The SMU Cox School of Business is located in Dallas, Texas, close to downtown. The school offers students one-year, two-year, online, professional, and executive MBA options. Hallmarks of the Cox MBA program include its small class size, alumni connections and location in a dynamic city.
The tuition for Cox's MBA program is $50,330 per year. The total cost of the Cox MBA program is $94,891 per year for domestic students and $89,467 for international students; this includes budgeted living expenses.
The average GMAT score for the incoming class at Cox is 712.
Yes. The Cox MBA program has accepted the GRE for a few years now. The average GRE score is 315 for the latest class.
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 5 years of experience.
The average number of years of work experience among students in Cox's MBA program is 5.
The average starting salary for Cox MBA graduates is $132,347.
Cox offers a traditional 2 year MBA program. However, Cox also has a more intensive 1 year option.
The Round 1 MBA application deadline is October 6, 2026. The Round 2 deadline is January 5, 2027. The Round 3 deadline is March 2, 2027. The Round 4 deadline is April 2, 2027.
Cox’s MBA Class of 2026 is comprised of 85 students. Their average GMAT score was 712. For those who submitted GRE scores, they landed an average 315. Students’ average undergraduate GPA was 3.56. The new class matriculated with an average of 5 years of work experience. Forty-six percent of the class are women and 16% identify as underrepresented minorities. Meanwhile, 26% of the new class are international students.
Four application rounds are offered to Cox School full-time MBA applicants, with rolling admissions starting in Round 4. The application requirements include an online application, résumé, essays, undergraduate transcripts and contact information for two professional references. GMAT or GRE scores are an optional part of the application. There is no application fee. Interviews are conducted by invitation only.
The Cox School has over 180 faculty members who specialize in topics such as marketing, finance, and entrepreneurship. The school’s seven academic departments are the following: accounting; business economics; finance; information technology and operations management; marketing; management, strategy, and entrepreneurship; real estate, risk management and business law.
The Cox School’s full-time MBA program can be completed in 21 months and requires 71 credit hours to graduate. Each course can be completed in seven 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 and organizations; marketing; real estate, insurance, & law; 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 11 partner universities in Asia/Pacific Rim, Australia, Europe, or Latin America.
The Cox School also offers a one-year MBA, a Professional MBA, and an Executive MBA. The One-Year MBA requires only 52 hours, and students take eight or nine 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 50 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.
Full-Time MBA Program
https://www.smu.edu/cox/business-degrees/mba-programs/two-year-mba
One-Year MBA Program
https://www.smu.edu/cox/business-degrees/mba-programs/one-year-mba
Professional MBA Program
https://www.smu.edu/cox/business-degrees/mba-programs/professional-mba
Executive MBA Program
https://www.smu.edu/cox/business-degrees/mba-programs/executive-mba
Online MBA Program
https://www.smu.edu/cox/business-degrees/mba-programs/online-mba
MBA students at the Cox School can take part in over 20 clubs for networking and leadership development. Some clubs focus more 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 events as arranged by the Birdwell Institute for Economic Freedom. Past events have included panels on NAFTA, housing prices, and a very broad variety of topics that relate to Texas’s economic life.
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.
The business school is housed in eight buildings situated near the center of the SMU campus. Four new buildings surrounding the David B. Miller Business Quadrangle: Bryan S. Sheffield Hall, Bolin-Bridwell Hall, Kim and William C. Shaddock Hall, and Southeast Hall join the Maguire, Fincher, and Crow Buildings. These buildings feature classrooms, a business library, various centers and institutes, and several common areas. The Collins Executive Education Center, located to the southeast of the Miller Business Quadrangle, is home to the Executive MBA program and has myriad classrooms, conference rooms, boardrooms, seminar rooms and event spaces.
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.
Forty-three of the 61 graduates of the SMU Cox Full-Time Two-Year MBA Class of 2024 were seeking employment. Eighty-six percent received and accepted job offers within three months of graduation. The average base salary was $132,347 and average signing bonus was $31,327.
Consulting was the most popular industry, with 32% of Cox MBAs joining it. Financial services took 22% of graduates and 11% joined the tech field. Eight percent took on roles in real estate while CPG, healthcare, manufacturing and transportation/logistics each saw 5% of SMU graduates.
Eighty-one percent of the Class of 2024 stayed in the Southwest U.S. upon graduation. Eleven percent headed to the South U.S. The Mid-Atlantic, Northeast and West regions each became home to three percent of graduates.
For the full-time MBA, tuition is $50,330 in the 2025-2026 academic year. The estimated total, including university fees and living expenses, is $94,891 per year. International students incur an additional $350 in fees. Many MBA students receive scholarships, which the school reports average $70,000.
All candidates are automatically considered for merit scholarships, and those who wish to secure such funding are encouraged to apply in the first round of admissions. The Cox Distinguished MBA Scholars program awards full- tuition scholarships to the most outstanding students admitted. Additional scholarships are also available. Cox partners with the Forté Foundation, an organization committed to advancing women in the business world, to provide Forté Fellowships. The school also partners with Reaching Out MBA (ROMBA) to award two fellowships to support LGBTQ+ and active ally MBA students. Lastly, students who have demonstrated support for the advancement of diversity in their professional and personal communities are eligible for the Cox Community Scholars program.
Additional funding sources are also available for students at the Cox School. After filling out the FAFSA , students may borrow up to $20,500 in direct unsubsidized 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. U.S. veterans eligible for the Yellow Ribbon Program pursuing an MBA from the Cox School may receive a maximum amount of$30,000 per academic year. In addition, full-time two-year MBA military veteran students are eligible for other scholarships.
Tuition $51,337
University and Program Fees $10,290
Health Center Fees $300
International Student Fees (Orientation & Student Fee) $350
Housing $23,830
Books & Supplies $2,000
Transportation $2,524
Misc. Expenses $4,260
Totals
$94,891 Domestic
$95,241 International
