MS Business Analytics Application Information

Degree:

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

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.

Coursework:

Applicants must have completed at least one college-level course in calculus and two college-level courses in statistics to be eligible to apply. Note that the statistics course requirements can be fulfilled by courses in statistics, probability, or econometrics. Sometimes a course with “analytics” in the title can fulfill the statistics requirement if the course focuses on statistics.

In addition to the above prerequisites, students are expected to have a working knowledge of linear algebra. For students who do not meet this requirement, we will require the successful completion of our short workshop in linear algebra prior to the program start date.

Note: We take a look at your whole portfolio of achievements before making admission decisions and you may be granted admission to the program conditional on completing any coursework that you may still be missing. Please contact us if you have any questions. However, we will be unable to review your courses prior to the formal application review.

English Proficiency for International Students:

International applicants are required to submit scores from either the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the International English Language Testing Systems (IELTS) in order to apply. The exam must have been taken within the last two years and a minimum score of 80 on the TOEFL or 6.5 on the IELTS is required. Most successful applications will have qualification better than the minimum.

Cal Poly is temporarily accepting scores from Duolingo​. ​​​​​​Undergraduate and graduate students who are required to demonstrate English proficiency can make use of this expanded policy or submit TOEFL or IELTS scores, if they are available. A Duolingo score of 115 will meet Cal Poly’s current standard.

Learn more about English proficiency requirements on the Admissions website. 

The application is completed and submitted via the Cal State Apply web site. A non-refundable fee of $70 (USD) is required.

On Cal State Apply you will submit each of the required items listed below:

Statement of purpose:

Summarize your career objectives, experience and reason for interest in this degree program

Resume:

A resume including education, employment, extracurricular/community activities, publications, if any, and memberships

Letter of recommendation:

Two (2) confidential letters from a professor or manager/supervisor

Test scores:

The MS Business Analytics program is waiving the GRE/GMAT test requirement for all applicants this year. However, we encourage (but do not require) applicants to submit GRE/GMAT scores if their undergraduate degree transcripts do not report grade point average (GPA) on a traditional 4-point scale, or if their GPA is less than 3.0.

Undergraduate transcript(s):

When to Submit Transcripts

Graduate applicants must send official transcripts (from degree granting institution), including work in progress course work by the application deadline. Transcripts must be sent directly from your former institution.

Once selected, Cal Poly will also need your final transcripts that includes your graduation date as soon as possible in order to certify your enrollment and allow you to register for classes.

International Transcripts

If any of your education was completed outside of the U.S. and the transcript is not in English, your official transcripts must be submitted in the native language accompanied by a certified English translation. The translator must be certified by one of the following:

• Institute for International Education (IIE)
• United States embassy or consulate
  International transcripts may also need an independent evaluation of the international credentials . If this is required, you must pay the cost of the evaluation.

How to Submit Transcripts

Cal Poly will accept electronic transcripts via the following:

• Parchment
• Docufide
• Naviance
• National Student Clearing House
• eScript-Safe
• Military Services

If your institution provides certified electronic transcripts through another service, have those transcripts sent directly from your institution to cptrans1@calpoly.edu.

You may also send official transcripts by mail to:

Cal Poly
Transcript Processing
MC 1001
1 Grand Avenue
San Luis Obispo, CA 93407

Note: Official transcripts are not needed from students who received their undergraduate degree from Cal Poly and have not attended any other colleges or universities since their graduation from Cal Poly.

The table below outlines program costs for academic year 2025-2026, excluding books, room and board, laptop computer** and other personal expenses.  Fees are estimates and are subject to change.

Program Costs Breakdown

* Access to the Recreation Center and Health Center begins Fall Quarter.

** 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.

Visit the Financial Aid website for additional information on Cal Poly’s Graduate Cost of Attendance.