The GMAT (Graduate Management Admission Test) is a standardized, multiple-choice test that many business schools have used as a forecasting tool to measure if an MBA program candidate will be successful. But business schools are coming to grips with the fact that future success can’t always be measured by a multiple-choice test. This means that pursuing a top no-GMAT MBA degree is a solid idea, because there are multiple ways that applicants can show they are and can be successful. Business schools are offering no-GMAT MBA programs for the betterment of their schools, programs, and business world.
The Nation’s Best No-GMAT MBA Programs
Some of the top colleges and universities in the nation offer on-campus MBA programs without the GRE/GMAT requirement. These programs highlight other indicators of success. Whether it be GPA, professional experience, essays, recommendation letters, or additional degrees, no-GMAT MBA programs bust down barriers of accessibility. They are able to highlight a holistic graduate admissions process. Here are the top 25 MBA programs that either offer waivers for or do not require GRE or GMAT scores.
Recommended Online MBA Programs
Explore our featured online programs to find the right match for you today.
Methodology
This 2023 consensus ranking of the Best No-GMAT MBA programs considered all the top on-campus MBA programs by combining ranking scores from leading business school and MBA rankings. Data was collected from U.S. News and World Report, Forbes, Bloomberg Businessweek, The Economist, and The Financial Times. We then focused on programs that eliminated or automatically waive the GMAT/GRE admissions requirement.
All third-party ranking data is weighted equally, averaged, and used for the list order. Then the averaged scores were placed on a 100-point scale to reveal each no-GMAT MBA program’s Consensus Score.
An on-campus MBA with an optional GMAT is available at Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management. The Full-Time MBA Program provides distinct options for earning an MBA. Each offers extensive options for achieving personal, professional, and educational goals. Whichever they choose, MBA students develop as people and learn how to spark growth in organizations.
MBA students leave with a broad-based, agile tool box that prepares them to lead confidently in the face of challenges and enormous opportunities. Northwestern’s no-GMAT MBA Program is designed to build upon business fundamentals. This degree gets students back in the workforce with new skills and knowledge. It will propel your career forward.
New York University features an MBA with no GMAT requirement at the Leonard N. Stern School of Business. MBA students can immerse themselves in a successful early-stage technology company in New York. They study the founding vision and the value creation model. Students learn how the company’s metrics are connected to its priorities and growth. MBA students work in partnership with an organization to solve critical branding challenges.
The curriculum features lessons on global branding frameworks and concepts. Graduate students are exposed to valuable consulting skills and manage complex projects. They can craft their company’s vision with business-leader mentorship and access to seasoned executives. NYU’s no-GMAT MBA has it all.
The SC Johnson College of Business at Cornell University features a renowned MBA with an optional GMAT. The two-year MBA is unique in its tight-knit community. The program boasts a one-of-a-kind curriculum with a dual-campus approach. Enrolled students are prepared to hit the ground running. They stand out among their colleagues—during their internships and as they begin their new careers.
Johnson’s full-time two-year MBA program is STEM-designated. It features a one-of-a-kind curriculum. There are fully integrated leadership development components. MBA students can take advantage of the programming offered by Cornell Tech in New York City. There is a required summer internship. This no-GMAT MBA at Cornell provides many benefits.
An MBA with no GMAT requirement is available at Washington’s Michael G. Foster School of Business. Enrolled students take their careers to the next level with this MBA degree. The two-year Foster MBA experience in Seattle gives on-campus students the curriculum, career support, network, and faculty access to shape their future. The ROI of a Foster MBA goes beyond financial outcomes.
The UW Foster School of Business features comprehensive degree programs, each with a curriculum delivered by a nationally recognized expert in their field. Foster’s MBA spans every aspect of today’s business world. Future students can explore the flagship on-campus MBA program to learn how Foster’s education can boost their careers.
UNC Chapel Hill’s Kenan-Flagler Business School offers a no-GMAT MBA degree. Enrolled students hone their skills and master new knowledge. They also create an impact as they change the world. The practical business knowledge and skills MBA students acquire with this program make it one of the most effective graduate degrees one can pursue.
They are equipped with the skills to add significant value to their employers and positively influence their organizations. This no-GMAT MBA can refocus career objectives, uncover new opportunities, and discover paths to successful business that leaders have never imagined. Kenan-Flagler Business School’s MBA is genuinely transformative. It will change the way you think about yourself and your potential.
Recommended Online MBA Programs
Explore our featured online programs to find the right match for you today.
An MBA program with an optional GMAT is available at the Scheller College of Business at Georgia Tech. Graduates of the program are prepared to accelerate their careers in a digital-first, tech-savvy world. The business school boasts top-ranked career services.
