Going to an accredited business school is a must, as accreditation bodies assure you that the quality of the MBA program has been checked carefully to gain approval. Accrediting bodies like the AACSB periodically re-assess each program to make sure that the faculty, curriculum, finances, student policies, and organization remain strong. Today, it’s never been easier to choose an AACSB online MBA program as many schools are allowing for optional entrance exams like the GMAT. Opting for an AACSB online MBA no GMAT program allows mid-career working professionals to easily take their career to the next level without spending extra time fulfilling entrance exam requirements.
JUMP TO THE PROGRAM LIST: AACSB Online MBA No GMAT Programs
What is AACSB Accreditation?
The AACSB (Association for Advancement of Collegiate Schools of Business) is the oldest, and many believe most prestigious, accreditor of business and accountancy colleges and universities. Many of the world’s top ranked business schools and MBA programs hold AACSB accreditation.
The AACSB is considered the best accrediting agency for business schools, with a focus on the mission, strategic management, innovation, thought leadership and societal impact of the programs it approves. The AACSB has high standards, and therefore employers will be impressed with a degree that comes from a program that aligned with these values.
Why Would I Want to Spend More for an AACSB Online MBA?
Getting an AACSB online MBA will give you the best return on your investment. No matter what school you go to, you are going to be spending a chunk of money, and even more precious, many hours of your time. You want that time and money to count for something when you complete your degree. You might save a little money going to a lesser business school, but you will still have invested all of your time and will have a less valuable credential to show for it.
An AACSB accredited online MBA program will give you a degree that is not only educationally excellent, but that will have more weight in the business world. Getting your degree from an AACSB accredited business school is a must if you want to advance your career in a competitive field like finance or at a Fortune 500 company, and it is also the best if you want to teach business at the university level. For those who aren’t competing for jobs in the most competitive cities or companies, they may still find that the AACSB accreditation of their business school degree will get them looked at by better companies, for better jobs, and at higher salaries.
In most cases, the AACSB online MBA will cost you more than degrees from schools who have a different accreditation, but the cost difference may not be as great as you imagine. And there can be real benefits in your professional life in the future. You will never look back and regret the AACSB attached to your MBA degree, while you might kick yourself if you opt for a degree from a less prestigious school and end up getting shut out of a job opportunity or raise that you seek.
What is the GMAT?
The GMAT (Graduate Management Admission Test) is a test that is required for admission into most top tier AACSB accredited business schools. For adult students, graduate admissions exams can be daunting, especially if it has been a few years since completing your undergraduate education.
The good news? More and more prestigious business schools are waiving the GMAT requirement, in part due to the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as other factors. There’s never been more options for an AACSB online MBA no GMAT required program.
AACSB Online MBA No GMAT Makes Sense
Increasingly, both undergraduate and graduate schools have been removing the requirement for standardized tests in their admissions decisions. Some will still use tests like the SAT, GRE, or GMAT as one of many factors in their decision on whether a student is ready for the program, but will give exam scores less weight in the decision. This means that essays, academic records, recommendations, and extracurricular or work experience becomes more important to admissions departments in making these decisions.
There are many arguments against standardized tests, including that low-income students are disadvantaged because they cannot afford the expensive test-prep classes or tutoring that almost always increase student scores. Others argue that tests aren’t the best predictor of how people will perform in school or in life. Some people have test anxiety or dyslexia that can lower their scores, while other people shine in more situations that outside the somewhat artificial testing environment.
The real world may have high-pressure situations, but few of them have you sitting at a desk in timed segments answering questions. Even in academic settings, there are projects, papers, participation in discussions, and other activities that are important parts of the learning environment.
In many classes, students who have done well on the projects and assignments during the term may not be required to take a final exam because they have already demonstrated mastery of the material. Real world success does not always correlate to good scores on standardized tests.
For AACSB online MBA no GMAT requirement students, the advantages are many in being able to skip the test. Exams require preparation, especially if you have been out of a school setting for many years. Preparation and the exam itself can cost some money, but more importantly, take up time that you would rather be devoting to studying the exact topics that will help you get ahead in your career.
