International students with a three-year bachelor’s degree or transcripts in a language other than English are required to request a course-by-course evaluation, as well as a conversion to a GPA on a 4.0 scale. For more information, please refer to The Graduate School. We recommend evaluations be conducted by World Education Services.

The statistics course should be equivalent to ST 311 or ST 350. You can determine if you took a class equivalent here. If you need to complete a course, you can view NC State University course options here or you can complete the prerequisite for free through LinkedIn Learning. Please reach out to an admissions team member for more information. 

NOTE: You may submit your application before completing the statistics requirement, however, a transcript or certificate indicating completion must be received and reviewed before the beginning of the semester.

Two years of full-time, post-baccalaureate professional employment is required for applicants to the Professional Online MBA program.

Work experience waivers may be considered for those with military service or special circumstances.

*This qualification is not required for the Full-time MBA program but is highly recommended.

All official transcripts, diplomas, and academic records must be in English or translated into English.

Students with a three-year bachelor’s degree or transcripts in a language other than English must request a course-by-course evaluation, as well as a conversion to a GPA on a 4.0 scale. We recommend World Education Services for course evaluations and assessments. For more information, please refer to The Graduate School. 

To be eligible for admission to graduate study at NC State, non-US citizen applicants (i.e., non-resident aliens and permanent residents) must demonstrate proficiency in English at a level necessary to be successful in a graduate program at NC State. This requirement can be met for most applicants in one of the following ways:

1. Apply for a TOEFL/IELTS waiver (see next section)
2. Provide Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) (taken prior to January 21, 2026) with a total score of at least 80 on the Internet-based Test (iBT), and with minimum test scores for each section of:
   1. Listening – 18 points
   2. Reading – 18 points
   3. Writing – 18 points
   4. Speaking-
      1. 18 points for admission
      2. 23 points for TA appointment where TA has direct verbal interactions with students,
      3. 26 points for TA appointment where TA presents lectures in the class or laboratory
      4. NOTE: The current computer- and paper-based versions of the TOEFL test will be given until the iBT version is implemented in a particular location. Computer-based TOEFL scores must be 213 or higher (with at least 17 on three sections and no section score below 13). The paper-based test requires a score of 550 or higher (with scores of 50 on at least two of the three sections and no section score below 45).
3. Provide Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) (taken after January 21, 2026) with a total score of at least 4 on the Internet-based Test (iBT), and with minimum test scores for each section of:
   • Listening – 4
   • Reading – 4
   • Writing – 4
   • Speaking – 4 for admission, 5 for TA appointment
4. Provide International English Language Testing System (IELTS) scores with an overall band score of at least 6.5. Minimum test scores for each section are listed below:
   1. Listening – 6.5
   2. Reading – 6.5
   3. Writing- 6.5
   4. Speaking – 6.5 for admission; 7.0 for TA appointment
5. Provide Duolingo with a total score of 120 or better.
6. Be a citizen of a country where English is the official language and the language of instruction in higher education
7. Have successfully completed at least one year of full-time study in a degree program at a regionally accredited four-year US College or university.

TOEFL or IELTS test scores must be no older than two years (24 months) prior to the beginning of the requested entry term.

TOEFL/IELTS Waiver

Applicants may be exempt from the TOEFL/IELTS if at least two of the following criteria are met:

1. Analytical writing assessment score of 4.5 or higher on the GMAT/GRE
2. Satisfactory communication and teamwork skills, as assessed during the admissions interview
3. Five years of residency in the US or approved countries, working in an establishment where all activities are conducted in English

Applicants wishing to apply for a TOEFL/IELTS waiver should indicate this on the Supplemental Information page of the application under the Waivers section. In addition, please send an email to the admissions team at mba@ncsu.edu to let them know.