An MBA can be one of the most career-rewarding credentials for current and aspiring business professionals. According to the latest Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC) survey, graduates with MBAs enjoyed higher employment rates and average salaries than any other business-related bachelor's or master's degree.
For many years, business schools have relied on the GMAT to evaluate applicants and assist in the admissions process. However, it's become increasingly common for schools to offer online MBAs with no GMAT requirements. Business schools have introduced GMAT waivers, test-optional policies, and other alternatives to the GMAT to make the application process easier and expand the pool of candidates.
Discover what this process might look like and where you can find the best online MBAs with no GMAT requirements in this helpful guide.
Popular Online Programs
Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.
Top Online MBAs With No GMAT Requirement
#1 Best Online MBA Programs (No GMAT Required)
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
- Chapel Hill, NC
- 4 years
- Online + Campus
UNC-Chapel Hill was the first and only public university in the United States to award degrees in the 18th century. As the flagship institution within the University of North Carolina System, UNC-Chapel Hill offers more than 250 academic programs and enrolls over 30,000 students annually.
Online MBA
UNC-Chapel Hill's online MBA, offered through the Kenan-Flagler Business School, includes 62 credit hours of coursework. Each enrollee completes 34 credit hours of core courses alongside elective classes.
The core curriculum emphasizes business essentials, including finance, business communication and strategy, and leadership. By aligning elective classes with core requirements, students can specialize in one of six subsets of business.
Enrollees can attend UNC-Chapel Hill's main campus, weekend executive MBA courses, and weeklong intensive courses at the institution's Washington, D.C., campus. The accelerated program spans 18 months, while UNC-Chapel Hill's extended online MBA lasts as many as 36 months.
UNC-Chapel Hill's online MBA has four start dates each year. Each applicant must have at least two years of professional experience and a bachelor's degree to apply.
UNC-Chapel Hill's Specializations
Data Analytics And Decision Making | Entrepreneurship | Finance | Management And Leadership | Marketing | Strategy And Consulting
UNC-Chapel Hill's Affordability
During the 2022-2023 academic year, online MBA students paid $125,590 in tuition. Enrollees have access to partial-tuition fellowships, including those offered through the Forté Fellowship Program. Additional financial aid options include employer sponsorship, veteran benefits, and federal student aid.
Program at a Glance
- School Type: Public
- Accreditation: SACSCOC, AACSB
- Tuition: $125,590 total
- Required Credits: 62
- Program Length: 24 months
- Delivery Format: Online or hybrid; asynchronous and/or synchronous
- Admissions
- Process: Each applicant must submit a resume or CV, transcripts, two letters of recommendation, and an essay. Candidates also complete interviews. Applicants with fewer than five years of experience must provide GMAT/GRE scores, however.
- Standardized Tests: Applicants with five or more years of professional experience do not need GMAT or GRE scores to enroll in UNC-Chapel Hill's online MBA. Waivers for candidates with less experience are also available.
- Cost: $150
Percent Online Enrollment
91%
Percentage of all students who are enrolled online.
Accreditation
Yes
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
#2 Best Online MBA Programs (No GMAT Required)
University of Florida
- Gainesville, FL
- 4 years
- Online + Campus
The Gainesville-based UF enrolls over 53,000 students annually. With origins tracing back to 1858, UF houses 16 academic colleges. The university adopted its alligator mascot in 1911 and introduced the well-known beverage Gatorade to the world in 1965.
Online MBA
At UF, the online MBA includes one-year and two-year options. The one-year online MBA accommodates students with undergraduate business degrees. UF's two-year curriculum incorporates additional business coursework for applicants with undergraduate degrees in non-business disciplines.
The one-year online MBA with no GMAT requirement spans 16 months. Students complete 32 credit hours of core and elective classes. The two-year online MBA integrates 48 credit hours of classes and offers additional scheduling flexibility.
Each enrollee participates in one experiential learning requirement and completes a course on global strategic management during the final term. Online MBA students also take part in an on-campus orientation.
