MBA in USA without GMAT

In 1953, deans from nine business schools met with ETS (Educational Testing Service) to find an assessment test that can evaluate potential MBA aspirants and this led to the formulation of the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT). Since then, business schools around the world have made GMAT an essential criterion for the application process. However, there are still several business colleges around the world which no longer use the GMAT as their primary assessment for admission procedures. If you are planning to pursue your MBA in a top study destination like the USA but you haven’t appeared for GMAT, then there are various business schools and universities which offer MBA programs without GMAT requirement. Read this blog to know all about MBA in USA without GMAT. 

Top MBA in USA without GMAT

Now that you are familiarized with the major alternatives for MBA in USA without GMAT, we have enlisted the major universities offering Study in USA without GMAT: 

Universities	QS World University Rankings 2023	Courses Offered	Location
University of Hull	#651-700	Full-time MBA	Boston, San Francisco,
Foster School of Business- University of Washington	#15	EMBA	Seattle
Ross School of Business, University of Michigan	#17	Full-time MBA	Ann Arbor
Darden School of Business, University of Virginia	# 253	Full-time MBA	Charlottesville
Georgetown University	#281	Full-time MBA	Washington DC
Marshall School of Business, University of Southern California	#134	MD/MBA dual degree program	LA
Babson College	–	Blended Learning MBA,fast track MBA	Babson Park
DePaul University	–	Full-Time MBA, Part-Time MBA, Weekend MBA	Chicago
Lake Forest Graduate School of Management	–	Immersion MBA and Leadership MBA	Lake Forest
Suffolk University	–	Full-Time MBA, Part-Time MBA, Global MBA, and Executive MBA	Boston
Pace University	–	Full-Time, Executive MBA, Part-Time MBA	New York
La Salle University	–	Full-Time MBA, Part-Time MBA, One-Year MBA, Saturday MBA	Philadelphia
University of Delaware	#581-590	Full-Time MBA, Part-Time MBA	Newark
Golden Gate University	–	Full-Time MBA, Part-Time MBA	San Francisco
Florida International University	#751-800	flex and professional MBAs	Miami
Texas A & M University	#164	Full-time MBA	Texas
Howard University	#751	Full-time MBA	Washington
Colorado State university	#408	Full-time MBA	Colorado
University of St. Thomas	#801-1000	Full-time MBA	Houston
Michigan State University	157	Full-time MBA	Michigan
Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University	30	EMBA	Evanston
Boston University	#108	EMBA	Boston
Loyola University Chicago	#801-1000	EMBA	Chicago
MIT Sloan School of Management	#1	Executive MBA, Sloan Fellows	Cambridge
Kenan–Flagler Business School, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill	#102	Full time	Chapel Hill
Rutgers Business School, Rutgers University	#151	Full-Time MBA, Flex MBA, Executive MBA	New Jersey
Stern School of Business, New York University	42	EMBA	New York

Lubin School Of Business At Pace University

Lubin School of Business offers varied MBA programs in the fields of Business, Marketing, Corporate Finance and many more. The university promotes flexible teaching methods with plenty of workshops for students to attend and explore. It is one of the sought-after business schools offering MBA programs in USA without GMAT provided the students to fulfill other criteria for admission. To get a GMAT waiver, you must have an undergraduate GPA score of 3.0 or higher for a 4-year undergrad program. Due to the present COVID situation, the school is also accepting applications without the GMAT score for Fall 2020 admissions.

Also Read: MBA in UK without GMAT 

Florida International University

The MBA program offered by Florida International University involves an intense and rigorous curriculum incorporating various streams like Corporate Finance, Business Analytics and Decision Making, Accounting for Managers, etc. Along with the following, four Professional Development Seminars (PDS) are also conducted for students after the completion of the program. The university strongly believes in admitting dedicated students with practical experience and hence they provide a GMAT waiver for certain students. It is one of the major universities you can opt for an MBA in the USA without GMAT. For the alternatives for GMAT, the candidate must have 2-year work experience, a strong academic GPA score of 3.25 and above in an undergraduate business or related degree can receive a GMAT waiver. Applicants who do not have an undergraduate degree in a business-related field require a GPA score of 3.35 and above.

Kellogg School Of Management

Kellogg School of Management has a unique 1-year rigorous MBA program taught by high-class professional faculty members, designed for students who wish to polish their business fundamentals and enhance their professional skills. The school also offers 2-year MBA programs in various streams helps students transform into global market leaders. The college also has a GMAT waiver policy for students pursuing a full-time MBA program. It is one of the popular business schools for MBA in USA without GMAT as candidates are not required to provide GMAT scores for the executive program and in the present COVID scenario, the school has announced a GMAT waiver for round 3 for the full-time MBA program. 

