iMBA Frequently Asked Questions

A GMAT or GRE score is not required for admission to the Gies iMBA program. You may choose to submit a score as part of your application, but it is at your discretion, and you are not penalized if you choose not to do so.

In order to be considered for admission to the degree program, you must have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution in the United States or an equivalent degree from an accredited institution in another country.

If you earned your degree(s) from outside the United States, please refer to the Graduate College for academic requirements by country.

Learners who have not completed an undergraduate degree may apply for admission through our Performance-based Admissions Track. Applicants pursuing this pathway should address within their application why they are choosing to pursue a graduate degree vs. a bachelor’s and have strong work experience to support their request.

Three or more years of rich, valuable operational or managerial experience is required for admission to the Gies iMBA program. This is an especially critical component of the admissions decision as the knowledge and skills developed from professional experience enhance the academic experience for all students and faculty.

If you have less than three years of work experience and are ready to begin your graduate degree, we suggest starting with the iMSM program and stacking into the iMBA program once you've reached the three-year minimum work requirement. 

Always feel free to reach out to our team to discuss your goals further.

If you’re concerned your profile might not be strong enough for admission, we encourage you to consider our Performance-based Admissions Track – a pathway program into the full degree.

If your coursework meets all of the following requirements, you may submit a transfer credit request form within your Gies Online application. A copy of the syllabus and transcripts must be included to be fully considered. Meeting the below requirements does not guarantee approval.

• Institution must be AACSB accredited
• Course(s) cannot have been previously applied toward a degree or other transcripted credential
• Course(s) must have been taken at the graduate level
• Course(s) must have been completed within the past 4 years
• Student must have earned an A- or better
• A maximum of 12 credit hours will be approved for transfer

Yes, we welcome applicants from all over the world. In fact, more than 90 countries are represented across our online programs. Please note that we cannot sponsor your visa for a stay in the United States.

All learners admitted into the iMBA program go through a synchronous Zoom interview with a member of the admissions team or alumni of the program. Once your application has been submitted, our team will complete an initial review and notify you via email if you have been selected for an interview.

There is incentive to apply early during the priority 1 and 2 deadline periods where the application fee is waived. Reach out to us if you have a hardship or cannot provide the application fee during the final deadline period.

If you are a non-native English speaker or do not meet one of the Graduate College’s English proficiency exemptions, you will need to upload your TOEFL, IETLS, or Duolingo scores directly to your application. If you do not have scores and do not meet an exemption, you may also upload an essay requesting an exemption. Please note that if your test scores fall within the limited status range, you will be admitted to the Performance-based Admissions Track (PAT) program to satisfy the English proficiency requirement.