USC Marshall School of Business

FAQ

What is the tuition for Marshall’s MBA program?

The tuition for Marshall’s MBA program is $72,501 per year. The total cost of the Marshall MBA program is $109,261 per year; this includes budgeted living expenses.

How hard is it to get into Marshall’s MBA program?

The acceptance rate for Marshall is 30%. It is important to consider the acceptance rate in the context of the student profile of those who are admitted. For example the average GMAT score is 732.

What is the average GMAT score for admission to Marshall’s MBA program?

The average GMAT score for the incoming class at Marshall is 732.

Does the Marshall MBA program accept the GRE?

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

What is the average GRE score for admission to Marshall’s MBA program?

The average Verbal GRE score at Marshall is 160. The average Quant GRE score at Marshall is 161.

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

Marshall 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 5.5 years of experience.

What is the average number of years of work experience for admission to Marshall’s MBA program? (or, What is the average age of a Marshall student?)

The average number of years of work experience among students in Marshall's MBA program is 5.5. The average age of a Marshall MBA student is 29.

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

The average starting salary for Marshall MBA graduates is $150,602. The salary will vary by industry, with consulting and finance jobs generally commanding the higher salaries.

How long is Marshall’s full-time MBA program?

Marshall offers a traditional 2 year MBA program.

What are the application deadlines for Marshall's MBA program?

The Round 1 MBA application deadline is October 15, 2022. The Round 2 application deadline is January 5, 2023. The Round 3 deadline is March 1, 2023. The Round 4 deadline is April 15, 2023.

What percent of Marshall MBA students are women?

The percentage of the class at Marshall that are women is 46%.

What type of interview does Marshall use for MBA admissions?

Marshall offers interviews by invitation. The interviews are resume-based. This means the interviewer has not had access to the application materials.

Admissions

The Class Profile

The 190 students who matriculated in the Class of 2024 had an average undergraduate GPA of 3.58 and an average GMAT score of 732. Students averaged 5.5 years of work experience before matriculation and their average age landed at 29. Fifty-six percent of the Marshall MBA class identify as U.S. students of color and 24% identify as U.S. historically underrepresented students of color. Forty-six percent are women and 41% are international.

Twenty-six percent of the Marshall Class of 2024 had studied business/commerce during their undergraduate years. A quarter had studied engineering/computer science and 14% had studied economics. Twelve percent had majored in the sciences and 10% studied social sciences. Another eight percent had studied the humanities and 2% law.

Application Procedures

Marshall’s full-time MBA program offers five rounds of application submission deadlines, which typically occur in mid-October, early January, early March, early May, and early June. To apply, prospective students must submit an online application form, official academic transcripts from any undergraduate and graduate institutions attended, two required essays and a résumé.  The school also requires applicants to submit official GMAT or GRE score reports, A $155 application fee, and, if applicable, a TOEFL or IELTS score report. Interviews are required for admission and are offered by invitation only.

Application Checklist

• Data Form
• Résumé
• Application Fee
• Academic Transcripts
• GMAT/GRE and TOEFL/IELTS Academic Scores
• Essays

Interview Reports

USC Marshall MBA Interview Questions & Report: Round 2 / Zoom

They asked if they could record me for the panel to view it later. 1. Ice breaker question. 2. Asked about my current position and future career goals. 3. Asked what I would bring different to the program. 4. Asked how I would handle a situation where my group didn’t agree on something on a […]

USC Marshall MBA Interview Questions & Report: Round 3 / Adcom / Skype

Nicholas Britz interviewed me and it went very well. Very conversational. I think he always use the same questions and I was asked exactly the same question as other folks. 45 minutes, easy. How did you learn about USC Marshall? Walk me through your resume. Why Marshall? What motivates you? What inspires you? What is […]

USC Marshall MBA Interview Questions & Report: Round 2 / Adcom / Zoom

My interviewer really set up a very chill and welcoming vibe. 1. How did you find about USC Marshall? 2. Tell me about yourself. 3. Why USC Marshall? 4. What motivates you? 5. What inspires you? 6. What’s your definition of success? When do you consider yourself successful? 7. What feedback did you get from […]

