MBA Without GMAT – Your Options & Things to Consider Before Choosing A Course

Want to do an MBA without the headache of giving the GMAT? You are not alone. Thousands of prospective students reach out to us every year looking for such programs.  

Many have been away from academics for many years dread the thought of solving math questions once again. Let’s be honest – is there anyone who hasn’t had a nightmare about being unprepared for their math exam? (If you are one of these people, you must read Why do I need a GMAT score?)   

Yet others just want the knowledge that an MBA degree brings, and are not looking to add a big brand B-School to their CV, which would typically require a good GMAT score.   

Others simply have very tough work and life schedules and don’t have the time to prepare for the GMAT.

Here are the options for you if you want a ‘No GMAT MBA’

1. Choose a full-time MBA Program that doesn’t require a GMAT score/ offers a GMAT waiver
2. Give the GRE Exam – an alternate exam some consider easier than the GMAT
3. Choose an Executive MBA Program – most don’t require a GMAT score
4. Choose an Online MBA / Distance MBA program – these don’t require a GMAT score

Let’s consider each option one by one.

Option 1- Choose A Full-time MBA Program That Doesn’t Require GMAT

Before you do so however, ask yourself first what are your expectations from an MBA? Getting a promotion? Switching to a different industry? Changing your job role?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, choosing an MBA program that doesn’t require the GMAT or similar qualification such as the GRE exam may not be in your best interest.

MBA programs that enable such major upward shifts in person’s career tend to have strict selection criteria and a GMAT score (typically a high GMAT Score) is one of them.

Schools that don’t require GMAT or waive off the GMAT (remove GMAT as an admission requirement for you) entirely may be a gamble.

Full Time MBA Programs Without GMAT In USA

MBA Programs in USA that give admissions without a GMAT score / waive the GMAT off for students:

1. Rutgers Business School (New Brunswick) – Applicants can be waived from the GMAT or GRE requirement if they have 8 or more years of substantive professional full-time work experience (or 5 years if they have a Master degree) along with an undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or better. 

2. Florida International University (Miami) – A GMAT waiver at the discretion of the academic director is available for certain applicants

3. Howard University (Washington, D.C.) – A GMAT score is recommended, but not required however the B-School requires a minimum of seven years of professional work experience.

4. Lake Forest Graduate School of Management (Lake Forest) – The B-School requires an admissions interview, current resume or LinkedIn profile, official academic transcripts, one letter of recommendation and a personal statement of purpose. But GMAT is not one of the requirements.

5. Pace University, Lubin School of Business (New York) – GMAT Waivers are available for multiple qualification criteria including if you have a cumulative GPA of 3.20 or above for all of your undergraduate work, and you hold a bachelors degree from an accredited institution, or if you are an MBA applicant who already holds a business-related master’s or doctoral degree, you may request a waiver of the GMAT or GRE.

6. La Salle University (Philadelphia) – Traditionally, only applicants possessing a master’s or doctoral degree may be considered for a GMAT/GRE waiver. Effective fall 2012, applicants with an undergraduate business degree from an AACSB-accredited program who have a minimum overall GPA of 3.2 or higher will also be granted a GMAT/GRE waiver.

7. DePaul University, Kellstadt Graduate School of Business (Chicago) – Five years of progressive work experience, showing both management and quantitative responsibilities, after completion of a bachelor’s degree from an accredited university gets you a GMAT waiver. 

8. Suffolk University Sawyer School of Business (Boston) – Students are welcome to submit test scores to strengthen their application, and test scores submitted are considered in the admission decision process, however GMAT / GRE is not mandatory. 

9. University of Delaware, Lerner College of Business (Newark) – GMAT Waiver is available for those with four or more years of full-time progressive, professional work experience post-undergraduate degree, and an undergraduate GPA of at least 2.8 and more factors.

10. Texas A&M (College Station) – Applicants meeting certain criteria may be eligible to have the test requirement waived. 

11. Colorado State University (Fort Collins) – Colorado State University (Fort Collins, CO) – The GMAT is not required. As per the university – “Generally, prospective students have several years of work experience and their success in industry speaks to their ability to perform in this program. We’ve found that standardized tests do not accurately measure prospective students’ ability to complete the complex real-world projects that are addressed in the MBA curriculum.”

12. Golden Gate University, Edward S. Ageno School of Business (San Francisco)  – The GMAT / GRE is NOT required for applicants with more than 5 years of professional work experience (and a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited US institution or the equivalent from a recognized foreign institution). Check our full list for additional waivers.

13. UNC Kenan-Flagler (Chapel Hill) – A GMAT/GRE score is not required if you have a cumulative undergraduate or graduate GPA of at least 3.00 or higher. (Individuals with a GPA below 3.00 and who have extraordinary work experience may also apply for the GMAT/GRE waiver. More Waivers are available.

Read Complete List of Qualification Requirements For GMAT / GRE Waiver  Full-time MBA In USA (LINK) for more information on all qualifying criteria for GMAT / GRE waivers at business schools in the USA. 

Sources: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14