Home > Graduate Programs > MBA > Requirements

Admission to the TCU Neeley School of Business is highly competitive. We’re looking for proactive students with a history of setting and achieving challenging goals, who can contribute in a team-based environment. For our professional and executive programs, we’re looking for students who have significant personal and professional experience from a broad range of backgrounds.

Apply Now Deadlines

  • Copies of official transcripts from your degree-issuing university and any university at which you completed graduate-level course work. If you are admitted, we will request the official transcripts from all previously attended colleges or universities. We reserve the right to rescind an offer of admission should any misrepresentation occur.
  • Understanding of basic mathematics – e.g., the completion of college algebra or business quantitative methods with a grade of “C” or better.
  • Résumé: Communicate the nature of your past positions and major professional accomplishments.
  • The GMAT or GRE exam is required for admission and scholarship consideration for Full-time MBA applicants. The Executive Assessment is also considered.
    • Free GMAT Prep is available through TCU.
    • Applicants who are CFA Charter holders or have already earned a postgraduate degree in a quantitative or STEM field may waive the GMAT requirement.
    • Waivers are considered on a case-by-case basis for applicants with exceptional work and academic experience.
  • Contact information for up to three people who can provide recommendations (we do not accept recommendation letters) – ideally, people who are familiar with you from a professional setting.
  • Impressive answers on your application essays.
  • Admission Interview (invitation only): Required for admission, but not all applicants are invited to interview. After a preliminary review of your application, if you are selected for an interview, you will be notified by email or phone.
  • Accelerated (One-year) MBA applicants must have:
    • Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) or equivalent from an AACSB-accredited university, with a strong academic record
    • Strong performance on the GMAT or GRE Exam
    • Minimum of three years postgraduate professional work or military experience.

  • Copies of official transcripts from your degree-issuing university and any university at which you completed graduate-level course work. If you are admitted, we will request the official transcripts from all previously attended colleges or universities. We reserve the right to rescind an offer of admission should any misrepresentation occur.
  • Understanding of basic mathematics – e.g., the completion of college algebra or business quantitative methods with a grade of “C” or better.
  • Résumé: Communicate the nature of your past positions and major professional accomplishments.
  • Contact information for up to three people who can provide recommendations (we do not accept recommendation letters) – ideally, people who are familiar with you from a professional setting.
  • Impressive answers on your application essays.
  • Admission Interview (invitation only): Required for admission, but not all applicants are invited to interview. After a preliminary review of your application, if you are selected for an interview, you will be notified by email or phone.
  • The GMAT, GRE or Executive Assessment (EA) is optional for students applying to the Professional MBA. Since our programs are small by design, we are able to evaluate each applicant thoroughly, and assess academic readiness through review of transcripts and other application materials.
    • Some of the evidence of academic readiness may include evidence of a strong quantitative and/or analytical background, type and depth of work experience, and proven ability to perform.
  • Accelerated MBA applicants must have:
    • Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) or equivalent from an AACSB-accredited university, with a strong academic record
    • Strong performance on the GMAT or GRE Exam
    • Minimum of three years’ postgraduate professional work or military experience.

  • Copies of official transcripts from your degree-issuing university and any university at which you completed graduate-level course work. If you are admitted, we will request the official transcripts from all previously attended colleges or universities. We reserve the right to rescind an offer of admission should any misrepresentation occur.
  • Résumé: Communicate the nature of your past positions and major professional accomplishments.
  • Contact information for up to three people who can provide recommendations (we do not accept recommendation letters) – ideally, people who are familiar with you from a professional setting.
  • Impressive answers on your application essays.
  • Admission Interview (invitation only): Required for admission, but not all applicants are invited to interview. After a preliminary review of your application, if you are selected for an interview, you will be notified by email or phone.
  • The GMAT, GRE or Executive Assessment (EA) is optional for students applying to the Executive MBA. Since our programs are small by design, we are able to evaluate each applicant thoroughly, and assess academic readiness through review of transcripts and other application materials.
    • Some of the evidence of academic readiness may include evidence of a strong quantitative and/or analytical background, type and depth of work experience, and proven ability to perform.
  • At least eight years of work experience and five years of management experience is required to apply.

  • An English language proficiency test score is required of all non-native English speakers, with the exception of applicants who qualify for one of the following:
    • Have spent at least three years in the U.S. studying toward completion of an undergraduate degree
    • Have completed a graduate degree in the U.S.
    • Have worked in the U.S. at least two years
    • Hold an undergraduate degree from an accredited institution where
      • English is the language of instruction and
      • the accredited institution is located in a country where English is an official language (e.g., Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia, Singapore, India, Ghana, Nigeria and Uganda).

    We will accept TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language), Duolingo English Test, PTE (Pearson Test of English) or IELTS (International English Language Training System) scores.

