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Business Administration

#1
U.S. News & World Report 2022 Top Online MBA in Colorado
95%
CSU Online Grad Students have Plans Related to their Career
93%
Grad Students would choose CSU Online Again
#16
for Employability Worldwide 2022
Degree Overview Open Accordion
Online Master of Business Administration

What does CSU's online MBA program look like?

CSU's online MBA program welcomes bright minds from around the world to learn together in one inspirational space.

Offered by the College of Business, this online MBA offers a comprehensive curriculum that brings the on-campus classroom environment to working professionals via online learning and streaming video, allowing you to maintain your career while obtaining a graduate degree. The program offers the best of leading-edge business research from faculty with real-world experiences through industry partnerships and business speakers.

This 42-credit online MBA provides a strong foundation in business fundamentals from accounting to marketing, and expands learning to the in-demand skills employers want most in today’s professionals: innovation, financial, leadership, data analytics, and using business to create a better world.

Three ways to study

The College of Business at CSU delivers the MBA program through three methods: in-person (Evening MBA), real-time remote (Mosaic MBA), and online (Online MBA). While the delivery methods differ to provide students with choices most suited to their lifestyle, the courses are taught by the same faculty as those learning on campus in Fort Collins. All MBA students graduate with the same degree and with the skills and frameworks needed to advance their career or break into a new field.

Why earn your MBA online from CSU’s College of Business?

  • Learn from the same faculty teaching on-campus. Not all online MBAs are created equal and with CSU’s College of Business Online MBA, you’ll not only learn from the same faculty that teach our on-campus degree, but also receive classroom support from our instructional coordinators as if you were a student on campus.
  • Extend your credentials with a certificate. Specialize your MBA with one of 12 graduate certificates ranging from organizational leadership to marketing management and cybersecurity.
  • Receive support from start to finish. Throughout your Online MBA, you will have access to our in-house academic advisors, classroom support professionals, and the College’s dedicated Career Management Center to make the most of your experience. We know just because you’re online doesn’t mean you should be earning your degree without support and guidance.
  • Pace your degree with your lifestyle. Complete the degree in as few as 21 months or up to five years, depending on your schedule at work and home.
  • Earn a reputable degree from the leader in distance education. CSU’s College of Business has provided remote learning MBAs for nearly 50 years and is consistently a top-ranked national and worldwide Online MBA. Our cutting-edge classroom capture system delivers high-quality class videos to you within 24 hours of the live class.

Learn in a world-renowned program

This online MBA is known nationally and globally for its industry leadership. Based on feedback from students, alumni and employers, the Online MBA has earned the following honors:

  • No. 1 in Colorado for six years in a row - U.S. News & World Report 2023
  • No. 3 nationwide for class profile – QS Quacquarelli Symonds 2023
  • No. 4 nationwide Better World MBA - Corporate Knights 2023
  • No. 7 worldwide Better World MBA - Corporate Knights 2023
  • No. 11 nationwide for employability - QS Quacquarelli Symonds 2023

Tuition Benefits

The Colorado State University College of Business offers special tuition benefits for the following:

  • Colorado residents are eligible for a 5% tuition benefit. Please note that a Colorado address does not automatically equate to residency. Connect with your enrollment counselor or academic advisor to confirm eligibility.
  • Active military, honorably discharged veterans, military spouses, and military dependents are eligible for a 15% tuition benefit.
  • Corporate partners may qualify for 10% off the cost of tuition. Reach out to CSU’s admissions team to learn if your company offers a corporate partner tuition benefit.
  • Alumni of CSU Fort Collins are eligible for a 15% tuition benefit.
Explore Careers Open Accordion

Professionals from these recognized businesses and organizations have graduated from CSU's online MBA program (partial list):

  • Accenture
  • Advanced Energy
  • Federal Research
  • Oppenheimer
  • Hewlett-Packard Company
  • Target
  • Convergys
  • EnCana Oil and Gas
  • Ernest and Julio Gallo Winery
  • Navigant Consulting
  • And many, many more...

At $115,000, the median salary of MBA graduates is 75% more than that of people with a bachelor’s degree alone. Source: Fortune.com

Frequently Asked Questions Open Accordion
Is the GMAT required?

No. The GMAT is not required. Generally, prospective students have several years of work experience and their success in industry speaks to their ability to perform in this program. We've found that standardized tests do not accurately measure prospective students' ability to complete the complex real-world projects that are addressed in the MBA curriculum.

Are scholarships and financial aid available?

Yes. Active-duty military, reservists, the National Guard and veterans, as well as federal and state employees (other than the State of Colorado) may qualify for the Tuition Reduction Program. Companies interested in learning more about the Corporate Partnership Program may contact Nicole Olsen.