Kenan-Flagler Business School

Another key mention in our list of universities for MBA in USA without GMAT, UNC Keanan-Flager Business School offers a full-time MBA, an online MBA, an Evening MBA as well as a weekend MBA program. The college strongly promotes diversity and celebrates every student’s potential. You do not need GMAT scores to apply for the weekend and evening MBA programs at Kenan-Flagler Business School given that you have 5 years or less professional work experience or a Masters or PhD in a technical field, or a CPA or CFA certification. 

Babson College

Babson College has designed highly flexible MBA programs with personalized subject options where students choose 2/3 of their course subjects. The MBA course at Babson is available as a full-time/part-time program and you can also opt for a blended MBA program for working professionals aiming for this globally acclaimed degree. Admission into the blended MBA program does not require GMAT score but you will have to provide extensive work experience in your chosen specialisation.

Rutgers Business School

With its various MBA courses, each designed to perfection, Rutgers Business School helps students build a strong network by the time their campus life ends. A globally-renowned faculty and alumni mentor the students and help them find their forte in the international business world. If you are considering Rutgers Business School for studying MBA in USA without GMAT, you will be asked to provide a minimum of 8 years of work experience (5 years if you hold a master’s degree), a GPA score of 3.0 or higher. However, if you have the required work experience, a 3.0 GPA isn’t necessary. 

Anderson School of Business

The University of California’s Anderson School of Business provides an Executive MBA programme to applicants with significant related experience in a variety of fields, including legal or media, technology or media, or even government. Although a GMAT score is needed, it is not required or has been made mandatory by the college.

Sloan School of Management

MIT Sloan’s degree and non-degree programmes equip leaders with the skills and capabilities they need to solve complex business challenges, accelerate growth, and change the world, from their flagship two-year MBA program to the rigorous year-long MIT Sloan Fellows Program in Innovation and Global Leadership. However, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Sloan School of Management offers a 20-month Executive MBA program that requires ten years of work experience for admission.

Also Read: MBA without GMAT and GRE

Questrom School of Business

They’re passionate about educating leaders who concentrate on bringing value to their company, society, and the world in general at Boston University’s Questrom School of Business. The Questrom School of Business at Boston University offers a Professional Evening MBA program, and the admissions committee has sole control about whether or not a GMAT score is waived.

Universities Granting Test Waivers

For the first time, the vast majority of the top 100 ranking MBA programs in the United States are now offering GMAT and GRE exemptions to applicants. Several schools have made test-optional admissions a public policy. Refer to the table given below to know about the universities that are offering MBA in the USA and are now providing GMAT/GRE Waivers. 

Name of the University	Admission Requirements	Criteria for GMAT Waivers
Colorado State University	Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field from a recognized university	Have 8+ years of professional experience
Kellogg School of Management	Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field from a recognized university	GRE Scores:Verbal 162Quant 163
Hult International Business School	Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field from a recognized university	3+ years of professional experience
New York Institute of Technology	B.S Degree with minimum	GPA of 3.0 out 4.0 (83-86%)
DePaul University	Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field from a recognized university	GMAT Optional Resume explaining work experience.

Alternatives for MBA in USA Without GMAT

Since GMAT intends to evaluate an individual on their verbal, analytical, and quantitative reasoning, it still cannot predict the professional skills and other core qualities of a candidate. So, universities around the world consider other aspects like professional exposure, work experience, research exposure, and academic records of a candidate to exempt them from providing GMAT scores. Let’s take a look at how you can fulfill these alternatives for MBA in the USA without GMAT.

Work Experience and Professional Skills

You might find many universities asking for a few years of work experience from students aiming to study for their MBA in the USA. This criterion is a common alternative for GMAT as the university can assess your professional experience as well as the skills you gained through your previous employment and whether you are fit for your chosen MBA course as per your previous work exposure. Thus, for MBA programs in the USA without GMAT, some universities ask candidates to have a minimum experience of 4 years and further evaluate skills related to management, leadership, creativity, critical thinking, etc. through the submitted SOP and LORs.

Volunteering Experience

While MBA is the best option for those aiming for personality development as well as professional grooming, there are several universities in USA that have added volunteering experience and community service under the alternatives for those applying for MBA in the USA. This way, the admissions committee is able to analyze whether the candidate has taken part in community service and volunteering which are some of the crucial duties that every business also needs to ensure. Volunteering experience proves to be beneficial for both the community and your career. Moreover, you also learn to adapt and adopt various critical skills which further help you strengthen your problem-solving and decision-making abilities.

Research Exposure

Another important aspect you need to ensure while applying for MBA in the USA without GMAT is research exposure which can help you stand out among other applicants. You can submit your previous research projects and also ask your supervisor to provide a Letter of Recommendation describing your dedication during the project. This will exhibit your interest as well as expertise in a certain area of your chosen subject and further assist the admission committee in evaluating your research skills. 

Strong Academic Record

Apart from the aforementioned ones, you must also have a strong academic record with a high GPA in your undergraduate degree as academic credentials are primarily used as a substitute criterion for GMAT by universities offering MBA in USA.

