Online MBA Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

It's beneficial to submit your application and all required documentation before the deadline. Please note that classes fill up quickly, so the earlier your application is complete, the better.

Our program has three (3) start dates: spring, summer, and fall.

One official copy of transcripts from ALL colleges and universities attended is required. If any credits for an undergraduate degree were rendered from an international college or university, all foreign coursework (transcripts) must be accompanied by a course-by-course evaluation, whether or not a degree was earned at the international college or university. (Please contact an Admissions Advisor with questions about foreign coursework evaluations.)

Official transcripts should be mailed directly from the degree-granting institution via the U.S Postal Service to:

California State University, Monterey Bay
College of Business
Online MBA Program Admissions
123 N. Wacker Drive, Suite 2200
Chicago, IL 60606

Yes. Electronic transcripts are preferred and result in shorter processing time. CSUMB accepts electronic transcripts from select colleges. Check to see if your institution provides electronic transcripts.

Please have secure electronic transcripts sent directly from the issuing university to admissions.csumb@elearningctr.com

Copies of official transcripts can be scanned and submitted during the application process for an initial review. However, transcripts that come from applicants or that have been in the applicant's possession are not considered official. Official e-transcripts must be sent from the issuing institution and can be sent to admissions.csumb@elearningctr.com. If you're unsure of how to upload the document, feel free to send it to your Admissions Advisor.

Yes. Official transcripts from each college or university you have attended are required.

Applicants who earned their bachelor's degrees from colleges or universities outside the United States must utilize services approved by CSU Monterey Bay to have a course-by-course evaluation performed of their undergraduate transcript(s). For more information, click here. (Please contact an Admissions Advisor if you have questions about this process.)

We do not require the GMAT or GRE for admission. However, some of these requirements (as well as the minimum required GPA) will change for fall 2021, so apply today!

Yes. TOEFL or IELTS scores are required for international students. For more details refer to the English proficiency requirements for graduate study at CSUMB. If you have any additional inquiries concerning test scores or testing options, please contact your Admissions Advisor.

Original tuition (including books valued at $2,000) is $41,600. When accounting for the $3,000 scholarship opportunity available to all new enrollees in the Online MBA program, the total tuition cost is $38,600.

View more details about tuition and the scholarship opportunity here.

Yes, financial aid is available. To learn more about available options and to find out if you qualify for assistance, please visit our tuition and financial aid page. You can also contact an Admissions Advisor for more information.

A $3,000 scholarship is available to new enrollees in the Online MBA program. It is awarded automatically when the student completes the final academic term of the program, and it does not require any additional applications or requirements. See below for terms and conditions related to this offer.¹

Transfer credit requests will be evaluated post acceptance. The maximum amount of transfer credits is six credits or two three-credit courses.

Yes. An undergraduate GPA of 2.80 or higher (on a 4.0 scale) is required. However, applicants with an undergraduate GPA of between 2.80 and 2.99 are required to conduct an online video interview with the Admissions Committee, although this may be waived for applicants with substantial professional experience (a minimum of two years post-graduation in business or management). Please contact an Admissions Advisor for details.

Interviews are not required for all applicants. However those with an undergraduate GPA of between 2.80 and 2.99 are required to conduct an online video interview as referenced in the answer directly above.

Your application must include a personal statement that is at least three (3) pages double spaced.

The personal statement is your chance to stand out to the admissions committee. It must be in the format of a "business narrative" and include section headers as appropriate. Bulleted or outline formats are NOT acceptable.

Applicants must include an indication of work experience in their personal statement, as requested in the last prompt below. This answer should be a detailed narrative outlining your background, job/positions and duties/responsibilities (do not copy and paste a resume).

The statement should address why you are embarking on this degree program and include answers to the following guiding questions in a narrative form by following a question and answer format:

• Why are you interested in the CSUMB Online MBA program?
• How might your MBA experience assist your future organization?
• How might your MBA experience assist your MBA classmates?
• How might you visualize the MBA program assisting you in solving real-world problems?
• Define what responsible business means to you and explain how you can use this concept in your career.
• Briefly name organizations for which you have worked and describe any work experiences that you have had.

Most admissions decisions will be posted within two (2) weeks of your application entering review.

Two (2) professional and/or academic letters of recommendation are required from individuals who are well-qualified to judge your character, knowledge, and professional capabilities. One must be from a current supervisor, while the second letter may be from a past employer, professor or other academic supervisor, or someone in a leadership position in a nonprofit or volunteer organization.

No. The application deadline is firm.

Not at this time.

Students may take up to two leave of absence (LOA) which may be consecutive or separate. Students requesting more than two (2) LOAs will be required to reapply to the program.

International student applicants are required to demonstrate satisfactory proficiency in English before gaining admission to the Online MBA program. More information can be found here.

You can start your online application by clicking here and following the instructions. For detailed instructions, please refer to our How to Apply page.

Please click "Forgot Password" to reset it.

If you are having issues with our online application system, please contact an Admissions Advisor at 831-920-3453.

If you cannot find your school, attempt to submit different search term (i.e.: full school name instead of an abbreviation). If you still cannot find your school after several attempts, click on "Can't find your school?" and manually enter your school information into your application.

Yes. You can manually save your application at any time during the online application process and return to it at a later time. You will need your username (email) and password to log back in and finish the application.

You can resend a request to any recommender who has not responded to your initial request. Locate your application dashboard and click on "Program Materials", then click on "Business Administration (MBA)", and then click on "Recommendations". From this screen, you can see the list of your recommenders and choose an action for each. Click on the pencil icon located to the right of the recommender's name, scroll down to the bottom of the page, and click on "Resend This Recommendation Request".

Currently, there is not an option for a part-time program. The program is mindfully structured for working adults to be completed in 18 months and allows for financial aid eligibility.

The Online MBA program generally requires only 20 to 25 hours of work per week, including time spent with lectures, research, and coursework.

Yes. The Online MBA program has been designed specifically with the goals of working professionals in mind. Students can log in, view lectures and assignments, and submit required classwork as their schedules allow.

You are required to complete three (3) courses during the fall term, three (3) courses during the spring term, and two (2) courses during the summer term, for a total of eight (8) classes per year.

Yes. Online students are welcome to participate in on-campus commencement activities.

Students in the Online MBA program can expect to collaborate and communicate with their cohort peers primarily through video conferencing, live chat, discussion boards, and email messages related to course assignments. Similarly, faculty will communicate with students through these same channels, along with scheduled phone conversations which are available upon request.

We admit students from various majors, backgrounds, and experience. You can learn more about our students here.