Accredited Online MBA Programs With No GMAT Requirement

This page ranks regionally accredited public and private not-for-profit U.S. online MBA programs that you can enter without treating the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) as a default hurdle. For-profit schools are excluded. Every card uses one of three policy labels: never considered, waiver with published criteria, or test-optional. Rank order follows verified cost per credit, or a labeled total when that figure is the honest student-facing price.
Use the table to shortlist two to four schools, then request information. Readers comparing speed should also open Discover Business’s
accelerated online MBA ranking. A wider value field lives on the accredited online MBA page. Testing strategy sits on the GMAT resource guide.

Table of Contents

• No GMAT vs Waiver vs Test-Optional
• How We Ranked These Programs
• Quick Comparison Table
• Ranked Cheapest Accredited Online MBA Programs (No GMAT)
• Should You Still Take the GMAT?
• Accreditation Still Matters When the Test Is Gone
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Next Step: Request Information

No GMAT vs Waiver vs Test-Optional (Read This First)

Marketing copy that says “no GMAT” hides three different rules. This page does not. Every school below is tagged with one bucket so you can see whether a score is unused, skippable, or optional.

• Never considered: The official admissions list does not use GMAT or GRE scores for the online MBA pathway. Example: Fitchburg State University’s graduate catalog states that the university does not require the GMAT, GRE, or MAT for graduate admission.
• Waiver: The school normally accepts or expects a score, then skips it when you meet published criteria such as GPA, a prior graduate degree, or years of experience. Example: East Texas A&M University (Texas A&M University-Commerce) requires a GRE when undergraduate GPA is 2.5 or less.
• Test-optional: You may submit a score to strengthen a file, but the school does not require one. Example: Marshall University lists test scores among documents you may add, not among documents required for full admission on a 3.0 business degree.

Policies change by term. Confirm the current admissions page before you apply. Fuzzy rules such as “start two courses while you wait on a score” do not qualify as never considered. Executive MBA programs are not mixed into this MBA ranking.

How We Ranked These Programs

The ranked table starts from Discover Business’s online MBA inventory and keeps only programs that clear every filter below.

• U.S. regional institutional accreditation is required.
• The school must be public or private not-for-profit. For-profit programs are excluded from the ranked table.
• Delivery must be online or primarily online MBA coursework, not an executive MBA listed as an MBA.
• The published GMAT or GRE rule must fit one labeled bucket: never considered, waiver with criteria, or test-optional. Provisional “start now, score later” policies are out.
• Remaining programs are ordered by verified cost per credit. When a school publishes a packaged total that is the real price students pay, that total is shown and used for placement.

Business accreditation from AACSB, ACBSP, or IACBE is reported on every card when present. It is not a substitute for regional accreditation. Figures come from school catalogs, program pages, bursar schedules, and accreditor directories accessed on September 5-6, 2026. Confirm current terms before you apply.¹

Quick Comparison Table

Cost cues are labeled and dated. Duration assumes the school’s published full load and can stretch when foundation courses are assigned. Inquiry is the next action after you recheck the school’s current page.

Ranked Cheapest Accredited Online MBA Programs (No GMAT)

Order follows verified cost after the filters above. Cards use the same pattern: overview, exact testing rule with access date, credits and format, tuition cue, accreditation, and fit. Concentrations can add credits. Always rerun the school’s current math before you treat a finish date as guaranteed.

1. Rogers State University

Rogers State University publishes a 36-credit ACBSP-accredited online MBA that can finish in as few as 18 months. Options include accounting, business analytics, management, sports management, and healthcare management.⁴
GMAT policy (never considered): Official MBA admission standards ask for the application, transcripts, and often a resume or a business preparatory course. They do not list the GMAT or GRE.
2026-2027 cohort pricing is $9,998 in tuition and required fees if you stay on the cohort schedule. That is the cheapest labeled total on this list. See also online MBA programs in Oklahoma.

2. Fitchburg State University

Fitchburg State University’s IACBE-accredited online accelerated MBA is 30 credits and can finish in as few as 12 months. Concentrations include accounting, analytics, finance, healthcare, HR, management, marketing, and supply chain.⁵
GMAT policy (never considered): Graduate testing is not required. Online program pages state that no GMAT is required.
Student Accounts lists Fall 2026 through Summer 2027 Online Accelerated MBA tuition at $284 per credit plus $152 in fees, or $436 all-in ($13,080 total). Compare the $436 figure, not the $284 tuition line alone.

