Cox School of Business – SMU
The SMU Cox School of Business is located in Dallas, Texas, close to downtown. The school offers students one-year, two-year, online, professional, and executive MBA options. Hallmarks of the Cox MBA program include its small class size, alumni connections and location in a dynamic city.
FAQ
What is the tuition for Cox's MBA program?
The tuition for Cox's MBA program is $50,330 per year. The total cost of the Cox MBA program is $89,167 per year for domestic students and $89,467 for international students; this includes budgeted living expenses.
What is the average GMAT score for admission to Cox's MBA program?
The average GMAT score for the incoming class at Cox is 712.
Does the Cox MBA program accept the GRE?
Yes. The Cox MBA program has accepted the GRE for a few years now. The average GRE score is 315 for the latest class.
What is the minimum number of years of work experience required for admission to Cox's MBA program?
Cox does not state a minimum requirement for years of work experience. However, it is important for candidates to be aware that they are being considered against other candidates with an average of 5 years of experience.
What is the average number of years of work experience for admission to Cox's MBA program?
The average number of years of work experience among students in Cox's MBA program is 5.
What is the average starting salary for graduates of the Cox MBA program?
The average starting salary for Cox MBA graduates is $135,000.
How long is Cox's full-time MBA program?
Cox offers a traditional 2 year MBA program. However, Cox also has a more intensive 1 year option.
What are the application deadlines for the Cox full-time MBA program?
The Round 1 MBA application deadline is October 1, 2024. The Round 2 deadline is January 7, 2025. The Round 3 deadline is March 4, 2025. The Round 4 deadline is April 29, 2025. Cox then accepts applications on a rolling basis.
Admissions
The Class Profile
Cox’s MBA Class of 2026 is comprised of 85 students. Their average GMAT score was 712. For those who submitted GRE scores, they landed an average 315. Students’ average undergraduate GPA was 3.56. The new class matriculated with an average of 5 years of work experience. Forty-six percent of the class are women and 16% identify as underrepresented minorities. Meanwhile, 26% of the new class are international students.
Application Procedures
Four application rounds are offered to domestic Cox School full-time MBA applicants, with rolling admissions starting in Round 4. The application requirements include an online application, résumé, essays, undergraduate transcripts and contact information for two professional references. GMAT or GRE scores are an optional part of the application. There is no application fee. Interviews are conducted by invitation only.
Application Checklist
- Online Application Form
- Résumé
- Essays
- GMAT or GRE Scores (optional)
- Undergraduate Transcripts
- Two Professional References
- TOEFL or IELTS Score (if applicable)
- Personal Interview (invitation only)
Essay Topic Analysis
SMU Cox Q&A's
SMU Cox LiveWire and DecisionWire
Academics
Faculty
The Cox School has over 150 faculty members who specialize in topics such as marketing, finance, and entrepreneurship. The school’s six academic departments are the following: accounting; finance; information technology and operations management; marketing; management, strategy, and entrepreneurship; real estate, risk management and business law.
Curriculum
The Cox School’s full-time two-year MBA program can be completed in 21 months and requires 71 credit hours to graduate. In the first year, students take foundation courses in subjects such as accounting, data analytics, and management. The summer term is used for an internship, and in the second year students can focus more on their academic concentrations. To this end, students may choose to specialize in one or more of the following concentrations: accounting; finance; general business; information technology & operations management (ITOM): business analytics; ITOM: supply chain & operations management; management and organizations; marketing; real estate, insurance, & law; or strategy. In addition, students must complete the Global Leadership Program, which includes two semesters of studying India, East Asia, Latin America, or Europe; the region is of the student’s choosing. At the end of the second semester, students then embark on a multi-day immersion trip to their selected region. For additional international experience, students may apply to an international exchange program to live and study at one of the school’s 12 partner universities in Asia/Pacific Rim, Australia, Europe, or Latin America for a semester.
Other MBA Degree Options
The Cox School also offers a one-year full-time MBA, and several part-time options: a Professional MBA, an Executive MBA, an Online MBA, and a MBA Direct: Early Career Track MBA. The full-time one-year MBA requires 52 credit hours, and students take 16 to 18 credit hours of coursework for each of the three terms. Despite the accelerated pace, students can still opt for a concentration in a specific area of study. Next, the Professional MBA requires 50 credit hours to graduate and can be completed in two years. Courses take place primarily on weekday evenings. Professional MBA students may concentrate in one of 11 areas of specialization, as well as pursuing a less time-consuming minor.
The Executive MBA can be completed in 21 months, and classes take place on-campus on Friday afternoons and all-day Saturdays of alternating weekends. The first year consists of courses in subjects such as decision modeling and data analytics, while the second year delves deeper into leadership and electives. The Online MBA is 24 months long, with start dates in the spring, summer, and fall terms. Its weekly online class sessions range from 90 minutes to three and a half hours in duration. Lastly, the MBA Direct: Early Career Track MBA is 33 months long, with start dates in the spring and fall terms.
