Lean into leadership.

Achieve your MBA online while building career experience with the SMU Cox MBA Direct.

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No GMAT / GRE required at this time.

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An MBA Designed for Young Professionals

At the Cox School of Business, you don’t have to wait to achieve your MBA. We have revolutionized the traditional MBA model and opened the door to recent college graduates and early career professionals through our MBA Direct program. The structure of our MBA Direct program enables you to accelerate your professional goals of achieving an MBA degree while working full time and building career experience.

To best support your academic and professional success, our part-time MBA Direct program offers full access to on-campus resources, organizations and networking events while you take courses online. Through a combination of highly engaging and interactive synchronous sessions and rigorous asynchronous coursework, you will experience the same academic standards and community connection as all Cox MBA students. In approximately three years, you will cultivate both the career experience and hands-on learning required for a competitive edge in the MBA-level job market.

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Connect with Award-Winning Faculty

Engage with the world-class SMU Cox faculty through small online classes. Our professors are practitioners, researchers, and industry leaders.

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Explore a Cutting Edge Curriculum

The MBA Direct offers a number of courses in data analytics so that you can turn business insights into action and approach data with confidence.

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Cultivate a Network of Leaders

Lean into leadership as you network with professors and classmates who are as ambitious and career motivated as you are.

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Application Process

SMU Cox is with you from day one. Simplify the MBA Direct application and admissions process by connecting with a member of the SMU Cox admissions team. Our admissions team is in place to answer your questions about:

  • SMU Cox test-optional admissions policy
  • Scholarship opportunities and availability
  • Application requirements and best practices
  • Your application plan and timeline

Priority Submit I $2,000 Scholarship Deadline - February 12.

Please note: merit-based scholarships awarded year-round. All candidates are considered upon application submission.



Invested in Your Success

At SMU Cox, our goal is to see you succeed both in the classroom and beyond. As you begin to build your career, our Career Management Center (CMC) is available to support you. You can start using the vast, dedicated resources of the CMC from the moment you enroll. From personal branding and coaching to the job search, our mission is to make sure you achieve your goals.

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Develop a Global Perspective

We know that you are ready to take on the world. That’s why our MBA Direct program offers you the ability to explore global cultures and business opportunities through our immersion programs. You will participate in your in-person immersion in your 6th or 7th semester. These immersions include six days of engagement with corporate executives, faculty and student peers. You will explore and apply leadership skills and analytical knowledge, and lead real-world consulting projects managed in the local market.

AACSB Accredited

The Edwin L. Cox School of Business is accredited by AACSB International, the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business.

  • #40

    Bloomberg Businessweek ranks SMU Cox #40 in the nation for best 2022-23 full-time MBA Business School, with high marks in learning, diversity and networking.

  • Top 50

    SMU Cox is ranked as one of the best business schools in the country by U.S. News & World Report (2023).

  • #6

    SMU Cox’s full-time MBA program is highly ranked (#6 in the nation) for potential networking opportunities by The Economist (2019).

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Learn from the Best

We don’t just teach business — we’re immersed in business. When they’re not teaching you applicable knowledge and skills, your professors are consulting for Fortune 500's, publishing books and research, running their own businesses and serving in government. Small class sizes and a calendar full of events where you can mingle informally mean you’ll be able to build one-on-one relationships with the academics and professionals who are as invested in your future as you are.

Want to learn more?

Request more information to learn about the upcoming cohort of the MBA Direct program.

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