3. Texas A&M University-Commerce (East Texas A&M University)

Texas A&M University-Commerce now operates as East Texas A&M University. The College of Business MBA is AACSB accredited, listed at 30 credit hours, and offered online with face-to-face options in Commerce and Dallas. Program materials cite a 1- to 2-year calendar and 8-week terms.⁶
GMAT policy (waiver): Official program admissions language states that if your overall undergraduate GPA on the conferred bachelor’s degree is 2.5 or less on a 4.0 scale, you must submit a general GRE. That is a waiver rule, not a never-considered rule.
The MBA program page lists tuition and fees of $3,851 per nine graduate hours for Texas residents and $7,703 for non-residents, plus a $50 online-course fee per hour. Do not treat the U.S. News $202 in-state tuition line as an all-in online MBA price. Texas residents can also use online MBA programs in Texas.

4. University of South Dakota

The University of South Dakota Beacom School of Business has held AACSB accreditation since 1949. The MBA is 33 credit hours. Applicants without a business bachelor’s degree complete six credits of Essentials coursework inside that total. The online path is scheduled so students can finish in as little as two years. An optional five-day residency runs each fall in Sioux Falls.⁷
GMAT policy (never considered): Current Beacom and online MBA admissions materials do not list a GMAT or GRE requirement for the standard online MBA file.
The official graduate online rate is $495.70 per credit. Beacom also publishes a $56.50 per credit discipline fee. Confirm whether that fee is billed on the online MBA before you budget a total.

5. Arkansas State University – Jonesboro

Arkansas State University’s Neil Griffin College of Business is AACSB accredited. The online MBA General path is 33 credits and can finish in as few as 12 months. Online pages list a 2.5 cumulative GPA floor, or 2.75 in the last 60 hours, plus transcripts and a $30 fee.⁹
GMAT policy (never considered): The official online MBA admissions checklist does not ask for GMAT or GRE scores. Campus MBA copy also omits the tests from the published requirement list.
Online MBA General tuition is $524 per credit, or $17,292 total, same rate for U.S. residents, fees included. See also online MBA programs in Arkansas.

6. University of North Carolina at Greensboro

The Bryan School of Business and Economics at UNC Greensboro holds dual AACSB accreditation in business and accounting. The MBA is 45 credit hours. Experienced-professional students may waive a 3-credit internship. Applicants with a recent undergraduate business degree may waive up to nine credit hours.¹⁰
GMAT policy (never considered): Bryan School materials state that the UNCG MBA application does not require the GMAT or GRE.
The Bryan School 2026-2027 program-costs page estimates online study at $24,500 for North Carolina residents. The same page publishes higher outside-of-state figures for online study. That total sits above several cheaper-per-credit schools because the curriculum is 45 credits.

7. Northern Kentucky University

Northern Kentucky University’s Haile College of Business is AACSB accredited. The MBA is 33 credit hours. The online path can finish in as few as 12 months. Students complete essentials courses and then stack emphasis-area coursework.¹¹
GMAT policy (never considered): The current Haile MBA page tells applicants to assemble an application package with “no GMAT required,” listing application, fee, transcripts, and related items. Older marketing pages still carry an asterisk tied to quantitative coursework. Use the current official MBA page when you apply.
Online MBA pages list $546 per credit and $18,546 total with fees. NKU’s 2026-2027 tuition schedule posts a higher College of Business MBA resident rate of $639 per credit for the campus product. Confirm which rate matches the online accelerated program before you budget.

8. Bowling Green State University

Bowling Green State University’s Schmidthorst College of Business holds dual AACSB accreditation in business and accounting. The online MBA is 30 credit hours and can finish in as few as 12 months. The academic program page states there is no application fee.¹²
GMAT policy (never considered): The official online MBA page states that no GMAT is required for admission. Some vendor landing pages still say “waive your GMAT.” Use the university academic page.
The 2026-2027 bursar schedule lists Online MBA at $615 per credit for Ohio residents, plus an $11 non-resident fee ($626 out of state). Online program pages price Ohio students at $18,450 total.

9. Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania

Shippensburg University’s John L. Grove College of Business holds AACSB accreditation. The MBA is 30 credits, or 36 with a concentration. Full-time students can finish in one year. Part-time students typically take two years.⁸
GMAT policy (never considered): Required materials are a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited institution, a resume, and a 500-word program statement. The MBA admissions list does not include the GMAT or GRE.
Shippensburg publishes online MBA tuition all-in at $693 per credit for Pennsylvania residents and $716 per credit for non-residents. See also online MBA programs in Pennsylvania.