UF's Affordability
Tuition for the two-year online MBA is $58,000, while enrollees pay $48,000 for the one-year online MBA. A $1,500 deposit secures a spot in the program and applies to the final term of coursework. Employer-sponsored students and enrollees with military benefits can access support through the bursar and financial aid offices.
Program at a Glance
- School Type: Public
- Accreditation: SACSCOC, AACSB
- Tuition: $48,000-$58,000
- Required Credits: 32-48
- Program Length: 12-24 months
- Delivery Format: Online (with on-campus orientation and experiential learning); synchronous
- Admissions
- Process: Each candidate submits a pre-application form in anticipation of the admissions review process. An applicant also must provide two letters of recommendation, transcripts, and short-answer and essay responses for consideration.
- Standardized Tests: Optional GMAT or GRE
- Cost: $30
Percent Online Enrollment
92%
Percentage of all students who are enrolled online.
Accreditation
Yes
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
#3 Best Online MBA Programs (No GMAT Required)
Florida International University
- Miami, FL
- 4 years
- Online + Campus
FIU opened its doors in 1972. The university meets the needs of 58,000 learners annually from its Miami campus and sites throughout southern Florida. FIU provides nearly 200 degree options through 11 schools and colleges.
Professional MBA Online
The professional MBA at FIU offers three pacing options, five start dates each year, and more than 10 degree concentrations. The online no-GMAT MBA includes 42 credit hours of coursework and three professional development seminars.
Core classes emphasize finance, accounting, business analysis, and management. Professional development seminars, completed during the first eight-week term, focus on optimizing student performance in an online learning environment.
FIU students can benefit from MBA industry night events. Business leaders deliver speeches, while attendees can network with recruiters. Professional MBA online students can also access FIU's business career management office to aid them as they enter the workforce.
FIU's Specializations
Business Data Analytics | Business Law | Entrepreneurship And Innovation | Finance | International Business | Leadership | Marketing Channel Strategy | Real Estate | Sports Management | Strategic Negotiations
FIU's Affordability
Tuition for FIU's professional online MBA, regardless of format, is $42,000. FIU also offers program scholarships of up to $15,000. For eligibility, learners must be in good academic standing with a GPA of 3.0 or higher. Additional funding resources include FIU scholarships and external and industry funding opportunities.
Program at a Glance
- School Type: Public
- Accreditation: SACSCOC, AACSB
- Tuition: $1,000 per credit hour
- Required Credits: 42
- Program Length: 18-33 months
- Delivery Format: 100% online (asynchronous)
- Admissions
- Process: Applicants submit a resume, official transcripts, a statement of purpose, and two optional letters of recommendation for consideration.
- Standardized Tests: None
- Cost: $30
Percent Online Enrollment
86%
Percentage of all students who are enrolled online.
Accreditation
Yes
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
#4 Best Online MBA Programs (No GMAT Required)
University of Southern California
- Los Angeles, CA
- 4 years
- Online + Campus
USC, located in Los Angeles, first offered classes in 1880. Home to 23 academic schools, colleges, and units, USC provides undergraduate, graduate, and professional programs to nearly 50,000 learners annually.
Online MBA
Offered through the Marshall School of Business, USC's online MBA includes 51 credit hours of coursework. Learners complete classes in the role of the manager and fundamentals of business before continuing to the rest of the curriculum.
Additional required courses include opportunity recognition and implementation, managing outside the firm, and business environment and leadership. Elective options for online MBA students at USC provide opportunities to explore topics like project management and entrepreneurship.
USC's online MBA requires students to attend a week-long residential intensive at the beginning of the program. All classes integrate asynchronous and synchronous elements, and students participate in two live class sessions per week.
USC's Affordability
Online students pay $112,000 in tuition across five semesters. Additional program costs include travel to required residencies and program and course materials.
