Graduate Admissions

Once you have completed step 1 of the application, please select the appropriate link to submit your prepared resume, essay, letters of recommendation and optional essay (if applicable). You can start your interfolio application while you are working on Steps 2-4 of the application.

We request you to submit your unofficial transcripts on the Fowler Interfolio page, regardless of whether you have already submitted them elsewhere in the application system.

Please note that you are also required to submit the transcripts on my.SDSU depending on your nationality.

For Fall 2023, requirements for the GMAT and GRE exams vary by program.  Please select the program that you are applying to for details.

This step of the application process requires that you upload a written response to the application prompts using Interfolio (links above).

You should prepare your responses in a single document (pdf preferred) and upload and submit using Interfolio. Preview the fall essay prompts by finding your program below:

You will enter the contact information for your letters of recommendation in the Interfolio system. Interfolio will generate a prompt to the individuals for which you have provided contact information. We prefer recommendations that use our form. Please assist us with the process by emailing the blank form for your program to the individuals you have selected to prepare your recommendation letters.

The admissions committee for each of our graduate business programs takes a holistic review of all of the applicant's materials submitted including a thorough review of the applicant's undergraduate academic performance, including an emphasis on performance in quantitative courses as those have demonstrated a strong correlation with graduate business performance. We also consider the nature of the degree and quality of the university attended.  We also examine any academic courses subsequent to the applicant's undergraduate experience.  We also examine standardized test scores which generally  demonstrate proficiency in quantitative and verbal performance.  However, grades and exam scores are by no means the only element of an applicant's materials and we review all applicant materials.  For some applicants, grades and or exam scores are not able to tell the entire story and so we also review the applicant's professional work experience and seek verification of professional development through letters of recommendation.  We also review applicant essays for additional information that other materials cannot provide.  Lastly, applicant's are eligible to submit an optional essay that more fully describes their individual situation and the conditions of the applicant's history. 

SDSU will be admitting U.S.-based students who wish to pursue a graduate business degree for spring semester of 2021. The application period runs August 1 – November 1. The submission period for all documents, including test scores* and transcripts, is open until November 15. SDSU will be admitting U.S.-based and international students wishing to pursue a graduate business degree for the fall semester of 2021. The application period runs October 1 – March 1. Apply online at https://www2.calstate.edu/apply. A $70 nonrefundable application fee is required of all applicants. See the SMBA websites for information about their application cycle.

*For Spring 2021 and Fall 2021, the GMAT and GRE exams are not required and scores will not be considered in the admissions process.

SDSU does not require applicants to have work experience before they apply. However, at least two years of professional work experience will make your application more competitive. Graduate business studies are enhanced for students who have real-world experiences to apply course concepts to.

No, current and previous students must complete the three step application process outlined above. Students who previously attended SDSU need only submit transcripts for coursework completed since last attendance.

No preference is given to students who graduated from SDSU. All students are assessed using the same criteria.

No. SDSU does not interview prospective students for any of our graduate business programs, except for the Sports Business MBA programs. (See the SMBA page for more information about their application process.)

SDSU Graduate Business Programs makes every effort to return admissions decisions to applicants in a timely fashion. Applicants will be notified via email. Depending on the volume of mail received at the university, mail processing can take from one to four weeks from the date of receipt at SDSU for information to be updated on the Web Portal (this includes transcripts, GMAT/GRE* and TOEFL/IELTS scores). After all the applicant's materials have been received by SDSU, an admissions decision can take approximately two months to complete.

*For Spring 2021 and Fall 2021, the GMAT and GRE exams are not required and scores will not be considered in the admissions process.

Once you have submitted the Cal State Apply application, you will be assigned a RedID number, which will be e-mailed to you. If you have not received your RedID within 10-15 business days of applying, please contact Graduate Admissions.

We recommend submitting your Cal State Apply application as soon as possible to ensure you receive your RedID on time. Your RedID number will allow you to track the status of your application through the SDSU WebPortal (www.sdsu.edu/portal/).

Not necessarily. You should apply as early as you are prepared to do so. Please plan on submitting your completed application materials ahead of the application deadline. Admission decisions will be made throughout the admission cycle.

No. We admit students from a variety of academic and professional backgrounds. However, students who are admitted to SDSU Graduate Business Programs are expected to have competencies in personal computing, quantitative and statistical methods, and economics. Download further information about MBA Program Competencies (pdf)

No. For either test, both the verbal and quantitative percentiles will be reviewed. A high overall score does not necessarily justify a low score in one section of the exam. Exams taken more than five years ago will be considered on a case by case basis.

