Join a community of learners from all over the world—right from wherever you are. The Boston University Questrom Online MBA is designed for ambitious, curious, and dynamic future business leaders who are eager to further their careers.
We know the application process can take a lot of time and effort. We’re here to help. Feel free to email or call us with any questions you might need answered.
Remember: you may submit one application per entry term, and you can check the status of an existing application at any time. Please be sure to select “Online MBA” from the program list when creating your application in the system. The Graduate Admissions and Financial Aid Office keeps all records on file for one year. Once you’ve submitted an application, we’ll begin the review process.
When you’re ready to apply, start with our online application form. Please be sure to select “Online MBA” from the program list when creating your application in the system. The easiest way to do this is to enter “Online MBA” in the search bar. Please review our admissions checklist to stay on top of required materials, and keep an eye on our deadlines, too.
Feel free to contact us with any questions along the way. We want the admissions process to be as simple and transparent as possible. Reach out to the Graduate Admissions and Financial Aid Office at (617) 353-2670 or mba@bu.edu.
KIRA TALENT ASSESSMENT
We know that you are more than what’s on paper. During the online application process, all Online MBA candidates are invited to answer 3 Kira Talent Video Questions, which allow us to get to know you on a more personal level. You can access the Kira Talent platform here. When you register, you must use the same email address that you used to create your admission application account. Upon creating your account with Kira Talent, you can begin your video assessment. You’ll need to use an internet-connected computer with a webcam and microphone. You’ll have 30 seconds to prepare, and then 60 seconds to record your answers. You can practice an unlimited number of times with Kira Talent’s example questions, but once you start the formal video assessment, you are only allowed one opportunity to record. This allows the committee to see your candid responses. We want your video recording process to be as easy as possible. As such, we encourage you to dress in business casual attire – no need for a suit. The admission committee will review your responses as part of the application process, and are interested in your presence, personality, and fit with our community. We recommend trying out a few of the sample Kira questions prior to recording your formal video essay. This is not a required application component, but we highly encourage you to take advantage of this great opportunity.
WRITTEN ESSAY
In order to get to know you on a more personal level, applicants to the Online MBA program are required to complete one written essay during the application process. Within the “Documents” section of the “Program Materials” portion of the application, you will scroll down to “Essay” and click “Add Document” to upload your written essay.
Your written essay should be no more than 750 words, and should explain to the admissions committee why you’d like to earn your degree from the Questrom School of Business specifically. It should also address why you have selected the program you are applying to and how that program will help you achieve your post-graduate goals.
OPTIONAL ESSAY
Optional Essay: If you have additional information to bring to the attention of the Admissions Committee, you may address it in an optional essay of no more than 250 words. Acceptable topics for the optional essay include, but are not limited to, obstacles in your life that you’ve had to overcome, gaps in post-college work experience, choice of recommenders, and concerns about academic/test performance. If you plan to retake any admissions tests (GMAT or GRE; TOEFL, IELTS or PTE), please provide the date of your scheduled test here. To upload an optional essay, please scroll to the “Essay” section and click “Add Document.”
UNDERGRADUATE DEGREES & TRANSCRIPT INFORMATION
We require transcripts from any institution where you have completed 12 or more credits, including study aboard. We will accept unofficial copies of transcripts for the evaluation of your application, though any copies should include your name, the University name, confer date, course names, and grades for each course taken.
We require that applicants hold a four-year bachelor’s degree from an accredited US institution or its international equivalent. If you have earned a three-year degree that is the equivalent of a four-year degree in the US, it will be accepted in the admissions process. For example, if you earned a three-year degree in India, your degree will qualify you to be considered for admission. Regardless of program length, if you are uncertain whether your undergraduate degree meets our qualifications, please contact mba@bu.edu before starting the application process.
Students admitted to our graduate degree programs must provide proof of an earned bachelor’s degree or equivalent international credential. Boston University does not require official transcripts with the submission of an application. Should a student decide to enroll at Boston University Questrom School of Business, official transcripts from each of your previous universities must be submitted and verified prior to the point of matriculation.
