Master of Business Administration - MBA

The MBA program is a 30-credit program. The Foundation Courses are required for students who do not have prior coursework in business. The courses may be waived for students who earned B or better in similar undergraduate courses.

Prerequisite Foundation Courses

Required Advance Core Courses

Electives, 9 credits: If you do not choose an option, then you’re able to take any 3 graduate level business electives and earn a General Business Option.

Cost Per Credit: $655
Term Registration Fee: $30

Estimated Total Program Cost (30 credits): $19,650 

As a graduate student, you may qualify for federal student aid and other need-based scholarships. To be considered for financial assistance, you must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Learn more at UMass Lowell Graduate Aid.

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is available to U.S. citizens, permanent residents, and certain eligible non-citizens. Please visit Financial Aid if you have questions about your eligibility.

All Manning School of Business master’s and doctoral applicants must submit:

1. An application
2. An application fee
3. A statement of purpose
4. Letters of recommendation
5. Official transcripts
6. Official test score report - GRE or GMAT only required for Ph.D. applicants
7. Resume

Note: All required materials must be received before the application package can be evaluated. If you need to introduce new references or add other supporting documents, log on to your application, click on “Program Materials” to update your application. Please note the new documents and references will be considered only if your application has not been reviewed for admission.  

International Students: please see the additional application requirements.

Bachelor's to Master's Students: You will not need to apply via the application portal. Visit the Bachelor's to Master's page to learn about the process to transition to your desired master's program.

1. Online Application application

Manning School of Business is participating in the common application for business programs (Business CAS). Applications are only being accepted using the online process. Instructions are included in the online application link.

Apply for Fall 2024 - Spring 2025

Apply for Summer 2025, Fall 2025, Spring 2026

2. Application Fee

The application fee is $75 for each application and is non-refundable. Applications will not be processed until this fee is received or application fee waiver has been approved and delivered to the Office of Graduate Admissions.

3. Statement of Purpose statement

In a separate document, submit a brief statement indicating your immediate and long-range goals, relevant work history, academic honors/awards received, any teaching experience and/or research conducted/published that may be pertinent to your graduate program. Two page recommended maximum.

Note: If you are applying to more than one program, you will need to submit a program-specific statement of purpose with each application package.

4. Letters of Recommendation recommendation

Master's applicants need to submit two (2) letters of recommendation. Doctoral applicants will be asked to submit three (3) letters of recommendation. You will be asked to provide (names and email addresses) referees during the application process and that an automated request will be sent out after completion of your application. If you choose, you may use the graduate admissions recommendation form (pdf) for these; use of the form is optional.

Recommendations should be from instructors who have taught you, ideally in the field to which you are applying. Recommendations may also be from employers or supervisors who are in a position to compare your performance to that of your peers. Please use the recommendation form for these.

5. Official Transcripts transcripts

Provide a complete and official transcript from the institution that awarded or will award you a bachelor’s degree. You may also include transcripts from other institutions at which you have taken relevant coursework. Please note that waiting for additional transcripts may delay review of your application.

Transcripts should be sent in sealed and signed envelopes mailed to the Office of Graduate Admissions. If you received your degree from UMass Lowell, it is not necessary for you to request a transcript, we are able to provide one for you.

UMass Lowell Graduate Admissions
GPS Center
839 Merrimack Street, 2nd Floor
Lowell, MA 01854-3941

International transcripts that do not clearly indicate to the Office of Graduate Admissions that you have received a four-year bachelor’s degree, the equivalent of an American bachelor's degree must be demonstrated before an application will be processed. Please note, the Office of Graduate Admissions reserves the right to have any application credential evaluated. Baccalaureate verification may be obtained for a fee at:

Center for Educational Documentation, Inc.
P.O. Box 170116
Boston, MA 02117
Telephone: 617-338-7171
Fax: 617-338-7101
Center for Educational Documentation website
World Education Services website

test-score 6. Official Test Score Report(s)

Our Ph.D. program requires all applicants to submit either the GRE or GMAT score and this test score cannot be waived. If you are applying to a Master's program you do not need to submit GRE or GMAT scores, although these will be accepted. If you wish to submit test scores as part of your application, please have the appropriate agency send official test scores to the to the Office of Graduate Admissions. UMass Lowell’s school code is 3911.

