Can You Get an MBA Without a Bachelor's in Business?

Business schools value applicants from diverse academic backgrounds. Many master of business administration (MBA) programs accept applicants with non-business-related undergrad degrees: The Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC) revealed that roughly 51% of MBA applicant respondents held a bachelor's degree in a non-business field in its 2022 Application Trends Survey.

In the 2021-22 school year, over 200,000 people in the U.S. earned a graduate degree in business, making it the most popular field of graduate study, according to data from the National Center for Education Statistics. That same year, more than 47,000 students enrolled in fully online MBA programs, according to AACSB International.

An advanced business administration degree can offer career versatility, and specializations like data analytics, finance, marketing, and supply chain management can position you for niche careers that pay higher-than-average wages.

An MBA degree prepares you for management positions in nearly every sector. Use this career resource page to discover more about MBA requirements, including minimum GPAs and work experience.

Non-Business Majors Who Seek MBA Programs

MBA programs offer practical career preparation, focusing on real-world skills rather than theory. You do not need a business foundation to get an MBA, though some schools may require you to complete prerequisite courses before you take graduate-level classes. Other requirements can include skill assessments, standardized test scores, and business-related work experience.

According to Earnest data, specialized and general business majors account for 48% of an average MBA class. However, liberal arts graduates are 24%, and science and engineering majors each account for 10% of MBA students. The following table highlights some of the most common non-business undergraduate majors for MBA programs.

Why an MBA Can Be Universally Advantageous

Some companies prefer to hire non-business majors who earn advanced degrees in business. These employers often value the critical and creative thinking approaches from workers with liberal arts backgrounds. Additionally, fields like medical research and technology may seek employees with dual specializations in their industry and in business.

Pursuing an MBA can prepare you for a career change to business or for advancement within your current industry. These degrees provide business management training. As an MBA student, you learn to evaluate business decisions, oversee staff, and manage financial resources. These skills can help you pursue upper management positions or analyst jobs. MBA graduates may also hold positions like director and program manager.

Along with practical skills, MBA programs emphasize an understanding of corporate organizations. MBA students receive training in critical competencies like management, delegation, and task completion. You can apply these skills to many industries.

Pursuing an MBA as a Non-Business Applicant

Unlike more specialized graduate degrees, an MBA can lead to many different career opportunities. Graduates can work in corporate or nonprofit management, pursue director or analyst positions, or become financial managers. If your background isn't business-related, determine whether an MBA aligns with your career goals before enrolling in a program.

Research what careers your MBA program prepares you for. For example, find out whether an MBA enables you to move into upper management positions that relate to your undergraduate degree. Professionals researching an MBA can also talk with mentors or colleagues about career advancement opportunities available for workers with a graduate business degree.

Consider whether graduate certificates, specialized training programs, or professional certifications make more sense than an MBA. These programs may cost less and take less time than a degree. While certain career paths require an MBA, other credentials provide similar advancement opportunities in some fields.

MBA Admissions Requirements

Though not every MBA program requires a bachelor's degree in business, these degrees usually maintain other prerequisite stipulations. The sections below explore MBA admissions requirements like GPA, test scores, and education.

Education Requirements for an MBA

Nearly all MBA programs require applicants to hold a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution. Because MBA programs value intellectual diversity in new enrollees, learners from other backgrounds are often welcome. Bachelor's programs across fields help develop skills like critical thinking, analysis, and writing, all of which you can apply toward an MBA.

Minimum GPA

GPA requirements vary by program, but you often need a minimum 3.0 GPA. Students who don't meet this threshold may qualify for provisional admission. Some schools don't maintain a minimum GPA requirement, instead using a holistic approach that considers multiple factors. In these cases, you can make up for a low GPA in several ways, including postbaccalaureate coursework or a high GMAT score.

Postbaccalaureate MBA Requirements

If you don't have a business degree, you may need to complete prerequisite courses after enrolling in an MBA program. These classes emphasize the basic knowledge required to succeed in business. Prerequisites help you build foundational knowledge in statistics, accounting, and economics.

If you have a liberal arts background, you may need to complete mathematics or accounting courses. Even if you have a business- or STEM-related degree, you may need to complete economics or finance classes.

We explore common MBA prerequisites below:

• Statistics: MBA programs expect you to have some statistics knowledge. Statistics courses cover topics like statistical methods, probability, business statistics, and quantitative analytical methods.
• Accounting: Accounting plays a foundational role in business. Students in MBA programs, especially those who pursue an MBA in accounting, often learn how to analyze and prepare financial statements, so it's crucial to be familiar with concepts like international accounting and business accounting before pursuing a graduate-level business degree.
• Economics: Economics courses introduce you to micro- and macroeconomics. These classes explore economic analysis, policy, and theory. Though not always necessary, having basic knowledge of economics before starting MBA coursework can help you succeed.

Test Scores

Business schools may require standardized test scores from applicants. Many MBA programs ask for GMAT scores. Admissions committees consider the GMAT a key indicator of future business school success.

