MBA programsMS ProgramsCompare all

Curriculum

• What is the difference between MS and MBA programs?
  • Our MBA programs are designed for professionals with two or more years of post-bachelor’s work experience. An MBA degree will help you build a strong foundation of business management practices and pursue a concentration that supports your career goals. Overall, the MBA program is broader in scope than an MS program. An MS degree is typically shorter (approximately 30-33 credits), subject focused and does not require work experience prior to admission.
• Which programs are STEM-approved?
  • Our MS programs in Business Analytics, Finance, Financial Risk Management, Information Systems, Quantitative Methods and Modeling, Real Estate, and Statistics are all STEM-approved and qualify for a 24-month OPT extension. Our MBA (General Business) and Online MBA have a STEM-approved curriculum but only our MBA (General Business) program qualifies for an 24-month OPT extension.
• Which concentrations are available with the MBA Programs?
  • Our MBA (General Business) and Online MBA programs allow students to design their own concentration. Students may select a cluster of courses offered by any academic department within Zicklin, for example, data analytics, finance, marketing, etc., (provided the prerequisite courses are satisfied). Our Online MBA electives may have more limited choice in electives based on availability, but can choose courses offered to MBA (General Business) students. View elective courses here.
• How many credits are in an MS/MBA?
  • The MBA (General Business) and Online MBA programs require 48 credits of coursework. The credit requirements for an MS program vary depending on the preliminary course requirements for the particular program. More details on MS program course requirements can be found here.
• How many credits are in the Advanced Certificate?
  • The Advanced Certificate programs generally require 9-12 credits of coursework. More details on the Advanced Certificate can be found here.
• Do the Advanced Certificate courses transfer to another program?
  • Yes, the Advanced Certificate courses can transfer to an MS/MBA program. It is important to review the curriculum to see which programs the credits could count towards.
• Do you offer Dual Degree Programs?
  • We don’t offer dual degree programs, but we do participate in a joint JD/MBA program with Brooklyn Law School and New York Law School.
• Can I find out if I am waived from any preliminary courses before I apply for a graduate program?
  • No, you must first be admitted to Zicklin and submit your deposit. You will then be provided with an evaluation that lists the preliminary courses that are either waived or required. However, you can do a self-evaluation by reviewing the waiver criteria on the MS program page of your choice.
• Do you accept transfer credits? 
  • Yes, we accept transfer credits that meet our eligibility criteria. The Zicklin Office of Graduate Programs reviews requests for transfer credits upon acceptance and enrollment in to an MS or MBA program. More information is available here.
• What are the job outcomes for an MS or MBA degree?
  • Zicklin’s Graduate Career Management Center publishes a graduate employment report each year, which provides employment outcomes for our recent alumni.
• Can I take courses as a non-matriculated student?
  • Alumni with a previous Master’s or MBA degree from Zicklin may take non-degree courses. 

Course Delivery and Duration

• How long does it take to complete an MS/MBA program?
  • The duration of the Evening MBA, Online MBA, or MS program depends largely on how many credits a student takes each semester. The MBA (General Business) program can be completed as quickly as 17 months or longer if needed and for the majority of MS programs can take three or four semesters. Online MBA currently takes a minimum of 3 years to complete, with options to expedite. More information on credit requirements and average completion time is available here.
• How long does it take to complete the Advanced Certificate?
  • The average completion time of the Advanced Certificate is two semesters. 
• When are courses typically offered?
  • The vast majority of courses are offered on weekday evenings. There are a limited number of courses offered during traditional daytime working hours and on weekends. Courses are currently being offered in a variety of modalities including in-person, hybrid and online (synchronous/asynchronous).
• Can I complete my entire program online or on weekends?
  • The Online MBA, Online MS in Marketing, Online MS in Business Analytics, and Online MS in Finance are the only programs where it is possible to complete the entire curriculum online. While online and weekend courses are available in our MBA, MS, and Advanced Certificate programs, it is not possible to complete the entire program by taking only online or weekend classes.

Admission CriteriaCompare Programs

General

• Based on my credentials and work experience can you tell me if I am eligible for admissions?
  • We do not pre-evaluate any prospective students. You must formally apply in order to find out if you are admissible. However, we encourage interested applicants to research our admission requirements and selection criteria for insight into our entering class profile.
• I haven’t graduated yet – am I still eligible to apply?
  • Candidates who are in the final year of their bachelor’s degree program are eligible to apply. If admissible, these candidates must provide proof of the awarded degree before enrolling in graduate coursework.
• Are there some parts of the application that are weighted more heavily?
  • No, the admissions committee reviews all applications holistically. Each component is important.

Previous Academic Coursework

• Are prerequisite courses required to apply and be admitted to a Zicklin MS or MBA program?
  • No, there are no prerequisite courses required to apply and be admitted to one of our programs.
• Do I need a bachelor’s degree in a specific subject area in order to apply?
  • No, we accept applicants from any academic background as long as they have a Bachelor’s degree (or international equivalent).

