Applying and Deadlines
The 2025 application is open for Spring or Autumn
Students applying to the Working Professional MBA program can enroll as a residential In-Person WPMBA student or an Online WPMBA student. Both options can take in-person and online classes. Enrollment choice is used for tracking and tuition purposes. The program option chosen should reflect your preferred and predominant delivery model (how you plan to take the majority of your classes).
Application requirements
We carefully review academic credentials, essays, resumes, references and interview notes to select individuals who are a great fit for our MBA program. It is paramount that you demonstrate your academic aptitude, showcase your leadership and teamwork experiences, highlight your involvement in community or professional associations, and provide insight into the personal experiences that will enable you to add value to the Fisher community.
One of the basic requirements for admission to Fisher is the completion of a 4-year bachelor’s degree or its equivalent prior to matriculation. The Ohio State University does not recognize a three-year bachelor’s degree to be comparable to the 4-year bachelor’s degree. To determine if you meet the degree requirements for The Ohio State University, contact the Office of Graduate and Professional Admissions at gradadmissions@osu.edu.
You are required to submit transcripts from each undergraduate and graduate institution attended. Coursework from one institution reported as transfer credit on another school's transcript does not meet Ohio State's definition of a transcript. Separate transcripts must be submitted if you received any transfer credit from another university(ies).
In cases where examination results or grades are not released, please contact the Graduate Admissions Office at gradadmissions@osu.edu.
The MBA Admissions Committee reviews scanned copies of official transcripts uploaded in your application for evaluation purposes. Transcripts should include all work previously completed and work currently in progress. If you have taken courses at The Ohio State University (or are), you do not need to submit transcripts for those grades as the Admissions Office will obtain your Ohio State grades directly from the University Registrar’s Office.
International credentials should include certified educational records and degree certificates or diplomas in the original language with English translations.
NOTE: If you are admitted to the MBA program, you will be required to submit official copies of all undergraduate and graduate transcripts to the Office of Graduate and Professional Admissions. In order for these transcripts to count as official, they must be sent directly to The Ohio State University from each institution you attended.
You can watch our webinar covering the most common mistakes that applicants make when providing academic transcripts as part of their graduate program application. The Director of Admissions and Recruiting will also point out critical requirements for your transcript(s) to make for a seamless application process.
Watch the Transcript Requirement webinar
Where To Send Official Transcripts
For U.S. Institutions
Request that your transcripts be sent electronically from the issuing institution directly to gpadocs@osu.edu. If your institution does not send official electronic transcripts, you may order them to be sent to us. Transcripts must come directly to us from the issuing institution; they cannot come from the applicant, even if they're in a sealed envelope.
Graduate and Professional Admissions
P.O. Box 182004
Columbus, OH 43218-2004
For International Institutions
Send copies of international transcripts, diplomas or degree certificates and English translations in sealed university envelopes to:
Graduate and Professional Admissions
The Ohio State University
Student Academic Services Building
281 W. Lane Ave.
Columbus, OH 43210-1132 USA
GMAT, GRE or EA Test Requirement - Waivers available!
Standardized tests are a way of evaluating a student’s academic potential, and they provide another data point to evaluate readiness for the rigors of graduate study. As part of the admissions process, all applicants who do not qualify for the standardized test waiver (details below) are required to submit scores from one of three standardized tests:Executive Assessment (EA), Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT), or Graduate Record Examination (GRE). Questions? Email us at mba@fisher.osu.edu.
How to send test scores
If you are opting to send official test scores, visit our Frequently Asked Questions page for instructions.
Changes for GRE test takers
As of October 1, 2024, we will only accept GRE test scores taken at an ETS testing center, not the GRE at-home version. However, we will accept valid GRE at-home scores if taken before October 1, 2024. View a table of acceptable standardized tests if you plan to send scores.
What is the Executive Assessment (EA)?
The Executive Assessment (EA) is an alternative to the GMAT or GRE. The EA is designed to evaluate business school readiness in the context of your work experience. The assessment focuses on skills that are important at work: higher-order reasoning, critical thinking, analysis, and problem-solving. Because it was designed specifically for experienced professionals, it requires modest preparation, takes only 90 minutes, and includes flexible rescheduling options. The test is administered by the Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC), creators of the GMAT® exam.
Do I qualify for a GMAT/GRE/EA test waiver?
Test waiver requests for the GMAT, GRE or EA are considered as long as the following two qualifications are met:
- Earned at least a 3.0 undergrad cumulative GPA (4.0 scale) AND
- Display quantitative acumen through one of the following:
- College-level coursework (accounting, finance, algebra, geometry, stats, calc, etc.)
- An advanced degree, STEM degree, or certification
- Relevant work or military experience
How To Be Considered*: The waiver request is part of our online application. Answer "YES" to the question "Do you wish to request a GMAT/GRE/EA waiver?" Questions? E-mail mba@fisher.osu.edu to discuss eligibility.
Fisher Certificate Programs: Those who have completed one of the following Fisher College of Business certificate programs, with a 3.0 GPA or higher, automatically qualify for a GMAT/GRE/EA waiver approval. Waiver requests are made through the application.
- Honda Graduate Certificate in Business Leadership
- JPMC Graduate Certificate in Data Analytics
- Graduate Certificate in IT Business Strategy
- Mini-MBA Graduate Healthcare Certificate
*Students who request a GRE/GMAT/EA test waiver may write an optional supplemental essay to clarify how they meet the outlined criteria. The admissions committee will utilize this in consideration of a waiver permission. Waiver decisions are at the discretion of the Admissions Committee. You may not request a waiver if you have already taken the exam and requested your scores be sent to The Ohio State University.