On-campus students find their career paths within an ever-evolving landscape with the Jones MBA Career Center’s help. This program features a small student-to-advisor ratio. All students get personalized services tailored to their needs. The no-GMAT MBA allows students to gain real-world experience with start-ups and corporate innovators in the Tech Square ecosystem. MBA students learn to solve complex issues, gain analytical skills, and advance their careers.
An on-campus MBA degree with an optional GMAT is offered at the University of Notre Dame’s Mendoza College of Business. Mendoza’s One-Year MBA is engaging and accelerated. It is a program for those looking to advance their existing business careers. They can build an ethical foundation for strategic decision-making.
The curriculum supports personalized leadership development and experiential learning. Graduate students are supported by a community of exceptional faculty and extraordinary students. The university’s world-renowned alum network is dedicated to MBA students’ academic, personal, and professional advancement. There are countless opportunities to improve business understanding and develop a leadership style. You will want to become a part of the Notre Dame family.
An MBA program with no GMAT requirement is available at the University of Rochester’s Simon Business School. This stellar MBA from Simon is about more than a credential. The degree is about a new level of clarity. Program designers are proud to offer the MBA with an analytical focus and the opportunities students need. Business leaders enrolled in the program can reflect, refine, and take risks.
Simon’s specialized MBA curriculum allows MBA students to select courses that suit their career ambitions. Tracks in Finance, Consulting, and Marketing are available. Under these three tracks, Rochester offers MBA specializations that fuse coursework, career-building opportunities, and co-curricular learning opportunities. The no-GMAT MBA program is delivered in an intentionally diverse and small community at the University of Rochester.
The Carlson School of Management at the University of Minnesota provides an excellent MBA degree with an optional GMAT. Enrolled students become the leaders they were meant to be with the Carlson School’s MBA. The business school’s intensive program features unique hands-on learning in and outside the classroom. This program gets graduates noticed and advances their careers in the global marketplace.
Nearly all program graduates receive job offers ninety days after graduation. Nine out of ten incoming students qualify for tuition-reducing scholarships. Ranking entities like U.S. News & World Report have dubbed this degree one of the best. It is easy to see why a no-GMAT MBA from Carlson is an excellent idea.
The University of Florida provides an on-campus MBA program with an optional GMAT requirement at the Warrington College of Business. Program designers know an MBA experience should be life-changing. Graduate students shouldn’t make compromises when selecting an on-campus MBA program. UF MBA knows that this decision is one of the most critical choices in academic and professional life.
Graduate students committed to taking time out of their successful careers to enter a full-time MBA program owe it to themselves to apply to the UF MBA. The Two-Year program allows MBA students with solid professional and academic backgrounds to benefit from a wholly dedicated faculty and staff. The UF no-GMAT MBA team delivers unparalleled attention to students’ professional development.
Recommended Online MBA Programs
Explore our featured online programs to find the right match for you today.
The W.P. Carey School of Business at Arizona State provides a no-GMAT MBA program. Graduate students in this program can unlock their leadership and discover tools that will help them steer any organization. The Carey Full-time MBA includes a dynamic Forward Focus curriculum that serves students throughout the program and for years to come.
The business school recently received a $15 million investment in career management resources. It boasts a 1:1 career coaching program. MBA students are supported every step of the way. They are prepared for their next great challenge. This no-GMAT MBA features an innovative curriculum. It is designed for where the world is headed.
The Robert H. Smith School of Business at the University of Maryland, College Park, currently features an MBA degree with no GMAT requirement. A unique and transformational experience awaits graduate students in Maryland, College Park’s internationally recognized, top-ranked Full-time MBA program. University of Maryland MBA leaders nurture future leaders.
Students develop solid analytical skills and understand how business works in marketing, finance, and operations. MBA students wanting to grow where they are, change industries, or launch their start-ups will thrive in this program. The no-GMAT MBA’s amazing faculty, comprehensive career services, and vibrant community prepare students for a successful future.
The Eli Broad College of Business at Michigan State provides an excellent MBA program with no required GMAT. Broad’s Full-Time MBA program gives business professionals the tools they need to build the business of tomorrow and their future. Michigan State’s rigorous yet flexible curriculum encourages team collaboration. Students learn global adeptness and creative decision-making.
On-campus MBA students get the solid business foundation they need to excel in their careers. World-class instructors challenge students to develop creative solutions to today’s realities in a team-focused learning environment. By the end of this two-year program, business professionals are ready to lead on day one of their post-MBA jobs.
