USC Marshall Program Overview

Founded in 1920, the USC Marshall School of Business is the oldest accredited business school in Southern California. The school’s mission is to “deepen the knowledge and understanding of the critical problems faced in business, and to educate tomorrow’s leaders who will address them.”

USC Marshall emphasizes three core goals of the full-time MBA program: to develop professional strengths, to gain knowledge and skills, and to motivate and build high-performing teams. 

Recognizing the ways in which globalization and new technologies have impacted the business school environment, the school also highlights the importance of a global scope, entrepreneurial approach, rigorous and impactful research, and a diverse learning environment.

The average salary for the USC Marshall full-time class of 2021 was $150,314, and 97% of students received job offers within three months of graduation.

USC Marshall reported a 23% acceptance rate for the class of 2025.

2023-2024 USC Marshall MBA Essay Questions

 

  • Essay 1: What is your specific, immediate short-term career goal upon completion of your MBA? Please include an intended position, function, and industry in your response. (word limit: 100)
  • Essay 2: Please draft a letter that begins with “Dear Admissions Committee” This letter is meant to be your personal statement that provides the Admissions Committee with an understanding of your candidacy for Marshall beyond what is evident in other parts of your application. This essay is purposely open-ended. You are free to express yourself in whatever way you see fit. Our goal is to have an appreciation for and an understanding of each candidate in ways that are not captured by test scores, grades, and resumes. (word limit: 600)
  • Optional Essay: Please provide any additional information you would like the admissions committee to consider.

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What Sets USC Marshall School of Business Apart

  • Holistic Academic-Career Program: USC Marshall’s curriculum focuses strongly on career development, its core courses teaching leadership, communication, self-awareness, and value creation. These courses position Marshall MBA students to get the most out of the school’s Career Insights Seminar, giving them the opportunity to network with professionals in their target industries.
  • Interdisciplinary Teaching: The full-time MBA program highlights the importance of courses that complement and build upon each other. Faculty members are encouraged to teach collaboratively and partner with one another to unpack case studies from different perspectives. These teachings are strengthened by career panels, guest speakers, and industry practitioners who enhance in-class learnings through real-world perspectives.
  • Los Angeles Location: Los Angeles is the third largest global metropolitan economy, opening doors to the high tech sector, startup culture, biotechnology, and other innovative pursuits. While Southern California has a lot going for it from a professional standpoint, the climate is undoubtedly another draw. In fact, USC attests that they experience 329 days of sunshine in a year.
  • Academic Flexibility: While Marshall students must complete 15 core courses, they also have the ability to choose from nearly 100 electives based on personal goals and interests. Up to nine of these electives can be taken at other USC graduate schools.

USC Marshall School of Business 2025 Class Profile

The USC Marshall class of 2025 is made up of 199 students.

Of these students, 35% identify as women and 9% identify as LGBTQ+. USC Marshall’s class profile also reports that 41% of the class are international students.

On average, the class of 2025 had 5.5 years of pre-MBA experience, and the average age is 29. Top pre-MBA industries were financial services (19%), technology (14%), healthcare (13%).

Top areas of undergraduate study were business/commerce, engineering/computer science, and economics.

The median GPA and test scores for USC Marshall’s latest class profile is as follows.

Average GMAT:
  • 722
Average GRE
  • 160 Verbal
  • 163 Quant
Average GPA:
  • 3.5

Joint/Dual Degrees Offered at USC Marshall

USC Marshall also offers joint and dual degrees for those interested in pursuing more than one academic discipline or area of expertise. These include:

  • JD/MBA: JD/MBA students have the opportunity to earn a dual degree from USC Marshall and the USC Gould School of Law. The program takes 4 years to complete, the first of which students spend taking required law courses and the second of which they take required MBA courses.
  • MBA/MPl: USC’s Master of Business Administration/Master of Planning gives students exposure to business, finance, accounting, real estate marketing, and corporate/strategic planning. MBA/MPl students also gain an understanding of public policy, city planning and government regulations. The program typically requires five semesters of full-time in-residence study.
  • MBA/MRED: This dual degree program allows students to earn an MBA from USC Marshall and a Master of Real Estate Development from USC Price. The program is designed for those who intend to become real estate developers, honing their skills in management, planning, marketing, land development, decision sciences, accounting, finance, and economics.
  • MBA/MS: USC’s Master of Business Administration/Master of Science in Industrial and Systems Engineering degree is offered between USC Marshall and USC’s Epstein Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering. Students will gain an understanding of advanced production planning and scheduling, as well as engineering project management.
  • MBA/MD: Those interested in an MBA and a doctor of medicine have the opportunity to earn this dual degree from USC Marshall and the Keck School of Medicine of USC. The program spans five years, preparing students for leadership positions in the design and management of health care systems.
  • MBA/MSW: USC’s Master of Business Administration/Master of Social Work degree program typically takes three years to complete. The program is designed for those pursuing careers related to human resources, organizational development, information management, and philanthropic/corporate social responsibility.

2023-2024 USC Marshall Application Deadlines and Timeline

  • Application Deadline: October 15, 2023
  • Application Deadline:  January 5, 2024
  • Application Deadline: March 1, 2024

 

  • Application Deadline: April 15, 2024

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USC Marshall Client Testimonials

5 School Admit
Scott and the Personal MBA Coach team provided invaluable support throughout the application process. The PMC team offered prompt and candid feedback as I made my school selections, crafted essays, and prepared for interviews. With Scott’s help, I was admitted to Yale SOM, Tuck, Fuqua, Darden, and Ross with scholarships! Scott is responsive, supportive, and... Read More
4 School Admit
I worked with Scott and his team for my MBA applications this year. I had a great experience and have received offers from the Kellogg MBAi program, and full-time MBA programs at Haas, Ross and Tepper. It was great working with the team. I felt that their understanding of what different schools are looking for... Read More
3 School Admit
I had an excellent experience working with Scott, MJ and Nicole. From my initial phone call, Scott was direct, informed and honest. He helped me craft a target list of schools to suit my ability and background. Though he is at every step supportive, he’s unusual in that his feedback is consistently candid. He does... Read More
UCLA Anderson
Applying to MBA programs can be a daunting task. Between writing the essays, preparing for interviews, and finally deciding on a school that fits, the entire experience is rigorous. Scott prepared me for every single step of the process. He guided me on targeting the programs I was interested in, helped me brainstorm and compose... Read More

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