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Undergraduate-to-Graduate Pathways

Undergraduate‑to‑graduate pathways connect your bachelor’s degree to a Carlson graduate program. Choose early admission or credit waivers to save time, reduce credits (and tuition), and lock in your next step. Some pathways start during your undergraduate years; others can be used up to three years after graduation.

At-a-Glance: Pathways & Timing

ProgramWho Can ApplyWhen to ApplyKey BenefitsFinancial Impact
Deferred Entry Master of Business AdministrationSeniors at any U.S. college (domestic students only)Senior year; start two years laterReserve a seat while working full-time; community of admitted FellowsGuaranteed $25,000 per year scholarship at enrollment
Master of Accountancy Early AdmissionJuniors majoring in Accounting (Carlson or other U.S. schools)Junior year; begin after graduationLock your spot; plan prerequisites; reduce stress senior yearTuition cap savings at 10+ credits
Master of Science in Finance Credit Waiver PathwayCarlson undergraduates, Economics majors, Carlson minorsSenior year or up to three years after graduationWaive three courses (up to seven credits)Lower tuition due to fewer required credits*; lighter course load
Master of Science in Business Analytics Credit Waiver PathwayCarlson undergraduates onlySenior year or up to three years after graduationWaive up to ten creditsLower tuition due to fewer required credits*; lighter course load

* Per‑credit rates stay the same.

Program Details

Program details include eligibility, application timing, key benefits, and any relevant notes regarding scholarships or credit waivers for each pathway.

Apply in your senior year and reserve your seat in the Carlson Full-Time Master of Business Administration or the Management Science Master of Business Administration. Start two years later after gaining full-time work experience.
 

Who can apply

  • Domestic students (U.S. citizens or permanent residents)
  • Seniors at any U.S. college or university
  • Applicants with strong academics, internship experience, and leadership
     

Benefits

  • Hold your seat while you work full-time for two years
  • Connect with admitted Fellows through seasonal meetups
  • Enter the program with professional experience
  • Scholarship guarantee: minimum $25,000 per year at enrollment (conditions apply).

 

Explore Deferred Entry MBA

Apply in your junior year to secure conditional acceptance after graduation. Plan your remaining courses to maintain momentum and transition smoothly into graduate study.
 

Who can apply

  • Accounting majors at Minnesota Carlson or any U.S. institution
  • Domestic and international students
     

Benefits

  • Locked spot for a stress‑lighter senior year
  • Plan prerequisites with your advisor
  • Tuition cap savings when enrolled in 10 or more credits per term
     

Requirements

Complete a bachelor’s degree in Accounting and these courses (or approved equivalents) with a grade of C or higher:

  • Introduction to Financial Reporting
  • Introduction to Management Accounting
  • Intermediate Accounting I

Application timing: apply in or right after junior year; no later than July 1.

Tuition cap & totals

Savings come from the tuition cap when you take 10 or more credits in a semester; per‑credit rates do not change.

Typical total tuition (subject to change):

  • With undergraduate Accounting degree (30 credits): Residents $26,200; Non‑residents $44,300
  • Without undergraduate Accounting degree (44 credits): Residents $39,300; Non‑residents $66,450

Explore Accountancy Early Admission program

Reduce required courses based on approved undergraduate coursework with grades of B or higher. Apply in senior year or within three years after graduation.
 

Who can apply

  • Carlson undergraduates
  • University of Minnesota Economics majors
  • Carlson minors
     

Eligible waivers (up to seven credits)

  • Introduction to Financial Reporting → Financial Accounting (3 credits)
  • Finance Fundamentals → Finance I: Risk, Return, Value (2 credits)
  • Principles of Corporate Finance → Finance II: Cash Flows, Managerial Decisions, and Project Valuation (2 credits)
International student guidance (summer term): to keep full‑time status, do not waive both Financial Accounting and Finance I. If eligible for both, take Finance I in summer; apply the Financial Accounting waiver to electives.

Explore the MS in Finance waiver pathway

Carlson undergraduates can waive up to ten credits through core and elective mappings. Apply in senior year or within three years after graduation.
 

Core waiver examples

  • Meet Carlson undergraduate core requirements → waive Business Essentials (3 credits)
  • Complete designated analytics courses → waive Introduction to Business Analytics in R (3 credits)
     

Elective credit waivers (up to four credits)

Approved undergraduate electives in analytics, finance, marketing, supply chain, information systems, and human resources may map to graduate elective waivers (total up to four credits).
 

Explore the MS in Business Analytics waiver pathway

*MSBA and MSF waivers can be used up to 3 years after graduation. Please note, MSBA pathway waiver is for Carlson undergraduates only.
 

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Planning & Advising

  • Sophomore year: Meet with your advisor if you are considering the Early Admission Master of Accountancy.
  • Junior year: Apply for the Early Admission Master of Accountancy.
  • Senior year: Apply for the Deferred Entry Master of Business Administration, Finance Credit Waiver Pathway, or Business Analytics Credit Waiver Pathway.
  • After graduation: Use Finance or Business Analytics waivers for up to three years.

Frequently Asked Questions

Some pathways are open to all domestic seniors (such as the Deferred Entry MBA), while others are specific to Carlson undergraduates. Each program section lists eligibility details so you can see which options apply to you.

Planning should begin as early as your sophomore year, especially for the MAcc Early Admission. Senior year is when you’ll apply for the Deferred MBA, MSF, or MSBA pathways. MSF and MSBA waivers remain valid for up to three years after graduation.

Admission is not automatic. Each program has its own competitive application process. Meeting eligibility requirements (such as GPA, prerequisites, or work experience) makes you a strong candidate, but you still need to apply and be admitted.

The Deferred Entry MBA program guarantees a minimum scholarship of $25,000 per year if you meet the conditions for full admission. Other pathways—MAcc, MSF, and MSBA—offer lower tuition through course waivers, tuition caps after a set credit load, or accelerated timelines. Merit scholarships are limited, and in most cases, pathway students do not receive additional merit awards.

Waivers in the MSF and MSBA programs mean you take fewer courses, which reduces both your course load and the total tuition you pay. For example, MSBA students can waive up to 10 credits, and MSF students can waive up to 7 credits.

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