Especially for professionals who are returning to school to take an AACSB online MBA, results on an exam may not be the best way to judge a potential student. Years of experience in business can yield strong skills that will help a dedicated online student succeed in the program. For students who want to earn an MBA, taking away the barrier of studying for and then taking a graduate exam can make your journey to the master’s degree quicker and less bothersome. Today, there are more options than ever for an AACSB online MBA no GMAT requirement program.
AACSB Online MBA No GMAT: How To Get Entrance Exams Waived
For programs that offer an AACSB online MBA no GMAT requirement, each one will have slightly different criteria for who qualifies for the exam waiver. For some schools, they have done away with the requirement for all applicants. But for most schools, whether or not you qualify for the GMAT waiver comes down to two factors: your educational and professional experience.
Schools that don’t require the GMAT score for admission often have other requirements that you must fulfill to apply. For instance, Rochester Institute of Technology’s online Executive MBA program doesn’t require any test scores, but it does require that you have six or more years of professional work experience and that you hold advanced technical, managerial, or technical responsibilities.
If you have a doctorate or professional degree such as a PhD, JD, MD, or DO, that is often enough to get the waiver. Having an undergraduate GPA over 3.0 or 3.5 may be what can qualify you for that waiver from other schools. Each school will have a different threshold for what GPA will qualify.
For some, it might be over 3.5, but you can still find schools that will allow a waiver for lower GPAs with the addition of some work experience. One example would be Boise State University, which will allow a waiver of GMAT test scores if an applicant has an undergraduate GPA over 3.0 plus 3 years of management experience or at least a 2.75 GPA plus 5 years of management experience.
Many institutions offer AACSB online MBA no GMAT options in exchange for a certain number of years of professional experience, which can vary from three to ten years of provable business experience. Sometimes, it is a combination of a certain undergraduate GPA plus a specified number of years of experience. The type of experience will make a difference to many programs, so demonstrating progressively more responsible leadership experience in the business world will be the most likely experience to qualify for a waiver. For example, George Washington University allows applicants for the online Professional, Accelerated/Cohort, Online and Healthcare programs to apply for a waiver if they have at least three years of relevant, full time, professional work experience.
Some universities who offer the AACSB online MBA no GMAT options will have a holistic application process where there is no advertised score or number of years of experience that you must have, but they consider each waiver request on an individual basis. Pennsylvania State University considers each waiver request on a case-by-case basis with an application including resume and academic transcripts.
To enroll in an AACSB online MBA no GMAT program and get the waiver, you will need to provide transcripts to prove your GPA scores or documented work experience. Many schools will accept a resume as proof of work experience, but check on what is required by the schools you are applying to. The idea is that the AACSB online MBA no GMAT program will want to make sure that you have the quantitative and analytical skills that will be required for you to successfully complete the degree requirements.
How Was This List of AACSB Online MBA No GMAT Compiled?
We surveyed 253 online schools offering a total of 1098 different MBA options to find the best AACSB online MBA no GMAT requirement programs. We found 944 AACSB online MBA programs that do not require GRE or GMAT testing through our research.
There is a reason there are so many degrees in this study. The most recent factors include the COVID-19 pandemic’s effects on college admissions processes and the probable, temporary relaxation of entrance requirements several schools are adopting.
You won’t need to take the GRE or GMAT for the online degree programs profiled below. Still, you will need to demonstrate, on average, about eight years of managerial experience. In some cases, schools will only waive the GRE or GMAT if you already hold another advanced graduate degree.
With no admission test standing in your way, you can quickly move into your chosen online MBA program and a well-paying career. According to PayScale.com, the average salary for an MBA holder working in finance management is roughly $100,000. Depending on your concentration, the compensation may be a great deal higher. That’s very promising for anyone getting an AACSB online MBA.
Click on any AACSB online MBA no GMAT programs featured below for more information.