George Washington University’s School of Business provides an excellent no-GMAT MBA program. The business school’s revised curriculum allows Global MBA students to customize their studies to their professional goals. GWU’s Global MBA program is 53 credit hours long. It features no GMAT requirement.
Three-credit courses are an entire semester long and last 14 weeks. 1.5-credit courses are seven weeks long. They are offered in the first or second half of the school semester. One-credit courses meet for twelve hours of total class time. They are provided in various formats, including four-day weekends and four Saturdays. The School of Business’s 21-month program is an asset for any business leader’s resume.
Babson’s F.W. Olin Graduate School of Business features an MBA degree with no GMAT requirement. Business leaders wanting to start a new venture will love this degree. Students interested in switching careers or advancing in their current organization will benefit. The one- or two-year MBA will help graduate students reach their goals.
Both options will arm them with a ranked MBA in entrepreneurship. Entrepreneurial leadership skills help students make an impact in business, their community, and worldwide. Nearly 90 partner organizations bring their real-world issues to class each year. This gives students consulting opportunities. Enrolled MBA students also meet with business leaders and workshop their start-ups in the classroom. This no-GMAT MBA program offers a lot to today’s graduate students.
The Gabelli School of Business at Fordham University provides a full-time MBA program with a GMAT waiver. This flagship two-year program features lessons in management and leadership. The business school selectively enrolls approximately 60 students each year. Its Full-Time MBA combines industry-inspired applicable coursework. Students will also find individualized attention and extraordinary network development in New York City.
This no-GMAT MBA is a proper New York City program. The Gabelli School’s program is STEM-designated. Attending business school in New York can impact a business leader’s future. A New York MBA features unique advantages. Full-Time MBA students at Gabelli have access to excellent instructors and a vibrant curriculum.
A top no-GMAT MBA program is delivered at North Carolina State University’s Poole College of Management. Business school leaders prepare students to lead at the forefront of today’s growing marketplace. MBA students benefit from small class sizes, flexible course formats, and award-winning program curricula. Students can also expect to maintain active partnerships with more than 200 corporations.
MBA graduates complete the program ready to tackle business challenges utilizing the latest innovation and technology. Students can complete this AACSB-accredited MBA program at Poole’s downtown Raleigh campus. The program takes less than two years. Program leaders successfully nurture student interests and help them reach their career goals.
The Hult International Business School provides a top MBA with a GMAT waiver. Hult’s MBA program develops the skills most in-demand with employers nationwide. MBA students graduate with the relevant knowledge, practical skills, and effective mindsets to transform their lives and careers. This no-GMAT program is perfect for those ready to immerse themselves in the global campus experience.
Students seeking a full-time or part-time degree will enjoy this MBA program. The curriculum develops the skills most in-demand with employers worldwide so business leaders can make an impact from their first day on the job. This program includes excellent content and doesn’t feature a GMAT requirement.
An on-campus MBA with a GMAT waiver is available at Purdue University’s Krannert School of Management. Krannert School of Management is an ecosystem for aspiring business leaders interested in discovering the analytical tech-commercialization skills that change the world.
The business school is positioned alongside a globally renowned STEM university. It is inside a dynamic corporate-partnership community. MBA students are immersed in a highly collaborative culture that has produced leaders of some of the largest organizations in the world. Graduate students ready to propel their careers to new heights will find the Krannert School of Management will take them there.
The University of Denver’s Daniels College of Business features a top-notch MBA degree with a GMAT waiver. The business school’s intensive, full-time, 21-month program is rooted in challenge-driven education. This program features ten-week quarters divided into five-week modules. They integrate classes and immersive business challenges. All students get an outstanding in-classroom business education.
Graduates of the program can create start-up companies, incubate social-good projects, and solve business issues for domestic and international corporate partners. Daniels reports a 100% job placement rate six months after completing the program. There are significant merit scholarships for qualified candidates, including for Colorado residents. Denver’s no-GMAT MBA has a lot going for it.
The University of San Diego School of Business provides a top no-GMAT MBA degree. This program boasts intimate class sizes and a small cohort format for core classes. Enrolled students build lifelong professional and personal relationships with instructors and classmates. They can tailor the curriculum by choosing their program length, area of specialization, and international options.
By completing the MBA coursework, graduate students will acquire the foundational and advanced skills organizations look for in MBA-level hires. The University of San Diego’s Knauss MBA helps their students become change agents and inspiring business leaders.
An exemplary no-GMAT MBA program is featured at Northeastern University’s D’Amore-McKim School of Business. This MBA program is the perfect fit for an ever-changing business world. Organizations need trained leaders with broad business skills and an entrepreneurial spirit in today’s unpredictable business landscape.
