Frequently Asked Questions

Yes. The online MBA and MSBA programs from the Robert H. Smith School of Business are accredited by AACSB International – The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business. AACSB International is the premier accrediting agency for bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degree programs in business administration and accounting.

No. When you complete the program, you earn a Master of Business Administration or Master of Science in Business Analytics from the University of Maryland, College Park. No distinction will be made on your diploma or your official transcripts to indicate that you participated in an online program.

The Smith School of Business currently accepts students into the online business programs at three entry points per year – January, May and September.

The Smith School does not use a cut-off system for GMAT scores. However, applicants with lower GMAT scores must have exceptional qualifications in other areas to be considered for admission. In some cases, a GMAT or GRE waiver may be granted.

Yes, the GMAT or GRE is required for all MBA applicants. A waiver may be considered if an applicant has demonstrated excellent quantitative, analytical and verbal skills through academic records and/or a successful career trajectory. Applicants must first submit a complete application (all required components except the official GMAT or GRE scores) in order for the Admissions Committee to consider a waiver. Please contact your enrollment advisor with further questions.

Yes. Every application is considered in its entirety. If you have weak points in your application, the Admissions Committee will search for stronger points to counterbalance them.

Applicants must have completed the equivalent of a bachelor’s degree from an accredited United States college or university to be eligible for graduate study at the University of Maryland. The Smith online MBA and MSBA assume no prior knowledge or background in business. However, due to the quantitative rigors of our programs, the Admissions Committee requires that admitted applicants demonstrate strong quantitative skills prior to matriculation. The Admissions Committee will review each applicant’s GMAT/GRE score, undergraduate and/or graduate (where applicable) academic performance and work experience in making this determination.