Work Experience

• Is work experience required to apply?
  • While work experience is not a requirement for admission to our Advanced Certificate or MS programs, MBA applicants must have at least two years of post-bachelor’s work experience to be considered for admission.
• I worked full-time while pursuing my bachelor’s degree; am I eligible to apply to an MBA program?
  • While post-bachelor’s work experience is required, there are exceptions made for non-traditional students who have obtained exceptional professional experience prior to enrolling in their bachelor’s degree.
• Do internships count as full-time work experience?
  • No, internships do not count as full-time work experience.

APPLICATION REQUIREMENTSaPPLICATION DEADLINES

Application Process

• Can I apply to more than one program?
  • No, you may only apply to one graduate program in each application cycle.
• Do I need to send my official test scores and transcripts to your office before I submit my application
  • No, you can report unofficial test scores and upload copies of your unofficial transcripts into our application portal. If you receive an offer of admission, you will then be required to provide official copies.
• What is the application process for transfer students?
  • Applicants applying with the intention of transferring in credits will follow the same application process as traditional applicants. Requests for transfer credit are reviewed by the Zicklin Office of Graduate Programs upon acceptance to the MS or MBA program. An outline of the conditions, qualifications, and procedures for the transfer of credits be found in the Graduate Transfer Credit Application.
• How do I upload a transcript that exceeds the max file size?
  • We recommend compressing the file. A useful site for free document compression is www.ilovepdf.com.

Application Fee

• What is the application fee and are there waivers available?
  • Our application fee is $75 which can be paid via credit card through the application portal. The following groups are exempt from paying the fee: veterans of the United States Armed Forces, members currently on active duty, members of the National Guard or Reserves, or spouses of Veterans/Military members. To receive the fee exemption, complete all segments of the online application, including the key military questions on the “Demographic Data” page, then submit your application without paying the application fee. On the “Demographic Data” page, you’ll select that you actively are or have served in the U.S. Armed Forces and for which branch, and upload your or your spouses DD-214 or a copy of your/their military ID in the space provided.
• I paid my application fee but my application was not submitted. What do I do?
  • Please log into your online application and press submit. If the deadline has passed and you are unable to submit your application please contact ZicklinGradAdmissions@baruch.cuny.edu.

Letters of Recommendations

• Who should I ask to be my references?
  • We usually require two professional letters of recommendations; however, recent graduates may submit one professional reference and one academic reference. If you have not yet completed your Bachelor’s degree, you may provide two academic references. If you are self-employed, we accept recommendations from business clients. Please note, we do not accept recommendations from friends or family.

APPLICATION REQUIREMENTSaDMISSION CRITERIA

Standarized Test Scores

Zicklin accepts the GRE, GMAT, GMAT Focus Edition, and Executive Assessment (EA)

• Are their waivers for the GMAT, GMAT Focus, GRE, or Executive Assessment (EA)?
  • Yes, we offer test score waivers. Currently, the GMAT/GMAT Focus/GRE/EA is NOT required to apply to any MS program. To qualify for a waiver for our MBA and Online MBA programs, applicants must have earned a four-year bachelor’s degree or master’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university in the U.S. AND have earned a final cumulative GPA of 3.30 or higher on a four-point scale. Degrees graded on other scales are not eligible. Applicants who meet the criteria do not need to submit a request for a waiver, as the standardized test score requirement will be waived when the application is received.
• Is there a minimum score for the GMAT, GMAT Focus, GRE, or EA?
  • No, there is not a minimum score. Our selection criteria page provides a general range of GMAT/GRE/EA scores of admitted applicants.
• What is Zicklin’s code for the GRE/TOEFL?
  • Zicklin’s code is 2034 for the GRE/TOEFL exam.

Transcripts and Academic Records

• Do I need a 3.0 GPA in order to apply? 
  • No, there is no minimum GPA requirement for consideration for our graduate programs. MS applicants with a GPA significantly below the average  of our incoming class should consider taking the GMAT, GRE or Executive Assessment to strengthen their application.
• I am a CUNY student/graduate, do I need to request official transcripts?
  • We do not require official CUNY transcripts for students or alumni who graduated since 2008.

iNTERNATIONAL Applicants

English Proficiency Exam

• I was educated outside the U.S. but have lived and worked in the U.S. for an extended period. Do I still need to take an English language proficiency exam?
  • Exemption from the English-language proficiency exam is not dependent on how many years you have lived and worked in the United States. If you do not meet the requirements listed on our international applicant’s webpage, you will be required to take an English language proficiency exam.
• What English Language Proficiency tests do you accept and what are the minimum scores?
  • We accept TOEFL, Duolingo, IELTS and PTE. The minimum scores needed are TOEFL 100, Duolingo 120, IELTS 7.0 and PTE 70.

