Whether you’re just starting out or have years of professional experience, earning an MBA can be a career game-changer. Here, you’ll be challenged to explore new perspectives, refine and elevate core business skills, put what you’ve learned into practice for real partners, and build connections that will impact your career long after you’ve completed your degree. Ready to take the next step?
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Admissions
Online MBA Application Process
Apply with confidence. Find our admission criteria and learn how to prepare your application and what to expect at each step.Online MBA Application Deadlines
The online MBA offers multiple enrollment terms, depending on whether you wish to enroll in the Early Career (MBA Direct) or Experienced Professional cohort. Terms for the Early Career cohort begin in January (Spring) or August (Fall). Terms for the Experienced Professional cohort begin in January (Spring), May (Summer) and August (Fall). The requirements and application process for all terms are the same.
Each enrollment term has four application rounds, with guaranteed early application scholarships and priority for additional scholarships and fellowships for accepted applicants who applied in the first two rounds (Early Review and Round I). All applicants, regardless of when they apply, will be considered for merit-based scholarships.
In some instances, applications for a given enrollment term may be accepted on a rolling, space-available basis after a Final Submit Deadline has passed. Please contact an admissions advisor at cox.mbaonline@smu.edu with questions.
Explore the full schedule of deadlines
Estimating Your Online MBA Cost
Assess the cost of tuition and explore financial aid and loan eligibility, scholarship resources and more.
Additional Resources
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The Online MBA 2023 Class Profile
Our online MBA cohorts are carefully selected to ensure students maximize their learning by working and collaborating in small groups with accomplished and driven peers from diverse professional experiences.
Experienced Professional Cohort Enrolled Student Profile:
Early Career Cohort Enrolled Student Profile:
The Online MBA Admissions Team
Our admissions team is made up of dedicated directors and advisors passionate about connecting students to opportunities for personal and professional growth. We’re here to answer questions, offer guidance and ensure you select the program that’s the right fit for you. Let’s talk!
FAQs
Still have questions? Find answers to commonly asked questions below or email us at cox.mbaonline@smu.edu if you don’t find what you’re looking for.
A. All of the MBA programs at the Cox School are fully accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business, or AACSB International.
Applicants to the online MBA Early Career cohort can apply to the program following completion of their undergraduate degree, but must be able to confirm full-time employment before they begin the program. Applicants to the online MBA Experienced Professional cohort must have a minimum of two (2) years of professional work experience to apply.
A. GMAT, GRE, Executive Assessment and TOEFL/IELTS test scores are optional for the 2025-2026 enrollment year. To make an informed decision about whether to include test scores in your application, learn more about how scores are evaluated in our overall consideration process. If you choose to submit scores, institutional codes for score reports can be found .
A. Core classes are held weekly online in the evenings. Some elective courses may be offered online or on campus on Saturdays as applicable. Students should expect to dedicate 15-20 hours per week to classes and coursework.
A. Yes, the four-day domestic or international immersion trip is a required element of the online MBA program, regardless of whether you are in the Early Career or Experienced Professional cohort. Some costs of the trip are included in tuition, but additional fees, including airfare to and from the destination, will apply. Our team will work with students that have extenuating circumstances regarding the cost of travel.
A. Yes. To schedule a class visit, speak with your Admissions Advisor. You can also sign up to speak with a current student ambassador here.
A. No. 51°µÍø Cox does not charge students to apply.
A. No. You can only apply to one 51°µÍø Cox MBA program at a time. Before you apply, we highly recommend that you carefully compare our programs and to ensure you’ve selected the best program for your goals. Occasionally, during the application review process, our Admissions team members do identify prospective students whose experience and needs may be a better fit for a different program than the one to which they applied. In such instances, the Admissions team will inform the applicant and give them the opportunity to adjust their MBA program of intent.
A. See the Tuition and Financial Aid section of the Online MBA site for detailed information.
A. You can find information about financial resources here. For additional information on veteran’s benefits, financial advising (including access to disability counseling) and other student support services for service members, veteran students, and family members email the 51°µÍø Veteran Services Office at vabenefits@smu.edu or call 214-768-4348.
A. We offer prep sessions on subjects offered in the program and some faculty members provide prep work prior to their classes. In addition, all 51°µÍø Cox students have free access to LinkedIn Learning, which provides prep materials on a wide range of topics. Speak to your Admissions Advisor for more information and program access.
A. Some personal application information is retained in our system, so applicants reapplying to the Cox School will not need to start the process from scratch. However, each MBA program has unique requirements for its applicants, which means that certain elements of an application, like essay responses and recommendations, will need to be refreshed.
A. Your diploma will state that you have earned a Master of Business Administration degree. 51°µÍø Cox diplomas do not specify format.