10. Marshall University

Marshall University’s Lewis College of Business is AACSB accredited. The MBA can be completed online. Full-time students can finish in one calendar year. Catalog copy lists 30 credit hours. Marshall’s online program tuition table is built on 33 credit hours. Confirm the curriculum sheet for your start term before you multiply rate by credits. Concentrations include accounting, finance, health care administration, human resource management, management, marketing, supply chain management, and military management.¹³
GMAT policy (test-optional): Full admission can rest on a regionally accredited undergraduate business degree with a 3.0 GPA, completed prerequisite courses with a 3.0, or a doctoral degree. The page says applicants may also submit additional documents such as a statement of purpose or test scores. That is test-optional, not never considered.
Official 2026-2027 online program tuition lists MBA Online at $598 per credit plus $100 in program and e-delivery fees, or $698 all-in. Do not use older $522 profile figures as the current student-facing rate.

11. University of Northern Colorado

The University of Northern Colorado Monfort College of Business holds dual AACSB accreditation in business and accounting. The online MBA is 36 credits: foundation modules, a 24-credit core, and concentration or elective hours. The school publishes a finish in as few as 12 months.¹⁴
GMAT policy (never considered): Live admissions materials omit GMAT and GRE scores from the required file.
The UNC resident graduate online MBA schedule is $747 per credit. The program remains 36 credits and can finish in as few as 12 months. Confirm the current schedule for your start term.

12. Georgia Southern University

Georgia Southern’s Parker College of Business is AACSB accredited. The fully online MBA is delivered through the Georgia WebMBA consortium. The university page lists a 21-month calendar, no regular campus attendance, and a required two-day orientation in Atlanta. The credential is awarded by Georgia Southern.¹⁵
GMAT policy (never considered): Required-documents and admissions materials for the Georgia Southern online MBA / WebMBA path do not list the GMAT or GRE. This label rests on that omission, not on a quoted “no GMAT required” sentence.
Consortium tuition is $765 per credit, or $22,950 for 30 credits. School-specific fees may apply on top of that consortium rate. The published calendar is about 21 months.

13. Kennesaw State University

Kennesaw State University’s Coles College of Business is AACSB accredited. The 100% online path is the Georgia WebMBA: 30 credit hours, cohort-based, two courses per semester for five consecutive semesters, about 20 months. Coles also offers a separate evening MBA and an executive MBA, which are not this ranking’s online MBA card.¹⁶
GMAT policy (waiver): Coles comparison materials say GMAT or GRE is “not required in most cases.” Evening MBA copy says qualified applicants can receive a GMAT waiver and that scores may be requested. That is a waiver bucket, not never considered.
For academic year 2026-2027, Coles lists WebMBA tuition at $765 per credit, an $800 orientation fee, and a $594 per semester online learner fee. Coles does not publish a single packaged total that includes those add-ons on the current tuition page. This card ranks after Georgia Southern because the extra Kennesaw fees raise the student-facing cost above the $22,950 consortium tuition line.

Should You Still Take the GMAT?

Most applicants targeting the schools above can skip the test if they meet the published rule for that campus. Take the GMAT when you are applying to ultra-selective programs that still use scores as a primary screen, when your record is thin in quantitative courses, or when a scholarship rubric still awards points for a score. A waiver is not automatic admission. Start with the GMAT resource guide if you need a testing plan rather than a skip plan.

Accreditation Still Matters When the Test Is Gone

Dropping the GMAT does not drop the need for a quality signal. Employers and later graduate programs usually read regional accreditation first, then programmatic business accreditation, then your skills and work history. “No GMAT” on an unaccredited or for-profit flyer is not a substitute for those checks.²

Regional accreditation

Regional accreditation is the institutional quality mark most employers and graduate schools recognize. It also matters for federal student aid. Confirm the university’s regional accreditor on the school’s accreditation page or through CHEA directories before you treat any no-test claim as decisive.¹

AACSB, ACBSP, and IACBE

AACSB is the most widely recognized research-and-practice standard among business schools. ACBSP emphasizes teaching quality and continuous improvement for career-oriented programs. IACBE focuses on outcomes assessment for business and management degrees. Any of the three can be sufficient when the school is regionally accredited and transparent about curriculum. Prefer schools that name the accreditor clearly rather than vague “accredited MBA” marketing language.²

Frequently Asked Questions

What is an online MBA with no GMAT requirement?
An online MBA with no GMAT requirement is a graduate business program you can enter without submitting a Graduate Management Admission Test score. Some schools never look at GMAT or GRE scores. Others waive the test if you meet GPA, work-experience, or prior-degree rules. Always read the school’s current admissions page, because policies change by term.
What is the difference between no GMAT and a GMAT waiver?
No GMAT (never considered) means the school does not use the test in admissions. A waiver means the school normally wants a score but will skip it if you meet published criteria such as GPA or years of experience. Test-optional means you may submit a score to strengthen the file, but it is not required.
Does skipping the GMAT hurt the value of an online MBA?
Employers usually weigh accreditation, skills, and experience more than whether you took the GMAT. An online MBA from a regionally accredited nonprofit or public school, especially with AACSB, ACBSP, or IACBE business accreditation, is still a full MBA. The risk is choosing an unaccredited or for-profit program that markets “no GMAT” as the main selling point.
Are AACSB online MBA programs available without the GMAT?
Yes. Several public AACSB schools on this list either never use the test on the online pathway or publish a clear waiver. Accreditation and testing policy are separate decisions. Confirm both on the current program page.
Can I also skip the GRE?
On the never-considered cards above, GRE scores are not part of the standard file either. Do not assume a GMAT skip covers English-language tests for international applicants.
How should I pay for a no-GMAT online MBA?
Start with the school’s labeled tuition cue, then review paying for your MBA and MBA degree scholarships.