International Applicants
Ohio State's Graduate School requires you to demonstrate English proficiency by taking the TOEFL or the IELTS. Ohio State is currently also accepting the Duolingo English Test in addition to the TOEFL or IELTS. Additional information on English proficiency requirements, exemptions, and minimum scores.
A detailed resume or curriculum vitae gives the MBA Admissions Committee a snapshot of your professional and academic career and serves as an indication of how well you are able to sell yourself on paper.
Since our Career Management Office is represented on the Admissions Committee, the resume also gives the us an idea of how you would present yourself to a prospective employer and helps them evaluate your potential for successful placement upon completion of the Fisher MBA program.
Resume requirements
Please include all of the following in your resume, if applicable, and account for the time since the beginning of your university education.
- Your contact information (full name, mailing address, phone, and email)
- Employment history (with details of primary duties and accomplishments in each position held)
- Extracurricular and/or community activities
- Languages (read, spoken, and/or understood)
- Military record (if applicable)
For more information about writing your Fisher resume, view our resume tutorial PDF.
You will be required to complete an essay. The essay gives you the opportunity to present yourself more fully to our Working Professional MBA Admissions Committee and to provide insight into your experiences, goals, and thought processes.
Essay Topic
What are your short-term career goals and long-term career goals? How/why will an MBA help you achieve those goals?
Maximum length: One single-sided page,11-size font minimum (no margin requirement)
Optional Supplemental Essay
The optional supplemental essay can be used to address any circumstances you’d like the Admissions Committee to be aware of (gaps in work history, explaining your quant ability through work experience, past academic performance, test waiver requests, etc.). This is a valuable opportunity to speak directly to the committee or highlight something not in the rest of your application.
Students who request a GRE/GMAT/EA test waiver may write an optional supplemental essay to clarify how they meet the outlined criteria. The admissions committee will utilize this in consideration of a waiver permission.
Maximum words: 500
You will be required to provide two references (name, email, phone) that we reserve the right to contact if we feel the need to do so to reach an admission decision. Typically, your references should be from a professional context (example: supervisor).
Choose individuals who can attest to your:
- Professional career/development
- Leadership
- Scholarship
- Personal character/personality
To process each application for admission to the MBA program, we charge a non-refundable fee of $60 for domestic applicants and $70 for international applicants.
Paying the application fee must be made with a credit card, as part of the application process.
Apply Application Workshop Webinar FAQs International Applicants
Application Deadlines
The Working Professional MBA program allows you to choose between Autumn or Spring enrollment. The admissions committee reviews completed applications based on application rounds. We will review and release decisions based on the timeline for each round.
*To be considered in a specific application round, you must submit your application by the listed deadline AND complete your checklist in the portal no later than two weeks before the decision release date listed (except for final round deadlines, which closes all incomplete applications on a set date). We cannot review applications until they are complete. Questions? Email mba@fisher.osu.edu.
Spring 2025 Application Deadlines
The admissions committee reviews completed applications based on application rounds. We will review and release decisions based on the timeline for each round. Below are the deadlines to plan for as you gather your application materials. Spring 2025 classes begin on January 6, 2025.
Spring 2025* | Deadline Date | Decision Date |
---|---|---|
Round 1 (Spring) | October 13, 2024 | November 8 |
Round 2 (Spring) | November 10, 2024 | December 6 |
No new applications after | December 1, 2024 | - |
Incomplete applications closed | December 9, 2024 | - |
Orientation for spring admitted students is typically mid-December, and we encourage those who can attend in person to do so. Don't wait till the last minute to apply to allow time for planning.
Autumn 2025 Application Deadlines
The admissions committee reviews completed applications based on application rounds. We will review and release decisions based on the timeline for each round. Below are the deadlines to plan for as you gather your application materials. Autumn 2025 classes begin on August 26, 2025.
Autumn 2025* | Deadline Date | Decision Date |
---|---|---|
Round 1 (Autumn) | March 16, 2025 | April 18, 2025 |
Round 2 (Autumn) | May 11, 2025 | June 6, 2025 |
Round 3 (Autumn) | July 11, 2025 | August 1, 2025 |
No new applications after | July 18, 2025 | - |
Incomplete applications closed | July 21, 2025 | - |
Every year we receive more applications than we have space available in the MBA program. While we strongly encourage you to apply early, equal consideration is given to applicants in all rounds. International applicants should apply by the first deadline.
Successful repeat applicants need to provide the MBA Admissions Committee evidence of any additional personal, academic, and/or professional growth achieved, in addition to the information provided in the original application.
We will keep your application on record for a maximum of one year. However, when you decide to re-apply, we require that you complete a new application in its entirety, including new academic transcripts, letters of recommendation, personal statement, resume, and application fee.
Admission decisions are based on newly submitted applications. Your previously submitted file will serve only as a point of reference for the Working Professional MBA Admissions Committee.
Get answers to common questions like "how to send us test scores," "deposit amounts," and much more in our FAQs section.
If you are currently enrolled in a graduate program at The Ohio State University or have graduated from one of the university’s graduate programs, you will need to complete Transfer of Graduate Program (TGP) forms in addition to your application. Upon admission, our team will reach out to send you to proper paperwork, or you can email to request the form.
Military applicants will automatically qualify for in-state tuition under the Ohio G.I. Promise. Click the button below to learn more about how Fisher supports military and veterans.
Contact Us
Whether you are in the beginning stages of your program search or you have already decided that one of Fisher's graduate programs is the right fit for you, we encourage you to connect with us.
Contact Fisher's Graduate Programs Office directly to schedule on-campus activities such as in-person meetings, class visits and campus tours. We will do our best to accommodate your request in-person or virtually within university guidelines - Safe and Healthy Buckeyes.
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