Admissions

Admission to SMU Cox is highly selective. Just as you invest in your future by attending the school, we invest in ours by admitting top applicants to join the SMU Cox community.

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Applying for the SMU Cox Two-Year MBA

SMU Cox strives to build a vibrant learning environment, with diverse representation across the world’s best and brightest minds. We actively seek students with differing educational backgrounds, work experience, and personal aspirations and who are all strongly committed to advancing their careers.

Admission to SMU Cox is highly selective. Just as you invest in your future by attending the school, we invest in ours by admitting top applicants to join the SMU Cox community. We seek candidates who demonstrate the following qualities and characteristics:

  • A strong potential for success in today's global business environment
  • Outstanding academic record
  • Demonstrated leadership potential or experience
  • Effective interpersonal and communication skills
  • A personal commitment and learning and achievement

The best way to find out if SMU Cox is the right school for you is to connect with us and learn more.  You can register for an Information Session or join us at an upcoming event. 

Click here for a list of all upcoming events.

Application Information and Deadlines

. For any general questions about admission, please email gradadmissions@smu.edu to connect with a member of the admission team.

Deadlines for 2025 - 2026 Entry
Round  Application Due
 (11:59pm CST day of deadline)
Decision Delivered
 Admission Reply Due
1*  October 1, 2024  November 22, 2024
December 12, 2024
2*  January 7, 2025 February 28, 2025
March 27, 2025
3  March 4, 2025 April 4, 2025
May 1, 2025
4  April 29, 2025 May 30, 2025
two weeks after admission
 Rolling Admissions based on availability after April 29, 2025

*Priority deadline for scholarships and fellowships

Your application, supporting documents, and personal interview are very important to the selection process. If you are ready to submit your application, please do not wait for a specific deadline. We will process your application in the order it is received. Your completed application must contain the following:
  • Online Application Form
  • Professional Resume
  • Essays
  • GMAT or GRE Score, taken within the last five years*
  • Undergraduate Transcripts (required baccalaureate from an accredited college or university)
  • Two professional references (names and contact information only, no letters)
For current entry terms, SMU Cox will continue a test-optional policy for all MBA and Specialized Masters programs. For the benefits of taking a test, click here to learn more.

Class profiles with diversity enrich our cohorts in the Full-Time Two-Year MBA. See a breakdown below.

2026 Class Profile

16%

Under-Represented Minority

26%

International Students

3.56

Average GPA

315

Average GRE

5

Average Years of Work Experience

46%

Women

$70,000

Average Scholarship Award

85

Total # of Incoming Students

712

Average GMAT Score

Tuition and Financing

Financing your degree is, understandably, something for consideration. A graduate management education is one of the most important investments you'll ever make, and it's likely to produce one of your biggest ROIs — you won't just boost your career and earning potential, but you'll reap personal gains, too. To offset the costs, you may be eligible for a merit-based scholarship. All applicants are automatically considered for scholarships at the time they are considered for admission. If you need additional funding, you'll find that a variety of loan and private scholarship opportunities are available.

Estimated Annual Tuition & Fees:

Tuition $50,330
University and Program Fees
$9,938
Health Center Fee
$300
International Student Orientation Fee*
$100
International Student Fee*
$200
Total $60,868
Estimated Living Expenses*:
Housing $20,055
Books and Supplies $2,000
Transportation $2,504
Misc. Expenses (Health Ins., etc.) $4,000

*This fee may not apply to all students and depends on international student status.

**This estimated total is based on a 9-month school year for the 2024-25 academic year. The cost may be more or less depending on the student's lifestyle, whether the student lives on-campus or off-campus and whether any family members accompany the student. If family members accompany the student, add $8,600 if 1 dependent (spouse or child) and $4,300 for each dependent after 1.

Dual Degree Tuition

Students that are enrolling into Dual Degree Programs which are paired with the One-Year MBA program will be charged the tuition rate that is consistent with the non-MBA side of the dual degree (JD/MBA with Dedman Law or MA/MBA with the Meadows School of the Arts) for all credit hours taken at the Cox School. Please connect with the Dedman School of Law, or the Meadows School of the Arts for questions about billing and tuition rates for those programs. All University tuition rates are posted on the Bursar’s webpage. Dual degree students are eligible for Cox merit-based scholarships which are awarded at the time of our admission review.

Financial Aid and Additional Resources

Our Admissions and Financial Aid representatives are here to help you move through the process of securing all necessary funding to attend the Cox Two-Year MBA program. We are happy to talk you through the benefits of filing the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid), discuss alternative loan options, and what to anticipate as a timeline of financial aid and tuition payments. Official tuition and fee amounts are posted on the Bursar’s webpage. Incoming students who have questions about Financial Aid should contact gradfinaid@smu.edu for additional information about the FAFSA or Texas specific educational resources. SMU is a private institution and we do not adjust tuition for in or out-of-state residency.

Scholarships

Each year, through generous support of our corporate and private donations and endowments, we are able to offer competitive scholarship packages. The average scholarship award for our class of 2026 was over $70,000. If you need additional funding, you'll find that a variety of loan and private scholarship opportunities are available. All domestic and international candidates are automatically considered for merit scholarships.

Click here to view scholarship awards 

Additional Resources

Criteria and Application Tips

International Applicants

Women at Cox

Military Candidates

graduates

Next Steps

Have a question? Join us for an upcoming event to learn more about our MBA programs.