Online MBA Degree Program

Online MBA Application Process

Our graduate application system is designed to put you in control of not only the application but all documents associated with that application. We have designated areas within the application where each required document should be uploaded. Applications are accepted up until three weeks prior to when classes begin.  

You’ll need:

1. Online Application

Begin assembling your required application materials as electronic documents before completing the online graduate application. Do not mail any documents.

2. Application Fee

A $75 application fee is due when you submit your online application.

3. Bachelor’s Degree

A four-year U.S. bachelor’s degree, or its equivalent, in any academic field from an accredited college or university is required. 

4. Transcripts

An unofficial transcript is required with your application. You should visit the registrar’s page of your home institution (post-high school institutions only) to print an unofficial copy to create your scan. If your home institution does not provide this service, ask for a student copy to create your scan. Do not mail official transcripts during the applicant stage. Please visit http://grad.udel.edu/apply/transcripts/ for more detailed information.

5. Personal Statement/Essay

Responses to the following prompts. We are looking for insightful, specific and brief essays, 1-2 pages in length.

Application Essay 1:

• Outline your educational plans and career goals, and discuss how your proposed plan of graduate study aligns with them. Some areas of discussion might include specific attributes of the program at UD that led you to believe this degree is appropriate for achieving your professional objectives. Are there areas of special interest within your selected field of study?

Application Essay 2 (Optional):

• Communicating effectively with prospective customers is crucial in a business plan. Please critique our marketing efforts for the University of Delaware Lerner Graduate programs, using specific examples of where and how you learned about our program (e.g., specific radio stations, internet sites, publications, TV stations, etc.). How effective were these channels in motivating you to apply? What are some strengths of our marketing efforts, and what improvements could be made? What do you believe is the best way to reach prospective students like yourself? We value insightful, specific, and concise responses.

Application Essay 3 (Optional):

• Is there any additional information not covered elsewhere in your application that you would like to share with the Graduate Admissions Committee? This could include special circumstances related to your academic record, such as a low GPA or low GRE/GMAT scores, or any challenging social, economic, educational, cultural, or other life circumstances that you have overcome to succeed in higher education.

6. Resume

A resume, or curriculum vitae, that documents your prior work experience, publications, honors and awards received, and a summary of your educational credentials.

7. Two Letters of Recommendation

You provide names and email addresses for your recommenders, and recommendation forms are emailed directly to them from the online application. Instructions are included as to how to return the completed forms electronically.

8. GMAT/GRE Optional

If you are not submitting a GMAT/GRE score, please select that you request a waiver on the Test Score Waivers page of the application.

If you wish to take the GMAT/GRE, application fees are waived for candidates who achieve a total score of 600+ on the GMAT Classic, 555+ on the GMAT Focus Edition or 310+ (Verbal Score + Quantitative Score) on the GRE. After receipt of official GMAT or GRE scores, the application fee will be automatically waived.

9. Work Experience

A minimum of two years work experience is preferred. 

10. Math Requirement

To be successful in the MBA program, you must demonstrate strong analytical and quantitative skills through prior academic work and/or recent professional experience. Applicants who are otherwise qualified for admission but lacking successful coursework in non-introductory statistics, calculus, linear math classes or work experience, may be asked to complete at their expense an MBA Math course in order to be admitted to the program. This will be communicated upon the completion of the Admissions Committee’s review of the full application.

A Curriculum Customized for Your Career

Whether you want to advance in your current job or change careers, you need an MBA that adapts to your unique goals. Lerner’s core MBA courses and seminars ensure you develop must-have business skills and techniques. With an MBA specialization, you advance your expertise with a major, concentration or by choosing your own elective courses.

Business Core Courses and Professional Development Seminars 

ACCT 600 Financial Reporting and Analysis - 3 Credits

BUAD 620 Fundamentals of Analytics - 3 Credits

BUAD 670 Managing People, Teams and Organizations - 3 Credits

ECON 603 Economic Analysis for Business Policy - 3 Credits

BUAD 631 Operations Management and Management Science - 3 Credits

BUAD 640 Ethical Issues in Domestic and Global Business Environments - 3 Credits

BUAD 680 Marketing Management - 3 Credits

FINC 650 Financial Management - 3 Credits

BUAD 690 Corporate Strategy - 3 Credits

BUEC 601 Building Emotional Intelligence and Critical Thinking - 1 Credit

BUEC 603 Communicating, Branding and Career Networking - 1 Credit

MBA Specializations

An MBA specialization offers a focus in one area of business. MBA concentrations equip students with foundational knowledge and skills while MBA majors provide more in-depth study. 

