Best Online MBA Programs in the South

University of North Carolina–Chapel Hill (Kenan-Flagler) requires a GMAT or GRE for students with fewer than five years of work experience, however, the requirement can be waived in special circumstances. The average incoming student has a 670 GMAT score and a 3.2 undergraduate GPA. The acceptance rate into the public university’s online program was 57% last year. Kenan-Flagler currently enrolls 847 students in its online MBA program, and its one-year retention rate in 2020 was 96.15%. There are four application deadlines per year (one per quarter). Students must complete 62 credits to graduate.

Incoming students at University of Florida (Hough) have an average GMAT score of 592, and an average undergraduate GPA of 3.33. Applications are processed on a rolling basis, and official GMAT or GRE scores are required. In 2020, the acceptance rate to Florida’s online MBA program was 72%, and there are currently 492 students enrolled. The online MBA program’s one-year retention rate in 2020 was 96%. Students must complete 32 credits for the one-year program and 48 for the two-year program. Florida requires international students to submit TOEFL scores of at least 80.

The University of Maryland–College Park (Smith) requires GMAT or GRE scores for its online MBA application, although waivers are available depending on work experience and academic record. Prospective students can also supplement their application with an optional essay. The average incoming student has a 590 GMAT score and 3.2 undergraduate GPA. In 2020, Smith accepted 74% of applicants to its online MBA program, and 360 students are currently enrolled. Prospective students must apply by July 5 and submit one letter of recommendation with their application. Smith requires 54 credits completed for graduation.

Rice University (Jones) requires either a GMAT or GRE score from the past five years to apply for its online MBA program, though testing waivers are available if certain requirements are met. One letter of recommendation is also required. For incoming students, the average GPA is 3.21, and the average GMAT score is 598. International students are required to submit TOEFL scores. The school offers rolling admissions to its online MBA program, currently enrolling 387 students. In 2020, Jones had a 70% acceptance rate. Students must complete 54 credits in order to graduate.

West Texas A&M University’s Paul and Virginia Engler College of Business requires incoming online MBA students to have three letters of recommendation, along with GMAT or GRE scores. Waivers are available for students with an undergrad or post-grad GPA of 3.0 or higher, or 10 years of work experience. The average incoming online MBA student has a 3.55 undergraduate GPA and 560 GMAT score. In 2020, the program had an 80% acceptance rate, and it currently enrolls 883 online MBA students. The school offers three application rounds each year.

George Washington University does not require GMAT or GRE scores to apply to its online MBA program, though it will accept and consider them as a part of a student’s application. Incoming students’ average undergraduate GPA is 3.17 and GMAT score is 587. One letter of recommendation is required with an application. In 2020, the school accepted 74.5% of online MBA applicants, and the program currently enrolls 357 students. The program in 2020 had a one-year retention rate of 86%. Students must complete 47 credits in order to graduate.

Test scores for the GMAT or GRE are optional for students applying to American University (Kogod)’s online MBA program, though two letters of recommendation are required for admission. The average incoming student’s undergraduate GPA is 3.1, and the average GMAT score is 625. Kogod offers two application rounds each year for its online MBA program. In 2020, the program had an acceptance rate of 78%, and currently enrolls 352 students. Its current one-year retention rate is 87%. In order to graduate, a student must complete 48 credits. International students must submit a TOEFL score of at least 100.

Kennesaw State University (Coles) does not require a GMAT or GRE score to apply to its online MBA program, in most cases. In fact, they encourage applicants to apply without submitting a test score. The average incoming student has a 572 GMAT score and an undergraduate GPA of 3.215. Two letters of recommendation are required. Two years of full-time professional experience are mandatory for WebMBA applicants. The school offers two application rounds each year, and in 2020 accepted 74% of applicants. Coles currently enrolls 216 online MBA students, and has a one-year retention rate of 95.5%.

The University of Delaware (Lerner) prefers submission of GMAT scores but accepts GRE scores as well from applicants to its online MBA program. Test waivers are available. The average incoming online MBA student has a 598 GMAT score and an undergraduate GPA of 3.34. Two letters of recommendation are required. The school offers admission on a rolling basis to its online MBA program, and in 2020 accepted 72% of applicants. Lerner currently enrolls 501 students in its online MBA program, and has a one-year retention rate of 91%. Students need 44 credits in order to graduate.

Mercer University–Atlanta (Stetson) requires submission of a GMAT or GRE score to apply for its online MBA program, although waivers are available to those who qualify. The average incoming student has an undergraduate GPA of 2.96 and a 520 GMAT score. No letters of recommendation are required. Prospective students must apply by July 15 to be considered for admission. In 2020, Stetson accepted 53.85% of applicants to its online MBA program, and currently enrolls 210 students. In order to graduate, students must complete 30 credits. International applicants need a TOEFL score of 80 to apply.

The University of Mississippi requires submission of a GMAT or GRE score to apply to its online MBA program, although this requirement can be waived if an applicant has five or more years of professional work experience. The average incoming student has an undergraduate GPA of 3.32 and a GMAT score of 548. Two letters of recommendation are required. Prospective students have three chances to apply each year. In 2020, Mississippi admitted 51.21% of applicants, and the school currently enrolls 101 online MBA students. Mississippi has a one-year retention rate of 93.75%.

Virginia Commonwealth University does not require online MBA applicants to submit a standardized test score, but prospective students may do so if they wish. The average incoming student has an undergraduate GPA of 3.2. Three letters of recommendation are required to apply. In 2020, VCU admitted 89% of applicants to the online MBA program, which currently enrolls 74 students. The deadline to apply is June 1. VCU’s one-year retention rate for its online MBA program is 93%. Students need 45 credits to graduate.

University of Texas–Dallas does not require applicants to its online MBA program to submit test scores. However, three letters of recommendation are required to apply. International students are not required to submit TOEFL scores. There are three application deadlines each year. Dallas in 2020 admitted 96.7% of applicants to the program, which currently enrolls 93 students. The program’s graduation rate is 100%. To graduate, students must complete 53 credits.

Louisiana Tech University formulaically decides admissions based on a combination of the applicant’s previous academic record and the applicant’s score on the GMAT. GMAT scores are required but GRE scores are accepted in some cases. Those who have an undergraduate GPA of at least 2.75 and a GMAT score of at least 450 are eligible for unconditional admission. No letters of recommendation are required. Last year, 61% of online MBA applicants earned admission to the program, which currently enrolls 213 students. Online MBA students need 30 credits to graduate. The program’s one-year retention rate is 89%.