Each program has different requirements for standardized test scores. See Step 4 above for details of test requirements by program. In addition, the importance of the scores in predicting student success in the program can vary and the reliance placed on standardized test scores as part of the holistic review of an applicant can also vary. If you decide to submit test scores, we do not place a preference on either exam and will generally rely on your highest score submitted.

GMAT/GRE and IELTS/TOEFL official score reports must be submitted by November 15th for Spring or April 1st for Fall. Please keep in mind that it takes about 20 days to receive test scores from the testing agency. If you have already submitted scores for the GMAT or the GRE and you would like to retake the exam, please contact the Graduate Business Programs Office at [email protected] or (619) 594-8073. Only the highest score will be considered when making an admission decision.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, GRE or GMAT scores are suspended for the Spring and Fall 2021 admissions cycles.

The average undergraduate GPA for students admitted to our programs is around 3.40. In order for your undergraduate GPA to be considered satisfactory (not deficient) by the university, a domestic student should have at least a 2.85 and an international student should have at least a 3.00 on the 4.00 GPA scale. If a domestic student's cumulative GPA is deficient, SDSU will calculate the GPA for the student's last 60 semester units or 90 quarter units. Students with undergraduate GPAs that are considered deficient are less likely to be admitted. Note that students who have a satisfactory GPA are not guaranteed admission.

Yes. You need to submit transcripts from all institutions that you have attended.

All program application materials (resumes, letters of recommendation, etc.) must be submitted electronically. See step 5 of the application process to create an account and upload documents.  Once you have selected your program from Step 5, please read the entire instructional page and review the Application Guide before selecting Apply Now.

There are writing prompts included in the program application.  Once you have created an account on Interfolio, you will be given these prompts to address along with further instructions and length requirements. 

The process for submitting letters is integrated into the program application. On Interfolio, you will be able to generate a request for recommendation which will be sent directly to the recommender(s) of your choice. The recommender’s name and e-mail address are required. Then, please download the blank recommendation form and send to your recommender(s) to use as their template to upload once they have received the notification from Interfolio.  No paper or emailed letters of recommendation will be accepted or reviewed.

Recommendations can be either academic or professional; there is no preference given to either. We recommend choosing someone who can best speak to your ability to be successful in the program.

International students have the same application deadlines as domestic students. Students with international coursework must submit both the official transcript and proof of degree. If documents are in a language other than English, they must be accompanied by a certified literal English translation. For country-specific requirements, please see the Graduate Admissions website (http://arweb.sdsu.edu/es/admissions/grad/country.html).

TOEFL or IELTS scores are required of all applicants, regardless of citizenship, whose native language is not English and whose preparatory education was principally in a language other than English. A minimum score of 80 is required for the TOEFL and a minimum score of 6.5 is required for the IELTS. TOEFL scores should be sent directly from ETS (http://www.ets.org/toefl) using SDSU’s Institution Code 4682. For the IELTS, please see www.ielts.org for instructions. SDSU does not grant conditional admittance to students who do not meet the language requirement.

As an international applicant, you must hold the equivalent of a U.S. Bachelor's degree with 3.0 GPA or "B" average in order to be considered for admission. Additionally, a passing TOEFL (80 or higher) or IELTS (6.5 or higher) score must be provided if your medium of instruction was not English.

For country-specific requirements, please see the Graduate Admissions website (http://arweb.sdsu.edu/es/admissions/grad/country.html). International Admissions may be reached at (619) 594-1847 or [email protected].

International students may apply for any University Scholarship for which they are eligible. More information and application forms for University Scholarships can be obtained through SDSU's Scholarship Office: http://go.sdsu.edu/student_affairs/financialaid/.

International students may apply for GA/TA positions: Teaching associateships and graduate non-teaching assistantships in business administration are available to a limited number of qualified students.

Download applications and additional information:

Graduate Assistant Application
Teaching Associate Application (for Accountancy only)

No. SDSU has its own international transcript evaluators.

Yes. The MSIS and MSCM degrees are STEM-designated degrees. In addition, SDSU’s MBA degree, when completed with a specialization in Information Systems, is considered a STEM-designated degree.

No. Applicants to SDSU’s Graduate Business Programs are not granted conditional admittances if they have not yet submitted a complete application. All applicants to SDSU’s Graduate Business Programs must submit a complete application before they are considered for admission.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, GRE or GMAT scores are suspended for the Spring and Fall 2021 admissions cycles.