Business leaders who can act quickly and identify opportunities for firms to transform their digital business are in high demand. In just two years, enrolled students gain a mixture of core business skills and specialized expertise. They are prepared for the future of work in a world continuously influenced by digital transformation. This no-GMAT MBA from Northeastern is a great value.
An MBA degree with an optional GMAT is delivered at American University’s Kogod School of Business. The full-time MBA program helps graduate students develop leadership skills that lead to meaningful, positive opportunities. Students gain a broad skill set in management, entrepreneurship, communications, and other highly marketable areas.
MBA students can expand their network and build team-working capabilities. They learn to lead within an organization or start a business. This STEM MBA program is designed to develop students’ management skills. They also hone technical expertise in harmony, producing a new type of executive bilingual in tech and business. This no-GMAT program is an excellent choice.
The Rady School of Management at UC San Diego provides an excellent MBA with no GMAT requirement. Rady MBA students learn why business is a science. They see how data transforms and brings clarity to strategy, operations, and management. The curriculum also delves into finance, marketing, and innovation.
This program prepares business leaders to lead with confidence. They develop the in-demand analytical and leadership skills employers require. The University of California San Diego’s Full-Time MBA is perfect for students with three to five years of work experience. This MBA program offers an excellent opportunity for business students.
An MBA degree with an optional GMAT is available at Saint Louis University’s Richard A. Chaifetz School of Business. The Chaifetz School’s One-Year MBA program is a full-time, AACSB-accredited MBA program. The St. Louis-based program allows students to earn an MBA in less than a year. There is a lot that makes this program unique.
Today’s business atmosphere is complex. Problems don’t occur in isolation. The Chaifetz School One-Year MBA program includes concepts and solutions through a unique integrated curriculum. All courses bring together a team of instructors from across disciplines. They teach how accounting impacts finance and how economics impacts marketing. This no-GMAT program is excellent.
Recommended Online MBA Programs
Explore our featured online programs to find the right match for you today.
No-GMAT MBA Programs
Some potential MBA students find standardized test anxiety debilitating. Some future MBA students are worried about their GMAT scores. And some B-school candidates simply do not have the time and money for GMAT preparation. What if you could skip the business school placement test altogether? Luckily, you can.
Is the GMAT Needed Everywhere?
Many MBA applicants spend a lot of time worrying about the troubling nature of admissions tests. This can be for a good reason. The GMAT is a substantial test. For many, it takes an annoying amount of time to prepare if test takers want to do well. For those with the time to prepare, the benefits are immense. A 700-or-better GMAT score will warrant at least some attention from the most competitive business schools in the world. Test-takers who fall in the camp of average to below-average GMAT results may discover they get zero engagement from top schools. They may also risk gaining acceptance into any MBA program. These applicants often spend as much time trying to scheme a way around the GRE or GMAT as they do investing in how to master it.
Do I take the GMAT, GRE, or Neither?
In recent years, some students have found the GRE to be an alternate option. The GRE seems more manageable for some business school candidates. Programs are not required to include GRE scores when they reveal their average admissions test scores. GMAT scores are exclusively required for that. When business schools don’t have to worry about averaging test scores into the mix, they are often more lenient on how well you do. Some applicants bomb both tests.
Why Struggling with Standardized Tests then Being Denied into Business School is Unfair
There are reports on the correlation between GMAT scores and academic performance. Some MBA programs have downgraded the importance of grades in b-school. Many schools have abandoned traditional grades altogether. Grades can create a hyper-competitive environment that works counter-intuitive to the collaborative nature of group participation and teamwork. These elements are common to MBA programs worldwide.
So why does a one-time, three-hour, mind-bending placement test like the GMAT even exist? There are plenty of sub-average GMAT scorers in the business world. These professionals possess an excellent work ethic and would make solid contributors to any MBA program at the top business schools in the nation if given the opportunity.
Just Say NO to the GMAT
The idea of putting the GMAT in your rearview mirror is not as far-fetched as you may think. Some of the nation’s best business schools admit a small number of students annually who submit no GMAT or GRE score.
One percent of all MBA students are granted a standardized test waiver. They are evaluated on their undergrad performance, recommendations, and work experience alone. How did they pull it off? They requested it.
Forgoing the GMAT Can be Tricky, But it is Possible
Many factors potentially come into play. Some business school candidates have unique, personal situations which prohibit them from sitting for the test. Those situations could be good enough reasons to get a program to give them a pass. Reasons for this may include health conditions or injuries. There may be traumatic issues, like debilitating car accidents or cancer, which could prohibit applicants from taking the exam. Some MBA candidates have tried leveraging family trauma for test waivers. Although a waiver is not commonly permitted when there are mental or psychological hurdles. Military deployments can serve as GMAT waivers. Other service-oriented obligations can make it impossible to take the placement test.
