A DBA student in a business suit sitting in an armchair listening to an adult male talking in the foreground.

Doctor of Business Administration Eligibility Requirements

  • Bachelor's degree from an accredited U.S. institution or the equivalent of a U.S. bachelor's degree from a foreign institution. Master's degree in business or a relevant field is preferred.
  • 5 years of high-level managerial or executive experience, and 8 years of managerial experience overall.

Application Deadlines

Applications are reviewed as they are received; there is no need to wait until a deadline to submit your application. Applicants should expect to receive an admission decision within one month of submitting a complete application.

Fall (August) 2025

  • January 10, 2025: Round 1
  • March 10, 2025: Round 2
  • May 31, 2025: Round 3
  • We will continue to accept applications after May 31, 2025 until all spaces are full.

Application Process

Application

Complete and submit an online application and pay a $50 non-refundable application fee.

  • Resume: You will be required to upload a professional resume.
  • Personal Statement: You will be required to upload a personal statement no more than 2 pages (12-point font, double-spaced) addressing why you are pursuing a Doctor of Business Administration at this point in your career, what your career goals are after earning your degree, and the most significant qualities or experiences you would bring to our program.
  • Research Interests: You will be required to upload a 1-page summary of applied research topics you would be interested in exploring.

Two Letters of Recommendation

One letter must be from a current professional colleague preferably one who can attest to their work, partnership, or collaboration with you. Your second letter may be from a professional or academic reference. You will include the contact information for your recommenders in your application, and they will be contacted by LMU to upload their letters directly into your application file. 

College/University Transcripts

Provide transcripts for all colleges or universities you have attended. You may upload unofficial transcripts directly into your online application. You should request an official electronic transcript from any institution where you earned a degree. If you are a current student or alumni of LMU, there is no need to request an official transcript from the LMU Registrar.

Request that official transcripts be sent via email to graduateadmission@lmu.edu. If your university is unable to send an official transcript electronically, please have a physical transcript sent to:

Graduate Admission
Loyola Marymount University
1 LMU Drive
Charles Von der Ahe Building, Suite 235
Los Angeles, CA 90045

Applicants who have completed their postsecondary education from an institution outside the U.S. must have their transcript from their degree granting institution translated and evaluated by a U.S. transcript evaluation service. Please see our requirements for International Applicants for more information.

Interview

Applicants may be asked to participate in an interview with a member of the admission committee. Interviews are by invitation only.

GMAT/GRE Test Scores

GMAT or GRE test scores are not required for DBA applicants who are able to demonstrate, through past academic performance and work experience, sufficient strength in the areas of quantitative and analytical reasoning.

International Applicants

LMU does not issue student (F-1) visas for the Doctor in Business Administration program. Non-U.S. citizens who are green card holders or have visa types that allow university study (such as work visas and dependent visas) may apply to the program. If you have questions about your eligibility due to your visa status, please contact CBAGrad@lmu.edu.

International students have additional admission requirements.

Commitment Deposit

Admitted candidates must confirm their commitment to attend and provide a non-refundable deposit of $1,000. The deposit will be applied to your tuition.