OPTIONAL GMAT OR GRE
The Online MBA is a rigorous program that requires quantitative aptitude. The admissions committee will look for evidence of this in your application via previous coursework. If you feel that you do not have sufficient evidence in your previous coursework to demonstrate this aptitude, you may want to consider submitting a GMAT or GRE score to enhance your application. The GMAT or GRE is not required for admission to the Online MBA.
RESUME
You should submit a current resume that outlines all work experience, with months and years of employment. Your resume should show all employment history from the completion of your undergraduate degree, including any jobs that may not be considered relevant to your present career. We will calculate all full-time, post-graduate work experience from your undergraduate degree confer date and remove any gaps of unemployment. It’s important that we have an accurate sense of your months/years of employment for reporting purposes.
Within the online application you will also be asked to fill out a work experience section. For Online MBA students, we recognize this could be quite a bit of work. Please feel free to only include your current or most recent employment. We will look to your resume for the rest of the details on your work history.
LETTER OF RECOMMENDATION
We require one letter of recommendation for the Online MBA. Within the application (program materials, recommender section) you will enter your recommender information. Once entered into the system, the person(s) listed will receive detailed instructions on how to submit their letter. They can either use the Common Letter of Recommendation or upload a standard letter they have written. We prefer you use someone who knows you in a professional capacity.
Please note, your letter of recommendation must come via the online system or directly from the recommender themselves to OMBAappdocs@bu.edu. We cannot accept letters of recommendation directly from applicants.
Re-Applicants
RE-APPLICANTS
The Graduate Admissions and Financial Aid Office keeps all records on file for one year. We welcome your re-application.
Each re-applicant is required to submit a new application form and fee ($125); an essay discussing updates or changes since the time of the previous application, as well as reasons for re-applying; an updated resume and official university-level transcripts (if the re-applicant has taken new coursework since the time of their first application). A new letter of recommendation is not required. Please email mba@bu.edu for more instructions.
Information for International Students
ENGLISH LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY:
Candidates who have earned or will have completed at least two years of a bachelor’s or master’s degree at an institution in which the language of instruction was solely based in English are eligible for an automatic TOEFL/IELTS/PTE waiver. Candidates must present evidence of language of instruction with the application for admission. Appropriate documentation includes a transcript coversheet, an official statement from the university, or a link to the institution’s website that specifies that the mode of instruction is English. Additionally, candidates who have or will have worked for at least two years in a full-time, post-bachelor’s degree position in the US are eligible for an automatic waiver. If you do not meet this criteria but would like to be considered for a waiver, you can submit a written request highlighting your experience with and proficiency in the English language to mba@bu.eduprior to the submission of your application. The admissions committee will consider these requests on a case by case basis. If you are submitting test results with your application, please be advised that tests are valid for two years.
We are currently accepting Duolingo scores in addition to TOEFL and IELTS.To access the Duolingo test, go tohttps://englishtest.duolingo.com/applicants. Select Boston University Graduate & Professional Programs as a score recipient, and emailquestromappdocs@bu.eduwith your name and the date you have taken the Duolingo test.
TOEFL: BU’s TOEFL code is 3087. Minimum Scores of 600 on the PBT or 90 on the iBT are recommended.
IELTS: A student must score a minimum of 6.5 across each band.
PTE: As more candidates submit the PTE, we are developing updated standards for our requirements. As new information becomes available, it will be posted here.
Duolingo: A minimum score of 120 is recommended.
Application Fee Waiver Eligibility
APPLICATION FEE WAIVER
The Graduate Admissions and Financial Aid Office will waive the application fee for current BU employees, as well as for those who attended select admissions events.
In addition, we will waive the application fee for those who are members or alumni of the following programs:
The US Military
AmeriCorps
Education Pioneers
Management Leadership for Tomorrow MBA Fellows
Teach for America
Historically Black Colleges
The Peace Corps
City Year Corps
Hispanic Serving Institutions
Instructions:
Instructions and the application fee waiver form can be found here.
Once we process your fee waiver request, you’ll receive a follow-up email with additional instructions on how to submit your application. DO NOT click “submit and pay for programs” prior to receiving these instructions. We are unable to offer application fee refunds.
