“Full” admission requires the completion of all admissions requirements.

At a minimum, the application/fee and transcripts can be submitted. (Transcripts are required from every school attended.) This will result in “conditional” admission. Prerequisite courses may be taken as a conditional MBA student, but no MBA coursework is allowed until all entrance requirements are completed.

See a complete list of prerequisites in the course catalog.

When the MBA faculty review your application portfolio (including your undergraduate transcripts), your prerequisite deficiencies, if any, will be identified.

As a rule, prerequisite requirements need to be completed within the past 5 years. From time to time, exceptions are made based on the total content of the application portfolio.

To evaluate substantial managerial experience, faculty need your resume, statement of purpose and three reference letters. After these are reviewed, you will be notified of whether you qualify with experience or whether you will need a GMAT.

Letters can be from instructors, employers, professional peers or those who can evaluate your capacity to work at a graduate level. If you want the GMAT waived in place of substantial managerial experience and supervisory responsibility, ensure that these letters thoroughly document this experience.

If you include reference names and email addresses in your online application, the application will automatically email your references on your behalf.  References will be given a link to return letters that are posted to your application file.  In this case, you will not be able to see the content.  You will only know the letters have been received.  But you may retrieve your reference letters yourself and then upload them to your application file.  These letters you will be able to review. Either process is acceptable.

Springfield Campus: Applications are accepted and processed on a continual rolling basis. Applications can take 3-4 weeks to process, so we encourage applicants to submit their application at least 6 weeks in advance of the semester in which they would like to begin coursework. (Earlier is better!) Please note that some educational institutions take a long time to send out transcripts after they are requested. Application processing will not begin until the application fee and transcripts are received.

Peoria Campus: New Peoria MBA Cohorts begin only in the fall.  Application before April 1 is encouraged.  Sometimes we are able to accept applications after this date, but only if vacancies are still available. Please contact the MBA program office at (217) 206-7920 for deadline exceptions.

International Students: Find graduate international applicant requirements and deadlines on the UIS Admissions website.

The application is completed online and the application fee is paid online.  (However, a paper application is available.)  Once starting the process you are able to return to your file and upload other requirements.  Official transcripts should be sent to the UIS Office of Admissions.

Acknowledgement of your application will be sent to you from the MBA program office. This will either be an acceptance letter or a checklist of items still needed to complete your full application.  

Note: This is likely to take 3-4 weeks after your application, fee and transcripts are received by the Office of Admissions.

When you are ready to begin MBA coursework, you will receive an faculty academic adviser. During the admission process and while you are completing prerequisites, you will receive guidance from MBA program staff.

Contact the MBA program office at (217) 206-7920.