Admission Requirements for the BS/MBA Program
Students with the following qualifications will be considered for admission to the Science BS/MBA Program:
- Successful applicants typically will have an SAT score of at least 1300 or ACT score of at least 30;
- They rank in the highest 10 percent of their high school class; and
- Exhibit an ability to communicate effectively, an advanced level of maturity, and high motivation to pursue a joint science/business educational program.
Applicants’ secondary education must have included four units of English, one and one-half units of algebra, one unit of plane geometry, one-half unit of trigonometry, three units of science, and five units from arts, humanities, social studies, and/or foreign languages.
Program admission decisions are made jointly by the Eberly College of Science and the Smeal College of Business. The decision to extend an invitation to join the program will be reached by a three-step process. First, applicants meeting the criteria, which include admission to the University Park Campus and admission to the Eberly College of Science, are included in the initial application review. From that review, a limited number of top candidates are selected for on-campus or virtual interviews with representatives of the Eberly College of Science and the Smeal College of Business. A maximum of 10 offers of admission to the program will be made each year.
Academic Performance
Students in this program select a specific science focus area (e.g., Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics) and complete many of the same science courses as students majoring in those specific disciplines. They also participate in a range of professional development activities throughout completion of both degrees, developing the skills and networks needed to succeed. In addition, they incorporate three semesters (usually two summers and one fall or spring semester) of cooperative education work experiences into the undergraduate portion of their program, in order to better prepare them for entrance into Smeal’s MBA program.
Students in the BS/MBA program take the same courses and have schedules similar to students in the various science majors within the Eberly College, according to the student’s science focus. They are expected to perform at an A/B level in all courses. Students will complete an application to the MBA program in the final year of undergraduate study, comprising: essays, recommendation letters, and an interview. Students are expected to score a 650 or higher on the GMAT exam.
Students admitted to the program with a significant number of Advanced Placement credits and an interest in completing summer course work may choose to complete their dual degree requirements in five years, three years for the undergraduate portion and two years for the graduate degree. Other students will elect to complete the BS/MBA Program in six years, completing their undergraduate degrees in four years and two years for the graduate degree. In either case, the Program allows admission to Smeal’s internationally recognized MBA program two to five years sooner than peers pursuing the traditional path of study.
If students are not performing at a 3.5 (on a 4.0 scale) level, or if they do not earn a 650 or higher GMAT scores and display the maturity necessary for acceptance into the MBA program, they may be asked to withdraw from the BS/MBA program. Typically, students withdrawing from the Program would be eligible to remain at Penn State in another program of study.
Program Costs
While completing the requirements for the BS Science degree, students will be charged Penn State’s regular undergraduate tuition rate. Upon earning the BS Science degree and gaining formal admission to Smeal’s MBA program, students will be charged Penn State’s regular graduate tuition rate.
Scholarships
Students in this program are eligible to receive scholarships during the undergraduate portion of the program from the Balog Endowment, based on availability of resources and the program director’s discretion.
In the MBA, students should investigate options that are specific to the Smeal MBA.