Master of Business Administration

GMAT/GRE not required

If English is NOT the national language in your home country, please submit one of the following English proficiency tests:

• TOEFL: minimum acceptable score is 90
• IELTS: minimum acceptable score is 7.0
• Duolingo: minimum acceptable score is 125
• ASC English: minimum acceptable level is 6
• Pearson Test of English: minimum acceptable score is 64

Master of Science in Finance, Master of Science in Accounting and Master of Science in Business Analytics

GMAT/GRE not required

If English is NOT the national language in your home country, please submit one of the following English proficiency tests:

• TOEFL: minimum acceptable score is 100
• IELTS: minimum acceptable score is 7.0
• Duolingo: minimum acceptable score is 135
• ASC English: minimum acceptable level is 6
• Pearson Test of English: minimum acceptable score is 72

resume 7. Resume

Please submit a resume.

• Accounting: Accounting is the recording, classifying and summarizing of financial transactions to provide information for sound business decision-making. MBA students learn to prepare financial statements and use accounting information to make informed decisions.
• Business Communications: You will develop the skills to communicate, verbally and in writing, with different audiences, such as employees, customers, investors and the media.
• Business Ethics: You will learn about the different ethical frameworks that can be used to make decisions in business and discuss case studies of ethical dilemmas that companies have faced.
• Business Strategy: Business strategy is planning how a company will achieve its goals. You will learn different techniques, how to analyze a company's competitive environment and how to give your company a competitive advantage.
• Corporate Finance: Corporate finance teaches how companies raise and allocate capital. You will learn about the different types of financing, how to make investment decisions and manage financial risks.
• Leadership: Leadership is influencing others to achieve a common goal. As an MBA student, you'll learn about the different styles of leadership and how to motivate and inspire others.
• Marketing: Marketing involves creating, communicating and delivering messages that have value for customers, clients and society at large. You will learn different marketing strategies, how to conduct market research and how to develop marketing campaigns.
• Operations Management: Operations management is the process that produces and services. As an MBA student, you will learn key facets of operations management, such as supply chain management, quality control and inventory management.
• Organizational Behavior: You will analyze the factors that affect organizational behavior, such as motivation, communication and conflict resolution.

• Networking: The alumni network from your MBA program can be a valuable resource for your career. Alums often provide job leads, introductions to potential employers and mentorship.
• Recruiting: Top-tier MBA programs attract recruiters from prestigious companies. You will have more opportunities to interview for high-paying jobs at top companies.
• Salary: Graduates of top-tier MBA programs typically earn higher starting salaries than graduates of less prestigious programs. Employers are often willing to pay more if they believe you are more qualified.
• Career advancement: You are more likely to be promoted to senior positions if you graduate from a highly-ranked program. Employers view these graduates as having the skills and experience necessary to succeed in leadership roles.

• Demonstrate strong academic performance: A strong undergraduate GPA, regardless of your major, indicates your ability to work hard, stay organized and succeed.
• Highlight relevant work experience: If you have work experience in a business-related field, even without a business degree, it can demonstrate your understanding of business principles and your ability to apply them in a practical setting. Consider this when writing your statement of purpose. 
• Complete a Graduate Certificate: At UMass Lowell, the Graduate Certificate program in Foundations of Business covers all the required foundation courses for the MBA. Not only will the courses in this program prepare you for entry to the MBA program, but it is also another excellent credential to add to your resume. 

• Management consulting: Management consultants work with organizations to identify and solve problems, improve efficiency and develop growth strategies. They have critical thinking and problem-solving skills and can communicate effectively with clients and colleagues.
• Finance: If you have strong quantitative skills and an interest in financial markets, finance may be the field for you. Finance professionals work in various roles, including investment banking, corporate finance and financial analysis. 
• Marketing: Marketing professionals develop and execute marketing campaigns to promote products, services and brands. MBA graduates with strong creative skills who are interested in consumer behavior do well as marketers.  
• Operations management: As an operations manager, you'll oversee the production of goods and services. In addition to possessing strong analytical and problem-solving skills, you'll need the ability to manage and motivate teams.
• Entrepreneurship: If you're interested in running your own business, an MBA will give you a great foundation as an entrepreneur. Entrepreneurs have strong leadership and business skills and the willingness to take risks and innovate.