AACSB Online MBA No GMAT Programs
| School / Degree | State | Note |
|---|---|---|
Abilene Christian University | (TX) | |
American University | (DC) | |
Appalachian State University | (NC) | |
Arkansas Tech University | (AR) | |
Auburn University | (AL) | |
Babson College | (MA) | |
Baldwin Wallace University | (OH) | |
Barry University | (FL) | |
Baylor University | (TX) | |
Bentley University | (MA) | |
Boise State University | (ID) | |
Bowling Green State University | (OH) | |
Bryant University | (RI) | |
California State University-San Bernardino | (CA) | |
California State University-Stanislaus | (CA) | |
Citadel Military College of South Carolina | (SC) | |
Clarion University of Pennsylvania (part of Pennsylvania Western University) Master of Business Administration AACSB,14 Master of Business Administration / Finance AACSB,14 Master of Business Administration / Healthcare AACSB,14 Master of Business Administration / Accounting AACSB,14 | (PA) | |
Clayton State University | (GA) | |
Clemson University | (SC) | |
Coastal Carolina University | (SC) | |
College of William and Mary | (VA) | |
Colorado State University | (CO) | |
Creighton University | (NE) | |
Delaware State University | (DE) | |
Dominican University | (IL) | |
 Drake University | (IA) | |
Drexel University | (PA) | |
Duquesne University | (PA) | |
East Tennessee State University | (TN) | |
Eastern Illinois University | (IL) | |
Eastern Washington University | (WA) | |
Emporia State University | (KS) | |
Fairleigh Dickinson University | (NJ) | |
Fayetteville State University | (NC) | |
Florida Atlantic University | (FL) | |
Florida Gulf Coast University | (FL) | |
Florida International University | (FL) | |
Florida Southern College | (FL) | |
Florida State University | (FL) | |
Frostburg State University | (MD) | |
Georgia Southwestern State University | (GA) | |
Governors State University | (IL) | |
Hofstra University | (NY) | |
Howard University | (DC) | |
Indiana State University | (IN) | |
Indiana University Online | (IN) | |
Iona University | (NY) | |
Jackson State University | (MS) | |
Jacksonville State University | (AL) | |
Jacksonville University | (FL) | |
Johns Hopkins University | (MD) | |
Kansas State University | (KS) | |
Kent State University | (OH) | |
La Salle University | (PA) | |
Lamar University | (TX) | |
Lawrence Technological University | (MI) | |
Lehigh University | (PA) | |
Longwood University | (VA) | |
Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College | (LA) | |
Louisiana State University-Shreveport | (LA) | |
Loyola University Maryland | (MD) | |
Marquette University | (WI) | |
Marshall University | (WV) | |
Mercer University | (GA) | |
Midwestern State University | (TX) | |
Minnesota State University-Mankato | (MN) | |
Mississippi College | (MS) | |
Mississippi State University | (MS) | |
Montclair State University | (NJ) | |
Morehead State University | (KY) | |
Murray State University | (KY) | |
New Jersey Institute of Technology | (NJ) | |
New Mexico State University | (NM) | |
North Carolina A & T State University | (NC) | |
North Carolina State University at Raleigh | (NC) | |
Northeastern University | (MA) | |
Northern Kentucky University | (KY) | |
 Ohio University | (OH) | |
Oklahoma City University | (OK) | |
Old Dominion University | (VA) | |
Oregon State University | (OR) | |
Pace University | (NY) | |
Pennsylvania State University | (PA) | |
Pepperdine University | (CA) | |
Pittsburg State University | (KS) | |
Prairie View A & M University | (TX) | |
Purdue University | (IN) | |
Queens University of Charlotte | (NC) | |
Quinnipiac University | (CT) | |
Radford University | (VA) | |
Rice University | (TX) | |
Rider University | (NJ) | |
Robert Morris University | (PA) | |
Rochester Institute of Technology | (NY) | |
Rockhurst University | (MO) | |
Rowan University | (NJ) | |
Rutgers University | (NJ) | |
Saint Cloud State University | (MN) | |
Saint Joseph's University | (PA) | |
Salisbury University | (MD) | |
Sam Houston State University | (TX) | |
San Diego State University | (CA) | |
Santa Clara University | (CA) | |
Seton Hall University | (NJ) | |
Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania | (PA) | |
Southeast Missouri State University | (MO) | |
Southeastern Oklahoma State University | (OK) | |
Southern Arkansas University | (AR) | |
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville | (IL) | |
Southern Illinois University-Carbondale | (IL) | |
Southern Methodist University | (TX) | |
Southern University and A & M College | (LA) | |
Southern Utah University | (UT) | |
