MBA FAQs | Labovitz School of Business and Economics

Admission FAQs

What are the admissions requirements?

In order to be admitted to the Labovitz MBA program:

All applicants must have an earned bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university. (This requirement is waived only for students who are currently undergraduates in the Labovitz School and applying through the Integrated Degree Program (IDP) Option).
The preferred undergraduate GPA for admittance to the program is 3.0 (on a 4-point scale). (Students who are currently undergraduates in the Labovitz School must have a minimum 3.3 GPA in order to be accepted into the IDP Option).
All applicants must take the GMAT, GRE, or one of the exceptions listed below. The Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) is a standardized exam designed to predict how test takers will perform academically in MBA programs. A GMAT (or GRE) score is required for all applicants except:
- Applicants who have successfully passed the CPA, CFA, or CMA exam;
- Applicants who can provide a satisfactory score (median or higher) from another standardized U.S. graduate entrance exam such as PCAT, GRE, MCAT, LSAT, etc. The scores on sections pertaining to verbal and quantitative aptitude will be given primary weightage.
- Applicants who have been offered admission/admitted to the Pharmacy School at UMD with a minimum undergraduate cumulative grade point average of 3.30 (out of 4.00);
- Applicants with an earned undergraduate BBA or BAcc degree or equivalent from the Labovitz School or an AACSB/EQUIS/AMBA accredited business school with a minimum GPA of 3.30 (out of 4.00);
- Applicants who have been accepted into the program through the IDP Option;
- Applicants with specific prior graduate degree from an accredited institution (see college for specific details).

Either before admission or early in the MBA program, students need to demonstrate competency in mathematics as well as the business foundation areas of Accounting, Economics, Financial Management, Human Resource Management, Marketing, Operations Management, Organizational Management, and Statistics through BUS courses, other undergraduate business coursework, or competency tests. Students must complete an MBA Readiness Evaluation to determine competency fulfillment.

What are the application deadlines?

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis and students can join the program throughout the year.

Early Fall & Scholarships: May 1
Fall Term: July 1
Spring Term: November 1
Summer Term: April 1

For detailed information about application requirements, please review the application instructions sheet.
If you missed the application deadline, please reach out to us to explore your options.

How will my application be reviewed?

As part of the Labovitz MBA admission process, we carefully consider each applicant's complete application. A holistic review of GPA, GMAT/GRE score, prior work experience, and other relevant factors is undertaken to determine admission eligibility.

Must I take the GMAT in order to be considered for admission?

In many cases, yes. The Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) is a standardized test used by most business schools to help assess the qualifications of applicants for graduate study in business or management. We do, however, accept waivers for this exam requirement in a number of scenarios as noted above, and do also accept GRE scores.

When should I take the GMAT?

Applicants should plan to take the GMAT well before the application due date. We recommend taking the GMAT at least two weeks prior to the application date to ensure timely review of your application. Only your highest GMAT or GRE score will be considered when reviewing your application.

What are the minimum required undergraduate GPA or GMAT (or GRE) scores that are required?

Generally, desired standards for admission to the Labovitz MBA program are:

An overall undergraduate GPA of at least 3.0 (on a 4-point scale); and
An overall GMAT score at the 50th percentile or above (approximately 570);

We do not have specific minimum scores. GPA and GMAT or GRE scores are strong indicators of your academic potential and ability to perform in an extremely rigorous MBA program. Applications are reviewed as a whole and candidates are admitted into the program based on academic credentials, test scores and prior professional work experience.

Do you require work experience?

Generally, the Labovitz MBA program desires applicants to have two years of full-time work experience. Some program formats have student averages much closer to ten years of work experience. Each application will be considered on a case-by-case basis and strong academic or GMAT performance may be considered in weighing work experience. We do consider professional internships as relevant for the two-year requirement.

Does my undergraduate degree need to be in business?

No, you are not required to have an undergraduate degree in business. We admit people from a broad range of academic and professional backgrounds. About one-third of our students come from a traditional business undergraduate or professional background with another third of our students with a background in technology or engineering and the last third with backgrounds from a wide variety of disciplines. If you are an applicant without undergraduate coursework in business, you may be required to complete up to 8 foundation courses to provide you with sufficient background in those functional areas to be successful in MBA-level coursework.

How can I learn more about the program or discuss my application with the admissions staff?

The best way to learn more about the Labovitz MBA program is to attend an information session where you can meet our program staff, learn more about the program, and get answers to your specific questions. You may also wish to simply contact us via email or telephone.

Prospective students are invited to complete an MBA Readiness Evaluation, which enables MBA staff to share specific details related to degree planning with you so that you can make a fully educated decision about the pursuit of the degree. Additionally, information sessions take place at various times for all program formats, and you can RSVP to one at this link. Should you have any additional or specific questions, do not hesitate to contact us via email or telephone at any time.

Academics FAQs

How many credits do I need to complete my Labovitz MBA and how many should I take per semester?

The Labovitz MBA requires 32 credits for the degree. There are currently 23 core MBA credits and 9 elective credits in the program. In Duluth, most students start by taking two classes, then adjust their course loads accordingly in future semesters. Students in Rochester generally take courses one at a time (every other weekend), throughout the entire year except when their schedules don’t allow.

When are classes held?

The Labovitz MBA program is designed to be flexible for people with full-time work obligations during the day. In Duluth, classes meet once a week, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday from 6-8:40 p.m. In Rochester, classes are offered every other weekend, from 3:00-9:00 p.m. on Fridays, and Saturday mornings from 8:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m., depending upon the number of credits in the course.

How long does it take to complete the program?

The average time to completion is approximately 3 years. While the program can be completed in as little as two years, most students take advantage of the flexibility of the program to take less than the maximum. Students are allowed to take up to 5 years to complete the Labovitz MBA.

Can I complete my Labovitz MBA by taking classes only online?

No. Our program is designed to take advantage of the face-to-face interactions that happen within our courses. Therefore, none of the core MBA courses are regularly offered online. However, several elective classes may be available either online or in person.

What courses are available and can I concentrate my studies in a specific area?

The Labovitz MBA is designed primarily as a general MBA, meaning that it provides a broad background in all of the functional areas of business. However, students complete 9 credits of MBA electives which provide customization in the curriculum. There are numerous elective courses to choose from and diverse study abroad options to match their interests or develop specific skill sets that meet their individual career goals.

What if I travel for work?

Our faculty try to be flexible about students needing to miss occasional sessions due to professional travel; such situations are resolved in advance on a case-by-case basis with the professor.

How much time will I need to spend outside of class to complete my coursework?

The amount of time students spend outside class on readings, assignments, and team projects depends on the course, but the general guideline is that you will spend approximately 2 hours outside of class for every hour spent in class per week.

International Student FAQs