MS Marketing (MSMKT) Admissions

GMAT/GRE

All applicants, regardless of academic history and work experience, must submit a valid GMAT or GRE score.

Official scores must be received before the deadline and sent directly to USC by the testing service in order to be reviewed.

Submitting Scores: Upload electronic copies of your GMAT or GRE scores with your application in addition to sending official scores to USC Marshall through the testing service (GMAC or ETS).

Code:
GRE: 4852 (No department code is required).
GMAT: scores are sent to Marshall MBA Full Time school code 389-9C-283

Your scores are considered valid only if earned within five years to the month of your intended first term at USC.

English-Language proficiency –TOEFL/IELTS (International Students)
International graduate applicants must demonstrate English-language proficiency by submitting TOEFL, IELTS or PTE scores.

Minimum Requirement:
TOEFL: Total 100; each band 20
IELTS: Overall 7; each band 6
Exceptions: International applicants are exempt from the TOEFL/IELTS requirement only under the circumstances outlined here.

Submitting Scores:
To avoid delays in the processing of your application, please have your TOEFL or IELTS scores sent to USC Marshall when you pre-register for the examination. Upload electronic copies of your TOEFL or IELTS scores with your application in addition to sending official scores to USC Marshall through the testing service. Official scores must be received directly from the testing service and dated no earlier than 2 years (24 months) prior to the month in which you submit your application to USC. Do not enter the name and contact information of your specific intended graduate department.

Code:
TOEFL: 4852 (no department code is required)
IELTS: choose “University of Southern California, Graduate Programs” from the list of available institutions on the day you sit for the exam

Letters of recommendation are used as a gauge of your professional achievements and managerial potential. We prefer your letters of recommendation be provided by a professor or direct supervisor. This person should provide specific observations and examples of your leadership, teamwork, analytical skills and personal qualities.

Two letters of recommendation on official letterhead are required, preferably one academic and one professional.

Letters of recommendation can only be accepted through the application system.

For your application to be complete, your recommenders must submit their letter by the application deadline. All letters of recommendation must be on official letterhead with a signature, or they will not be accepted.

Tips for Success:
When you enter your recommender’s information in the system, you must select the date by which you request the recommendation be completed. Be sure to select a date which is prior to the application deadline.

Request your recommendation letters as soon as you start the online application to allow sufficient time for your recommenders to submit them on your behalf. For more information on recommendations and troubleshooting, please visit the Application Portal Help Center.

Qualified candidates will be invited to complete an online video interview assessment via Kira Talent. The MS in Marketing Program Office will be in contact with qualified applicants who make it to this round.

1. Personal Statement: (500 words maximum): Upload a one-page personal statement using the 'Personal Statement' button below. A personal statement is your opportunity to articulate how your passions and experience will contribute to the MS in Marketing Program and how this program is the logical next step in your career development.What is a skill or experience you don't possess now but hope to develop in graduate school? 

2. Essay: (800 words maximum): Provide an example of a recent marketing campaign you observed that inspired you to pursue a career in marketing and apply for the MS in Marketing Program at USC. Make sure your answer is detailed and includes all of the following. Please be as specific as possible.

Tuition
Tuition is calculated per unit based on the unit price of the given academic year. Tuition is subject to increase each academic year. For detailed information on tuition and mandatory fees please visit: https://classes.usc.edu/term-20223/tuition-and-fees/. Please keep in mind this information relates only to the listed academic year.

The MS Marketing program is a 30-unit program of Business Graduate (500 level and above) Coursework. In addition, we ask students to budget for approximately $1,000 in additional university and program fees. Students are also responsible for housing, food, transportation and student health insurance costs. Admitted Students Deposit A nonrefundable $2,000 deposit secures the student's space in the class. Once enrolled, the $2000 deposit will be credited as payment to your tuition and fees. Please note, once you have paid your deposit, you will not be granted a refund. Payment of your deposit secures your seat in the program and is non-refundable.

Transcript requirements are set forth by the Office of Graduate Admission. Please view their website for details.

