One-Year MBA (IBEAR) Admissions

GMAT/ GRE/ EA Testing Requirements for 2024-25 Admissions Cycle

An applicant can submit a request to waive the GMAT/GRE/EA test requirement. Only applicants who have completed an application may request a waiver. In order to make the request, please use the Test Waiver Request Essay on the application to describe your rationale and make a compelling case for the request. Upon submission of your application, please email IBEARMBAadmissions@marshall.usc.edu to alert us of your submission*. The subject line on the email should read: “Request for Test Waiver – Application Submitted.” We will review your case and respond by email to your request for the waiver within 10 business days. Finally, you should review and consider the following guidelines before making the request:

Standardized tests provide the Admissions Committee with evidence of a candidate’s ability to perform academically. The basis for your waiver request should be grounded in a record of exceptional academic achievement that includes demonstrated mathematical preparedness. While professional experience can be included as a component of the waiver request, the Admissions Committee will most strongly consider two elements: 1) overall academic achievement; and 2) performance in quantitative coursework.

Applications – with or without test scores – will be reviewed holistically.

The decision to grant or decline a waiver request should not be viewed as a signal of the ultimate admissions decision.

Waivers will not be considered if an applicant has not submitted a complete application including uploaded copies of a résumé and all official academic transcripts.

Test waivers will be granted on a case-by-case basis.

Decisions on waiver requests are final, and Marshall will not respond to requests for re-consideration.

Test scores serve as one consideration in merit-based scholarship decisions.

Some employers may consider test scores in their evaluation of job applicant.

In the absence of a GRE/GMAT/EA score, in addition to completing the Test Waiver essay, please be prepared to demonstrate in your application one or more of the following:

- A strong undergraduate and/or graduate record in analytical coursework or disciplines

- CPA or CFA certifications

- Master's or advanced degree in an analytical discipline

- Certificate courses completed in an analytical discipline

- Extensive practical work experience in an analytical field

- A recent (valid or expired) GRE, GMAT or EA score

* Please include your First Name, Last Name, Date of Birth, and CAS ID# (located in the top right corner of your online application) in the email, so that we can easily locate your file.

You must upload scanned copies of official transcripts from all schools attended to avoid delays in reviewing and processing. Please note that these must be registrar generated official transcripts printed on university letterhead. Print-outs from online student portals, screenshots, and photographs of transcripts are not acceptable.

If your application is not complete by the published deadlines, we cannot guarantee a timely admission decision.

USC alumni or current students:

If you are a USC degree holder, you must still upload a copy of your official transcript into the online application. Please be sure to include your USC enrollment in the “Academic Background” section so that we may match your application to the academic records already on file.

International Transcripts:

Students who have earned their degree outside the United States must check our COUNTRY-SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS  (link url: https://gradadm.usc.edu/prospective-international-students/country-requirements/) to determine if we need original-language copies of their academic records. In such cases, a separate, word-for-word, English-language translation of all academic records must also be submitted. The translation should be issued directly by the school itself or by a professional, certified translator. It must contain all information shown on the original-language documents and “mirror” them as precisely as possible. Dual-language transcripts are also acceptable.

Please note that USC does not accept or recognize credential evaluation reports from outside agencies (e.g. WES, ECE, etc.) for the purposes of admission review.

If sending your transcripts via regular mail or courier service, please use the following address:
University of Southern California
USC Office of Graduate Admission
3601 South Flower Street, Room 112
Los Angeles, CA 90089-0915

Confidentiality and Document Submission Policy

Transcripts and all other materials submitted for admission consideration become the property of USC. The university does not return or duplicate materials for any reason whatsoever. The information and materials in your submitted application are made available only to the central Office of Admission and the admission committee of the academic department or professional school to which you have applied.

Participant Profile

Average Class Size: 55

Number of Countries Represented: 12-15

Median GMAT: 630

Average Age: 36

Average Years Work Experience: 12

Advanced Degrees: 30%

Married Students: 60%

Undergraduate Majors

Business: 25%

Science & Engineering: 40%

Humanities & Social Studies: 20%

Economics: 10%

Computer Science: 5%

Pre-MBA Career Industries

High Tech / Engineering: 20%

Financial Services / Banking: 20%

Consulting: 10%

Consumer Services / CPG: 35%

Other: 15%

Participants By Region (Typical Class)

Asia: 65%

North America: 15%

Latin America: 15%

Other: 5%

Please ask your undergraduate institution to include an explanation of the grading system and information about how the transcript should be assessed. Transcripts in a language other than English must be accompanied by an English translation.

We require one letter of recommendation. Your letter of recommendation is used as a gauge of your professional achievements and managerial potential. We prefer that your recommendation be provided by a direct supervisor. This person should provide specific observations and examples of your leadership, teamwork, analytical skills and personal qualities. Your letter of recommendation must be submitted online.

Interviews are a mandatory part of the iMBA admission process. All shortlisted candidates will be invited to interview either in person or via Zoom.

