For Students from India

Students with the 3-year Bachelor of Commerce from an accredited institution, may enter directly into the core classes (Phase II) if they have at least 1st or 2nd Division passes. For those who hold 3rd Division passes, a GMAT must also be submitted with a score of at least 450. Other 3-year degree programs do not qualify for this admission policy.

The MBA program consists of four phases:

Phase I – Foundations (0-19 hours)

Consists of a total of nine classes of which none, some, or all may be assigned to the student depending on academic and work background.

Phase II – Business Core (24-33 hours)

Consists of 8-11 courses from which the student and adviser select those to be completed.

Phase III – Electives, with Options Specialization (0-9 hours)

Students can, with the help of the adviser, build concentrations in many areas of business including management, finance, human resources, entrepreneurship, global business, and other areas through Special Topics courses, Seminars, and Independent Research Projects. The student's transcript will indicate the area of specialization (e.g. Master of Business Administration: specialization in Finance).

Phase IV – Capstone (3 hours)

The final course in the MBA required of all students.

While the MBA program is based on management, it is possible for students to obtain a concentration in one of the following areas:

• Finance
• Entrepreneurship
• Global business
• Human Resource Management
• Project Management (Columbus campus only)

GMAT requirements

Ashland University does not require a student to submit a GMAT score. American students in the MBA are working professionals who have an average of 10 years work experience. A GMAT is not a reliable indicator of success for these students. Their work history and evaluation by their supervisor are used in lieu of the GMAT test.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Why does the Ashland MBA program require at least two years of work experience?

Americans enrolled in the MBA program are working professionals with an average of 10 years of work experience. When international students team up on group projects for class, they need to be able to offer insights resulting from their employment experiences. The MBA degree at Ashland University is a very practical degree. It is designed to develop in the students the ability to solve real problems in the corporate world.

2. What are the requirements for entrance into the MBA program?

The main requirements for entrance into the MBA are the following:

• Bachelor's degree with equivalent of at least 2.75/4.0 grade point average
• A score of 75 ibT or above, or a 6.5 or higher on the IELTS test
• Two years of work experience which can be attested by the employer(s).

3. How can I be assured that I am entering a quality program?

One important indicator of quality is whether or not a program has met professional accreditation of its program. There are only two professional accrediting organizations for business which are approved by the Council of Higher Education Accreditation. These are the  Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP) and AACSB International, The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business. Ashland 's business programs, including the MBA, are accredited by ACBSP. The emphasis of ACBSP is accrediting programs which emphasize quality teaching. Ashland University's new business-economics building is equipped with state-of-the-art technology and classrooms. It is one of the best business buildings in the state of Ohio.

4. Does Ashland University offer financial aid in the MBA program?

Financial aid is not available to students entering the MBA program. However, students are permitted to work on campus and earn up to $3,500/year. Students are permitted to work up to 20 hours/week. Many international students work in the Technology area or Food Service area. You will find that our program is competitively priced, and living in the small city of Ashland is very affordable. This website page lists program costs.

5. Are loans available for my MBA study?

The university provides no loans for the MBA program. There is a payment plan which the student can apply for through Academic Management Services. This is an independent company that helps students to pay fees on a monthly, rather than semester basis.

6. Can I work on or off campus?

Yes. Please see information on our MBA Required Work Experience class.

7. Can I receive a waiver of the $50 application fee?

Ashland University does not provide an application fee waiver since half of the fee is used for express mail return of acceptance papers to the student. The other $25 is used to help fund the operation of the office, including the purchase of materials to better evaluation credentials from international students.

8. How do you convert percentages in the Indian system to the U.S. GPA?

9. Can working in a family business satisfy the two-year work requirement?

The answer to this question depends on how long you have worked in the family business and how much you know about the business. A family member would need to explain in writing how long you have worked in the business. Also, there would need to be a detailed list of duties which you assumed while working in the family business. If your experience is deemed by the Director of the MBA to be equivalent to at least two full years of work experience, you will be allowed to apply to the program.

10. Do I need to work with an agent to apply to the MBA program?

No. However, if you would like to work with an agent, please contact our office for a referral.