    Minimum score required:

    • TOEFL internet-based: 100
    • TOEFL computer-based: 250
    • TOEFL paper-based: 600
    • Duolingo English Test: 130
    • PTE: 68
    • IELTS: 7
  • Course-by-Course Transcript Evaluations: If your degree was earned at an institution outside of the U.S., you will need to submit them with a certified English translation. We recommended you submit them through World Education Services (WES) for evaluation. See the National Association of Credential Evaluations Service for a full list of providers
  • Applicants from China will also need to provide their bachelor's degree certification and diploma.
  • Applicants from India must have completed at least a three-year bachelor's degree, with evidence of strong and consistent performance.
Students admitted to TCU with an F-1 status must request an I-20 form. To secure an F-1 visa, we require students to secure and complete the following:
  • A completed International Scholar form: TCU International Student/Scholar form
  • A financial statement, required after admission but before the Certificate of Eligibility (I-20 or IAP 66): Financial Statement 
  • Bank statement to show proof of funds to cover the estimated expenses for the first year of academic study as outlined in the Financial Statement document
  • A valid passport

  • Copies of official transcripts from your degree-issuing university and any university at which you completed graduate-level course work. If you are admitted, we will request the official transcripts from all previously attended colleges or universities. We reserve the right to rescind an offer of admission should any misrepresentation occur.
  • Understanding of basic mathematics – e.g., the completion of college algebra or business quantitative methods with a grade of “C” or better.
  • Résumé: Communicate the nature of your past positions and major professional accomplishments.
  • Contact information for up to three people who can provide recommendations (we do not accept recommendation letters) – ideally, people who are familiar with you from a professional setting.
  • Impressive answers on your application essays.
  • Admission Interview (invitation only): Required for admission, but not all applicants are invited to interview. After a preliminary review of your application, if you are selected for an interview, you will be notified by email or phone.
  • The ACT, SAT, GMAT, GRE or Executive Assessment (EA) is optional for students applying to the MSBA by the early deadline.
    • Some of the evidence of academic readiness may include evidence of a strong quantitative and/or analytical background, type and depth of work and internship experience, and proven ability to perform.

  • Copies of official transcripts from your degree-issuing university and any university at which you completed graduate-level course work. If you are admitted, we will request the official transcripts from all previously attended colleges or universities. We reserve the right to rescind an offer of admission should any misrepresentation occur.
  • Understanding of basic mathematics – e.g., the completion of college algebra or business quantitative methods with a grade of “C” or better.
  • Résumé: Communicate the nature of your past positions and major professional accomplishments.
  • Contact information for up to three people who can provide recommendations (we do not accept recommendation letters) – ideally, people who are familiar with you from a professional setting.
  • Impressive answers on your application essays.
  • Admission Interview (invitation only): Required for admission, but not all applicants are invited to interview. After a preliminary review of your application, if you are selected for an interview, you will be notified by email or phone.
  • The GMAT, GRE or Executive Assessment (EA) is optional for students applying to the MSSCM. Since our programs are small by design, we are able to evaluate each applicant thoroughly and assess readiness through review of transcripts and other application materials.
    • Some of the evidence of academic readiness may include evidence of a strong quantitative and/or analytical background, type and depth of work and internship experience, and proven ability to perform.

Current TCU Undergraduate Students
  • TCU undergraduate business students pursing a BBA with major or minor in Accounting are encouraged to enroll in the PPA Seminar course, ACCT 30101, during fall semester of their junior year.
  • Seniors should apply no later than September 15 of the fall semester of their senior year. Contact PPAccounting@tcu.edu for requirements.
Non-TCU College Graduates 
  • If you do not have a BBA from Neeley, you must prove that you have completed the pre-requisite courses required by the Texas State Board of Public Accountacy with a GPA of 3.0 or higher.
  • For a list of the courses and links to the forms, see the MAc requirements page.
Section Image: TCU MBA

Submit Official Transcripts

As part of the application process, we ask for unofficial transcript(s) to be uploaded. These are used to make admissions decisions. However, for admitted students to officially move forward and enroll in the program, you must provide official transcripts from all previously attended universities by June 1.

  • Have transcripts sent from all universities at which you earned undergraduate or graduate level credit. The transcripts must come directly from the university, unless you have sealed copies.
  • We need official transcripts from all universities including those for transfer credit, unless the university lists all transfer courses by course name and posts a specific grade for each transfer course.
  • If you previously attended TCU, it is not necessary to order a TCU transcript or transcripts for transfer work already accepted by TCU.

Have your university send transcripts by mail or email to:
 
TCU Neeley Graduate Admissions
TCU Box 298540
Fort Worth, TX 76129
mbainfo@tcu.edu