GRE Scores

Since GRE is quite similar in structure and syllabus to GMAT, it is also a preferred alternative for GMAT in USA. If you missed out on appearing for your GMAT exam, you can instead opt for GRE and get a higher score to get into your dream business school in USA.

Here are some other alternatives which universities can consider for those applying for MBA in USA without GMAT: 

• Letters of Recommendation (LORs)
• Statement of Purpose
• Updated CV/Resume
• MBA Essays
• Group Discussions 
• Interview

MBA Without Work Experience

If you are wondering whether or not you can pursue your MBA in USA without work experience, then we have the answer to that question as well. There are several top-tier colleges for MBA without job experience for people who require it. The demand for a Master of Business Administration degree has risen steadily throughout the years. Take a look at this list of top institutions that offer MBA programs for recent graduates. Here is a quick list of different Universities that are offering students a chance to pursue an MBA without any work experience. 

1. LeBow College of Business, Drexel University
2. Lucas Graduate School of Business, San Jose State University
3. Merrick School of Business, University of Baltimore
4. Northern Illinois University
5. Peter J. Tobin College of Business, St. John’s University
6. Quinlan School of Business, Loyola University Chicago
7. Drucker School of Management, Claremont Graduate University
8. Erivan K. Haub School of Business – Saint Joseph’s University
9. Fox School of Business, Temple University
10. Stanford Graduate School of Business, Stanford University 
11. Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania
12. Sloan School Of Management, MIT
13. Stern School of Business, New York University
14. Chicago Booth School of Business, University of Chicago
15. Columbia Business School, Columbia University
16. Haas School of Business, University of California- Berkeley
17. Marshall School of Business, USC
18. Anderson School of Management, UCLA
19. Robert H Smith School of Business, University of Maryland
20. Frank G. Zarb School of Business, Hofstra University
21. La Salle University School of Business
22. Rohrer College of Business, Rowan University
23. Stillman School of Business, Seton Hall University
24. Harvard Business School, Harvard University 
25. UC Davis Graduate School of Management, University of California- Davis
26. Carey Business School, John Hopkins
27. McDonough School of Business, Georgetown University
28. Olin Graduate School of Business, Babson College
29. Boston University School of Management
30. Carroll School of Management, Boston College
31. Alfred Lerner College of Business and Economics, University of Delaware
32. College of Business, San Francisco State University

Also Read: All you Need to Know About GMAT

Executive MBA without GMAT

The GMAT is regarded as a significant exam score for admission to the great majority of the world’s top business schools. At the moment, universities from all around the world make use of the GMAT scores to choose students for their flagship management courses and other administration programs. Having said that, there is a sizable proportion of institutions that do not consider GMAT scores at all for their management programs. 

The United States is one such country that is presently contemplating accepting more students without regard to their GMAT scores. The executive MBA programs offered by colleges in the United States do not need GMAT scores from students. Students’ work experience is something which is taken into consideration by B-schools in the USA. These businesses prefer competitors with 8-12 years of professional experience in administrative roles. The students are also asked to submit their updated and competitive CV/resume and strongly built SOP and recommendation letters. Some of the best executive MBA without GMAT in USA are mentioned below:

1. Executive MBA at Sawyer Business School, Suffolk University
2. Executive MBA at Lubin School of Business, Pace University
3. Professional MBA at College of Business, Florida International University
4. Executive MBA at Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University
5. Executive MBA at Marshall School of Business, University of Southern California

1 Year MBA without GMAT in USA 

Students who wish to complete their MBA fast and have a deeper grasp of business management can enroll in the 1-year M BA program. The 1-year MBA without GMAT is an advanced program of study designed specifically for individuals who wish to finish their higher education fast and enter the corporate world. It adds a competitive edge to your CV and experience, which may help you stand out in the employment market. Enlisted below are some universities or B-schools in the USA that are offering 1-year MBA programs without GMAT:

1. Bryant University
2. The University of Findlay
3. Goizueta Business School
4. Babson College
5. University of the People 
6. University of Vermont
7. Clarkson University Graduate School
8. Mercy College
9. Hult International Business School

Online MBA without GMAT in USA 

Online MBA courses have grown in popularity, particularly among individuals who do not have the time to go to the university campus for up to two years to pursue a full-time degree. Unfortunately, many Online MBA programs still require GMAT scores, which aid admissions committees in determining academic preparation for the demanding course. However, we have created a list of the best universities in the USA for potential Online MBA students that do not require the GMAT (or GRE).

1. Northwestern University
2. George Washington University
3. Babson College
4. The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
5. University of Nebraska
6. University of Massachusetts Amherst
7. Indiana University Bloomington

FAQs

We hope that this blog helped you find the right university for pursuing your MBA in USA. Unsure about how to go about the admission process of your dream university? Our Leverage Edu experts are here to assist you in sorting out the application process of your chosen business school to pursue your MBA abroad! Sign up for a free session with us today!