When you enroll in an online Master of Business Administration program, you know it will take time, money and discipline to achieve your goal. And as you chart the path to earning an MBA, admission is the first step in your journey.
Is the GMAT Mandatory?
Many graduate business education institutions temporarily waived specific testing requirements during the pandemic. But the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) has long been mandatory for admission to many business school programs. To some degree, this requirement may return as the pandemic subsides. The four-part test includes an analytical writing assessment and sections that measure integrated reading, quantitative and verbal capabilities.
“The GMAT exam measures higher-order reasoning skills,” according to the GMAT FAQ. “You’ll need basic English-language and 10th grade math skills. However, the test measures your ability to reason with these skills.” The entirety of the test focuses on assessing these reasoning skills, which involve “complex judgments.” The results of this assessment demonstrate an individual’s aptitude for critical thinking, analysis and problem-solving.
Prospective MBAs may be concerned about taking the GMAT, which lasts just over three hours (excluding two optional eight-minute breaks). The basic fee for taking the GMAT is $275 as of 2022. But the pricing structure includes numerous additional costs if needed, such as optional add-on reports, scoring changes, cancelation fees and rescheduling fees, all of which can add substantially to overall costs. Test anxiety, fear of failure and limited budgets can all determine if a student will choose to enroll in an MBA program that requires the GMAT.
At Fitchburg State University, online MBA program admission does not require GMAT scores. That means you have one less hurdle to overcome pursuing your degree with Fitchburg State.
Fitchburg State University Admissions Requirements
To break down barriers to your MBA, Fitchburg State has very reasonable admissions requirements, which, for American applicants, include the following:
- Prospective students must complete a graduate school application and pay a $50 application fee.
- Online MBA applicants must have a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution, with official transcripts.
- Students who have completed graduate-level coursework from a regionally accredited institution must also provide official transcripts.
- An overall undergraduate GPA of at least 2.8 is generally required. But applicants with an undergraduate GPA below 2.8 may also be considered for admission based on their professional work experience and a letter of recommendation.
- A professional resume is mandatory.
There are additional admission requirements for international students, such as:
- Applicants from non-English speaking countries must complete an approved English proficiency test.
- Prospective international students must obtain a General Foreign Credit Evaluation from an approved organization that provides these evaluations.
- International students must have a GPA of 2.5 or higher.
- A personal statement of purpose is required.
Additionally, U.S. citizens who received prior education in another country must follow certain international student admission requirements, except for the English proficiency test.
Online MBA Programs at Fitchburg State
Fitchburg State offers 100% online MBA programs in eight concentrations: Management, Accounting, Business Analytics Management, Finance, Healthcare Management, Marketing, Supply Chain Management and Human Resources Management. Each program is 30 credit hours, and — totaling $13,080 — Fitchburg State’s affordable online MBA tuition is the same for all eight programs.
The following are brief descriptions of three of these MBA concentrations from Fitchburg State, demonstrating how students can choose a specialized MBA to best fit their unique interests and career aspirations.
The online MBA in Management program offers coursework in marketing, corporate finance, management information systems, organizational behavior, leadership and management theory. This degree program also includes strategic management, accounting and current issues courses.
The online MBA in Accounting program will heavily immerse you in all things numerical. Expect to take corporate finance, managerial accounting, accounting theory, accounting information systems and taxation classes. The program also offers marketing, management information systems and strategic management coursework.
The online MBA in Human Resources Management program explores training and development, promotion, human capital analytics, labor law and discipline. The program also includes classes in the same core areas as the management and accounting MBAs.
You can complete the online MBA from Fitchburg State in as few as 12 months, and multiple start dates allow you to enroll at any time. Because the program is entirely online, you can complete your studies anytime and anywhere with an internet connection. It doesn’t matter when you start your online MBA — as long as you get to the finish line.
Learn more about Fitchburg State University’s online MBA programs.
