Key Takeaways:
- Boise State University and Florida State University have removed the GMAT requirement for their online MBA programs to enhance accessibility.
- The change aims to attract a more diverse applicant pool by focusing on students’ academic and work experiences instead.
- Both universities rank highly in national online MBA rankings, with FSU at #18 and Boise State at #55.
Two top online MBA programs have recently announced their decision to eliminate the GMAT from their admissions requirements. Both Florida State University and Boise State University have joined numerous other schools who have dropped the standardized test requirement for their Master of Business Administration degree options, including their online MBAs. If you want, you can check out a full ranking of other online MBA programs with no GMAT requirements.
FSU still encourages students to submit GMAT scores if they so desire. These scores will be evaluated as part of the larger application, which now prioritizes students’ prior academic and work experiences.
Related: Top Online Colleges That Give Credit for Work Experience
Both FSU and Boise State cite accessibility as one of the primary reasons for eliminating the GMAT from their selection process, acknowledging that not all students have the time nor financial resources it requires to deliver competitive test scores. Historically, high-achieving students have relied on tutors and multiple testing opportunities to put their best foot forward when applying to top business schools.
By eliminating the testing requirement, these schools hope to attract a more diverse pool of applicants. Students who may have been hesitant to apply may rethink the decision now that the odds are no longer stacked against them. With more diversity comes more engagement as nontraditional students bring their varied experiences to the virtual classroom.
FSU’s new test optional policy also applies to the university’s other online master’s business programs: the master’s in Management Information Systems (MS-MIS) and the master’s in Risk Management and Insurance (MS-RMI). Business students who elect to study on campus can also skip the standardized testing requirement.
Both schools also boast some of the top online MBA programs in the country. U.S. News & World Report ranks FSU and Boise State #18 and #55 respectively in its national ranking of online Master of Business Administration programs.