Online Master's Admissions: Common Requirements Explained

Admission to an online master's program usually works the same way as admission to the on-campus version: the same graduate school, the same minimums, often the same committee. What varies is the program, and the variation is large. One online MBA requires GMAT or GRE scores taken within the last five years; another accepts applications on a rolling basis with no test at all. This guide walks through the common requirements and the wording that tells you how strict each one is.

The baseline: a bachelor's degree and transcripts

Nearly every master's program requires a completed bachelor's degree, and many specify where it came from or what it was in. New Mexico State University's online MBA asks for a bachelor's degree with at least a 3.0 GPA from a regionally accredited U.S. college or university. Dakota State University's MS in Cyber Defense asks for a bachelor's degree in computer science, computer engineering or software engineering, or a closely related field.

Expect to submit transcripts from every college you attended, not just the one that granted your degree. If your earlier credits came from a school you are unsure about, check its accreditation before you apply.

GPA: which GPA, and is it a floor?

Read GPA requirements for two details.

Which GPA counts. Many programs look only at part of your record:

• Arizona State's online MBA asks for a minimum 3.00 cumulative GPA in the last 60 hours of your

first bachelor's program.

• Bellevue University's online MS in Cybersecurity asks for a minimum 2.5 GPA in the most recent 60

credit hours.

• Penn State World Campus expects a junior/senior GPA of 3.0 or higher for its software engineering

master's.

Whether it is a hard minimum. The words "preferred," "provisional" and "probational" matter:

• Colorado State University Global says a GPA of 3.00 or better is preferred.
• Hawaii Pacific University says applicants below 3.0 will be considered for probational admission

to its online MS in Cybersecurity.

• The University of Nevada, Reno says MPH applicants with a GPA between 2.75 and 2.99 may be

considered by submitting standardized test scores.

If your GPA is below a stated number, check whether the program describes another route before you rule it out, and ask what conditions a provisional admission carries.

Tests: GRE, GMAT and the alternatives

Test policies fall along a spectrum, and the same school can sit at different points for different programs:

• Waived on conditions. Montana State University Billings lists the GRE as waived if your GPA is

3.0 or higher for its counseling master's. The University of Cincinnati's MS in Information Technology requires an official GRE score unless you have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher. The University of Memphis says MBA applicants may or may not need the GRE/GMAT; they must meet one of five listed criteria, one of which is an undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher from an accredited external college or university.

• Optional. George Washington's online MA in Security Policy Studies is listed as GRE/GMAT

test-optional. LSU says GRE scores are optional for its online MS in Computer Science (program page).

• Temporarily waived. The University of Arizona states "For a limited time, the GMAT/GRE is WAIVED

for the Online MBA." A time-limited waiver can end before your application cycle.

• Required. The University of Rhode Island's Flexible MBA asks for an official GMAT or GRE score

report from a test taken within the last five years.

• Alternatives. Oklahoma State's MS in Educational Psychology accepts the GRE or the MAT or a

sample of scholarly writing.

If you do take a test, know the shelf life. ETS says GRE scores can be sent during the five-year period they are valid, and its ScoreSelect option lets you choose which test dates to send. GMAC states that GMAT scores are valid for five years. The GRE General Test has three sections: Verbal Reasoning, Quantitative Reasoning and Analytical Writing.

Applicants whose first language is not English are often asked for TOEFL, IELTS or similar scores. Arizona State's online Master of Computer Science, for example, lists a 90 internet-based TOEFL score, an IELTS score of 7, a PTE score of 65 and a Duolingo score of 115.

Essays, letters, résumés and experience

Written materials differ more than the checklist suggests:

• Statements. Auburn's online MBA asks for 1–2 pages on why you believe you are a qualified

candidate. Arizona State's online MSW asks for a statement of four to six double-spaced pages. Johns Hopkins asks applicants to its MS in Data Analytics and Policy for a four- to six-page writing sample.

• Letters. Auburn's online MBA asks for at least one letter from a professional reference;

Arizona State's MSW asks for three, including academic and professional references.

• Work experience. The University of Arizona's online MBA requires at least three years of

professional work experience, and LSU's online MBA asks that applicants be currently employed with three years of professional experience. Arizona State's MSW asks for proof of 240 hours of social work or human services experience within the past five years.

For a professional MBA or MSW, experience can be a requirement rather than a plus, so compare requirements before you choose where to apply.

Licenses and field-specific prerequisites

Programs that build on a profession usually require proof you are already in it. Arkansas State's online MSN Family Nurse Practitioner asks for a current unencumbered RN license and documentation of 1,500 RN practice hours before admission. Its online MSE in Educational Leadership requires a minimum of two years of teaching experience and a valid, active U.S. teaching certificate, while its MS in Higher Education states that no teaching license is required.

Admission is not the same as licensure eligibility. A program that admits you may still not lead to a license in your state; read the school's disclosures as explained in our guide to professional licensure disclosures.

Deadlines, start dates and rolling admission

Online master's programs use three main patterns:

• Fixed deadlines. Boise State's online MSW lists January 15, April 15 and August 15 deadlines at

11:59 p.m. Mountain time for summer, fall and spring starts (program page). Auburn's online MBA lists a priority deadline of August 1, 2026 and a final deadline of November 1, 2026 for spring 2027.

• Session-based deadlines. Arizona State's online Master of Computer Science asks for

applications six weeks before the selected session start date from applicants with international credentials and four weeks before it from all other applicants.

• Rolling admission. Concordia University Wisconsin lists rolling admissions for its MBA.

Rolling does not mean unlimited: seats, document processing and financial aid timelines still apply. Some programs also ask for money to hold your place, such as Auburn's $250 confirmation fee for its online MBA and Ball State's one-time, nonrefundable $100 enrollment deposit for its online MS in Computer Science.

A short application checklist

• Confirm the degree, field and accreditation the program requires.
• Find out which GPA is used and whether the stated minimum is firm, preferred or provisional.
• Check the test policy for your specific program and intake, and how long your scores remain valid.
• List every document: statement, letters, résumé, writing sample, license, experience proof.
• Note the deadline type and time zone, and any deposit due after admission.
• Ask how much prior graduate credit transfers; see

transfer credits for online degrees.

Then compare shortlisted master's programs side by side on the compare page. No requirement list guarantees admission; these are minimums and inputs, not promises.