Transcript submission is a two-step process:
1.You must upload scanned copies of official transcripts from all institutions attended to the online application. These must be official transcripts printed on university letterhead. Print-outs from online student portals are not acceptable.
2. After you submit your application and receive your 10-digit USC ID number, you must submit the official transcripts by mail, courier, or electronic services from all colleges, universities, and other post-secondary institutions you have previously attended.

Official transcript:
A transcript is considered official when it is received in the sealed envelope provided by the school, or when it is electronically transmitted (not emailed) from the institution. Even if it is mailed by the applicant, it can be considered official as long as the envelope has not been opened.

Cover sheet:
We recommend that you fill out the “College/University Transcript Cover Page” and send it to the registrar’s office of each post-secondary institution you have attended. Although it is not mandatory, including it along with your USC ID number will help match your transcripts to your file as quickly as possible.

E-transcripts:
USC accepts official electronic transcripts from all countries, provided that the transcript originates from a secure site formally linked to the sending institution. Please instruct the vendor to email the transcript to etrans@usc.edu. Do not send any other materials or correspondence to this email. Electronic transcripts e-mailed to any other address will not be downloaded, delaying review of your file and adding an extra expense because the transcript will need to be re-sent.

Transcripts in original language of issuance:
International 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. In such cases, a separate, word-for-word, English-language translation of all academic records must also be submitted. The translation should either be issued directly from 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.

USC alumni or current students:
USC degree holders do not need to submit USC transcripts to the Office of Graduate Admission. 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.

Credential evaluation:
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.

Mailing Instructions
If sending your transcripts via regular mail, 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

If sending your transcripts via courier service, such as DHL or FedEx, please use the following address:
University of Southern California
USC Office of Graduate Admission and Financial Aid
3601 South Flower Street, Tyler 112
Los Angeles, CA 90089-0915
Phone: (213) 740-1111

Nonrefundable application fee: $155

USC students/staff/alumni, US military veterans, and select other groups qualify for an application fee waiver. For Fee Waiver Categories and instructions on how to apply for a waiver, click here.

Complete the online application and upload all required documents here. International applicants should also consult the instructions for international students published in the USC Graduate Admissions website. When applying, we recommend using a personal email address that you will maintain access to for the foreseeable future rather than university or temporary accounts that you may lose access to. The program office is only able to communicate admissions decisions to the email address used at time of application.

To be in the program the applicant must have earned the equivalent of a 4-year U.S. bachelor's degree with a competitive GPA. Applicants in the process of finishing an undergraduate degree may apply, with acceptance contingent on finishing the undergraduate degree and ability to be physically present at the start of the program. Please see here for degree requirements by country.

Admission to USC is based on merit rather than ability to pay. The U.S. government, however, requires that all international applicants provide proof of adequate financial support for the first year of study and passport copies for you and any applicable dependents before a formal letter of admission and an I-20 (or DS-2019) can be issued.

It is not necessary to submit financial documents or a copy of a valid passport for your application to be reviewed or for an admission decision to be rendered.

However, during application ‘busy season’ from February to May, students should be aware that processing time for these documents can take up to 8 weeks. For this reason, we strongly suggest you submit financial receipt of the I-20 document for admitted and certified students.

Please read carefully through USC Graduate Admission Guidelines for Financial Documentation, particularly the Financial Statement Expense Figures as well as the detailed guidelines for submitting proof of financial support.

The MS in Marketing program boasts a large enrollment of international students. We’ve developed the below to help answer some frequently asked questions.

Admissions & Eligibility
Who is considered an international applicant?
All applicants that are not United States nationals, and will be entering, or have already entered, the United States with an F-1 or J-1 student visa, should apply as an international student. Applicants who already reside in the United States and hold other non-immigrant visas (for example, E2, H2 or L2) are also considered international applicants. Permanent residents of the United States, naturalized U.S. citizens, and U.S. citizens residing abroad and attending a university outside the United States are not considered international students.

*For more information see here

When is the application deadline for international students?
The final deadline for international students may be a bit earlier than for U.S. citizens. This is to ensure time for visa processing. Review the Dates and Deadlines above for all updated deadlines.

What is the language requirement?
Review the Test Scores section for complete information.

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

What are the minimum scores for the TOEFL and IELTS?
Review the Test Scores section for complete information.

I have a 3-year Bachelor's degree, can I apply?
Country specific requirements are listed here

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 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.

