View Our Frequently Asked Questions
About the program
The curriculum and courses are all online and virtual, except for two six-day immersions for OMBA students and one immersion for MBA Direct students.
The OMBA program is 27 months. The MBA Direct program is 33 months.
Each semester is 14 weeks. This applies to both the Online MBA and MBA Direct programs.
The OMBA program is 52 credit hours. The MBA Direct program is 53 credit hours.
The total cost of the OMBA program is $91,624. The total cost of the MBA Direct program is $93,386. Costs exclude flights to and from immersions, but do include immersion lodging and most meals.
Each course meets once a week for 90 minutes. Currently, courses are offered in the evening hours (after 6 p.m. CST) Mondays-Thursdays. This applies to both the Online MBA and MBA Direct programs.
The 2023-2024 SMU Cox School of Business academic calendar applies to both the Online MBA and MBA Direct Programs.
Yes, the Online MBA and MBA Direct programs feature the same faculty that teach in our other on-campus graduate programs, including the full-time MBA program.
Yes, you can attend virtual office hours or meet with faculty on campus. Students also have access to academic support virtually as part of the Online MBA and MBA Direct programs.
No. The Online MBA and MBA Direct programs have live class sessions each week and external class work, including case study prep, team projects, readings, lectures and discussion board posts. We believe in a cohort model where you begin with the same group of people and work through the curriculum together in sequence. By building strong relationships through the cohort model, you will also build and hone your leadership and team skills.
*as of April 1, 2023
The application process
You will need several documents as part of the admissions process including:
- Online application form.
- Professional resume.
- Essays.
- (Currently optional) GMAT, GRE, or Executive Assessment Score (within last five years).
- Undergraduate transcripts.
- Two professional references.
- Admissions interview by invitation only.
Yes, we review waiver requests on a case-by-case basis.
Yes, all students are reviewed during the admissions process for merit-based scholarships. You may also qualify for early review/priority deadline scholarships from SMU Cox which are found here. To begin the financial aid loan process, apply through FAFSA. Additionally, your employer may offer tuition reimbursement, and we recommend all students ask their employer about potential benefits.
Applicants who are 100% Post-9/11 GI Bill eligible automatically qualify for the Yellow Ribbon Program. For some students at SMU Cox, this means most tuition costs as an Online MBA or MBA Direct Student are covered.
Feel free to reach out to us at cox.mbaonline@smu.edu, by phone at 214-842-6486, or schedule a meeting with us anytime.
SMU Cox community
Orientation sessions are done virtually. You will have the option to attend one of several one-hour sessions with our Student Services team and also are required to complete self-paced orientation activities. We conclude the orientation process just before classes begin with a virtual session featuring your professors for the first semester.
YES! If you are located in the Dallas-Fort Worth area or are going to be in town, we highly encourage our Online MBA or MBA Direct students to come to campus if desired. Students have come to campus to meet with faculty, study, participate in professional development activities, join student club events and study in the library. All students, including those taking classes virtually, are welcome to visit us.
The SMU Cox Online MBA and MBA Direct programs have students attending classes from all over the U.S. Currently, about half of the students reside in the greater Dallas-Fort Worth area, but many travel during the week for work. Another 20% come from other cities in Texas, and the rest are a mix of West Coast, Midwest, and East Coast.