USC Marshall MBA Interview Questions & Report: Round 2 / Adcom / Zoom

I interviewed with a member of the admissions committee this week. I do not believe she had seen my application, only my resume. My interview lasted 30 minutes. It was not on Microsoft Teams (as noted in the interview invite), but on Zoom. Walk me through your resume. Do you oversee anyone at your current […]

USC Marshall MBA Interview Questions & Report: Round 1 / Adcom / Virtual

I spoke with Laura Hartman, a member of the Admissions Committee, through Microsoft Teams. This was a blind interview so she was not the person who reviewed my application. Unlike some of the other interviews that I’ve had so far, this one was a little more formal, less conversation outside of the questions being asked. […]

USC Marshall MBA Interview Questions & Report: Round 1 / Adcom / Virtual

Online / Conversational / Adcom (Nirav Mehta) / Resume Based / 35-40 mins He introduced himself. He is very good person to have a conversation with. Questions: 1) Tell me about yourself. 2) I can see many achievements on your Resume, what is your greatest achievement? 3) What are the 3 qualities of a leader […]

USC Marshall Interview Questions & Report: Round 1 / Adcom / Zoom

It was really laid back and informal feeling! I spoke with Nirav Mehta (Senior Associate Director of MBA Admissions), who was just so kind and easy to talk to and really put me at ease. Here’s the basic flow of the conversation. No curveballs. 1. Talk me through your resume. 2. Tell me more about […]

USC Marshall Interview Questions & Report: Round 1 / AdCom / Virtual

It was a very casual interview and she (Elaine Padilla) would ask further questions depending on what my answers were. Walk me through your resume (slowly) What are your short-term goals? Why MBA? What would your teammates say your strengths are? What is your proudest achievement? What is your favorite part of your current role? […]

USC Marshall Interview Questions & Report: Round 2 / Adcom / Zoom

Interviewer began by saying this was just an opportunity to learn more about me, and that it was resume-based. These were the questions I was asked (not in the correct order and I may be missing a few). How did you hear about USC Marshall? What are a few traits you admire in a leader? […]

USC Marshall Interview Questions & Report: Round 1 / Adcom / Zoom

As a preface, this is my first and only interview for Round 1 of the Fall 2021 intake. I did two MBA interviews last year and ultimately deferred to this cycle, so I do have some experience. With that said, the interview was friendly as Grace Kim, the director of admissions, is a great interviewer. […]

Usc-marshall Q&As

Admissions Director Q&A: Evan Bouffides of USC Marshall School of Business

Evan Bouffides has been in the world of MBA admissions for quite some time, and his journey has come full circle back to USC Marshall School of Business. That’s where he got his start back in 1997, serving first as associate director and later as director of MBA admissions. But in 2005 he was recruited […]

Admissions Director Q&A: Grace Kim of the USC Marshall School of Business

Grace Kim is senior associate director of MBA admissions at the University of Southern California (USC) Marshall School of Business. She was generous enough to make time recently to answer our questions about the admissions process at Marshall, and we thank her! In the interview that follows, Kim shares new developments planned for the school, […]

USC / Marshall LiveWire and DecisionWire

Academics

Faculty

Throughout its seven academic units, Marshall employs just over 250 full-time faculty members. In addition to teaching classes, these scholars and practitioners also help staff the school’s nine centers and institutes, which range in focus from sports business research to the commercialization of technology.

Curriculum

Marshall’s professors draw upon a variety of teaching methods. The school notes that professors use case discussions, student presentations and team projects more frequently than lecture-based learning. To help students get to know each other better, Marshall divides its incoming class into three “cores” that take all of their required courses together. Each core is further broken down into teams of five to six students that complete group projects together; students are assigned to different teams in the fall and spring semesters.

