Prepare for your future career by earning your MBA from The University of Alabama!
Congratulations on your decision to pursue an MBA. We look forward to reviewing your application. Below we have outlined the key components of the process, and our admissions team is happy to answer additional questions.
MBA Admissions Counseling
If you would like to speak with our admissions director, you are welcome to email us at: evoorhees@cba.ua.edu or schedule an appointment with Betsey Voorhees via this link. In addition, as you navigate the admissions process, we are pleased to offer you the following services to help you develop your application: general questions advice, resume review, personal statement review, and mock interviews. Our goal is for you to showcase the best version of yourself in the admissions process!
Who Can Apply?
All interested candidates are welcome to apply. We recognize the positive impact students from different majors and work experiences can have on the classroom experience and learning outcomes. For students that are applying directly from their undergraduate institution, we recommend you use your resume to highlight all campus leadership roles, summer internships, experiential learning, coursework, etc., to offset the lack of postgraduate work experience.
Admissions Updates:
- Traditional Fall MBA Applicants
- We are currently reviewing applications for the Fall 2023 term. If you have questions on your status, please click here to set up a meeting, or you are welcome to email Betsey Voorhees at evoorhees@cba.ua.edu
- GRE/GMAT: The GMAT/GRE is required at this time.
- STEM/Create Path MBA Program Applicants
- The application deadline for summer 2023 start is Nov. 15th.
- All applicants will receive a digital interview invite on Nov. 16th and will have 10 days to complete the digital interview.
- The GMAT or GRE is required for all applications. The minimum test score requirements for the Path program are as follows: 3.0 GPA, 305 on the GRE, or a 600 on the GMAT. For scholarship consideration, the target is 680 and above for GMAT and 328 and above for GRE.
Ready to Apply?
Apply Now to the Manderson MBADeadlines
Applications completed by earlier deadlines are given priority for merit-based scholarships and graduate assistantships. The admissions committee highly recommends applying in the early rounds for the best opportunity for admission and scholarship awards. Please refer to both MBA and your program-specific deadlines for joint-degree programs (such as MFA, J.D., MS Civil/Mechanical/Aerospace). You will need to apply to both degree paths independently with documents and fees required.
Traditional Full Time MBA Applicants (Fall term enrollment only)
Deadlines to Apply:
- October 15: 1st round deadline (Priority admission)
- For students that apply before this date, admissions decisions can be made on a rolling basis as needed for those deciding between a full-time job and graduate school.
- January 5: 2nd round deadline
- February 15: 3rd round deadline
- April 15: 4th round deadline
- May 30 (or until the class is full): 5th round deadline
Note: For rounds 1 through 5, decisions will be made typically within 3 weeks of the application deadline.
Decision Notification Timeline:
- Due to the high number of applications we receive, not all students will be invited for an interview. If you are selected for an interview, you will get an email invitation to sign up.
- After your interview is complete, acceptance decisions are typically provided within 30 days of the application deadline. If you do not hear from us, we are still considering your application but are not ready to make a formal decision=waitlisted status. If you are in this undecided/waitlisted situation, we will review your application again for the next round.
- If you are not invited for an interview, we will still keep your application under review for each round until a final decision can be made. If you would like to make changes to your application, such as retake the GMAT/GRE, you are welcome to do so to help strengthen your application. If you wish to make changes, please let us know via email.
- All decline decisions will be typically provided in late June. We prefer to hold off on declines until this date in order to give all applicants the best chance of a comprehensive review.
- If you are admitted to the program, you will have the option in your graduate application system to accept the offer, decline it or defer for up to one year. Students are expected to respond to the admissions offer within 3 weeks. If we do not hear back from you, we will assume you are declining our offer and release your space in the class to another student.
STEM/CREATE Path to MBA Applicants (Summer term enrollment only)
- Deadline: November 15 for all applications
- Term Start: Applicants in the Path program only: Please select the term “Summer” for the year you plan to start (summer after Junior year).
- Admissions Schedule: Digital interview invites will be sent out on November 16, making admissions decisions by January 10. Students not admitted by January 10 will be placed on a waitlist, and decline decisions are sent out in late April/early May. If you applied and did not get a digital interview invite, email evoorhees@cba.ua.edu to trouble shoot this.
- To qualify for the Path MBA option, students must have a minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA and be on track to complete 91 credits by the end of spring for their planned Junior year and enrolled in the STEM/Create Path Undergraduate program from your Freshman year at the University of Alabama. In addition, participation in the Path program as a Freshman through Junior year does not guarantee acceptance to the MBA portion of the STEM/Create path program.
- Test Score Requirements: We require a minimum of 600 on the GMAT or 305 on the GRE.
Online Application
To start your application, visit the online Graduate Application Center. This site shares helpful application information and the application form. Please note it takes roughly 24-48 hours for the system to process your application to allow you to return and “Manage Supporting Documents.” Students may apply to up to two graduate programs at one time. However, you must apply to each program separately (for example, JD/MBA, Master of Science in Marketing, or Master of Science in Civil Engineering). The application requirements are Resume, Personal Statement, 3 references, academic transcripts, GMAT or GRE test score, and application fee. A complete description of these items is listed below. In addition, international students must submit additional items as described below.
