Admission Requirements

Master’s Programs, except MBA. 

To be admitted to the MPA (Master of Public Accountancy), MTX (Master of Taxation), MSBA (Master of Science in Business Administration), MSIS (Master of Science in Information Systems), or Master of Economics, you will need to meet the following requirements:

• A bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution;
• A 3.0 on your most recent 60 hours of coursework;
• An acceptable GMAT score (generally 500 or higher) administered within the last 5 years, (except for the Master of Economics which requires an acceptable GRE score);
• Or an acceptable ACS score based on the following formula:
  200 X (Last 60 hours of GPA) + GMAT=1100;
• For international applicants, a TOEFL score of 575 or higher.

Admission decisions for masters students are based on these factors plus an assessment of prior work experience and future goals.    Enrollment in our masters programs is limited to the number of openings available each semester.

MBA Program

Beginning in January 2004, admission to the MBA program will require the following:

• A bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution;
• A 3.0 on your most recent 60 hours of coursework;
• An acceptable GMAT score (generally 510 or higher) administered within the last 5 years;
• Or an acceptable ACS score based on the following formula:
  200x (Last 60 hours of GPA) + GMAT=1110;
• For international applicants, a TOEFL score of 575 or higher.

Applicants with at least two years of professional work experience may be admitted to the MBA program with an ACS score of 1100.  Completion of program pre-requisites is not required prior to admission but can be incorporated as part of the program of study.  Enrollment is limited to the number of openings available each semester.

Ph.D. Programs

Admission to our doctoral programs in business is based on the following: 

• A bachelor’s degree and/or master’s degrees from accredited institutions;
• A GPA of 3.0/4.0 both cumulatively, and over the last two years of undergraduate work;
• A GPA of 3.25/4.0 on all prior graduate work, with fewer than 20% grades below B on any Business and Economics coursework;
• For the Ph.D. in Business Administration, a GMAT score administered within the last 5 years of at least 550;
• For the PhD. In Applied Economics, an acceptable GRE score;
• For international applicants, a TOEFL score of 575 or higher.

Admission decisions for doctoral students are based on these factors plus our consideration of the quality of previous academic studies, the meshing of your purpose of study and opportunities in the proposed academic field, prior professional and employment activities, and a recommendation of the faculty in the proposed field of study including the availability of faculty support for research.  Enrollment in the Ph.D. program is limited to the number of openings available for each academic year. 

Application Process
Applications for official enrollment must include the following:

• Completed application form;
• A statement of purpose describing your goals and the unique experiences/characteristics that you bring to our program;
• A current resume (optional);
• Three letters of reference;
• Transcripts of all schools you have attended;
• GMAT or GRE scores submitted to Mississippi State University.

Remember: To have work experience considered in your application, you must submit a complete resume!

Official Application forms for on campus students (all programs):
http://www.msstate.edu/dept/admissions/bannerweb/grad_domestic_appl.pdf

Official Application forms for Distance MBA students:
www.distance.msstate.edu/mba/admissions.html

Application Deadlines

Term You Desire to Enter	Masters Application	Doctoral Application*
Spring	November 1	---
Summer	April 1	---
Fall	July 1	January 15

*Doctoral programs admit students only for the fall semester of each year.

Unclassified Application Process
Unclassified admission may be granted to students who have not yet taken the GMAT but who have earned a 3.0 grade point average on cumulative undergraduate work and who would like to take several graduate courses.  Students may take up to 9 hours in a degree program as unclassified graduate students upon approval of the Director of Graduate Studies in Business.  On-campus students who have been admitted as unclassified students should report to 247 McCool Hall on the first day of classes each term to determine whether any class openings are available.  Distance students should submit their unclassified application along with a course registration form by fax to the Department of Continuing Education.  Unclassified admission does not constitute official admission to the program.  Poor performance on classes or an unacceptable GMAT score may be cause for rejection.

• Unclassified Admission form for on-campus students:
  http://www.admissions.msstate.edu/domestic-grad/unclassapp.pdf

• Unclassified Admission form for Distance MBA students:
  www.distance.msstate.edu/mba/admissions.html

Graduate Assistantships
Graduate assistantships for on-campus masters and doctoral programs are awarded on a competitive basis.  To obtain an assistantship, you must either be admitted or be in the process of being admitted full-time to one of our graduate programs (unclassified and/or part-time students cannot hold assistantships).  Graduate students with assistantships receive a tuition exemption (fees not included) and a monthly stipend.  Typical assignments of those receiving assistantships include teaching assistants, research assistants, office administration, lab monitors and so on.

Assistantship application

Financial Assistance

If you are interested in applying for federal assistance for graduate school, visit our page of Federal Financial Aid Application Instructions.

Tuition

To get an estimate of the costs associated with going to school and living at MSU please visit our tuition calculator.