USC offers merit-based scholarships to online MBA students. Additional financial aid options accompany employer reimbursement programs and payment plans.
Program at a Glance
- School Type: Private
- Accreditation: WSCUC
- Tuition: $22,000 per semester
- Required Credits: 51
- Program Length: 21 months
- Delivery Format: Online (one-week, in-person residential requirement); synchronous and asynchronous
- Admissions
- Process: Each applicant must have at least two years of professional experience. Application materials include two required essays, transcripts, a resume, and one letter of recommendation. Candidates also participate in admissions interviews.
- Standardized Tests: None
- Cost: $155
Percent Online Enrollment
89%
Percentage of all students who are enrolled online.
Accreditation
Yes
Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission
#5 Best Online MBA Programs (No GMAT Required)
Rice University
- Houston, TX
- 4 years
- Online + Campus
Chartered by its namesake William Marsh Rice in 1891, Rice houses eight academic schools. Rice occupies 300 acres in Houston, Texas, and embraces its values — responsibility, integrity, community, and excellence — in its name and mission alike.
Online MBA
The online MBA at Rice includes 54 credit hours of coursework. Thirty-six credit hours of core classes cover fundamental financial accounting, data analysis, and marketing. Elective courses allow learners to complete one of seven focus areas and specialize their degrees.
Online MBA students complete two field experience courses, one residential and one global field experience. Learners are encouraged to take part in additional field experience courses throughout the online MBA.
Rice's online MBA curriculum culminates with a capstone requirement. Students apply degree knowledge and skills to team projects while working with executives from community-based organizations.
Rice's Specializations
Corporate Strategy | Corporate Finance | Investment Management | Marketing | Entrepreneurship | Energy | Healthcare
Rice's Affordability
Students pay $2,100 per credit hour, although tuition does not cover field experience program costs. Rice works with employers, offers payment plans, and provides information about financial aid opportunities to help all online MBA students finance the program.
Program at a Glance
- School Type: Private
- Accreditation: SACSCOC
- Tuition: $2,100 per credit hour
- Required Credits: 54
- Program Length: 24-36 months
- Delivery Format: Online (on-campus residential requirement); synchronous and asynchronous
- Admissions
- Process: Each applicant submits transcripts, a resume, an essay, and letters of recommendation in anticipation of a virtual interview. Upon admission, students pay a $1,000 deposit. Candidates with fewer than seven years of experience must provide GMAT or GRE scores.
- GPA: Not specified
- Standardized Tests: GMAT or GRE. Applicants with seven or more years of professional experience may receive GMAT or GRE waivers.
- Cost: $150
Percent Online Enrollment
93%
Percentage of all students who are enrolled online.
Accreditation
Yes
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
How We Choose Programs
At OnlineMBA.com, we rely on reputable sources to rank the best MBA programs. We use trusted sources like the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) and Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) to find standout programs. We consider four metrics: affordability, reputation, academics, and program availability.
This list has not been updated for 2024. Visit our rankings methodology page to learn more about how we rank programs.
Applying to MBA Programs With No GMAT Requirement
Online MBA programs with no GMAT requirement often emphasize the following admission criteria:
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Work Experience
The best online MBA programs prefer applicants with a few years of professional experience. Programs that require GMAT scores often waive the standardized testing requirement for students with significant professional experience.
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Advanced Degrees
Similarly, many programs with GMAT requirements do not require applicants to possess master's or doctoral degrees to take the exam. Graduate degrees demonstrate that applicants can handle the academic rigor of top online MBA programs.
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High GPA
Business schools with no GMAT requirement may emphasize undergraduate academic performance. MBA programs use transcripts to evaluate a student's academic abilities. Programs that require the GMAT may waive test requirements for candidates with high GPAs.
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Professional Licensure
Earning a professional license or certification can help an aspiring business student to stand out from other applicants. Candidates can demonstrate skills and industry knowledge through project management, accounting, financial risk management, financial analysis, and human resources certifications.