The GMAT tests you on quantitative reasoning, verbal reasoning, and data insights. Even without a business bachelor's degree, test-takers with strong verbal, quantitative, and reasoning abilities can earn a good score, and high GMAT scores can make your application competitive.

You should devote significant time to preparing for the GMAT. Many companies offer test preparation materials and courses. GMAC provides free and paid resources like test prep books, practice exams, and question banks. Companies like Kaplan and The Princeton Review also offer test prep courses, and private tutors offer GMAT prep.

In addition to GMAT scores, an increasing number of business schools now accept GRE scores, and some institutions do not require test scores at all.

Work Prerequisites

Business programs may seek applicants with relevant work history. This requirement varies by school, but MBA programs that look at candidates' professional backgrounds often stipulate 2-3 years of experience, while executive MBA programs typically ask for five or more years of experience.

Even for schools that don't require previous experience, working a job where you use leadership and communication skills before returning to school can contribute to a strong application. Candidates without a business background can highlight their professional strengths in their applications to stand out.

Degree Diversity in MBA Programs

Business schools often seek diverse cohorts of incoming MBA students. Interacting with learners from different undergraduate, professional, and personal backgrounds allows you to encounter a variety of perspectives.

Student body diversity can improve learning outcomes. Enrollees with different backgrounds and outlooks can learn from each others' strengths as they work toward common goals. Because MBA programs emphasize management skills, a diverse cohort more closely replicates real-world management situations.

MBA students' different professional experiences contribute to the diversity of ideas, strategies, and business ventures in a program. As long as non-business majors meet the program's course prerequisites and understand basic business concepts, they can excel in an MBA program.

In-Depth Interview With an Enrollment Manager

How much weight does the undergraduate degree have in the MBA application process?

A background in business is certainly helpful, but according to our faculty, the MBA was intended to develop business skills and philosophies that students weren't learning in their undergraduate degree.

I would say that a business education would be helpful in meeting the prerequisites like accounting, finance, econ[onomics], and statistics. Without having a foundation in those areas, some students can be frustrated as they start the related courses in the MBA program.

There are plenty of ways to obtain that knowledge without having to enroll in a whole business program. There are companies that offer remedial education in business. One that we use is called Ivy Software. There is a larger company called StraighterLine that offers prerequisite courses as well. I am sure with a quick internet search, an applicant could find many ways to obtain the core knowledge to feel confident when entering an MBA program.

“The MBA was intended to develop business skills and philosophies that students weren't learning in their undergraduate degree.”

How can a student without a business degree best approach the application process?

Speak with the faculty and the admissions contact. They can give you an idea of how many people in their program have a background in business and how many do not. Ask them if the people without a background struggle without that background. Faculty members are usually very helpful.

If an applicant or prospective student doesn't have a business education, that doesn't always mean they haven't had experience in business. Their family may own a business or they may have landed an entry-level position at a corporation right out of college.

Business schools really do care about your background. If you studied something in the realm of liberal arts to become a well-rounded member of society, then went into business, I think most business schools would value that diverse background and experience.

What are the most important aspects of the application process for non-business applicants?

I may have gotten ahead of myself on this answer, but you're explaining your related experience and also explaining why you want to hold an MBA. I would be very clear in your personal statement/essay on why you think the MBA would benefit you and why you think you would be a good fit for the program.

It depends on the graduate school you're applying to. If you're applying to a school that has 1,200 applicants a year but only 200 spots, then you should also have the GMAT scores and relevant work experience to support your endeavors. There are also some MBA programs that don't require the GMAT.

Would you suggest a GMAT or MBA prep course for non-business undergraduate applicants?

I would suggest both! The prep course offers the knowledge that you may not already have (accounting, finance, etc.). The GMAT serves as a signal of aptitude and readiness to graduate school. The GMAT and the prep course aren't exactly connected.

You could have multiple years of business experience, but no prerequisites. I would then suggest the formal prep courses and see if the GMAT is even needed for your application. Some schools will waive the test score requirement with experience.

What benefits does an MBA offer to someone who doesn't have a business bachelor's degree?

It offers students the opportunity to go to college and grow, take a chance, be creative, etc. — all those things that college is supposed to be. To have a well-rounded undergraduate education, you're learning so much about yourself as a person and a professional, so you know what your talents are.

The MBA then allows those students to earn the business knowledge needed to be successful in the corporate/business landscape. If you want to study anthropology, philosophy, or any of the humanities, but find that you have a desire to work in business and find your meaning of success, then the MBA allows for both.

Kohl Friery

Kohl Friery has served in enrollment management at Lenoir-Rhyne University. In December 2016, Friery earned his master of arts in university leadership from Lenoir-Rhyne. Friery holds a bachelor of science in education with a minor in English and telecommunications from Bowling Green State University after growing up in rural northwest Ohio.

FAQ About MBA Requirements

Page last reviewed July 31, 2024