Penn State University, Smeal College of Business

Penn State Online MBA Goes Test Optional

Penn State’s Smeal College of Business will no longer require applicants to submit GRE or GMAT test scores for its online MBA program.

“After a thorough assessment of performance data from our current students and alumni, we have strong evidence to show that a GMAT or GRE score is not a factor that predicts successful outcomes in the Penn State Online MBA,” Stacey Dorang Peeler, the managing director of the Penn State Online MBA, says in a statement.

REMOVING BARRIERS

The change, which takes effect immediately, is intended to make the application process equal for all prospective students. Penn State’s MBA faculty team spent a significant amount of time analyzing what makes students successful before getting approval to drop the testing requirement.

“We hope that eliminating the tests from our application will remove barriers for those who underperform on standardized exams but who will provide value to their colleagues in other ways,” Dorang Peeler says.

Penn State applicants will still be evaluated based on their academic record, professional experience, and fit with the team-based program.

The B-school’s 48-credit online MBA program lets students customize their degrees and choose a course of study from more than 25 concentrations—spanning from traditional business topics to tailored industries such as health care, IT, and engineering. The next application deadline is November 1 for enrollment in Penn State’s spring 2023 semester.

Sources: Penn State, Penn State