The College of Business offers corporate partnerships for companies that refer or support multiple students in this online professional MBA program simultaneously. The program provides both entities with valuable benefits as a long-term relationship is forged. Companies interested in learning more about the Corporate Partnership Program may contact Travis Maynard.

Are Colorado State University professional MBA programs accredited?

Absolutely. Since 1970, both the online and the on-campus professional MBA programs have been accredited by The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business International (AACSB), the benchmark of academic excellence for business schools. Less than 5 percent of business schools worldwide achieve this distinction. The AACSB review process examines educational outcomes, faculty research and tenure, the program’s connection to the larger business community and the impact faculty and students have on society. This accreditation demonstrates our commitment to using business for a better world and helping students reach their professional goals.

Are the Online MBA program and the Evening MBA program similar?

Actually, the coursework is identical, with the same syllabus, material, lectures, and class discussions. Students must meet the same high academic standards. The difference is the method of delivery of course material and the time it takes to complete the program. The Evening MBA program is completed over the course of 2 years, with students attending in-person classes twice weekly. The Online MBA can be completed in as little as 21 months or students can take up to 5 years. Online classes are completed at times that work best for the individual student, rather than at set times during the week. In both degree programs, you earn a Master of Business Administration degree from the College of Business at Colorado State University. There is no difference on your diploma or official transcripts.

How do I know if I qualify?

The general admission requirements are a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or better from an accredited four-year undergraduate institution or the successful completion of a graduate degree, and a minimum of two years of full-time professional work experience. Professional references, a resume and a statement of purpose help the College of Business evaluate your ability to perform well academically in a graduate program. A TOEFL, IELTS, or PTE is mandatory for international students who have not graduated from an American university or whose country has an official language other than English. Visit the MBA website for complete details.

What is the format of the program and courses?

The program formats are semester-based, with two eight-week sessions in each semester. Summer semesters are also eight weeks. The online MBA requires 42 credits and follows a lock-step curriculum. This means initial classes form a foundation for subsequent classes that build on content and provide continuity and integration of course material.

Does the MBA offer a specialized area of study?

The Online MBA program is designed with flexibility and specialization in mind. You’ll learn the fundamentals of business while exploring the program’s five foundational competencies: innovation, financial, leadership, data analytics and using business for a better world.

More than 40 percent of the curriculum consists of elective credits, encouraging you to explore your interests, deepen your expertise in a competency or pursue one of 12 certificate options. Our certificates can be completed at the same time as the MBA program and help you specialize in areas like marketing management, applied finance, corporate finance and organizational leadership.

What is the profile of students in the MBA program?

MBA students come from diverse backgrounds and locations, representing all 50 states and more than 46 countries. Our students come from a variety of professional industries and all walks of life. The flexible learning formats allow our students to plan their academic pursuits around their work and life commitments. From young professionals to seasoned business leaders, our students view the online MBA program as an opportunity to refine their skills, advance their careers or start a new career path entirely.

Curriculum Open Accordion

This is a professional degree program (Plan C); therefore, you are not required to complete a thesis, final project, or comprehensive final examination.

The Online MBA program can be completed in two years or extended up to five years. The 2-year program requires you to take two courses concurrently, while other plans allow you to take only one course at a time. For the most current course descriptions and paths of study, visit the Online MBA website.

Foundational Core Courses

Flex Core Courses: 8 Credits

Select one course from Financial Competency, one course from Data Analytics Competency, and two courses from the Leadership, Innovation, and Business for a Better World competencies.

Financial Competency: 2 Credits (1 Course)

Data Analytics Competency: 2-3 Credits (1 Course)

Leadership Competency: 0-2 Credits

Innovation Competency: 0-2 credits

Business for a Better World Competency: 0-2 credits

Elective Courses: 9-10 Credits

Professional Enrichment

Computer Information Systems

Finance

Marketing

Students will not be allowed to register for a class without the appropriate prerequisites.

Supply Chain

How to Apply Open Accordion

Application Deadlines

Online MBA: Students can be admitted in the Fall, Spring, and Summer. The program has 5 entry points to provide students an opportunity to begin when they are ready.

For August start dates: July 1 for all applicants
For October start dates: Sept. 1 for all applicants
For January start dates: Dec. 1 for all applicants
For March start dates: Feb. 1 for all applicants
For May start dates: April 1 for all applicants

Please be aware that financial aid deadlines may occur before the application for admission deadlines.

Start your application online and upload materials directly into the online system. You can save your progress and return any time.

