Priority application deadline for Class of 2029: April 1, 2026
Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) Admission Eligibility & Requirements
Candidates must be committed to a rigorous program of study requiring six on-campus meetings
per academic year as well as substantial reading and scholarly inquiry throughout the program.
Required Qualifications:
Applicants are expected to hold an MBA or another relevant graduate degree from an acceptable academic
institution and to have ten years of professional and/or senior level management experience with high levels of responsibility. In exceptional cases, individuals without an advanced degree but other forms of advanced education and substantial managerial experience may be considered; other experience or qualifications may also compensate for less than 10 years of professional or managerial experience.
In reviewing applications, the admissions committee considers:
• Significant professional achievements including presentations, written works, impactful leadership on
major projects, and participation in professional development activities
• Background knowledge in the functional areas of business (accounting, finance, information
technologies, marketing, strategy, supply chain and analytics)
• Professional expertise and certifications (such as CPA®, CFA®, SHRM-SCP®, etc)
• Creative leadership, continuing intellectual development, and community engagement.
Materials Required:
- UMSL Graduate School Online Application: Apply Here
- Application fee $50
- Official transcript(s). Scanned transcripts will be sufficient for the preliminary application. Official
transcripts from each university attended will be required for enrollment.
- Résumé or Curriculum Vitae (C.V.)
- Essay 1: Statement of Commitment
- Essay 2: Statement of Research Interest
Note for international applicants: International students need to submit an English-proficiency score of
100+ on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) iBT exam or 7+ on the International English
Language Testing System (IELTS) exam.
Statement of Commitment essay should be about two pages and discuss the applicant's plans to balance the time commitment required of the program (about 15 hours per week) with their work schedule and other commitments, any foreseen challenges which will need to be overcome in order to successfully complete the program in the three-year timeframe, and your plan to address these challenges.
Statement of Research Interest essay should be about three pages in length and discuss (1) why you are interested in pursuing an AACSB accredited Doctorate in Business Administration and (2) key business issues you are observing that can be addressed by scholarly research. Included in this statement should be information pertaining to your career goals once you have received your degree, the area of business you are interested in informing and the specific research questions that are of interest to you.
The DBA Admissions Committee review application documents on a rolling basis, and, if selected, you will be invited to proceed to the next phase. If you are not selected to proceed to the next phase, you will be notified as well. Typically, complete applications are processed within two weeks of receipt until the cohort is full.
INTERVIEW (by Invitation Only)
Short-listed applicants may be interviewed by the DBA Admissions Committee, who will make final admissions decisions. The size of each DBA cohort will be approximately 15 students.
Because of cohort size limitations, all worthy candidates may not be selected for admission. Some may be asked to reconsider the program in a subsequent year.
OFFER & COMMITMENT Once the offer is made, candidates have 30 days to accept and submit a non-refundable deposit. A non-refundable deposit of $2,000 is due 30 days after receiving the offer to join the program in fall 2025.
UMSL DBA OFFICE
University of Missouri- St. Louis
College of Business Administration
Doctor of Business Administration Office
105 Anheuser-Busch Hall
One University Boulevard St. Louis, MO 63121-4400
Phone: (314) 516 4528
Email: dba@umsl.edu