Degree Equivalency and International Credential Evaluations

• I have a three-year degree; can I still apply?
  • We generally accept three-year Bachelor’s degrees from the following countries: Australia, Bahamas (University of West Indies only), Canada, European Union members, India, Israel, and the United Kingdom (excluding Scotland). A credential evaluation may still be required. Please refer to our requirements page.
• Do I need to get my transcript evaluated?
  • If you were educated outside the U.S., you are required to submit an international course-by-course credential evaluation from a NACES-approved agency. For MS in Accountancy and MBA in Accountancy applicants, you are also required to submit a NASBA International Credential Evaluation for CPA Examination and/or Licensure evaluation. For more information visit our Application Components page.
• Is there a specific credential evaluation we have to submit?
  • We accept credential evaluations (must be course-by-course) from any agency that is a member of NACES. The most common agencies that we receive evaluations from are SpanTran Evaluation Services, Education Credential Evaluators (ECE), and World Education Services (WES).
• If my documents were verified by the evaluation agency, do I have to submit official transcripts?
  • No, we do not need your official institution transcripts as long as we have received your official course-by-course evaluation.
• I have a U.S. Masters degree, do you need my international transcripts?
  • We require all transcripts from all higher education institutions you’ve attended. If you are applying to one of our MS or MBA programs, and you were educated outside the U.S., you are required to submit an international course-by-course credential evaluation from a NACES-approved agency.

CPT & OPT Employment

• Are internships a part of the graduate program?
  • While internships are not a requirement for graduation, there are internship courses that students may enroll in to for credit to gain experience.
• Can I do CPT in my first semester?
  • MBA and MS students must complete one semester with a full course of study to be eligible for CPT.
• Which programs are STEM-approved and qualify for OPT extension?
  • Our MS programs in Business Analytics, Finance, Financial Risk Management, Information Systems, Quantitative Methods and Modeling, Real Estate, and Statistics are STEM-approved and qualify students for OPT extension.

• Optional Practical Training (OPT)
• Curricular Practical Training (CPT)

aPPLICATION DEADLINESadmissions policies

• How long will it take to receive a decision after submitting an application?
  • If you submit all necessary documents to review your application by the application deadline, you are guaranteed a decision by that round’s notification deadline.
• I was previously denied, can I re-apply?

  • If you were previously denied and wish to reapply, you must submit a new online application  and pay the application fee. Note that you will need to create a new account with a new email address before proceeding to apply.

    If you were previously admitted and did not enroll and would like to be considered for a different program, you must submit a new online application and pay the application fee. Note that you will need to create a new account before proceeding to apply.

• How do I check the status of my application?
  • You can check the status of your application by logging into the application portal.
• How can I change the program I applied to?
  • If you have not yet received a decision, you can send your request to ZicklinGradAdmissions@baruch.cuny.edu. If you have already received a decision, you will have to reapply for a future term or request a program change through the Office of Graduate Programs after your first semester.

Incoming StudentsCurrent students

• Where and when do I send my official transcripts?
  • We are able to make admissions decisions based on unofficial transcripts. If admitted, applicants should send their official transcripts electronically to ZicklinGradAdmissions@baruch.cuny.edu. If your school does not participate in electronic transcript delivery, it can be mailed to:
    Zicklin Graduate Admissions, One Bernard Baruch Way, Rm 820, New York, NY 10010
    Please note, we do not require official CUNY transcripts for students or alumni who graduated from 2008 onwards, since they are available in the CUNYFirst system.
• How do I register for classes?
  • You can register for classes by following the guidance provided by the Office of Graduate Programs. See guidance on navigating CUNYfirst here.
• How do I prove my residency?
  • Our office classifies incoming students as either in-state or out-of-state, based on the College’s residency regulations and information provided in your application. If you are being charged out-of-state tuition rates and wish to appeal your classification, please submit the required residency form and supporting documentation to the Residency Unit in the Office of Undergraduate Admissions.
• I am having issues accessing my account on CUNYfirst, what should I do?
  • If you have received an email from our office to claim your account and are encountering challenges accessing CUNYfirst please email us at zicklingradadmissions@baruch.cuny.edu.
• How do I make an appointment with an academic advisor?
  • Academic Advisors host group-advising sessions for incoming students throughout the registration period. You will receive an invitation to the email address you applied with.
• How do I access my Baruch email account?
  • You can claim your Baruch email and username by following the instructions here.
• Will I get a new CUNYfirst account if I’m currently a CUNY student/graduate?
  • No, you will utilize the same log-in and password to CUNYfirst as you did when you were a student.
• Can I defer to a future term?
  • Admitted applicants may request to defer their admission for up to one year. Deferral request deadlines are determined by the Graduate Admissions department, so be sure to submit your request in a timely manner to ensure eligibility.
• How long does it take to receive an academic evaluation?
  • Once you’ve been matriculated into your graduate program, you should receive your evaluation within two weeks.
• When is my bill due?
  • Incoming students must satisfy their bill prior to the first day of classes.
• How do I change my program?
  • Applicants may request to change their program up until they receive an admission decision. Once an admission decision has been made, candidates cannot change programs. Students enrolled in graduate programs may request to change program after their first semester through the Office of Graduate Programs.