Choose a specialization option:

• General management – Select 3 elective courses (38 total credits)
• Concentration – 3 prescribed courses in one area of specialization (38 total credits)
• Major – 5 prescribed courses in one area of specialization (44 total credits)
• Major and concentration*
• Double major*
• Double concentration*

*These options require additional credits.

Concentrations 

• Business analytics
• Digital and social media
• Finance
• Healthcare management
• Information technology
• International business
• Public relations
• Strategic leadership

Majors 

• Business analytics
• Digital and social media
• Healthcare management
• Public relations
• Strategic leadership

We’re Committed to Affordability

$1,069 Per Credit Hour

We work hard to keep our tuition affordable while maintaining the highest academic standards. 

You can fund your program by receiving a grant, qualifying for federal or private loans, utilizing military benefits or pursuing employer tuition reimbursement. Our dedicated admissions and financial personnel will help you through the process, including enrollment in a payment plan if applicable.

Career Expectations

If you’re excited about moving closer to your dream MBA career, then UD’s online MBA degree program is the credential you need to excel no matter your area of emphasis.

Jobs in business-related occupations are projected to grow faster than all other occupations at 5% from 2019 to 2029.

After graduation in 2023, 100% of online MBA students were employed (earning an average salary of $101,258). The Career Outcomes website reports what our graduates do, where they work and the salaries they make.

Earn Over $100K with Your Online MBA Degree

• Top Executive, Management - $109,760 per year
• Career Sales Manager - $132,290 per year
• Finance Manager - $134,180 per year
• Chief Executive, Healthcare - $160,950 per year

UD MBA Program Statistics  

• Lerner MBA alumni from the Class of 2023 received an average salary raise of $16,000 while pursuing their degree.
• 96% of all students rated their overall educational experience within the Lerner Graduate and MBA programs as excellent or good.

What are the application deadlines and start dates for the online MBA program?

You may start the online MBA program in the spring, summer, or fall sessions. Please review the chart below for the application deadlines.

How fast can I complete the online MBA degree program?

You can earn your degree in as few as 12 months full-time, or complete the program part-time at your convenience.

Is the online MBA degree program accredited?

Yes. The online MBA at the University of Delaware is delivered through the Alfred Lerner College of Business and Economics, which has been accredited by AACSB International (the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business) for more than 50 years. AACSB accreditation is the highest standard of accreditation for business schools in the world, and a distinction fewer than 6% of business schools worldwide have earned.

Does the online MBA degree program accept transfer credits? If so, how many?

Under certain conditions, we may be able to accept graduate credit from other institutions:

1. The institution must be AACSB-accredited;
2. The class must carry a grade of B or better (not a B-); and
3. The class must have been completed within the past five years.

Per University policy,

• Only 9 graduate credits may be transferred in.
• Credits are not transferred until the student has completed nine credits of graduate work at the University of Delaware.
• Only earned credits transfer, not earned grades.
• Courses must have been conducted over a ~14 week semester for all credits to transfer. Credits from schools on 10-week quarters will be transferred at 2/3 value.
• Students who wish to transfer credits to the University of Delaware must provide a course syllabus (not a course description) for each course being considered and official transcripts showing the courses and grades. You may need to contact your prior institution for copies of course syllabi.

Are there prerequisites for the online MBA program?

To be successful in the UD Lerner MBA program, you must demonstrate strong analytical and quantitative skills through prior academic work and/or recent professional experience. Applicants who are otherwise qualified for admission, but lack successful coursework in non-introductory Statistics, Calculus, Linear math classes, or work experience, may be asked to complete at their expense an MBA Math course in order to be admitted to the program. This will be communicated upon the completion of the Admissions Committee’s review of the full application.

How do I get a course waiver?

Course waivers are granted for certain courses only and may be granted when all of the following criteria are met:

• You have earned a bachelor’s degree from an AACSB-accredited institution within the past 5 years.
• You have successfully completed at least 6 credits of undergraduate coursework in the related discipline with a grade of “B” or better in each course.
• Except as noted below, at least 3 of the above credits are in a course at the intermediate level.

All course waivers are subject to individual review and require the submission of syllabi for all non-UD courses. Meeting the above guidelines does not guarantee that a course waiver will be granted.

Students in the MBA program may have up to 12 credits of course waivers and 9 credits of course transfers but no more than 12 credits combined between the two. A minimum of 32 graduate credits must be taken at the University of Delaware.

MBA Course Waiver Guidelines