Over the course of five terms in the first academic year, Marshall MBAs complete the core requirements, which include such business topics as microeconomics, data science, leadership and more. In Term 4, student teams consult with a Los Angeles-based company to develop solutions for real-life business problems. Year one also includes the Global Context of Business course followed by the PRIME overseas experience. During the 10-day PRIME trip, students visit domestic and multinational companies and governmental institutions, and complete business projects that evaluate the cultural, financial, political and other constraints and opportunities of the given country. The first year can include up to 7.5 elective credits.

The second year of the MBA program is comprised entirely of elective courses and students should have 30 elective credits left after completing 7.5 in their first year. Each year, students can choose from a menu of nearly 100 elective offerings. They may also design their own cross-functional, individualized program of study or develop an independent study project to earn credits. Second-year students may also cross-register for courses at other USC schools and departments, applying up to nine credit units of non-Marshall courses towards their MBA degree. As of Spring 2020, Marshall’s entire full-time MBA Program is STEM certified.

Other MBA Degree Options

Along with its full-time MBA program, Marshall offers a three-year, part-time MBA for Professionals and Managers at its main campus in Los Angeles. The school also has a two-year Executive MBA program, a three-year part-time MBA for fully employed professionals, a one-year Accelerated MBA for mid-career professionals, as well as a flexible, 21-month Online MBA.

Degree Offerings at Marshall

Full-time MBA Program
https://www.marshall.usc.edu/programs/graduate-programs/mba-programs/full-time-mba

Part-Time MBA Program
MBA Program for Professionals and Managers
https://www.marshall.usc.edu/programs/graduate-programs/mba-programs/part-time-mba

Online MBA Program
https://www.marshall.usc.edu/programs/graduate-programs/mba-programs/online-mba

Executive MBA Programs
Executive MBA
https://www.marshall.usc.edu/programs/graduate-programs/mba-programs/executive-mba

1 Year International MBA (IBEAR)
https://www.marshall.usc.edu/programs/graduate-programs/mba-programs/international-mba

Campus Life

Clubs, Conferences & Competitions

Students at Marshall have many opportunities to become involved in extracurricular activities. The full-time MBA program has over 40 student-run organizations that cover community, career, diversity, social and athletic interests. One of the most popular student clubs is Challenge for Charity, through which Marshall students compete against teams from other West Coast MBA programs in athletic, volunteer, social and fundraising events to benefit groups like Special Olympics, Junior Achievement and A Better LA. Meanwhile, on the more professional side, USC Marshall Graduate Women in Business helps develop the careers of women MBA students by organizing events, such as lunches with executives, company presentations and panels on women leaders in business.

Further supplementing students’ extracurricular options, Marshall’s research centers and student organizations host conferences and competitions throughout the year. For instance, the USC Marshall Business of Entertainment Association hosts an annual conference on the evolution of the entertainment business. Meanwhile, the Lloyd Greif Center for Entrepreneurial Studies organizes the New Venture Seed Competition, through which teams of student, faculty, and staff entrepreneurs from Marshall and other USC graduate schools compete for cash prizes of up to $85,000 in seed funding.

Campus Space

The Marshall School of Business is located in the University of Southern California’s University Park campus close to downtown Los Angeles. Marshall’s graduate programs are housed in Popovich Hall, which, in addition to academic facilities, boasts a café and a courtyard that serve as common meeting places for members of the Marshall community. Students and faculty can also take advantage of the nearby Crocker Business Library for their research needs.

MBA students can find housing on campus in both apartments and residence halls.  However, a fair number of Marshall students choose to live off-campus in nearby Los Angeles neighborhoods.

MBA Careers

Career Services

Marshall’s MBA Career Services provides year-round career development programming to help students secure summer internships and post-MBA jobs in their desired fields. Offerings include interview preparation, job search engines and help with résumé updating, among others. In addition, students have a wide variety of opportunities to meet with potential employers through on-campus information sessions and receptions. MBA Career Services also organizes several hiring events throughout the year, as well as site visits.