Due to the high volume of applications we receive, your application fee waiver may take a few business days to process. As such, we encourage you to submit your application fee waiver request as soon as you have started your application. If you wait until the application deadline to submit your waiver request, you will still be considered “on time” for that deadline as long as you submit your application within 48 hours of receiving your waiver code. You must submit your waiver request before you submit your application in order for the fee waiver to be applied.
Online MBAAdmissions
Admissions Deadlines
Entry
Application Deadline Date
Admissions Decision Date
January (Spring) 2024
September 13, 2023
October 5, 2023
November 1, 2023
December 1, 2023
Entry
Application Deadline Date
Admissions Decision Date
August (Fall) 2024
February 1, 2024
March 1, 2024
March 15, 2024
April 12, 2024
May 1, 2024
June 7, 2024
June 5, 2024
July 3, 2024
Please note: if the class has been filled for a specific entry date, applicants will receive priority consideration for the next available entry term.
Online MBAAdmissions
admissions checklist
We know the application process can take a lot of time and effort. We’re here to help. Below, you’ll find our Online MBA admissions checklist—keep it handy and bookmark it in your browser with this unique link. You may also download the checklist here.
Application Fee ($125) Credit/debit cards only – paid at the end of the application.
at the time of application submission. Credit/debit cards only.
Kira Talent Video Assessment In the “Kira Assessment” section of the “Program Materials” portion of the application, respond to three questions to help us get to know you better. You can either access the Kira Talent platform within the online application (preferred) or complete the assessment after submission. Please note, the Kira Talent Assessment requires either a laptop of desktop computer. Mobile devices and tablets are not currently supported on the Kira Talent platform.Completing the Kira Talent Assessment is optional but highly encouraged. Completing the Kira Talent Assessment is optional but highly encouraged.
Written Essay In the “Documents” section of the “Program Materials” portion of the application, upload your written essay to help us get to know you better. Your written essay should be no more than 750 words and should explain to the admissions committee why you’d like to earn your degree from the Questrom School of Business specifically. It should also address why you have selected the program you are applying to and how that program will help you achieve your post-graduate goals.
Resume Current resume, as required in the “Experiences” section of the online application. Upload in the “Supporting Information” section of the online application. If you have any additional information to bring to the attention of the admissions committee, you may address it in an additional optional essay. Please note – as an Online MBA applicant, you will need to include your current or most recent work experience in the “experiences” section. You do not need to input any additional employment.
1 Letter of Recommendation In the “Recommendation” section of the “Program Materials” portion of the application you will enter your recommender information. Once entered into the system, they will receive detailed instructions on how to submit their letter. They can either use the Common of Letter Recommendation or upload a standard letter they have written.
University-Level Transcripts Submit transcripts for any coursework completed, including study abroad and post-graduate work. Transcripts should be uploaded in the “Supporting Information” portion of the application under “Documents”. Should you choose to enroll, we will need official transcripts prior to matriculating. If you have issues uploading your document(s), transcripts can be emailed to OMBAappdocs@bu.edu.
Proof of English Proficiency If you are a non-native English speaker, you may be required to submit proof of English proficiency via a TOEFL, IELTS, or Duolingo test. Please see this section of our website for waiver information. Permanent residents should submit a copy (front and back) of their permanent resident card.
Online MBAAdmissions
TUITION & FINANCIAL AID
You’re making a smart investment in BU and in your future.
We take that investment seriously. We’re happy to guide you through the financial aid process and provide any assistance along the way. To help you plan for your graduate education, use the Graduate Financial Aid page or take a look at the Online MBA specific information we’ve laid out for you below.
The Online MBA costs $4,167 per module or $25,000 total tuition. The 6-module, 45 credit program is completed 100% online. You will be billed at the start of each module.
You are only billed for direct expenses (tuition and fees) charged by the university. However, we encourage you to think about your budget for things like books, course materials, and incidentals and plan accordingly. We recommend budgeting between $350-$450 a semester for books and course materials. Please note, summer budget items are subject to change, but tuition will remain at $4,167 per module.