REQUIREMENTS
Application Fee:
$65 for U.S. citizens and permanent residents
$80 for international students
Application Fee Waivers may be requested for the following:
1) Veterans and current members of the U.S. military
2) Students who have completed a Ronald E. McNair Post-baccalaureate Achievement Program
Official GMAT or GRE Test Scores
The Graduate Management Admissions Test (GMAT) or the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is required. Of the two exams, there is a preference for the GMAT, but both are accepted as an option to meet the test requirement. Applicants should take either exam, then request that scores be submitted electronically to The University of Alabama, which may be done immediately following the completion of the exam. Please also upload a copy of your score report to the application system. We accept only official score reports from GMAC, ETS, or Pearson VUE that are less than five years old. Official scores must be received before evaluating your application for an official decision.
- 2022 average GMAT 653 (The university minimum is 500 for the traditional path. For the accelerated STEM/Create Path, the minimum is 600)
- 2022 average GRE 311 (The university minimum is 300 for the traditional path. For the accelerated STEM/Create Path, the minimum is 305)
Official Undergraduate Transcripts
For each institution of higher education (including community colleges) at which you have completed 15 or more credit hours, the Graduate School office requires an official transcript (either electronic or paper). Please note that you do not need to submit University of Alabama transcripts, but we request that you upload unofficial copies to the system. For students not attending U.A., please also upload unofficial copies of your transcript for us to use as a temporary until we receive your official transcript from your undergraduate university. Additional transcript information can be found here. The university minimum is a 3.0 for the traditional path. Considerations for a provisional acceptance can potentially be made for students slightly under a 3.0 GPA. Contact the admissions director for details. For the STEM/Create Path to MBA program, the minimum is a 3.0, and no provisional admit options are available for those under a 3.0 GPA. All students must have a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university completed before starting their MBA classes.
- 2022 current average GPA: 3.7
SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS
Statement of Purpose Essay
The Statement of Purpose is a required document where you share your story of why an MBA from Alabama is the best fit for you. It is ideally 2-3 pages (1.5 or double-spaced) on the following:
- What led to your decision to pursue a Manderson MBA
- What makes you a good fit for the program
- Areas of improvement that you would like to focus on as part of your MBA education
- Area of focus you plan to select as part of the program
- Potential career aspirations
Resume
A professional resume should be uploaded. The resume should showcase as much as possible about you as a candidate. This can include information such as volunteer roles, summer jobs, campus involvement, full-time jobs/internships, meaningful class projects, etc. For the purpose of the application, the resume can be 1-2 pages.
Recommendation Letters
All applicants must upload contact information for 3 references (Name, Email, Title). This can be either academic (A professor in your major or relevant coursework) or past/current supervisors, mentors, or advisors that you have had. Note on the submission process: Your recommenders will receive an email notification with instructions on how to upload their letters. All recommendation letters are due ten days after the deadline. If a recommendation is late, prospective students can send reminders through their application system.
International Applicant Requirements:
Visit the Graduate School website for detailed requirements. A test of English proficiency is required (TOEFL, IELTS, or PTE). We request a score of 100+ for TOEFL and 7.0+ for IELTS for these tests. The TOEFL, IELTS, or PTE scores must be less than two years old at the time of the student’s intended enrollment at The University of Alabama. Once admitted, we’ll need several other items noted on the graduate school site such as your financial proof of support documents.
FINANCIAL SUPPORT AWARDS
All candidates for admission are evaluated for all available awards, with award decisions being made after admission has been determined. Award letters are typically presented with admissions decisions, and some awards come closer to the fall based on available funds remaining. No additional forms or applications must be considered for our merit-based award.
- Scholarships:
- Merit based: Scholarships range based on merit. Our goal is for 40% of students to receive some scholarship. Most of our awards require no additional application. For students who receive merit scholarships, we award them annually per academic year rather than by semester.
- A student’s scholarship is subject to a one-time renewal based on their adherence to the MBA Code of Conduct while maintaining a 3.0 graduate school GPA.
- Graduate Assistantships: These are typically awarded to top students on a merit base (test scores and GPA). The assistantship offer consists of payment of half-tuition for the fall/spring academic year, as well as a stipend of approximately $7,250.00 (payable over nine months, beginning in September). Depending on your placement, student health insurance benefits and course fees may also be covered in this assistantship package. In return, you will be expected to work 10 hours per week on a research/project assignment within the business school. Students with assistantships are placed in positions with professors, the Manderson office, or one of our centers, like the Small Business Development Center, the Center for Business and Economic Research, or similar areas. Your specific assignment will be made closer to the beginning of the school year.
See our Investment tab for additional tuition information.
If you have any questions or would like to meet directly with the admissions director, email evoorhees@cba.ua.edu or schedule an appointment.