Career Statistics

Twenty-nine percent of the Class of 2022 went into technology careers after graduating from Marshall. Consulting was the second most popular industry, claiming 21% of graduates. Financial services followed at 20%, and 10% percent of the class went into the media and entertainment industry. Healthcare attracted 6% of the Class of 2022. Meanwhile, the top three most chosen functions were marketing/sales, financial services, and consulting, which drew 29%, 28% and 25% of 2022 graduates respectively. The average base salary among all graduates was $150,602.

As often occurs among business school graduates, a large proportion of the Class of 2022, 87%, found post-MBA employment in the region where Marshall is located: the Western U.S. The Northeastern U.S. drew 7% of graduates, and 1% chose jobs internationally. The remaining portion of the class spread throughout the Southwestern, Midwestern, and Southern regions of the U.S.

Financing

Tuition for the first year at Marshall totaled $72,501 in 2022-2023 with an additional $5,600 in fees. However, the school estimates that considering other living expenses such as housing and textbooks, students will spend approximately $109,261 in this time. To help students finance their education, Marshall offers several merit-based fellowships ranging from partial to full tuition for domestic and international applicants. Second-year students who do not receive a fellowship when admitted to the program are eligible for Dean’s Scholarships, which are awarded based on accomplishments during the first year of the MBA program. Students may also finance their education through federal and private loans.

Cost of Attendance

• Tuition $72,501
• Books, Fees & Supplies $5,600
• PRIME Fee $3,850
• Room & Board $27,310
• Total $109,261

Recent USC / Marshall News

The Week Ahead: MBA Decisions, May 15-19, 2023

Welcome back to the series, The Week Ahead, in which we provide a brief rundown of what is happening in MBA admissions this week! Late Round Decisions Roll Out Round 3 continues as we get closer to th

USC Marshall MBA Interview Questions & Report: Round 2 / Zoom

They asked if they could record me for the panel to view it later. 1. Ice breaker question. 2. Asked about my current position and future career goals. 3. Asked what I would bring different to the pro

USC Marshall MBA Interview Questions & Report: Round 3 / Adcom / Skype

Nicholas Britz interviewed me and it went very well. Very conversational. I think he always use the same questions and I was asked exactly the same question as other folks. 45 minutes, easy.How did

The Week Ahead: MBA Deadlines & Decisions, March 27-31, 2023

Welcome back to the series, The Week Ahead, in which we provide a brief rundown of what is happening in MBA admissions this week! Round 2 final decisions are coming. Round 2 decisions continue to rol

‘Big Tech’ Jobs & Careers Remain Popular with MBA Graduates

Take a closer look at MBA graduates’ tech industry jobs placement overall and at Big Tech firms for the full-time MBA Classes of 2018 to 2022. Despite a recent decline in tech industry hiring, t

From B-School to MBB: Consulting Jobs Placement at Leading MBA Programs

MBA graduates continue to seek out management consulting jobs for the opportunity to provide strategic advice to business leaders operating large companies. Jobs at leading strategy consulting firms s

M7 Business Schools Dominate in Venture Capital and Private Equity Fields

MBA graduates continue to be drawn to finance jobs due to the lucrative compensation packages, the chance to work on high-profile deals at investment banks, and the opportunity to invest in the next b

USC Marshall MBA Interview Questions & Report: Round 2 / Adcom / Zoom

My interviewer really set up a very chill and welcoming vibe. 1. How did you find about USC Marshall? 2. Tell me about yourself. 3. Why USC Marshall? 4. What motivates you? 5. What inspires you? 6. Wh

USC Marshall MBA Interview Questions & Report: Round 2 / Adcom / Zoom

I interviewed with a member of the admissions committee this week. I do not believe she had seen my application, only my resume. My interview lasted 30 minutes. It was not on Microsoft Teams (as noted

Indiana University & UNC Top U.S. News 2023 Online MBA Ranking

U.S. News & World Report has released its 2023 Best Online Programs rankings, including online MBA programs. At the top of the list, two schools tied for first in online MBA programs: Indiana Uni