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) is required to be admitted. Particular emphasis is placed on the last 90 quarter units (60 semester units). Admission 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

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

You will provide email addresses for two (2) supervisors or professors. Recommenders will be able to upload their confidential letters through Cal State Apply.

Test Scores

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

Undergraduate Transcript(s)*

Official transcripts are required from the degree granting institution and they must be sent directly from the institution. 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. We accept applications for fall quarter admission only.  

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

Check the MBA Application Prerequisites and Requirements page 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:

• Resume
• Letters of Recommendation (email addresses for two recommenders)
• Statement of Purpose (“Personal Statement”)
• 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 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 are required from the degree granting institution and they must be sent directly from the institution. Transcripts should be sent after submitting your application through Cal State Apply and before the application deadline. Details on how to submit transcripts can be found 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. If your degree is still in-progress at the time of applying, please note that final transcripts will also need to be sent upon degree completion.

Applicants who received their undergraduate degree from Cal Poly SLO do not need to submit their official transcripts. The university will make these available to graduate admissions after you apply through Cal State Apply.

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 submission of your application and receipt of all required items, an admissions decision will be posted within your Student Center in your MyCalPoly portal and you will be notified via email by Cal Poly Admissions. The application deadlines and estimated decision release dates are listed in the accordion at the top of this page.

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.