Looking to see tuition rates in another currency? Click here convert the US dollar amounts into other currencies, such as Euros, Great Britain Pounds, Chinese RMB, and Indian Rupees, and see current exchange rates.
The following tuition, fees, and other expenses have been established at Boston University Questrom School of Business for those starting in Fall 2024. The Online MBA tuition is subject to change.
Online MBAAdmissions
class profile
Questrom Online MBA Incoming Class
Data as of January 15th, 2024
January 2024
August 2023
Number of Students Enrolled as of MOD 0
504
555
% of Male Students*
65%
66%
% of Female Students*
35%
34%
% Domestic Students
78%
78%
% International Students
22%
22%
% of US Underrepresented Students of Color**
18%
17%
Average Age
38
38
Average Work Experience
13 Years
12.5 Years
Average Undergraduate GPA
3.2
3.2
*While we understand that sex and gender may not be binary, this information is based on reporting requirements to the US Federal Government.
**US underrepresented students of color refers to racial or ethnic minorities that are underrepresented in business education. This group includes the following groups of US citizens: Hispanic American or Latino, Black or African American, Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander, and American Indian or Alaska Native. This list is not reflective of all US underrepresented populations.
Employment By Industry
Industries represented by August 2023 entering class.
*Other: Aerospace/Automotive, Advertising/PR/Communications, Agriculture, Construction Management ,Defense, Engineering, Fashion, Insurance, Legal, Manufacturing, Marketing, Publishing, Real Estate, Retail, Telecommunications, Transportation and Logistics, Venture Capital and more.
US Geographic Background
Current location of learners for August 2023 entrants.
27% NEW ENGLAND 26% MID-ATLANTIC 23%WEST 16% SOUTH 8% MIDWEST
International Regions Represented
Inclusive of August 2023 and January 2024 entrants, based on nation of origin.
25% EAST & SOUTHEAST ASIA 21% CENTRAL & SOUTH ASIA 15% CANADA 12% WESTERN EUROPE / EASTERN EUROPE 11% MEXICO / CARIBBEAN / LATIN AMERICA 9% MIDDLE EAST 5% AFRICA 2% AUSTRALIA & PACIFIC ISLANDS
List of Countries Represented
Inclusive of August 2023 and January 2024 entrants, based on nation of origin.
Albania
Argentina
Australia
Armenia
Bangladesh
Belgium
Bermuda
Brazil
Cambodia
Canada
Chile
China
Colombia
Costa Rica
Egypt
Georgia
Germany
Greece
Guyana
Haiti
Hong Kong
Hungary
Iceland
India
Indonesia
Iran
Iraq
Ireland
Israel
Italy
Jamaica
Japan
Jordan
Kenya
Latvia
Lebanon
Malaysia
Mexico
Myanmar
New Zealand
Nigeria
Norway
Oman
Pakistan
Palestine
Peru
Philippines
Portugal
Saudi Arabia
Serbia
Singapore
Slovakia
Slovenia
South Africa
South Korea
Sri Lanka
Sweden
Tunisia
Turkey
Uganda
United Arab Emirates
Venezuela
Vietnam
Zimbabwe
Online MBAAdmissions
Admissions Ambassadors
Interested in connecting with a current Online MBA student? Meet our OMBA Admissions Ambassadors, a group of current students who help prospective students discover Questrom, and all it has to offer.
Our Online MBA Admissions Ambassadors are around to chat via email or on the phone to answer your questions about what being an Online MBA student at the Questrom School of Business is really like. Take a look at our student profiles linked below, and feel free to reach out directly to anyone you’d like to connect with.
Have Questions about the application process for questrom’s online MBA program? We have answers.
Whether you’re curious about letters of recommendation or what we look for on your resume, you’re in the right place. These videos have all the answers you need to make sure you send in a competitive application.
Online MBAAdmissions
PREVIOUSLY RECORDED WEBINARS
As you make plans for your future, we want to give you every opportunity to discover all there is to know about Boston University Questrom School of Business and the Online MBA. Don’t have time to join us live for one of our events? Check out our previously recorded webinars below!