Apply Now

1Review Admission Requirements

Online MBA applicants generally must meet or exceed the following criteria:1

  • An undergraduate degree from an accredited four-year institution in any field with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher.
  • A minimum of two years of professional work experience.
  • International applicants: Internet-based2 TOEFL score of 86 or higher, or an IELTS score of 6.5 or higher, or a PTE score of 58 or higher. The test must have been taken within the past two years.
  1. While we encourage our students to meet the minimum criteria, failure to meet one may be offset by strengths in other areas, as determined by the Graduate Program Committee.
  2. Other testing formats may be accepted. Please contact us for information.

2 Prepare Application Materials

Three professional recommendations
Recommendations provide insight into your skills and expertise in the professional environment and areas where a graduate degree can help you improve. Three professional recommendations are required. You will provide your recommenders' information on the online application. CSU will contact them and give them a link to a secure form they will submit on your behalf.

Statement of purpose
The statement of purpose is a one-page letter addressing 1) why you chose our program, 2) what you hope to do with the knowledge and skills you would learn, and 3) what value you and your background would bring to the program. You will upload this document to your online application.

Current resume
Describe the responsibilities of your professional experience and what you accomplished while in those positions; show the length of time for each position (including the month and year). International applicants, please provide the city, state, and country for your employment and academic history. You will upload this document to your online application.

Academic Performance Explanation (if GPA is below 3.0)
If your most recent degree (undergraduate or graduate) cumulative GPA is below 3.0, explain the circumstances relating to your past academic performance on your online application.

English language proficiency test (if needed)
International applicants must complete the TOEFL or IELTS or PTE if the official language of your country is not English or if you did not earn your undergraduate or graduate degree from a U.S.-accredited institution. Test scores must be submitted directly to Colorado State University (school code 4075) from the testing centers.

3 Complete Online Application

Complete the online graduate application and pay the nonrefundable application processing fee (payable online). As soon as you have completed the required information, please submit your application. Your application will not be reviewed until it is complete and all required materials have been received.

Select "Business Administration (M.B.A.) – Distance" as your program of study.

CSU's Graduate School offers several application fee waiver opportunities. Visit their website to determine if you are eligible for a waiver.

4Submit Online Applicant Data Sheet

Use your CSU ID number to complete and submit the College of Business applicant data sheet. After you submit your application online, you will receive a CSU ID number in approximately two to three days, unless you already have one (alumni and current students).

5Request Transcripts

Original and official transcripts must be received from each institution you attended, including the institution from which you received your degree. Transcripts must be received directly from the originating institution to be considered official.

Please Note: Students may be unconditionally admitted and registered in their first semester of courses with an unofficial transcript. Official transcripts must be submitted, prior to or during your first semester, before you can register for your second semester of graduate work. Failure to meet this condition will result in your dismissal from the Graduate School.

Electronic (preferred):
Digital Transcripts must be submitted by the originating institution using a secure service such as parchment, eScrip-Safe, the National Student Clearinghouse, or e-Quals. Transcripts received via emails are considered unofficial.

Use institution code 4075 for Colorado State University or gradadmissions@colostate.edu if the secure service requires an email address.

Mail (if necessary)
Graduate Admissions
Colorado State University – Office of Admissions
1062 Campus Delivery
Fort Collins, CO 80523-1062

International applicants must submit one set of official transcripts and a degree statement with a certified translation into English from each college or university attended, or notarized/certified copies if you can't get originals. Documents must show courses and final examinations taken, marks received for each year, and degree or diploma received. These must be mailed to us.

Check Your Application Status

View your application status at any time to ensure your application checklist is complete or to check on updates.

Once your complete application, including supporting materials, is received, the department admission committee will review your application and promptly notify you of their decision.

For International Applicants

Proof of English language proficiency is required for applicants from countries or United States territories where there are official languages other than (or in addition to) English. This includes the U.S. territories of American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, and Puerto Rico.

Learn more about English language proficiency requirements.

Questions?

We love learning about your goals and answering any questions you have.

cobgradinfo@colostate.edu

Program Details

Courses
Credits
42
Tuition
$998 per credit
Same in-state tuition for all.
Learn more about financial aid and scholarships Tuition/fees are just part of the cost to attend CSU. Learn more about the full Cost of Attendance
Degree Awarded
Master of Business Administration, a degree accredited by the AACSB International, the premier international accrediting agency for schools and colleges of business
Time Frame
Can be completed in 21 months, or up to 5 years, depending on your schedule
Admission Reqs.
  • Two years professional experience in a related field
  • Math Entrance Exam scores recommended for applicants who have not taken the required prerequisites within the past 10 years

Application Dates

Online MBA:
For August start dates:
July 1 for all applicants
For October start dates:
Sept. 1 for all applicants
For January start dates:
Dec. 1 for all applicants
For March start dates:
Feb. 1 for all applicants
For May start dates:
April 1 for all applicants

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