TOEFL or IELTS Score Report — International applicants (those who are not U.S. citizens or not U.S. permanent residents) must submit at least one of these test score reports (upload official copy of score report to application and send directly through testing service), except for those who satisfy requirements listed under the GRADUATE ADMISSIONS ENGLISH-LANGUAGE TEST WAIVER POLICY.

Some students may receive an admission to the iMBA program that is conditional upon them attending USC’s Summer Intensive English Program. If you required to enroll in this program, you will need to submit an application to the USC International Academy.

This application for the Summer Intensive English Program must be sent directly to the USC International Academy and not to the IBEAR MBA Program.

Download the 2025 Summer IEP Application.

One-Year MBA 47 (2024-25) TUITION & FEES INFORMATION:
(The following is the estimated cost for the current class, IBEAR class 47. Rates for 2025-2026 will be announced in spring 2025.)

Estimated total for Tuition, Program fee, IELP & other mandatory fees is $145,003.

Tuition Fee: $134,208

Program Fee: $6,000

IELP Fee: $2,500 (International Experiential Learning Program)

Other Mandatory Fees: $3,715 (includes USC central services & Student Health Center fees, parking)

Note: All students are required to have health insurance, whether through the university plan or through another insurance provider. Students are automatically enrolled for the USC Student Health Insurance Plan upon registration each academic year–unless they show proof of another insurance plan, and the waiver is submitted by the deadline.

The USC Student Health Insurance Plan cost is $3,040 for the current year and may increase next year.

One-Year MBA (IBEAR) provides merit scholarships for highly-qualified international and U.S. applicants. Scholarship decisions are based on academic and leadership potential. Scholarship recipients demonstrate very strong academic performance, consistently high test scores, as well as a strong career trajectory. They are expected to be leaders in the iMBA program. The amount awarded is contingent on the qualifications of the applicant. Only self-sponsored applicants are eligible.

One-Year MBA Global Business Fellow awards tuition scholarships to high potential self-sponsored international and U.S. Candidates.

Hanjin/Korean Air Scholarship: One or two partial tuition awards to a Korean national or Korean-American or to self-sponsored participants focused on a career in global supply chain/logistics.

Honjo Foundation/Jack G. Lewis Scholarship: One partial tuition award to self-sponsored participants of Japanese heritage.

TAMBA (Thohir Marshall MBA) & SAMBA (Soeryadjaya Marshall MBA) Scholarships provide two scholarships to exceptional candidates from Indonesia. Scholarships include full tuition and living allowance. For more information, click HERE.

Three types of loans are available to finance your MBA — Federal Stafford Loans, Federal Direct Graduate PLUS Loans and private student loans. If you are a U.S. citizen or permanent resident, we recommend that you apply for Federal Stafford Loans first, because they offer favorable interest rates and origination fees. International students are not eligible for the Federal Stafford loan program. International students often obtain loans from private lenders, which they approach and work with directly.

Federal Stafford Loan. There are two types, subsidized and unsubsidized. For subsidized Stafford Loans, the federal government pays the interest while you are in school and during authorized deferment and grace periods. For the unsubsidized Stafford Loans, deferred interest is capitalized (added to the principal) at repayment. For more information, visit https://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid.fafsa.

Federal Direct Graduate PLUS Loan. Graduate and professional students may wish to consider this low-interest, credit -based federal loan to cover their expenses. You must first exhaust your full Federal Stafford Loan eligibility to be considered for this loan.

Private Loan. Private loans are available to both domestic and international applicants. You should be aware that interest rates and fees vary significantly among lending institutions. International applicants may be required to have a U.S. citizen co-sign the loan.

You may plan to pay online, by check, or wire transfer. Checks should be made payable to USC and sent to the IBEAR MBA Program.

In-person
If you wish to pay in-person, please go to the Cashier's Office. They accept the following payment methods:

Cash (in U.S. dollars only)
Make check, money order or cashier's check payable to University of Southern California. Must be in U.S. Dollars only.

* The USC Cashier's Office is located in the USC Credit Union branch at Student Union Room 106 (facing the Tutor Campus Center)

Contact Person/Office
USC Credit Union
Student Union, 106

Mail
For payments by mail, USC accepts the following payment methods:

Domestic checks/drafts (drawn on US banks)
Please be sure to write your 9-digit student ID number and your full name, exactly as shown on your USC card, to insure that your payment is credited to the proper account.

To prevent late fees, your mail payment must arrive by USC's tuition settlement deadline.

Contact Person/Office
Please send your payment (in US $) to:
USC Cashier's Office
620 W.McCarthy Way, Suite 21,
Los Angeles, CA 90089

Wire Transfer:
For more information, visit the Student Financial Services / Wire Transfer website: https://sfs.usc.edu/payment/wire-transfers/. 

Pay Online:
USC e.pay is the university's secure electronic service for managing your student account. it offers the fastest and simplest form of payment. To set up e.pay visit: https://sfs.usc.edu/epay/.

Company Sponsored Students:
If you are sponsored by a company or government agency, contact USC Agency Billing as soon as possible to make payment arrangements. Visit USC Agency Billing website: https://sfs.usc.edu/agency/.