Next Step: Request Information

Shortlist two to four schools from the table after you recheck catalog figures for your start term. Confirm the GMAT bucket, business accreditation, credit total, and tuition label, then request information from those programs. Return to the accredited online MBA page for a wider field, or use the accelerated online MBA ranking when finish time matters as much as the testing rule.
References
1. Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA): https://www.chea.org/; National Center for Education Statistics, College Navigator: https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/
2. AACSB: https://www.aacsb.edu/; ACBSP: https://acbsp.org/; IACBE: https://iacbe.org/
3. Discover Business GMAT resource: /resources/gmat/
4. Rogers State University MBA: https://www.rsu.edu/degree-programs/mba/; catalog MBA admission standards; ACBSP list: https://www.rsu.edu/academics/departments/business/business-accreditation/; 2026-2027 cohort pricing: https://www.rsu.edu/admissions/cost/tuition-fees/, accessed September 5, 2026.
5. Fitchburg State University online MBA page: https://online.fitchburgstate.edu/degrees/business/mba/; graduate catalog standardized-test statement; Student Accounts Fall 2026 through Summer 2027 accelerated rates: https://www.fitchburgstate.edu/resources/current-students/student-accounts/graduate-continuing-and-evening-tuition-and-fees, accessed September 5, 2026.
6. East Texas A&M University MBA admissions and cost: https://www.etamu.edu/programs/business-administration-mba/, accessed September 5-6, 2026. GRE required when conferred undergraduate GPA is 2.5 or less.
7. University of South Dakota MBA catalog: https://catalog.usd.edu/preview_program.php?catoid=41&poid=9448; graduate online rate: https://www.usd.edu/Admissions-and-Aid/Tuition-and-Costs/Graduate-Cost-of-Attendance/Graduate-Tuition-and-Costs-Detailed, accessed September 5, 2026.
8. Shippensburg University MBA: https://www.ship.edu/Error/; official online all-in rates $693 PA resident / $716 non-resident per credit, accessed September 5-6, 2026.
9. Arkansas State University online MBA General: https://degree.astate.edu/online-programs/business/mba/general-concentration/; Griffin MBA page: https://www.astate.edu/programs/mba-in-business-administration.html, accessed September 5, 2026.
10. UNC Greensboro Bryan School MBA: https://bryan.uncg.edu/mba-test/; 2026-2027 program costs: https://bryan.uncg.edu/programs/masters-programs/the-uncg-mba/program-costs/, accessed September 5-6, 2026.
11. NKU Haile MBA: https://www.nku.edu/academics/programs/business-administration/master-business-admin.html; online MBA pages: https://onlinedegrees.nku.edu/programs/business/mba/; 2026-2027 tuition schedule: https://www.nku.edu/student-account-services/tuition/, accessed September 5, 2026.
12. BGSU online MBA: https://www.bgsu.edu/academics/graduate/business-administration-masters-online.html; 2026-2027 bursar Online MBA rates: https://www.bgsu.edu/bursar/Tuition_and_Fees_2026-2027.html, accessed September 5, 2026.
13. Marshall University MBA: https://www.marshall.edu/online/programs/business-administration-m-b-a/; 2026-2027 online program tuition: https://www.marshall.edu/tuition/online-program-tuition-2026-2027/, accessed September 5, 2026.
14. University of Northern Colorado MBA: https://www.unco.edu/programs/business-administration-mba/; resident graduate online MBA schedule $747 per credit, accessed September 5-6, 2026.
15. Georgia Southern online MBA: https://www.georgiasouthern.edu/degrees/mba-online; WebMBA consortium tuition $765 per credit / $22,950, accessed September 5-6, 2026.
16. Kennesaw State Coles WebMBA comparison and AY 2026-2027 tuition: https://campus.kennesaw.edu/colleges-departments/coles/mba-comparison/index.php; https://www.kennesaw.edu/coles/degrees-programs/graduate/mba/admissions/tuition-aid.php, accessed September 5-6, 2026.