Cox School of Business – SMU

FAQ

What is the tuition for Cox's MBA program?

The tuition for Cox's MBA program is $47,445 per year. The total cost of the Cox MBA program is $83,651 per year; this includes budgeted living expenses.

What is the average GMAT score for admission to Cox's MBA program?

The average GMAT score for the incoming class at Cox is 686.

Does the Cox MBA program accept the GRE?

Yes. The Cox MBA program has accepted the GRE for a few years now.

What is the minimum number of years of work experience required for admission to Cox's MBA program?

Cox does not state a minimum requirement for years of work experience. However, it is important for candidates to be aware that they are being considered against other candidates with an average of 4 years of experience.

What is the average number of years of work experience for admission to Cox's MBA program?

The average number of years of work experience among students in Cox's MBA program is 4.

What is the average starting salary for graduates of the Cox MBA program?

The average starting salary for Cox MBA graduates is $114,000.

How long is Cox's full-time MBA program?

Cox offers a traditional 2 year MBA program. However, Cox also has a more intensive 1 year option.

What are the application deadlines for the Cox full-time MBA program?

The Round 1 MBA application deadline is October 11, 2022. The Round 2 deadline is January 5, 2023. The Round 4 deadline is March 1, 2023. The Round 5 deadline is May 2, 2023.  Cox then accepts applications on a rolling basis from May 2, 2023 to the start of the fall semester.

VIDEOS

Admissions

The Class Profile

Cox’s MBA Class of 2024 is comprised of 53 students. Their average GMAT score was 682. Students’ average GPA was 3.37, with an average of 5.5 years of work experience. Forty-three percent of the class are women and 23% identify as underrepresented minorities.

Application Procedures

Five application rounds are offered to domestic Cox School full-time MBA applicants; international applicants must submit their materials by the fourth round.  The application requirements include an online application, résumé, two essays, undergraduate transcripts and two professional references. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, GMAT, GRE, Executive Assessment or TOEFL/IELTS scores are optional as a part of the application. Interviews are conducted by invitation only.

Application Checklist

• Online Application Form
• Résumé
• Two Essays
• GMAT or GRE Scores (optional)
• Undergraduate Transcripts
• Two Professional References
• TOEFL, IELTS, or Pearson Test of English Score (if applicable)
• Personal Interview (invitation only)

Interview Reports

SMU Cox MBA Interview Questions & Report: Round 2 / Adcom / Zoom

1. Why did you choose your undergrad major and school? 2. Walk me through how you ended up at your current role. 3. What’s one of the most difficult things about your job? 4. When did you decide to get an MBA? Why? 5. What are your post-MBA goals? Will you continue in the same […]

SMU Cox MBA Admissions Interview Questions: Round 2 / Adcom / On-Campus

The following SMU Cox interview report was submitted to Clear Admit by a Round 2 applicant. My interview was conducted by the assistant director of full-time MBA admissions at Cox.  She started the interview by reviewing my resume with me step by step and asking some pointed questions for her to get more clarity about my different work […]

SMU Cox Interview Report: Round 2 / Adcom / Skype

The following SMU Cox interview report was submitted to Clear Admit by a Round 2 applicant. The interview was a good experience. I had a Skype interview with a member from adcom. He was very friendly and interview was basically conversational. He already knew everything about me through my essays. I was asked the following questions Tell […]

Smu-cox Q&As

Admissions Director Q&A: Gail Saegert & Jessica Lunce of SMU Cox

Learn about the SMU Cox School of Business in this Admissions Director Q&A with two associate directors of full-time MBA admissions from the program, Gail Saegert and Jessica Lunce. Gail graduated from Illinois Wesleyan University with a bachelor’s degree in International Business and worked in insurance and edtech before discovering her passion of working with […]

Admissions Director Q&A: SMU Cox’s John Roeder

As the latest addition to our Admissions Director Q&A Series, we recently connected with John Roeder, assistant dean of graduate admissions at the Cox School of Business at Southern Methodist University (SMU). Roeder is a graduate of the Cox MBA program, so he knows the school and its offerings inside and out. Roeder oversees all […]

SMU Cox LiveWire and DecisionWire

Academics

Faculty

The Cox School has a faculty of over 100 professors, adjunct professors, and lecturers who specialize in topics such as marketing, finance, and entrepreneurship. The school’s departments are the following: accounting; finance; information technology and operations management; marketing; management and organizations; real estate insurance and business law; and strategy and entrepreneurship.