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Letters of Recommendation
By reading recommendation letters from professors and supervisors, admissions staff can gauge an applicant's personality, work ethic, and dedication. Unlike test scores and grades, these letters speak to prospective students' intangible skills and qualities.
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Essay or Personal Statement
Most business schools require applicants to submit essays or personal statements. In these essays, prospective business students typically explain their reasons for pursuing a business degree and how the school's offerings align with these goals.
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Interview
Business schools may hold interviews with MBA candidates to ask specific questions and hear them speak about their experiences directly. Some schools find more value in these discussions than standardized test results.
Why Some MBAs Don't Require the GMAT
The GMAT assesses business-related skills and can help learners demonstrate their preparedness for graduate study. However, the test does not measure intangible qualities like leadership or teamwork. Some business schools consider applicants holistically, using information like work experience to gain insights into prospective students. Eliminating standardized test requirements can also attract more applicants to these schools.
Offering alternatives to the GMAT can benefit schools and applicants by limiting the hurdles that discourage students from applying. GMAT prep can be costly and time-consuming. Waivers remove these obstacles while making the programs more appealing to mid-career professionals who have been out of school for a few years. In return, the institutions gain more diverse applicant pools of experienced professionals.
When the GMAT is Needed for Your MBA Program
After researching all your options, you may find that your ideal MBA program does require GMAT or GRE scores — or that scholarships and other funding sources do. Though not everyone may excel at standardized tests, earning high scores can help you stand out and strengthen your application if, for example, your GPA is on the lower end of the spectrum.
To prepare for the GMAT or GRE, business school candidates can purchase study guides, enroll in prep courses, or work with tutors. Experts also stress the importance of starting the preparation process early and integrating multiple timed practice exams into your study routine.
Qualities to Look for in All MBA Programs
Keep an eye out for the following factors that could make or break your MBA program:
- Program Details: Research program cost and length, as well as the admission and residency requirements. Go through the curriculum to see the courses, types of projects, and any available MBA specializations to make sure they align with your needs.
- Accreditation: Though not mandatory, accreditation can help your education stand out to employers. Some of the most recognizable MBA accreditors include the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs, the International Accreditation Council for Business Education, and the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business.
- Strength of Faculty: Business schools often recruit experienced business leaders to teach their MBA programs. Review the credentials and experience of your potential professors to see if they match your interests and professional goals.
- Student Data and Outcomes: Many schools publish data on past and current cohorts, such as median age and experience levels, along with graduation rates and postgraduate salaries. This data can provide insight into the program's effectiveness and the amount of student support.
- School Resources: Check out the resources each school offers its students (particularly online enrollees), such as career services and academic support. You can also review the extracurricular opportunities, such as networking events or mentorship programs.
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FAQ About Getting an Online MBA With No GMAT
Can I get an MBA without taking the GMAT?
Yes — many MBA programs offer GMAT waivers or test-optional admissions for applicants. Depending on the school, you may need to meet other requirements in place of submitting GMAT scores.
Why are some business schools not requiring the GMAT?
Business schools may not require GMAT scores for many reasons, such as making the programs more accessible and inviting for applicants. Some schools may view GMAT scores as unnecessary when evaluating certain candidates.
How do I get the GMAT waived for an MBA program?
GMAT waiver requirements vary by school and program. Some MBA programs make scores optional, such as the University of Florida. Other schools, like UNC-Chapel Hill, offer waivers for certain MBA applicants, such as experienced business professionals.
Is the GMAT being phased out completely?
The GMAT is not being phased out, but many schools have introduced GMAT alternatives, such as waivers and test-optional policies. Still, according to the GMAC, the number of GMAT test-takers in the U.S. has steadily decreased each year, from nearly 89,000 people in 2019 to just over 26,000 in 2023.
The insights on this page — excluding school descriptions — were reviewed by an independent third party compensated for their time by OnlineMBA.com. Page last reviewed June 8, 2024.
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