MBA Application Information

Degree / Coursework:

Prior to the program start date, an applicant must have completed a baccalaureate (Bachelor’s) degree from an institution accredited by a regional accrediting association. 

The MBA program is open to students of all undergraduate majors and disciplines. While no specific undergraduate coursework is required to apply, applicants should have good communications skills and data literacy.

GPA:

A minimum undergraduate grade point average (GPA) of 2.5 (based on a 4.0 U.S.A. scale) with particular emphasis placed on the last 90 quarter units (60 semester units) is required to apply.

Meeting the minimum may not be sufficient to obtain admission. The program is competitive and most successful applicants will have a GPA above 3.0.

Work Experience:

Professional experience is strongly preferred. Applicants whose resume does not clearly document one or more years of full-time work experience should explicitly quantify short-term (e.g., internships), part-time and significant voluntary experience in an addendum to your resume.

English Proficiency for International Students:

Evidence of English proficiency is required for international applicants. More information can be found on the English Proficiency Exam Requirements page of the Graduate Admissions website.

Statement of Purpose (Personal Statement):

Your statement of purpose should be 500-750 words, and should include answers to the following questions:

• Why do you want to get an MBA from Cal Poly?
• How have your experiences prepared you to (a) reach your goals as an MBA student and (b) to be a constructive member of your MBA cohort?

Resume:

Include education, professional experience, volunteer work, etc.

Letters of Recommendation:

In your application, you will be asked to provide the email addresses of two (2) recommenders - such as professors, supervisors, or managers. Recommenders will receive an email from Cal State Apply with instructions on how to upload their confidential letters of recommendation directly through the system.

Choose individuals who can speak to your academic abilities, professional achievements, motivation, and character—for example, a professor, supervisor, or mentor who knows you well.

Test Scores:

GRE or GMAT scores are optional. They are strongly encouraged for applicants with an undergraduate GPA below 3.0.

Official score reports must be sent to institution code 4038.

Undergraduate Transcript(s)*:

Official transcripts are required from the degree granting institution and they must be sent directly from the institution, otherwise your application will be placed on hold at Cal Poly's Admission Office and will not reach the MBA Admission Committee. Additional information on how to send transcripts can be found on the Graduate Admissions website.

*Official transcripts are not needed from students who received their undergraduate degree from Cal Poly SLO.

Step 1: Complete Application on Cal State Apply 

The application is submitted via the Cal State Apply web site. A fee of $70 (USD) is required at the time of submission. This fee cannot be waived. The MBA program begins in Fall 2026 (semester). 

Once you create an account, you can select the MBA program on the “Add Programs” tab. You can find our program by filtering the campus to “Cal Poly and Cal Poly Maritime Academy" and searching for the name of your program (“Business Administration”). 

Note: You are applying to Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. Cal Maritime is a separate CSU campus, but due to system naming conventions it appears together with Cal Poly in the filter. Please ignore the Maritime reference when selecting your program.

Check the MBA Prerequisites and Application Requirements section above for detailed descriptions of required items to ensure that you are eligible to apply. The Cal State Apply application will require you to submit the following:

• Statement of Purpose (“Personal Statement”)
• Resume
• Letters of Recommendation (email addresses for two recommenders)
• Test Scores (optional)  

To ensure your application deadline is correct, please select “No” when answering question “1a. Returning” within your extended profile in your Cal State Apply account. Only applicants who have previously been enrolled in this graduate program at Cal Poly should select “Yes”.

Step 2: Activate Your MyCalPoly Portal

After your application has been received by Cal Poly Admissions, you will receive an email from Admissions with instructions to activate your MyCalPoly portal. If you do not receive an activation email within two weeks of applying, follow these instructions on the Cal Poly website to activate your portal.

Please contact Cal Poly Admissions if you are experiencing issues with your MyCalPoly portal.

Step 3: Submit Transcripts Directly to Cal Poly*

Official transcripts (including work in progress) are required from your degree granting institution and must be sent directly from the institution. Transcripts should be submitted soon after you complete your Cal State Apply application, and before the application deadline. 

Please note that your application will not be reviewed until official transcripts have been received by Cal Poly directly from your university.

Details on how to submit transcripts - including specific instructions for international applicants - are available on the Admissions website

You can verify if your transcripts have been received by checking your “To-Do List” within your Student Center in your MyCalPoly portal. Once selected, Cal Poly will also require your final transcript(s) showing your graduation date as soon as possible in order to certify your enrollment and allow you to register for classes.

*Official transcripts are not needed from students who received their undergraduate degree from Cal Poly SLO.

Step 4: Submit Proof of English Proficiency (international students only)

An English proficiency exam such as the TOEFL, IELTS, or Duolingo is required for all applicants whose native language is not English. Please see the English Proficiency Exam Requirements page on the Admissions website for more details on requirements.  

Step 5: Decision Posted on MyCalPoly Portal

After your application and all required materials have been received, your admissions decision will be posted in your Student Center within your MyCalPoly portal. You’ll also receive an email notification from Cal Poly Admissions.

Admission decisions for the MBA program are made on a rolling basis, so some applicants may receive decisions earlier than others. If you haven’t heard back yet, please note that your application is still under review. Please contact us if you have any questions.

The tables below outline program costs for academic year 2025-2026, excluding books, room and board, laptop computers** and other personal expenses, and optional activities.
Fees are estimates and are subject to change.

Even-Paced MBA Program (one year cost*)

Program Costs Breakdown

* Reflects the average cost for one year only of the expected two year pacing (30 of the 60 total required quarter units).

** To support a portable learning environment, every Orfalea College of Business Graduate Students must bring a laptop to class. We recommend a laptop computer with these specifications. Note: Many graduate instructors at the Orfalea College of Business require students to run various Windows-based applications that do not have Mac equivalents.

Additional information on Cal Poly’s Graduate Cost of Attendance can be found on the Financial Aid website.

Financial aid is available to qualified individuals. Questions regarding financial aid including how to apply for aid should be directed to Cal Poly’s Financial Aid Office. The Graduate Education Resource page is another excellent sources of information.

We are pleased to offer MBA Access Grants, a new opportunity for need-based financial aid that is available for both new and continuing MBA students. Applicants and continuing students must complete the FAFSA application to be considered for this and other sources of support. There is no additional application for MBA Access Grants. We are also pleased to offer continuing MBA students the opportunity to apply for several scholarships including the APWA – Herbert E. Gerfen Scholarship, the James R. Landreth Cal Poly VP Emeritus and Esther A. Landreth Scholarship, and the Larry Ratner Scholarship.

If you are seeking additional information regarding educational fee waivers for California State University employees or dependents, please visit Cal Poly Human Resources.