Program Overview

Online MBA Program Overview

The University of South Florida's (USF) online Master of Business Administration (MBA) program is designed to provide working professionals with a top-quality education tailored to their needs. Ranked #9 by Fortune, the program empowers students to develop analytical skills and creative abilities, enabling them to tackle industry challenges and lead in the marketplace.

Program Structure

The online MBA program is structured to accommodate working professionals, with most students completing the program in two to three years. Students can choose to enroll full-time and finish in one year. The program includes a series of foundation, core, elective, and capstone courses, complemented by professional development opportunities.

Coursework

• Foundation Courses: 16 credit hours, maximum, offering essential background in key areas for advanced study. Students with recent business degrees or coursework may waive some or all foundation courses.
• Core Courses: 15 credit hours, including advanced courses that build essential skills in analytics, communication, financial analysis, organizational behavior, and ethics.
• Elective Courses: 15 credit hours, allowing students to take five graduate business electives, including one global elective, and create a unique emphasis by combining courses or choosing a concentration.
• Capstone Course: 3 credit hours, applying program knowledge to real-world case studies and developing actionable recommendations in teams.

Concentrations

The online MBA program offers seven optional concentrations:

• Blue Economy
• Compliance, Risk and Anti-money Laundering
• Cybersecurity
• Data Analytics
• Finance
• Healthcare Analytics
• Personal Financial Planning

Study Format

The online MBA includes top-tier online instructors across USF's campuses. Courses are asynchronous, allowing students to consume dynamic prepared content at their convenience. Teamwork, weekly discussions, and collaboration sessions provide essential network building and engagement.

Admission Requirements

Admission decisions are based on the strength of the application, considering factors such as GMAT or GRE scores, work experience, and undergraduate GPA. Competitive applicants tend to have strong test scores, several years of quality work experience, and undergraduate GPAs of 3.3 or higher.

Application Requirements

• Online application and $30 application fee
• Transcript showing completion of a bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited higher education institution
• GMAT or GRE score (waiver possible for candidates meeting certain conditions)
• Statement of purpose
• Résumé
• Three reference letters (at least one from a professional reference)

Residency Program

The Online MBA Residency program is a mandatory two-day, on-campus or virtual program designed to help students succeed in both the academic and professional environment. It includes networking with peers, meeting faculty, and visiting industry leaders.

Tuition and Financial Aid

The online MBA is $750 per credit hour for core, elective, and capstone courses, with foundation courses at $497 per credit hour. USF financial aid is available in the form of partial scholarships or loans. Many students also benefit from corporate tuition assistance policies granted by their employers.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Undergraduate Degree or Professional Experience: No specific requirements; applicants can have degrees and work experience in various fields.
• Work Experience: Not required, but quality experience is valued; most students have 2-3 years of experience.
• Résumé: Highlight degrees, honors, internships, leadership roles, volunteering, teamwork, and job responsibilities.
• Admissions Committee: Looks for a holistic review, considering strengths in one area to offset weaknesses in another.
• GRE/GMAT Score: No minimum score; applications are evaluated holistically, with possible waivers for certain conditions.
• English Proficiency: Required for non-native speakers.
• Program Completion: Typically takes at least three semesters full-time or about three years part-time, with a five-year limit to finish coursework.
• Classes per Semester: Full-time students take at least 9 credit hours, while part-time students typically take 6 credit hours.