Curriculum

The Cox School’s full-time MBA program can be completed in 22 months and requires 65 credit hours to graduate. Each course can be completed in eight weeks so students can easily customize their learning experience. In the first year, students take foundation courses in subjects such as accounting, finance, and marketing. The summer term is used for an internship, and the second year of coursework is when students can focus more on their academic concentrations. To this end, students may choose to specialize in up to two of the following concentrations: accounting; finance; general business; information technology & operations management (ITOM): business analytics; ITOM: supply chain; management; marketing; real estate; or strategy & entrepreneurship. In addition, students must complete the Global Leadership Program, which is a 10-day trip to a region of their choosing. For further international experience, students may apply for the international exchange program to live and study at one of the school’s 12 partner universities in Asia/Pacific Rim, Australia, Europe, or Latin America.

Other MBA Degree Options

The Cox School also offers a Full-time One-year MBA, a Professional MBA, an Online MBA, and an Executive MBA. The One-year MBA is designed for professionals who want to advance their careers quickly. The Professional MBA is suited to mid-level workers who want to obtain a degree without pausing their career, whereas the Executive MBA is for experienced business leaders who want to further their education with minimal disruption to their career. The online program is designed for working professionals looking to either advance their careers or change fields.

The One-Year MBA requires only 44 hours, and students take six to eight credits of coursework for each module. Despite the accelerated pace, students can still opt for a concentration in a specific area of study. Next, the Professional MBA requires 48 credit hours to graduate and can be completed in 24 months. The curriculum consists of eight-week courses that take place on evenings and weekends. Professional MBA students may also pursue a specialized area of study. Lastly, the Executive MBA can be completed in 21 months, and classes take place on Fridays and Saturdays of alternating weekends. The first year consists of courses in subjects such as decision modeling and macroeconomics, while the second year delves deeper into negotiations and strategic management.

Majors and Minors at the Cox School

• Accounting
• Finance: Further specializations in Corporate Finance, Energy Finance and Investments
• ITOM: Business Analytics
• ITOM: Supply Chain
• Management
• Marketing: Further specialization in Customer Engagement
• Real Estate
• Strategy & Entrepreneurship

Degree Offerings

Full-Time MBA Program

https://www.smu.edu/cox/Degrees-and-Programs/Two-Year-MBA

One-Year MBA Program

https://www.smu.edu/cox/Degrees-and-Programs/One-Year-MBA

Professional MBA Program

https://www.smu.edu/cox/Degrees-and-Programs/professional-mba

Executive MBA Program

https://www.smu.edu/cox/Degrees-and-Programs/executive-mba

Online MBA Program

https://www.smu.edu/cox/MBA-Programs/Online-MBA

Campus Life

Clubs, Conferences, & Competitions

MBA students at the Cox School can take part in over 20 clubs for networking and leadership development. Some clubs focus on professional development, such as the Entrepreneurship Club or the International Business Club. More social organizations, such as the Cask & Barrel Club or the Golf Club, allow students to have fun and network in a relaxed setting.

The Cox School also hosts conferences such as the O’Neil Center’s Annual Conference. Past topics have included Entrepreneurship for Education and Economic Freedom.

Competitions are also offered for Cox School students. The Information Technology & Operations Management Case Competition allows students to demonstrate their business skills to their peers and executives.

Campus Spaces

The business school is housed in four buildings: the Collins Executive Education Center, as well as the Maguire, Fincher, and Crow Buildings. The Collins Center, home to the Executive MBA program, has myriad classrooms, conference rooms, and boardrooms as well as seminar rooms tailored for teamwork. The other three buildings in the Cox School of Business Complex also house the Kitt Investing and Trading Center, which features an LED stock ticker, workstations, and 10 Bloomberg Professional terminals. The Business Complex also includes the Business Information Center, which is a library with state-of-the-art information technology to support business education.

MBA Careers

Career Services

The Cox Career Management Center (CMC) helps MBA candidates and alumni assess their skill sets and work to meet their career goals. Students can work with career coaches to prepare for interviews, internships, and full-time jobs. The CMC also hosts events that encourage students to network with organizations that are actively seeking to hire new interns and full-time employees.

Students interested in consulting careers may join the Cox Collegiate Consulting Academy (CCA), which is a year-long program that helps students develop consulting skills via case studies, workshops, and networking events. The CCA has partnered with companies such as Infosys, Hitachi Consulting, and Slalom Consulting. In addition, students have received offers from firms such as Deloitte Consulting, Bain & Company, and Ernst & Young.

Career Statistics

Eighty-three percent of the SMU Cox Class of 2021 received job offers within three months of graduation and 83% accepted offers. The average base salary was $114,000 and average signing bonuses landed at $22,000.