There is Being Unable to Take the Test, and Then There is What You Bring to the Table
Whether through extraordinary career achievements or personal accomplishments, B-school applicants with compelling profiles might argue that the GMAT would only hold them back from an otherwise stellar application. The odds are far better if applying to an evening or part-time MBA program. Waivers for full-time program participants are rare but not impossible.
A hyperbolic example of this is if, say, Jeff Bezos wanted to get his Harvard MBA, admissions representatives may consider a GMAT waiver. If you are an underachieving test taker but have an impressive story otherwise, it never hurts to ask.
When Downplaying the GMAT for an MBA, What Should You Stress?
How to Make Your Business School Application Shine:
- Write a Compelling MBA Essay
- Clearly Communicate Your Post-MBA Goals
- Stay Consistent Through Your Business School Application
- Show Off Your Pre-MBA Work Experience
The most genuine way to highlight yourself when applying to business school is to represent your authentic self. Do not attempt to present or edit yourself in a manner you think the school wants to see. Present who you are and who you want to become.
What differentiates you from other candidates? Finding the answer to this question requires several things:
- reflecting on the various aspects of your life
- realizing what you have accomplished
- dreaming about what you want to achieve
Here are some general tips on how you can present yourself within business school applications:
Write a Compelling MBA Essay
Keep the admission representative’s perspective in mind as you write essays and move forward with applications.
- What kind of application do you think they want to read?
- Would they prefer an essay that is specific or generic?
- Would they prefer essays that are ambitious, honest, and thought-provoking?
Telling a story with your application will appeal to the admissions committee. Using anecdotes as evidence for your claims will help your essays come to life. They may also make a more significant impact than merely listing your achievements. Focus on developing one or two examples within your responses to keep information fresh and relevant.
Be vulnerable and self-reflective as you represent yourself in your essays. Highlight how significant experiences altered your perspective and revealed something about life you didn’t know before. Admissions teams prefer when applicants communicate that they are self-aware. They find it reassuring to know candidates have made moves toward personal and professional growth.
Clearly Communicate Your Post-MBA Goals
Business schools are interested in accepting driven, ambitious, and motivated MBA candidates. Use your essays to show how an MBA program will be a suitable stepping stone to help you achieve your business leadership goals. You can outline these in your MBA interview.
Using detailed and school-specific examples to support your writing is an excellent idea. For example, Duke Fuqua is well known for its reputation in marketing. If you are interested in pursuing a career in business, you can research the curriculum and discuss how it will train and equip you with the skills needed to succeed in the area.
Stay Consistent Through Your Business School Application
You will discover there are different sections to your application. It’s essential to think of them as connected entities. Each portion you submit for review ultimately fits together to tell a story about you. This narrative reveals who you are to members of the admission committee. Remembering this when you apply to an MBA program will help you avoid inconsistencies in your application.
A business school resume and letters of recommendation should reveal the skills you possess and illustrate what you have done. Your essay should serve as the on-ramp for your interview, explain who you are, and spell out what makes you unique.
Show Off Your Pre-MBA Work Experience
Business schools look at candidates’ work experience to determine their professional maturity and their work quality. Applicants should use resumes to explain how their work experience makes them ideal MBA candidates. The best MBA applicants are top performers who have risen through the ranks quickly. They should provide concrete examples of their impact was felt in an organization.
MBA programs don’t typically require specific years of substantial work experience. Some excellent MBA candidates have only one to two years of experience. Applicants can check their preferred b-school’s class profile to see how many years of work experience accepted students acquired.
Most Kellogg School of Management full-time MBA admits have five years of work experience. Similarly, London Business School’s students have five, Stanford GSB students have 4.7, and Booth School of Business students have five.
Employment Gaps
MBA candidates with significant employment gaps should explain their circumstances, what they learned, and how they have grown from their experiences. Business schools often provide optional essays to allow candidates to explain these scenarios.
To Sum Up
Pursuing an MBA is no walk in the park. It requires tenacity and dedication. While the depth and breadth of the program can seem daunting, the rewards are many. It is an excellent time to consider seeking a no-GMAT MBA program.
Related Resources:
Best MBA Programs
Best MBA Admissions Consulting Firms
Ultimate Guide to MBA Degrees
Best 1-Year MBA Programs
Best Executive MBA Programs
The Best Undergraduate Business SchoolsÂ
