essay, in order to fulfill requirements for scholarship consideration.
*The Carlson School of Management's Online MBA program’s application is now GRE/GMAT test score optional, for candidates applying for consideration for Spring 2024 or later entry. Expand the test scores accordion above for more details.