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MS Business Analytics (MSBA) Admissions

  • MS Business Analytics (MSBA) Admissions

    MS Business Analytics (MSBA) Admissions

Application Criteria

  • Bachelor’s degree or equivalent, from a regionally accredited institution
  • Application for admission with a $155 application fee
  • Official transcripts of all colleges and universities attended
  • Completion of a college-level statistics course
  • One Minute Video
  • A professional résumé
  • Work experience is preferred, but not required.
  • GMAT/GRE is neither required nor accepted
  • Letters of recommendation are neither required nor accepted
  • International students only: TOEFL or IELTS scores

Note: All required application materials including transcripts must be received by USC before the application deadline for an admission decision to be made. USC cannot guarantee an admission decision for applicants who have not met the published deadlines.

APPLICATION DEADLINES

  Deadline
Round 1 November 1, 2024
Round 2 January 15, 2025
Round 3 March 1, 2025
Round 4 April 15, 2025

International Applicants: We highly encourage you to apply for admission in Round 1 or 2, as we cannot guarantee an admission decision in Round 4 for international applicants due to visa and immigration matters.

Admission Details

PROGRESSIVE DEGREE PROGRAM

Progressive MSBA students complete 30-33 units. The program must be completed over at least 3 semesters. Marshall undergraduate business majors may qualify to have up to 9 units of MSBA graduate electives count toward their undergraduate Marshall Upper Division Electives (MUDE) units.


Frequently Asked Questions

APPLICATION

Can I send WES report for international transcripts?
No, USC does not accept credential evaluation reports in lieu of official academic records issued by your institution of study.

Can I apply for the spring semester?
No, we only accept applications for admittance in the Fall.

When and how will I receive my decisions?
It typically takes around 8-10 weeks after each deadline for admissions decisions to be released. Applications are not reviewed until all required documents are received. All decisions are released via email.

Can I apply to more than one program at USC?
You can only apply for up to 3 programs per cycle. You must complete all program specific questions (quadrant IV) and pay the application fee for each program. You only need to submit your other application materials (transcript, test scores, etc.) once.

Can I email you my test score or transcripts?
No, our department does not accept test score nor transcripts via emails. Applicants are required to upload test scores and transcripts in the application and send them to USC Graduate Admissions. Please see detailed requirements for submitting your official transcripts and test scores.

Do you offer any financial aid?
Master of Science in Business Analytics program offers limited amount of scholarship to admitted students. Recipients will be chosen based on a holistic assessment. There is no separate application for the scholarship. Domestic and international students are eligible. Applicants are encouraged to apply for round 1 and 2 for priority scholarship consideration.
Many of our students pay for their degrees using savings or loans. For more information on financial aid that is specific to international students, please see USC's Financial Aid website.


PROGRAM INFORMATION

Is the MS in Business Analytics a STEM degree?
Yes, the MS in Business Analytics program is a STEM degree.

Does Marshall offer an online option for the MS in Business Analytics Program?
No, the MSBA program does not offer an online option.

When does the program start?
Please refer to the USC Academic Calendar for program start date. MSBA Welcome week including mandatory orientation is typically 1-2 weeks before school starts.

Can elective courses include other business classes at Marshall or other USC Schools?
MSBA does not allow for exceptions to the approved catalog coursework under any circumstances. The elective course list currently includes ALL DSO courses, and some targeted choices from FBE, MOR and MKT. Also included are a few courses from Viterbi School of Engineering. Please review our academic catalog for most recently updated courses list.

What is the difference between Business Analytics and Information Technology?
Our master program is targeted to professionals who are interested in a career in business analytics and data sciences, which is different from information technology. While information technology deals with computer infrastructure and hardware for handling big data, business analytics and data sciences focus on analyzing big data, deriving business insights, and presenting complex data to business executives


INTERNATIONAL APPLICANTS

Who is considered an international applicant?
USC defines an international student as anyone who is not a citizen or permanent resident of the United States. American citizens who reside in other countries and attend foreign schools are not considered international students.

When is the application deadline for international students?
The deadline for both international students and domestic students are the same. However, international students are encouraged to apply for earlier rounds so they have sufficient time to obtain a visa. Review the “Application Deadlines” session above for all updated deadlines.

How do I know if I am exempt from language testing?
Please review English-Language Proficiency Requirement . International applicants are exempt from the TOEFL/IELTS requirement only under the circumstances outlined under “English-Language Test Waiver”.

I have a 3-year Bachelor's degree, can I apply?
Please review country requirements and select your country of study to determine the academic records that USC requires you to submit to be considered for admission.

What are the transcript requirements for International Institutions?
Students who have earned their degree outside the United States must check the country-specific requirements to determine if original-language copies of their academic records are needed.Please also review the “Transcript” section above and be sure to submit all required documents as part of your initial application via the online portal. Transcripts regularly take up to 8 weeks to process. Requests for transcripts missing from the original application submitted can add significant processing time.

TUITION + FINANCIAL AID

Tuition is calculated based on the unit price of the given Academic Year and is subject to increase each academic year. The below figures are based on tuition and fees for the 2024/25 school year. Students are also responsible for the cost of housing, food, transportation and mandatory health insurance.

3 Semester Option

Units Tuition Fees

Year 1 - Fall

10.5

$25,421

$2,118

Year 1 - Spring

10.5

$25,421

$818

Year 2 - Fall

12

$29,052

$818

Total for Program

33

$79,894

$3,754

Year 1 Total: $53,778

Year 2 Total: $29,870

Grand Total: $83,648

4 Semester Option

Units Tuition Fees

Year 1 - Fall

10.5

$25,421

$2,118

Year 1 - Spring

9

$21,789

$818

Year 2 - Fall

10.5

$25,421

$818

Year 2 - Spring

3

$7,263

$168

Total for Program

33

$79,894

$3,922

Year 1 Total: $50,416

Year 2 Total: $33,670

Grand Total: $84,086

STUDENT AMBASSADORS

Connect with current Marshall Master of Science students to gain insights into the USC Marshall experience. Explore the full list of student ambassadors and chat with the one who best aligns with your interests and inquiries.

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