Majors and Minors at the Cox School
- Accounting
- Finance
- General Business
- ITOM: Business Analytics
- ITOM: Supply Chain
- Management and Organizations
- Marketing
- Real Estate, Insurance, & Law
- Strategy
Degree Offerings
Full-Time MBA Program
https://www.smu.edu/cox/Degrees-and-Programs/Two-Year-MBA
One-Year MBA Program
https://www.smu.edu/cox/Degrees-and-Programs/One-Year-MBA
Professional MBA Program
https://www.smu.edu/cox/Degrees-and-Programs/professional-mba
Executive MBA Program
https://www.smu.edu/cox/Degrees-and-Programs/executive-mba
Online MBA Program
https://www.smu.edu/cox/business-degrees/mba-programs/online-mba
MBA Direct: Early Career Track Online MBA Program
https://www.smu.edu/cox/business-degrees/mba-programs/early-career-online-mba-direct
Campus Life
Clubs, Conferences, & Competitions
MBA students at the Cox School can take part in over 20 clubs for networking and leadership development. Some clubs focus more on professional development, such as the Entrepreneurship Club or the International Business Club. More social organizations, such as the Cask & Barrel Club or the Golf Club, allow students to have fun and network in a relaxed setting.
The Cox School hosts conferences and other events at its numerous centers and institutes. Cox students can also participate in case competitions, such as the FTMBA PepsiCo Competition.
Campus Spaces
The business school offers courses in two locations. The first is the recently renovated and expanded David B. Miller Business Quadrangle. The quad of new buildings joins the existing Maguire, Fincher, and Crow buildings that house classrooms, various centers and institutes, and other spaces. The business quad also houses the Kitt Investing and Trading Center, which features a LED stock ticker, 27 high-end computer workstations, and 10 Bloomberg Professional terminals, and the state-of-the-art Duda Family Business Library. The second location is the James M. Collins Executive Education Center, as well as the Maguire, Fincher which is home to the Executive MBA program, and has myriad classrooms, conference rooms, and boardrooms as well as seminar rooms tailored for teamwork.
MBA Careers
Career Services
The Cox Career Management Center (CMC) helps MBA candidates and alumni assess their skill sets and work to meet their career goals. Students can work with career coaches to prepare for interviews, internships, and full-time jobs. The CMC also hosts events that encourage students to network with organizations that are actively seeking to hire new interns and full-time employees.
Students interested in consulting careers may join the Cox Collegiate Consulting Academy (CCA), which is a year-long program that helps students develop consulting skills via case studies, workshops, and networking events. The CCA has partnered with companies such as Infosys, Hitachi Consulting, and Slalom Consulting. In addition, students have received offers from firms such as Deloitte Consulting, Bain & Company, and Ernst & Young.
Career Statistics
Ninety-four percent of the SMU Cox Full-Time Two-Year MBA Class of 2023 received and accepted job offers within four months of graduation. The average base salary was $135,000 and average signing bonus was $33,000.
Consulting was the most popular industry, with 26% of Cox MBAs joining it. Financial services took 23% of graduates and 12% joined real estate. Nine percent joined the CPG and the transportation/logistics industry each.
Seventy-four percent of the Class of 2023 stayed in the Southwest upon graduation. Nine percent each headed to the South U.S and Northeast. Five percent settled in the Midwest, while two percent went to the U.S. West.
Financing
Tuition
For the full-time MBA, tuition is $50,330 in the 2024–2025 academic year. The estimated total, including university fees and living expenses, is $89,127 per year. International students incur an additional $300 in fees. Approximately 70% of MBA students receive scholarships, which range from 10% to 100% of tuition costs.
Financial Aid
All candidates are automatically considered for merit scholarships, and those who wish to secure such funding are encouraged to apply in the first round of admissions. The Cox Distinguished MBA Scholars program awards full- tuition scholarships to the most outstanding students admitted. Additional scholarships are also available. Cox partners with the Forté Foundation, an organization committed to advancing women in the business world, to provide Forté Fellowships. The school also partners with Reaching Out MBA (ROMBA) to award two fellowships to support LGBTQ+ and active ally MBA students. Lastly, students who have demonstrated support for the advancement of diversity in their professional and personal communities are eligible for the Cox Community Scholars program.
Additional funding sources are also available for students at the Cox School. After filling out the FAFSA , students may borrow up to $20,500 in direct unsubsidized federal loans. Federal Graduate PLUS Loans are also available for students who need additional funding, and it may provide up to the total cost of education (excluding all other aid, such as scholarship or Stafford loans).
Lastly, the Cox School participates in the Yellow Ribbon Program. U.S. veterans eligible for the Yellow Ribbon Program pursuing an MBA from the Cox School may receive a maximum amount of$30,000 per academic year. In addition, full-time two-year MBA military veteran students are eligible for other scholarships.
Estimated Cost of Attendance 2024-2025
Tuition $50,330
University and Program Fees $9,938
Health Center Fees $300
International Student Fees (Orientation & Student Fee) $300
Housing $20,055
Books & Supplies $2,000
Transportation $2,504
Misc. Expenses $4,000
Totals
$89,127 Domestic
$89,427 International
Recent News
Contact
Mailing Address:
SMU Cox School of Business
P.O. Box: 750333
Dallas, TX 75275-0333
Phone: 214-768-1214
Fax: 214-768-3956
E-mail: [email protected]
Twitter: @SMUCox