One-Year MBA Admissions
Admission Criteria
The Penn State Smeal One-Year MBA features a multi-step application process, during which you will be asked to submit the following:
- Penn State Graduate School Application
- Admissions Essay - What are your short-term and long-term career goals? How does your past experience enable you to achieve these goals? How do you see your MBA experience fitting into this plan? (600 Word Limit)
- Resume
- Copies of Official Educational Transcripts
- Video Application Response
- Letters of Recommendation
- Official English Language Proficiency Exam Scores (International Candidates)
- Application Fee: $65
Application Deadlines
The Penn State Smeal One-Year MBA features multiple application deadlines throughout the year. Application reviews and decisions are made on a rolling basis. All aspects of the application process must be completed, submitted, and received by the applicable deadline to be considered for admission.
| Deadlines for Fall 2023 Intake | Submit Your Application By | Expect a Decision By |
|---|---|---|
| 1st Round | October 1 | December 1 |
| 2nd Round | December 1 | February 1 |
| 3rd Round | February 1 | April 1 |
| 4th Round | April 1 | June 1 |
Admission Decisions
All applications will be reviewed by both the Penn State Smeal One-Year MBA Program Admissions Office (One-Year MBA requirements and admissions criteria) and the Penn State Graduate School (verification of educational documentation and credentials and international visa requirements). You may be contacted by parties from either area.
Admission is granted first by the Smeal One-Year MBA program and then by the Penn State Graduate School. The Graduate School does not act on your application without a recommendation from the Smeal Admissions Office. The only accurate way to confirm receipt of your application materials and to check the status of your application is to contact the Smeal One-Year MBA Admissions Office at OneYearMBA@smeal.psu.edu.
Academic Integrity and Plagiarism
The Penn State Smeal College of Business has a strong commitment to ethics and integrity as reflected in our Honor Code. The admissions committee will not tolerate any form of plagiarism or appearance of impropriety in an applicant’s materials. To ensure academic integrity, all essays will be confirmed through iThenticate authenticity software.
For more information on academic integrity and plagiarism: "Academic Integrity" and "Academic Integrity, Plagiarism, and Copyright"
Failure to follow these guidelines will result in a deny decision.
Ready to begin your application? Visit our Apply page to take the next step.