Located in sunny Los Angeles, the University of Southern California (USC) Marshall School of Business offers competitive MBA options, and is consistently ranked within the top 40 business schools of the U.S. Below, we’ll be exploring the different programs available from the Marshall School, and examining the average USC GMAT score for each program.
Photo of USC’s George Finley Bovard Administration Building by Brion Vibber
Program Overview and Average USC GMAT Score
The USC Marshall school provides five distinct MBA options, each catering to different demographics.
1. Full-time MBA
Geared towards younger business professionals, the full-time MBA is a two-year program based upon a 3-term core curriculum. Beyond this core, students have ample elective options to customize the program to their individual career goals. Elective categories include accounting, entertainment business, entrepreneurship, finance, management, marketing, technology development, and more. Accepted students have an average work experience of 5 years. With an acceptance rate of 33%, and an average GMAT score of 692, the USC full-time MBA is fairly competitive.
2. Part-time MBA for Professionals and Managers
Like the full-time MBA, the part-time MBA is aimed towards younger professionals with 5 years of work experience. However, this 3-year program is intended for those looking to maintain a full-time job throughout their MBA pursuits. First year classes are available at either the main USC campus in Los Angeles, or the Orange County Center in Irvine. However, students must complete second and third year courses at the L.A. campus. While the part-time acceptance rate (32%) is comparable to the full-time MBA, the average USC GMAT score is a bit more attainable (614).
3. Online MBA
USC’s online MBA offers students a great deal of scheduling flexibility. Following the recommended schedule will allow completion of the program in five semesters. Although students have ample opportunity to set their own schedules, the online MBA still requires a hefty 20-30 hours of schoolwork per week. The average GMAT score is 630. Compared with the “in-person” MBAs, online MBA students tend to have slightly more work experience, averaging 8 years.
4. Executive MBA (EMBA)
The EMBA is a two-year program focussed on experienced senior professionals. The average student is 37 years old and boasts 14 years of work experience. Students are expected to maintain full-time jobs throughout the duration of their studies, and coursework will often mesh with the students’ own professional undertakings. Courses are available at either the USC L.A. campus, or the Omni La Costa Resort in Carlsbad, CA (San Diego area). Classes themselves meet every other Friday and Saturday for 7.5 hours. GMAT scores are optional, but score submission is encouraged if an eligible test is on file.
5. International Business Education and Research MBA (IBEAR MBA)
Finally, the IBEAR is a one-year accelerated program geared towards mid-career professionals. Enrolled students will complete 19 credits of coursework over five 8-week terms. IBEAR students have an average USC GMAT score of 630, and typically possess 10 years of work experience. Furthermore, a small but diverse class size of 56 students from dozens of different countries ensures an intimate and cultured cohort.
Program Comparisons
To help you decide which program is right for you at a glance, take a look at our direct comparison of the available USC Marshall MBA programs below:
Full-time MBA
- Class size: 228
- Average work experience: 5 years
- Average age: 29 years old
- Average USC GMAT score: 692
- Tuition and fees:
- $93,000 (1st year)
- $80,000 (2nd year)
- Class location: Los Angeles
- Program length: 2 years
Part-time MBA
- Class size: 160
- Average work experience: 5 years
- Average age: 29 years old
- Average USC GMAT score: 614
- Tuition and fees: $120,000
- Class locations: Los Angeles and Irvine
- Program length: 3 years
Online MBA
- Class size: Not applicable
- Average work experience: 8 years
- Average age: 25 to 50 years old
- Average USC GMAT score: 650
- Tuition and fees: $98,000
- Class location: Online
- Program length: 2 years
EMBA
- Class size: 113
- Average work experience: 14 years
- Average age: 37 years old
- Average USC GMAT score: Optional
- Tuition and fees: $140,000
- Class locations: Los Angeles and Carlsbad
- Program length: 2 years
IBEAR
- Class size: 56
- Average work experience: 10 years
- Average age: 33 years old
- Average USC GMAT score: 630
- Tuition and fees: $104,000
- Class location: Los Angeles
- Program length: 1 year
USC Marshall Rankings
Although rankings vary year-to-year, the USC Marshall School consistently ranks within the top 40 U.S. programs, and top 50 international programs.
USC Marshall U.S. Rankings
| Bloomberg | 30th |
| The Economist | 28th |
| U.S. News | 24th |
| Forbes | 33rd |
USC Marshall International Rankings
| The Economist | 40th |
| Financial Times | 48th |
Conclusion
Although perhaps not as competitive as many Ivy League offerings, the USC Marshall School of Business still provides a top notch business education. Furthermore, its location within Los Angeles makes it the business school of choice for those working within entertainment and media industries.
If you’re determined to take the GMAT, you can begin the process by following these four simple steps:
- Start by taking one of our GMAT Diagnostic Exams.
- Decide how much time you need to study—3 months is usually ideal.
- Pick a location, choose a date, and register for your exam on MBA.com.
- Start studying with Magoosh!
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