Consulting was the most popular industry, as 23% of Cox MBAs joined it. Financial services took in 18% of graduates and 16% joined tech. Fifteen percent joined real estate and seven percent pursued consumer goods.

Eighty-one percent of the Class of 2021 stayed in the Southwest upon graduation. Five percent each headed West or to the Northeast. Five percent worked internationally.

Financing

Tuition

For the full-time MBA, tuition is $47,445 in the 2022–2023 academic year. The estimated total, including university fees and living expenses, is $83,651 per year. Approximately 70% of MBA students receive scholarships, which range from 10% to 100% of tuition costs.

Financial Aid

All applicants are automatically considered for merit scholarships, and those who wish to secure such funding are encouraged to apply in the first two rounds of admissions. Furthermore, the Cox Distinguished MBA Scholars awards, which cover full tuition, also allow students to participate in career forums in New York City and Washington, D.C. The Cox MBA ITOM Scholars program offers a $15,000 scholarship for students who plan to pursue careers in operations, business analytics, or information technology. In addition, students with marketing experience, or those who plan to obtain a concentration in marketing, may receive a $10,000 scholarship from the Marketing Scholars program.

Additional scholarships are also available. The Indian Scholars program offers merit scholarships to candidates from India, and the Latin America Scholars program offers similar support to candidates from Latin America. Lastly, the Forté Foundation provides the Forté Fellows program, and all female candidates are automatically considered.

Additional funding sources are also available for students at the Cox School. After filling out the FAFSA form, students may receive up to $20,500 in federal loans. Federal Graduate PLUS Loans are also available for students who need additional funding, and it may provide up to the total cost of education (excluding all other aid, such as scholarship or Stafford loans).

Lastly, the Cox School participates in the Yellow Ribbon Program. Veterans who want to pursue an MBA from the Cox School may receive $7,500 per academic year. In general, veteran students who are in good academic standing may qualify for these benefits.

Estimated Cost of Attendance 2022-2023

Tuition $47,445
University and Program Fees $8,969
Housing $18,389
Books & Supplies $2,000
Transportation $2,848
Misc. Expenses $4,000
Total $83,651

Recent SMU Cox News

MBA Real Humans: Students – LIVE Webinar Winter 2023

The Clear Admit Real Humans: Students Series spotlights current students of the top MBA programs. Each of the student share their current MBA experiences and what they did after they were accepted to

SMU Cox MBA Interview Questions & Report: Round 2 / Adcom / Zoom

1. Why did you choose your undergrad major and school? 2. Walk me through how you ended up at your current role. 3. What’s one of the most difficult things about your job? 4. When did you decide to

Episode 267: What’s the Secret Behind Record-Breaking Career Placements at SMU COX?

The SMU Cox School of Business MBA Class of 2022 found record-breaking success this year, thanks to an innovative approach to employment at the business school. With special guests, Judi Umali-Rajkum

Real Numbers of MBA Admissions: Cost of MBA Programs in the U.S.

In this edition of Real Numbers of MBA Admissions, see the total cost of a full-time MBA per year at U.S. schools. Tuition comprises most of the cost of each program. Other factors, including room and

Real Humans of SMU Cox’s MBA Class of 2024

For this edition of Real Humans: MBA Students, we meet some new members of the Southern Methodist University Cox School of Business Class of 2024 in Dallas, Texas. Fifty-three students matriculated th

Admissions Director Q&A: Gail Saegert & Jessica Lunce of SMU Cox

Learn about the SMU Cox School of Business in this Admissions Director Q&A with two associate directors of full-time MBA admissions from the program, Gail Saegert and Jessica Lunce. Gail Saegert (

Real Numbers of MBA Admissions: International Students Statistics

International students statistics can showcase an element of diversity at leading business schools. In the chart below, see the percentage of international students at U.S. business schools.U.S. B

Real Numbers of MBA Admissions: Class Size of Top U.S. MBA Programs

Business schools come in all shapes and sizes and the class size of top MBA programs can be a factor in considering fit. From networking to a tight-knit culture to campus opportunities, class size can

Weekly Refresh: Latest MBA Essay Questions, Analyzed – Plus Deadlines & Rec Forms

Welcome to Weekly Refresh, a roundup of admissions advice and updates on the Clear Admit site. In this edition, we’re catching up with essay tips and deadlines released the week of July 4th, 2022. E

Episode 222: Women’s Path to Leadership and the Power of the MBA

In this edition of the Clear Admit MBA Admissions Podcast, we welcome two special guests from the SMU Cox School of Business to discuss women’s path to leadership and the influence of an MBA. Women