Does USC accept WES evaluated transcripts?
USC does NOT accept WES evaluated transcripts. If admitted, you will be required to submit your bachelor’s degree information to IERF for degree verification. Detailed information is available at www.ierf.org/usc

What is the required International Degree Verification process?
Students who choose to attend USC should be aware that the USC Office of Degree Progress requires verification of international bachelor’s degrees from the International Education Research Foundation (IERF).

Students complete this process after admission to the program.

Detailed information about IERF services, including application forms, fees, and required documents are available at www.ierf.org/usc.

Please contact Degree Progress dprogss@usc.edu, 213.740.7070 if you have any questions, or need more information regarding prior degree verification.

Does USC provide answers to other Frequent Asked Questions about admissions for an International Student?
The Graduate Admissions Office website is an amazing resource for international applicants and students to help address frequently asked questions and concerns. Visit their FAQ page for international students!

What is USC’s Office of International Service (OIS)?
USC's Office of International Services (OIS) is the primary resource for USC's international students. This office has the most updated information regarding visas, events specifically for international students, and employment. They also have great information on pre-arrival, arrival, and life in Los Angeles! All new students should sign up for their newsletter.

Financing Your Degree

For financial documentation, how much money do I need to have?
The cost of attendance at USC changes from year to year. The amount required for financial documentation is the estimated cost of living and studying in Los Angeles for one year, not the cost of tuition for the entire program.

Please carefully review the International Students only: Financial documentation and Passport section for details.


What if I need help paying for school? Are there scholarships?
The USC Marshall School of Business offers a limited number of partial tuition scholarships for students. These awards are highly competitive and are determined at the time of admission.

U.S. citizens and international students are eligible. Applicants are encouraged to apply early for priority scholarship consideration. Please review our Program Cost and Scholarship section for more details.

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.

Applicants to the MSMKT Progressive Degree Program must meet the following qualifications

• Have reviewed USC’s PDP requirements on the PDP website.
• Have completed at least 64 total units of undergraduate coursework, excluding AP/IB units earned prior to high school graduation.
• Have at least a 3.0 cumulative USC GPA at the time of application. Applicants should be aware that the MSMKT Progressive Degree Program is very competitive, and successful applicants generally have an undergraduate GPA of 3.5 or higher.
• Plan to begin the MSMKT Progressive Degree Program in the Fall 2025 term (no exceptions).
• Students in the Consumer Behavior program should be able to enroll in 10.5 units of MSMKT coursework in Fall 2025 and 3 units of MSMKT coursework in Spring 2026. Students in the Marketing Analytics program should be able to enroll in 12 units of MSMKT coursework in Fall 2025 and 3 units of MSMKT coursework in Spring 2026. For both programs, be ready to complete 30-33 units over at least 3 semesters.
• Plan to enroll in only one Progressive Degree Program. Students who are currently enrolled in a PDP cannot apply for another one.
• Senior international students who wish to pursue a PDP are not allowed to apply for OPT for the summer between the completion of the Bachelor’s degree in May and the start of the Master’s program in August.

If you meet the qualifications mentioned above, you may apply to the MSMKT Progressive Degree Program for Fall 2025. A completed application includes:

• Marshall Online PDP Application – you will be asked to upload the following documents:
• Draft of the USC Progressive Degree Application and Proposed Course Plan form, without any signatures
• complete to the best of your ability, up to where it says, “To be completed by the Undergraduate Program” (do not obtain any approval signatures)
• the Recommendation Forms are not required (leave them blank)
• STARS report
• Professional Resume
• Most recent course plan from your undergraduate advisor

• Two (2) short response essays (submitted through the online application)
• Essay #1: Personal Statement (no more than 500 words): Why you would like to pursue an MS MKT PDP and what are your career aspirations?
• Essay #2 (no more than 700 words): Describe a marketing campaign that truly inspired you and why it did.

• Two (2) Letters of Recommendation (preferably one academic and one professional) on letterhead, sent directly by your recommender to ms.marketing@marshall.usc.edu, with your full name and USC ID in the subject line

*Qualified candidates will be invited to complete an online video interview assessment via Kira Talent. Final decisions are released about 8-10 weeks after each round deadline.