St. Bonaventure University | (NY) | |
St. John's University | (NY) | |
Stetson University | (FL) | |
Suffolk University | (MA) | |
SUNY College at Brockport | (NY) | |
SUNY Polytechnic Institute | (NY) | |
Syracuse University | (NY) | |
Temple University | (PA) | |
Tennessee Technological University | (TN) | |
Texas A & M International University | (TX) | |
Texas A & M University - Commerce | (TX) | |
Texas A & M University-Kingsville | (TX) | |
Texas A & M University-Texarkana | (TX) | |
Texas Southern University | (TX) | |
Texas Wesleyan University | (TX) | |
The George Washington University | (DC) | |
The University of Tennessee - Chattanooga | (TN) | |
The University of Tennessee - Martin | (TN) | |
The University of Texas at Dallas | (TX) | |
The University of Texas at Tyler | (TX) | |
The University of Texas Permian Basin | (TX) | |
The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley | (TX) | |
University of Akron | (OH) | |
University of Alabama at Birmingham | (AL) | |
University of Alaska Fairbanks | (AK) | |
University of Baltimore | (MD) | |
University of Central Arkansas | (AR) | |
University of Central Missouri | (MO) | |
University of Central Oklahoma | (OK) | |
University of Cincinnati | (OH) | |
University of Colorado - Colorado Springs | (CO) | |
University of Colorado Denver | (CO) | |
University of Connecticut | (CT) | |
University of Dallas | (TX) | |
University of Delaware | (DE) | |
University of Denver | (CO) | |
University of Hartford | (CT) | |
University of Houston - Clear Lake | (TX) | |
University of Houston-Victoria | (TX) | |
University of Illinois at Springfield | (IL) | |
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign | (IL) | |
University of Kentucky | (KY) | |
University of Louisiana at Lafayette | (LA) | |
University of Louisville | (KY) | |
University of Maine | (ME) | |
University of Maryland-College Park | (MD) | |
University of Massachusetts-Boston | (MA) | |
University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth | (MA) | |
University of Massachusetts-Lowell | (MA) | |
University of Miami | (FL) | |
University of Michigan - Dearborn | (MI) | |
University of Michigan-Flint | (MI) | |
 University of Minnesota-Twin Cities | (MN) | |
University of Mississippi | (MS) | |
University of Missouri-Kansas City | (MO) | |
University of Missouri-St Louis | (MO) | |
University of Nebraska at Kearney | (NE) | |
University of Nebraska-Lincoln | (NE) | |
University of Nevada - Reno | (NV) | |
 University of New Haven | (CT) | |
University of North Alabama | (AL) | |
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill | (NC) | |
University of North Carolina at Pembroke | (NC) | |
University of North Carolina-Wilmington | (NC) | |
University of North Texas | (TX) | |
University of Northern Colorado | (CO) | |
University of Oklahoma | (OK) | |
University of Scranton | (PA) | |
University of South Carolina-Aiken | (SC) | |
University of South Dakota | (SD) | |
University of South Florida | (FL) | |
University of Southern California | (CA) | |
University of Southern Indiana | (IN) | |
University of Southern Mississippi | (MS) | |
University of Toledo | (OH) | |
University of Tulsa | (OK) | |
University of West Florida | (FL) | |
University of Wisconsin System-eCampus Master of Business Administration AACSB,14 | (WI) | |
University of Wisconsin-Parkside | (WI) | |
University of Wisconsin-Whitewater | (WI) | |
University of Wyoming | (WY) | |
Utah State University | (UT) | |
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University | (VA) | |
West Chester University of Pennsylvania | (PA) | |
West Texas A & M University | (TX) | |
West Virginia University | (WV) | |
Western Illinois University | (IL) | |
Western Kentucky University | (KY) | |
Western New England University | (MA) | |
Wichita State University | (KS) | |
Widener University | (PA) | |
 Winthrop University | (SC) | |
Worcester Polytechnic Institute | (MA) | |
Wright State University | (OH) | |
Xavier University | (OH) |
NOTE: Results are based on the Get Educated National Review Survey of AACSB online MBA no GMAT options in the USA (Winter 2021). These rankings may NOT be re-posted online or reprinted in any format without a license from GetEducated.com, Approved Colleges, LLC. (TM). Bloggers and editors who would like to use this information can contact our editors for a free custom article on the best AACSB online MBA no GMAT programs for use on their website. Our mission: Help consumers Get Educated® about the best online colleges for cost and credibility.
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